News on the next.Hessenbox

The Hessenbox DA will be replaced by the new next.Hessenbox. On this website, we will keep you updated with the latest information about the transition until the old Hessenbox is deactivated. Check back regularly, as the content will be continuously updated.

You cannot use your regular login credentials to sign in to next.Hessenbox via WebDAV.

Instead, please login to next.Hessenbox and create a separate password by navigating to Settings → Security → Devices & Sessions and generating one specifically for the WebDAV connection.

From now on, files in OpenOffice format (.odt, .ods, .odp) can also be opened and edited directly in OnlyOffice within next.Hessenbox – without prior conversion.

In next.Hessenbox, it is not possible to share folders or files with several people at the same time. Each person must be added individually.

Recommendation: If you want to regularly share content with the same group of people, use the team function:

  • Go to Contacts → Teams in the menu.
  • Create a new team and give it a meaningful name.
  • Add the desired people to the team.

You can then assign approvals directly to the team – this saves time and makes it easier to manage shared workspaces.

There is a way to control the synchronisation of large or new folders – directly via the settings in the Nextcloud client. This prevents new folders or constantly growing folders from occupying the local hard drive unintentionally.

Procedure

  • Open the Nextcloud client window.
  • Click on your account icon at the top left.
  • Select Settings.
  • In the settings, click on General (gear icon in the top right-hand corner).
  • In the Advanced section, you will find four checkboxes that you can use to set, for example
    • from which folder size new shares are not automatically synchronised.
    • whether confirmations should be requested before downloading large folders.

This function protects you from unnoticed memory consumption and gives you more control over local synchronisation.

In contrast to the previously used Powerfolder client, the Nextcloud client does not offer the option of excluding individual folders from synchronisation without deleting them locally. As soon as a folder is deselected in the synchronisation settings, the Nextcloud client removes this folder from the local hard disc.

Workaround: Prevent synchronisation using file names

The Nextcloud client's ignore list can be used as an alternative solution. This list can be used to exclude folders or files from synchronisation based on certain name patterns.

Procedure:

  • In the settings, click on General (cogwheel symbol at the top right).
  • Click on the Edit ignored files button and add a new pattern to the ignore list – e.g. nosync-*.
  • Rename the folder that you want to exclude from synchronisation accordingly, e.g. to nosync-my-folder.

The folder will now no longer be synchronised – neither from the local system to the server nor vice versa.

This method also works for files and can be cancelled at any time by removing or changing the prefix.

Restrictions:

  • The ignore list only applies locally on your own device.
  • In the case of shared folders, it is often not possible or useful to change names. In such cases, the complete folder name or a characteristic part of it can also be included in the ignore list.

When sharing content via next.Hessenbox, please note that only the primary email address assigned to a TU ID is used to identify users. By default, this is the address in the format vorname.nachname@tu-darmstadt.de for employees.

Important: If, for example, departments use their own e-mail addresses with a departmental domain and send approvals via this address, these may not be delivered – as the additional address is not known to the Nextcloud account of the receiving person.

This applies in particular:

  • Employees with additional work addresses outside the standard address,
  • guests who have been given an additional address in addition to the guest address,
  • student assistants whose primary address is @stud.tu-darmstadt.de, but who may have an additional work address.

Your own primary address can be viewed in your personal account administration in IDM. For other TU members, it is accessible via the IDM address book: IDM portal → Personal account management → Address book.

As we have received several enquiries about this, we would like to share the server address for the NextCloud client once again. When setting up your account in the NextCloud client, please select the 'Log in' option and then enter the following address: https://next.hessenbox.de

Where do I find the next.Hessenbox client?

  • The client software next.Hessenbox is available in the software depot for HRZ-managed computers.
  • Users who manage their computer themselves can find the NextCloud clients for Windows, Mac and Linux at https://nextcloud.com/install/#install-clients (opens in new tab).
  • Apps for mobile devices can be found in the corresponding app stores.

The manual for server-side supported data migration is now available. It contains detailed information on the migration process, the required steps, and important tips for the migration.

Some users upload their local Hessenbox folders directly to next.Hessenbox because it seems convenient at first glance. However, this can lead to error messages and incomplete uploads.

It is therefore essential that you follow our instructions: Manual data migration instructions

Background:

There are hidden system directories in the Hessenbox-DA folders and their subdirectories that are used by the Hessenbox-DA client. These can cause unexpected interactions and impair the upload.

From 17.02.2025, the previous Hessenbox DA will be replaced by the new next.Hessenbox. Both systems will run in parallel during a transitional period, with Hessenbox DA being deactivated on 30.06.2025 (see our HRZ News from 07.11.2024 and HRZ News from 12.02.2025 ).

How does the transition work?

  • You can currently transfer your data manually using our step-by-step guide .
  • From 10.03.2025 a server-supported data migration will also be available, allowing the migration process to run in the background. Once this option is available, we will provide the relevant instructions here .

Important note: Existing shares in Hessenbox DA will not be automatically transferred to next.Hessenbox. This ensures that outdated permissions are not carried over and that only the necessary permissions are set up in the new system. This applies to both manual and server-supported data migration. Instructions for assigning permissions are available.