Peer-to-peer file sharing
Swap Meet

© Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash
For the occasional local file transfer, a few simple tools can do the job quickly and efficiently.
For smooth file transfer between computers, companies typically use file servers or locally installed cloud instances. But server-based systems require a capable hardware infrastructure; they need to be managed by an administrator and can pose vulnerabilities if configured incorrectly. If you only need to exchange a few files between individual workstations from time to time, these solutions are usually oversized.
It is far easier and faster to send and receive data using applications installed locally on workstations that work on a peer-to-peer basis. You don't need a server, and the data only travels back and forth between the participating computers without being stored on a third system.
Requirements
When choosing a tool to transfer data directly between two computers, there are a few things you need to consider. Most importantly, the tool needs to secure the data with end-to-end encryption so that third parties cannot sniff the data.
Simple file transfer does not require complex graphical user interfaces (GUIs). All that is needed is a command-line application with a manageable command set that can be used without extensive configuration and lengthy training.
If file synchronization is important, some peer-to-peer solutions for data transfer can additionally keep files and folders permanently synchronized between the participating computers.
Finally, for administrators of heterogeneous IT infrastructures, cross-platform availability is also an important decision-making criterion. The tool needs to support the popular client operating systems, preferably with standardized operation across platforms.
In this article, I will cover a few peer-to-peer tools for file sharing on local networks. (See the "Not Considered" box for tools that didn't make the cut.)
Not Considered
In addition to the candidates discussed here, there are a variety of other programs for direct data transfer between two computers, including both native Linux applications and Java programs. However, I only looked at applications that are under active development and maintenance for this article. Dukto [7], D-LAN [8], BaShare [9], p300 [10], and Transfer on LAN [11] didn't meet this requirement since their development stopped between 2009 and 2015. In some cases, it was impossible to install the packages on recent distributions due to outdated dependencies.
croc
The free croc
[1] command-line tool transfers one or more files between two computers without an intermediate instance, using a transparently set up relay on the LAN. Written in Go, the cross-platform application is available for countless variants of Linux, even for 32-bit hardware. In addition, croc
can be used on ARM systems and on various BSD derivatives. Data exchange between all supported platforms is problem-free. Besides corresponding packages, the source code is available for download on croc
's GitHub page.
Using croc
croc
's end-to-end encryption follows the Password Authenticated Key Exchange (PAKE) standard [2], which uses a freely definable secure password to generate a key for file transfer on both computers involved. croc
is the only tool in the test that can resume interrupted data transfers at a later time.
In the simplest case, the sender starts the transfer by entering
croc send FILE
It is important to specify the full path in each case, unless you are in the corresponding file directory.
The software then generates a code that the recipient needs to receive the data. The recipient then enters the code at the prompt by typing:
croc CODE
The program will then prompt the user to confirm the file to be sent. If confirmed, the transfer starts. croc
visualizes this on both systems with a progress bar (Figure 1). It also shows the recipient's IP address and the port used. After completing the transfer process, the transferred file sits in the recipient's home directory.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:
Price $2.95
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Find SysAdmin Jobs
News
-
SparkyLinux 6.6 Now Available for Installation
The Debian-based SparkyLinux has a new point release that retools the live USB desktop creator and other changes that give it shiny new-ness.
-
SparkyLinux 6.6 Now Available for Installation
The Debian-based SparkyLinux has a new point release that retools the live USB desktop creator and other changes that give it shiny new-ness.
-
Escuelas Linux 8.0 Now Available
Just in time for its 25th anniversary, the developers of Escuelas Linux have released the latest version.
-
LibreOffice 7.5 Loaded with New Features and Improvements
The favorite office suite of the Linux community has a new release that includes some visual refreshing and new features across all modules.
-
The Next Major Release of Elementary OS Has Arrived
It's been over a year since the developers of elementary OS released version 6.1 (Jólnir) but they've finally made their latest release (Horus) available with a renewed focus on the user.
-
KDE Plasma 5.27 Beta Is Ready for Testing
The latest beta iteration of the KDE Plasma desktop is now available and includes some important additions and fixes.
-
Netrunner OS 23 Is Now Available
The latest version of this Linux distribution is now based on Debian Bullseye and is ready for installation and finally hits the KDE 5.20 branch of the desktop.
-
New Linux Distribution Built for Gamers
With a Gnome desktop that offers different layouts and a custom kernel, PikaOS is a great option for gamers of all types.
-
System76 Beefs Up Popular Pangolin Laptop
The darling of open-source-powered laptops and desktops will soon drop a new AMD Ryzen 7-powered version of their popular Pangolin laptop.
-
Nobara Project Is a Modified Version of Fedora with User-Friendly Fixes
If you're looking for a version of Fedora that includes third-party and proprietary packages, look no further than the Nobara Project.