First, we need to know the location of Alist in the GitHub project: Alist
1. What is Alist#
It is a file listing program that supports multiple storage options, created using Gin and Solidjs. In simple terms, Alist allows you to mount cloud storage to the server, extract direct links to the corresponding cloud files for downloading and other operations. More importantly, Alist supports not just a few cloud storage services, but almost covers most of the common cloud storage options available in the market, meaning it can be fully utilized as a cross-cloud list management tool.
2. What can Alist be used for#
Users do not need to download a client (or even need a membership) to download or browse files on the cloud storage in original quality (generally without size restrictions), essentially mounting the cloud drive onto a web server. Not only is there no speed limit on downloads, but videos can also be played in original quality, which is very convenient. It can even be used as your personal media system.
As a beginner, I think it's great that Alist can play files in original quality from the cloud storage, not to mention it also supports external players for video browsing.
Most domestic cloud storage services (except for Thunder's original quality) will basically transcode and compress uploaded video media files, intending to reduce the server traffic burden when users stream videos online, with Baidu Cloud and Quark Cloud being representative examples, where video bitrates are quite poor. Moreover, there is no support at all for 4K HDR or Dolby Vision formats.
3. How to deploy?#
Windows Deployment
First, we find the project's source address on GitHub [alist-org/alist], and go to the Release page to download the version suitable for your system.
After downloading, double-click to open it. The log line: Initial password: PFvOd4oY is your initial password, make sure to remember it, as it will be needed to access the management page later. The line start server @ 0.0.0.0:5244 is your Alist service address, which you can open in your browser.
Linux Deployment
Considering the need for remote access (as a NAS), deploying Alist on a server will also have corresponding requirements. Taking my personal server environment as a reference: CentOS 7.9.2009 / Baota Panel 7.9.3, using the one-click script provided in the official Alist documentation for installation. Of course, it can also be done without the Baota Panel, and as long as it is on the Linux-x86_64/aarch64 platform (most mainstream service providers' Linux environments should meet the criteria), the one-click script can be used. Below, I will take the Baota Panel as an example, entering the SSH terminal:
In the terminal, enter: curl -fsSL "https://nn.ci/alist.sh" | bash -s install
Wait for the command to run automatically. After it finishes, the terminal will provide logs similar to the Windows version of Alist, which also includes the initial password information and the server's initial address.
If the server does not have the Baota Panel installed, you can also directly enter the one-click installation command using the SSH terminal provided by the service provider or Putty. If you don't know how to enter the SSH terminal, please search for the method to access the SSH terminal for your service provider's server on Baidu.
Note: Make sure to open port 5244 in the firewall of your service provider or Baota Panel in advance.
Replit Deployment
For those without a server, you can use this method to set it up~
Download the “alist-linux-musl-amd64.tar.gz” file from Alist's Release page and extract the Alist binary file to your computer, renaming Alist to “Xlist”. (This step is necessary, otherwise it will be blocked.)
Next, register for a free database account: https://bit.io/dashboard. Choose the free version, then create a database with any name; after entering, click “Connect,” and this step is complete.
Then register on Replit; go to the homepage and click “Create Repl,” search for “Bash” and select it;
Drag the binary file you just renamed into the Files box and wait for the upload to complete; then click on the box in the lower left corner: “Secret”; click “Open raw editor,” and fill in the following content:
{
"DB_TYPE": "postgres",
"DB_HOST": "db.bit.io",
"DB_PORT": "5432",
"DB_USER": "user",
"DB_PASS": "password",
"DB_NAME": "user/alist",
"DB_TABLE_PREFIX": "alist_",
"DB_SSL_MODE": "require"
}
Find the above variables in the “Connect” section of your previously created database and fill them in accordingly.
Then go to the “shell” and enter: “chmod 777 Xlist” (Xlist is the name of the binary file you modified) and press enter to confirm.
Click “main.sh,” delete all the content inside, and fill in: “./xlist server”; then click “Run.”
Don't rush, there's still more to fill in.
Next, click “stop”; go to the newly created: data☞config.json file; do you see the Database there? That's where we need to modify.
Click “Secret” again, and fill in the contents into the config.json file accordingly.
Click “Run” again.
The admin account password will appear in the system logs, remember it and use it to log in. Don't forget to change the admin password after the first login.
4. Deployment complete, using Alist#
With the deployment finished, we can start configuring and using the powerful Alist program. Whether on Windows or a Linux-based platform, configuring and using Alist can be done via the web, making it very convenient.
After entering the correct address, we can access Alist's web page!
Here, you will need to use the initial password we obtained during the deployment step to access the backend interface for configuration.
First, we can change the backend password to something familiar for easier future access.
At this point, we have successfully entered the Alist backend management interface, and the next step is to add cloud storage accounts and mount them.
The official documentation provides very detailed instructions on how to mount cloud storage, so I won't elaborate further here. (Direct link to official documentation)