Does devices share info about other known devices?

Support
1

Hello,

Does the known devices exchange info about other known devices between themself even without Introducer node and when they don’t share folder? In docs I can see only info about introducer and when they are shares attached to devices: Introducer Configuration — Syncthing documentation

I’m trying to speed up connection between devices. Is it possible to have one “main” device with static ip that:

  • it’s not a introducer (it’s about connecting existing clients, not introducing new ones)
  • have static ip (assigned via router)
  • is connected to all devices via dynamic address
  • all other devices are connected to this “main” device via static tcp:// address
  • there are no folder shared between other devices and “main” device
  • there is no requirement that each device know about all other devices (so no “everything” to “everything” setup).

Example:

                                 +---------+
                                 |         +----------------------------+
          +----------------------+ main    |                            |
          |                      |         +---------+                  |
          |                +-----+-----+---+         |                  |
          |                |           |             |                  |
          |                |           |             |                  |
          |                |           |             |                  |
          |                |           |             |                  |
          |                |           |             |                  |
          |                |           |             |               +--+--+
          |                |           |             |   +-----------+     |
          |                |           |             |   |           |     | linux arm
          |                |           |             |   |           +-----+
          |                |           |             |   |
          |                |           |             |   |           
         ++-+              |           |          +--+---+           
android11|  |              |           |          |      |linux x86
         |  |              |           |          |      |
         |  |              |           |          +-+----+
         +--+              |         +-++           |
                          ++-+       |  +-----------+
                          |  |       |  | android 4.2
                android9  |  +-------+  |
                          |  |       +--+
                          +--+

Is it possible?

My setup:

  • Local discovery enabled, global and NAT traversal disabled.
  • Devices already known about each other and sometimes they connect fast, sometimes they don’t connect at all.
  • All devices in the same local subnet.
  • Some devices connected via cable, some by wifi, some by wifi bridges, some by wifi mesh.
  • Mix type of devices: android11, android9, android 4.2.2 (I know, old and unsupported, but it is still good ebook reader), linux x86, linux arm.
2

I don’t really understand what you’re asking for. Devices to gossip address information between each other? They don’t, currently.

1 Like
3

They do announce though which other devices they know are sharing the same folder. The info is just not used currently.

Regarding your “partial mesh” setup, you can make the connections any way you want. But each connection needs to be actively configured on both ends, if you’re not using the introducer feature.

1 Like
4

Thanks @calmh and @acolomb, that’s exactly what I’m asking for - to devices to gossip “hey, I know those device ids are located here” messages.

So, currently it’s not possible. Ok, then I will try to go with self hosted discovery server in local network.