Multipeer - an implementation of the multicast peer to peer network architecture

Usage information

Multipeer is a IPv6 Python implementaion of the multicast peer to peer network architecture. It consists of two main modules, gui.py and server.py. Where gui.py offers a graphical user interface built on wxPython and server.py a text based non-ui for testing and serving files.

Multipeer is know to work on OS X and Linux, and it should work on all systems which support Python, wxPython and IPv6.
Note that Python for Windows does not currently support IPv6, and multipeer will therefor not work under Windows at the present time. Running Cygwin as noted in the errate, may help.

Documentation and screenshots

Multipeer has been designed to be easy to use, with as little work as possible.

Installation

In order to install multipeer you will need:

• Multipeer itself
• Python - v. 2.2.2 has been tested, v. 2.3 should work as well, earlier versions may work.
• WxPython

Usage

Multipeer expects the file "summary.txt" to be in the current directory, along with the folders "files" and "downloads". A barebone summary text is supplied with the installation, and will be autogenerated in future versions.

Searching

The search algorithm supports shell type globbing, * for one or more characters, and ? for one character. Replace the * in the search field with the name of the file you wish to search for. (A * by itself will of course reveal all files shared on the multicast network). This version only allows searching by name, but future versions will allow search on filehash, as well as date, category and more.

Downloading

When you have found the file you are looking for, double click on it in search results, or choose and and click "Download", and the download will begin. Multipeer will, currently, automatically choose up to five peers which has the file, and will in a matter of seconds begin download.

In order to abort a download, choose the file in the downloads list and click "Abort download".

Selecting files to publish on the network

If you wish to publish a file on the network, choose " File - Publish new file" or the tab "Published files" and click on "Publish new file...". A file dialog box will appear, select the file to publish, and the file information window will appear:

Enter Description, and change MIME type and Category at your leisure. Click on "OK", and the file will be copied to the files folder.

Are others using multipeer at the moment?

If you want to see if others are using multipeer at the moment, choose "Windows - Peers", and a windows with a list of other peers on the multicast network will appear.

Bug information and errata

If you want to report a bug you can do so through Bugzilla, or by sending an email to multipeer@hiof.no

List of known errors:

• Multipeer does not work under native Windows python - possible solution (untried) - python under Cygwin should have IPv6 support, native python does not.
• Multipeer may appear to hang during a search. This would appear to be a wxPython bug which we have not narrowed down as yet. Pressing CTRL-C in the shell starting the process may allow you to resume, or the program may end with a segfault, indicating a wxPython error.
• Some switches/hubs may have link level two, ethernet, broadcast protection, this causes mayhem for IP multicast. Transmission rate may be low due to this.