I'm InterPlanetary, Get Me Out of Here! Accessing IPFS From Restrictive Environments

Leonhard Balduf, Sebastian Rust, Björn Scheuermann

Keywords: p2p, ipfs, firewall, nat, networks

TL;DR: We run IPFS instances in multiple network scenarios and test how well they can communicate with each other. Even though one of our clients is behind the GFW, we find that NAT remains to be the biggest impediment to p2p functionality.

Abstract:

We investigate how well IPFS functions in real-world restrictive network environments.
In a series of experiments, we utilize four vantage points, one of which lies behind the Great Firewall of China (GFW),
to ascertain how various parts of the IPFS ecosystem perform in these settings.
We test HTTP gateways and find that, although they are not systematically blocked, only about a third function in China, in comparison to Germany.
Evaluating P2P functionality, we run experiments on data exchange between the four nodes.
We find that the GFW has little measurable impact on these functionalities.
The main inhibiting factor for P2P functionality remains network address translation (NAT).
Lastly, to help NATed nodes spread their content, we propose and evaluate using public gateways as temporary replicators,
but find only marginal gains.

Submission Number: 9