P2P via WiFi only?

[MusikFrei]

Have an idea :

Run a P2P client accessible not from the Internet, but only via the WiFi router. Share with the neighbors.

With no Internet connection, the moneygrubbers would have to send out a fleet of vans with WiFi sniffers & radio triangulation equipment to detect this. College students could put such a system inside a drop ceiling where it could run unattended for years with a stable OS. Even if no-one is around to connects to it would make a handy media server for anyone who wants to keep media files off their PC.

Any solutions that already exist for this on an old PC & spare wireless router?

Or maybe one of these new wireless media player devices could be hacked to run a P2P client?

Reviews of Network media players
http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/4521-65...5021436-2.html

[Boomer The Dog]

That could work, like a local file server, but without the net it wouldn't have much that you might like, even if the server had thousands of files. If you linked that server to others all over town, that would be better, but then the new releases would have to get in to your network somehow. Someone would have to download the TV show that just aired, and put it on the local network for others to get.

If you're looking for ideas, look up NYC wireless, and Seattlewireless. They have big local networks and use programs like M0n0wall, which opens a web page when you access their wireless signal. That web page could have links to files you want to share.. but these systems are connected to the net for community access, not local only.

I think this is a good idea, nice to do something for your community, if your friends and neighbors are clued on how to use it, but with the range of wireless routers, you might as well walk CDs to each other's doors.. :)

[Ogi]

but with the range of wireless routers

Whats wrong with the range of wireless routers?

I have seen setups which get ranges of 120KM using *off the shelf* standard wifi equipment. I dont know about you, But I wouldn't want to walk 120km to my friends house with a CD ;)

Oh, and I was active on the BGWireless forums and specialise in long-distance WIFI-Links. Just because your router's wireless signal doesn't get past your front door doesn't mean it can't.

Now BGWireless is a city-wide WIFI network which is pretty much community driven (inspired by NYwireless). It was developed partly because the telcos in the country were slow to adopt broadband (meaning that while most of europe has ISDN and ADSL, we were still putting up with 24.4k dial-up max speeds, they said it was because of old copper infrastructure) and partly so we could essentially have one big city-wide LAN party.

It was also used alot for P2P filesharing (try downloading things via a 24.4k connection which cost a mint).

Either way it was fun, and I would have helped more if I lived there (which I don't), but yeah - it taught me alot about building WIFI links, something which I now do to earn some extra cash (setting up Point to Point WIFI links (e.g. From Campus to Uni Links) ).


the P2P Program most in use is DC++, I havent had a chance to use it myself, but from what I gather you build groups of users (such as rock music groups) which you can connect to , chat, request songs and share files.


If you are interested in Wireless Networking, or networking in general (esp. Learning networking with linux, routing, antennas, WIFI Range and power, as well as a bit of hardware hacking( I would recommend giving it a shot. Providing you have friends who are willing to connect to the network).


Oh, and links:

DC++
120KM Wifi Link (ok ok, I cant find it now, try googling for it)

[pimpinaman]

...or an ad-hoc wireless network. The only problem I see with the idea is that the machine is not connected to the internet, so the files that are going to be shared will probably be coming off the net from somewhere....

The book Wi-Fi toys has a good section about using NoCatAuth to set up a "catpive portal"...sounds like it might be of some use in this situation, using the old PC you mentioned and the wireless router.

or just hide the box connected to the internet in a neutral location and remote back into to run your filesharing apps....

[bobhss]

I can't see enough people in my neighborhood having anything I'd want (and I live in a college town).

Even if no-one is around to connects to it would make a handy media server for anyone who wants to keep media files off their PC.

Any solutions that already exist for this on an old PC & spare wireless router?

If no one is around, and you have a regular router, why not set up the old PC with a regular wired NIC and set it next to the computer you have. I don't see the need for a wifi connection only to a media server. If you have a wifi router in your house already then you have 4 wired ports (usually) available anyway.

[MusikFrei]

http://hardware.slashdot.org/article...id=215&tid=188


"A new P2P / media player project could allow mobile music devices to automatically transfer media files from other players running the same software. While there seems to be a certain risk (mislabeling files, creating intentionally corrupt songs) there also seems to be a huge potential to this idea (get on the subway to work and when you arrive there your available music has doubled). Of course, this also is a nightmarish scenario for the RIAA-like organizations, especially since such swapping occurs without active user participation, in a drive-by way."