I’m having trouble figuring out how the routing actually works. The README says:
Uses the Global Socket Relay Network to connect TCP pipes
but I can’t find any description of this network — ducking for “Global Socket Relay Network” only returns hits talking about the Global Socket package.
My guess is that it’s similar to TURN, where the GSRN bridges each participants outgoing connection. Sounds very cool for someone who’s hosting at home and doesn’t have a public IP address.
Dynamic DNS will not help with the fact that you have no public IP(v4) address. This is the case for many modern ISPs, which provide your modem/router with a native IPv6 stack (including public IPv6 address), but a translated, NATed IPv4 address. This is very common practice in Europe.
Dynamic DNS is useful when you do have a public IPv4 address, but it gets rotated at a particular interval.
Looks like they are basically doing what magic-wormhole (and the various clones) do, but instead of offering a file-exchange, they expose a socket interface on both ends? Neat.
NAT punching as a service, neat.
Technical details aside:
“ Why is THC doing this for free?
At the moment it’s not a big cost.
You are of course invited to donate (BTC 34mkCS3dDQyTweFc98pEoNUx2tjSbrLfYn - disclaimer: some donations will be spend on beer, cocaine and prostitutes).”
I’m having trouble figuring out how the routing actually works. The README says:
but I can’t find any description of this network — ducking for “Global Socket Relay Network” only returns hits talking about the Global Socket package.
I had the exact same curiosity. In addition to what you stated, found that:
As stated by their github repository
My guess is that it’s similar to TURN, where the GSRN bridges each participants outgoing connection. Sounds very cool for someone who’s hosting at home and doesn’t have a public IP address.
(This is what dynamic DNS is for.)
Dynamic DNS will not help with the fact that you have no public IP(v4) address. This is the case for many modern ISPs, which provide your modem/router with a native IPv6 stack (including public IPv6 address), but a translated, NATed IPv4 address. This is very common practice in Europe.
Dynamic DNS is useful when you do have a public IPv4 address, but it gets rotated at a particular interval.
Indeed — in Australia sometimes you only get CGNAT IPv4 with no IPv6 at all.
I forgot about carrier-grade NAT, thanks!
Looks like they are basically doing what magic-wormhole (and the various clones) do, but instead of offering a file-exchange, they expose a socket interface on both ends? Neat.
NAT punching as a service, neat. Technical details aside:
+1 for honesty.