IPOP (IP-over-P2P)

IPOP (IP-over-P2P) is an open-source user-centric software virtual network allowing end users to define and create their own virtual private networks (VPNs). IPOP virtual networks provide end-to-end tunneling of IP or Ethernet over “TinCan” links setup and managed through a control API to create various software-defined VPN overlays.

IPOP’s architecture and design have evolved since the project’s inception from one based on a structured P2P library (Brunet) connecting all peers into a global overlay, to the current design based on TinCan links connecting users to trusted peers (e.g. from online social networks) through mediation of a decoupled controller. At its core, IPOP leverages existing technologies (Jingle/WebRTC) and standards (STUN, TURN, XMPP) to tunnel IP packets over P2P links between computers – even when they are behind firewalls and/or Network Address Translators (NATs).