Below are easy, step-by-step bullet points to install, configure, and connect Google Drive to your VPS using rclone (recommended & safest).

🔹 Step 1: Install rclone on VPS

• SSH into your VPS

• Run official installer:

  curl https://rclone.org/install.sh | sudo bash

• Verify installation:

  rclone version

🔹 Step 2: Start rclone Configuration

• Run:

  rclone config

• Choose:

  • n → New remote
  • Name: gdrive (recommended)

🔹 Step 3: Select Google Drive

• When prompted for storage type:

  • Enter number for Google Drive

• Client ID:

  • Press Enter (use default)

• Client Secret:

  • Press Enter (use default)

🔹 Step 4: OAuth & Permission Setup

• Scope:

  • Choose Full access

• Root folder:

  • Leave blank

• Advanced config:

  • Choose No

• Auto config:

  • Choose No (because VPS has no browser)

🔹 Step 5: Authorize via Browser

• rclone will show a URL
• Copy the URL
• Open it in your local browser
• Login to Google account
• Allow access
• Copy the authorization code
• Paste it back into VPS terminal

🔹 Step 6: Confirm Remote

• Confirm remote settings
• Choose Yes
• Exit config

🔹 Step 7: Verify Google Drive Connection

• List Drive root:

  rclone ls gdrive:

• Create test folder:

  rclone mkdir gdrive:test-backup

• Check Google Drive → folder should appear

🔹 Step 8: (Optional but Recommended) Restrict to Backup Folder

• Create a dedicated folder:

  rclone mkdir gdrive:gitlab-backups

• Always use:

  gdrive:gitlab-backups

• Prevents accidental overwrite of other Drive data

🔹 Step 9: Test Upload & Download

• Upload test file:

  echo "ok" > test.txt
  rclone copy test.txt gdrive:gitlab-backups

• Download test:

  rclone copy gdrive:gitlab-backups/test.txt .

🔹 Step 10: Secure rclone Config

• Config file location:

  ~/.config/rclone/rclone.conf

• Restrict permissions:

  chmod 600 ~/.config/rclone/rclone.conf

🟢 Final Result

• VPS securely connected to Google Drive

• Ready for:

  • Daily incremental backups
  • Weekly/monthly full backups
  • Disaster recovery restores