IPFS: How to use the Interplanetary File System in GNU / Linux?

IPFS: How to use the Interplanetary File System in GNU / Linux?

IPFS: How to use the Interplanetary File System in GNU / Linux?

Currently, browsing on Internet (Cloud / Web) is based mainly, under the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), in other words, HTTP is the network protocol used worldwide to explore the World Wide Web (WWW). Since its creation date (1989-1991) and during its existence, it has had many changes or versions. Http1.2, was in force for 15 years, until Http2, was released in May 2015. And possibly now, Http3 be released soon.

However, there are other alternative, innovative and interesting protocols in development. One of them is IPFS which is based on a P2P hypermedia protocol (Peer-to-Peer - Person to Person), and is designed to do the faster, safer and more open web.

IPFS: Introduction

In an earlier post, called "IPFS: An Advanced File System with P2P and Blockchain Technology" We comment on it in detail: What is IPFS, what characteristics does it have, how does it work?, among other things. Therefore, the following is worth briefly quoting from it:

"... IPFS, could complement or replace the current Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), which is the one that currently executes information transfers in the cloud (web) at a global level. Therefore, IPFS aims to transform the current operation of the Internet based on centralized servers into a fully distributed web under P2P Technology and Blockchain. In order to thus become a distributed file system, with directories and files, that can connect all computer devices and digital content, globally, with the same file system".

Meanwhile, now we will focus on the installation and useDe of Official Client for GNU / Linux.

IPFS: Content

How to use IPFS - Interplanetary File System?

Installation

  • Download the client ipfs-desktop of the Official website. At the time of writing the article, the version available is the 0.10.4, and is available in the following formats:
  1. Tar: ipfs-desktop-0.10.4-linux-x64.tar.xz
  2. Deb: ipfs-desktop-0.10.4-linux-amd64.deb
  3. RPM: ipfs-desktop-0.10.4-linux-x86_64.rpm
  4. AppImage: ipfs-desktop-0.10.4-linux-x86_64.AppImage
  5. Freebsd: ipfs-desktop-0.10.4-linux-x64.freebsd
  • Once downloaded, in our case the file ipfs-desktop-0.10.4-linux-amd64.deb, we proceed to install it with the following command:
  1. sudo dpkg -i ipfs-desktop-0.10.4-linux-amd64.deb
  • run the «Cliente de escritorio IPFS Desktop» from the Main Menu, located in the Internet section. If it does not run satisfactorily, try executing the following commands:
  1. sudo sysctl kernel.unprivileged_userns_clone = 1
  2. sudo apt install -f
  3. sudo dpkg --configure -a
  • Upload a file to IPFS network from the «Cliente de escritorio IPFS Desktop», from section "Files" and using the button "Add to IPFS". From it, you can load file (s) and / or folder (s) directly from the computer or via a web route IPFS. And also, folders can be created in the «red IPFS» From there.
  • Get and share the hash or the full ipfs path of the file (s) and / or folder (s) loaded, among network users who wish to access it, through the 3-point menu (…) that accompanies each element loaded in the «red IPFS».
  • Test the access of the file (s) and / or folder (s) loaded, using a web browser and the full path ipfs obtained. Which, could be for example, is that it contains a 17MB video file which I have uploaded, as a demo for the article:
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmQ8YYY1BoezUxStRvpBMSfDtReRViXXfEYAVRjkiJaBK1?filename=MilagrOS-20200226-Version-2.0-HOMT-RC1.mp4

In summary, as you can see the procedure is simple, and the «red IPFS» ideal for eg uploading and sharing resources file (s) and / or folder (s) that by other means, could not be shared due to incompatibility of formats, size limitations or specific content blocks.

Generic image for article conclusions

Conclusion

We hope this "useful little post" on how to use this extraordinary and novel Interplanetary File System known under the name of «IPFS», which offers a Distributed web, under a P2P hypermedia protocol to do it faster, safer and more open, that the traditional, is of great interest and utility, for all «Comunidad de Software Libre y Código Abierto» and of great contribution to the diffusion of the wonderful, gigantic and growing ecosystem of applications of «GNU/Linux».

And for more information, always do not hesitate to visit any Online library as OpenLibra y jedit to read books (PDFs) on this topic or others knowledge areas. For now, if you liked this «publicación», don't stop sharing it with others, in your Favorite websites, channels, groups, or communities of social networks, preferably free and open as Mastodon, or secure and private like Telegram.

Or simply visit our home page at DesdeLinux or join the official Channel Telegram from DesdeLinux to read and vote for this or other interesting publications on «Software Libre», «Código Abierto», «GNU/Linux» and other topics related to «Informática y la Computación», and the «Actualidad tecnológica».


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