Ceph vs Dufs
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Ceph
Distributed object, block, and file storage platform
VS
Dufs
Distinctive utility file server with WebDAV support
| Feature | Ceph | Dufs |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 17,069 | ★ 10,778 |
| First released | 2006 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Amazon S3, Google Drive | Dropbox, Google Drive |
What are Ceph and Dufs?
Ceph
Ceph is a highly scalable distributed storage system that provides object, block, and file storage in a unified cluster. It is designed for fault tolerance with no single point of failure.
- Unified object, block, and file storage
- Self-healing and self-managing
- Massive scalability
Dufs
Dufs is a lightweight single-binary file server that supports static serving, uploading, searching, and WebDAV. It offers access control, resumable uploads, and a clean web UI.
- Single-binary file server
- WebDAV support
- Access control and resumable uploads
Ceph vs Dufs: key differences
Ceph is written in C++, while Dufs is built with Rust. Licensing differs — LGPL-2.1 for Ceph versus Apache-2.0 for Dufs. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for Ceph. Ceph is the more established project (first released 2006), while Dufs arrived in 2022.
Why pick each one
Choose Ceph if…
- Object, block and file
- No single failure point
- Massive proven scalability
Watch out for
- Steep operational complexity
- Needs multiple nodes
- High hardware requirements
Choose Dufs if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.8k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Ceph or Dufs better?
Neither is universally better. Ceph has the larger community, while Dufs is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Ceph and Dufs free and open-source?
Yes. Ceph is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and Dufs under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ceph and Dufs with Docker?
Ceph: yes. Dufs: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Ceph or Dufs?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for Ceph. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.