161 lines
5.1 KiB
Markdown
161 lines
5.1 KiB
Markdown
---
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sidebar_position: 1
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slug: /network
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---
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# What is Mycelium Network?
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Mycelium is an **IPv6 overlay network** that creates secure, encrypted connections between your devices anywhere in the world.
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Think of it as your own private internet layer – but without the complexity of VPNs, port forwarding, or NAT traversal.
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## How It Works
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Mycelium creates a **peer-to-peer mesh network** where:
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- 🌐 Each device gets its own unique IPv6 address
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- 🔐 All traffic is automatically encrypted end-to-end
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- 🚀 Smart routing finds the fastest path between devices
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- 🔄 The network adapts automatically as devices join or leave
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No central servers. No configuration complexity. Just secure connectivity.
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## Why Use Mycelium?
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### 🌍 Global Connectivity
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Connect devices across the world as if they were on the same local network:
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- Home server to laptop while traveling
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- Multiple offices without complicated VPN setups
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- IoT devices across different locations
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- Development environments and remote services
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### 🔒 Secure by Default
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- **End-to-end encryption** – Traffic is encrypted between devices
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- **No trust required** – No central authority can intercept
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- **Automatic security** – No manual key exchange needed
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- **Private by design** – Only you control your network
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### 🚀 Smart & Fast
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- **Automatic routing** – Finds optimal paths
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- **NAT traversal** – Works behind firewalls
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- **Resilient** – Routes around failures
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- **Low overhead** – Minimal performance impact
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### 📱 Cross-Platform & Easy to Use
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Easy-to-use apps for most platforms:
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- **iOS** – App Store
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- **Android** – Google Play
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- **macOS** – App Store
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- **Windows** – Desktop app
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- **Linux** – Command-line (for advanced users)
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## Common Use Cases
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### Remote Access
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Access your home server or services from anywhere without opening ports or configuring complex VPNs.
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```bash
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# At home: Run Mycelium on your server
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# Address: 5c4:c176:bf44:b2ab:5e7e:f6a:b7e2:11ca
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# Traveling: Access your server via its Mycelium address
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ssh user@5c4:c176:bf44:b2ab:5e7e:f6a:b7e2:11ca
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```
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### Private Networks
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Create secure connections between multiple locations:
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- Link office networks
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- Connect distributed teams
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- Secure IoT deployments
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- Private cloud infrastructure
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### Development & Testing
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Build distributed applications with real-world networking:
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- Test across geographic locations
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- Develop P2P applications
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- Simulate network topologies
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- Remote debugging
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### ThreeFold Grid Access
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Connect to services on the ThreeFold Grid:
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- Access deployed workloads
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- Manage your infrastructure
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- Use decentralized services
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- Build on the grid
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## Key Features
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| Feature | Benefit |
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|--------|---------|
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| **Zero Configuration** | Works out of the box |
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| **IPv6 Native** | Future-proof addressing |
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| **P2P Mesh** | No single point of failure |
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| **Automatic Encryption** | Secure without complexity |
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| **NAT Traversal** | Works behind firewalls |
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| **Smart Routing** | Optimal path selection |
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| **Low Latency** | Direct connections when possible |
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| **Cross-Platform** | Run anywhere |
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## How Is It Different?
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### vs Traditional VPNs
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- ✅ **No central server** – Peer-to-peer mesh
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- ✅ **Automatic routing** – No manual configuration
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- ✅ **Lower latency** – Direct connections
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- ✅ **Simpler setup** – Just run and connect
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### vs Other Overlay Networks
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- ✅ **IPv6 native** – Not limited to IPv4 address space
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- ✅ **Production ready** – Used in ThreeFold infrastructure
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- ✅ **Active development** – Continuous improvements
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- ✅ **Open source** – Transparent and auditable
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## Architecture Overview
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```
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┌──────────────┐ Encrypted Tunnel ┌──────────────┐
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│ Device A │◄────────────────────────────►│ Device B │
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│ Mycelium IP │ Over Internet │ Mycelium IP │
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└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
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│ │
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└────────────── Mesh Network ────────────────┘
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(via Public Peers)
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```
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**How it works:**
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- Devices run the Mycelium daemon
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- Connect to public or private peers
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- Build encrypted tunnels automatically
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- Route traffic efficiently
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**Want to understand the architecture in depth?** Read the **[Architecture Guide](/network/architecture)** to learn about Mycelium's cryptographic design, why it's more secure than TLS/HTTPS, and how its multi-path routing provides real-world resilience.
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## Getting Started
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Ready to try Mycelium? It's simple:
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1. **[Install Mycelium](/network/install)** – Download the app for your device.
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2. **[Quick Start](/network/quick-start)** – Connect in under 5 minutes.
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## Resources
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- **Source Code** – [github.com/threefoldtech/mycelium](https://github.com/threefoldtech/mycelium)
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- **Community** – [t.me/threefold/1](https://t.me/threefold/1)
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- **Forum** – [forum.threefold.io](https://forum.threefold.io)
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