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CASE STUDIES OF IPFS-BASED FILE-SHARING SYSTEMS
Muradov Camal Dilqsm, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Baku, Azerbaijan
E-mail: carnallmuradov@gmail. com
Abstract. Traditional file-sharing systems often lack the security and privacy of the files. To address these issues, a decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) protocol, InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) can be used. In recent years, IPFS has been employed in the file-sharing systems that have been implemented for various applications, such as data backup, social media, and content distribution. This article examines several case studies of file-sharing systems that are IPFS-based, analyzing their use cases, limitations, and architectures. The benefits of IPFS as an off-chain file storage solution like increased resilience, security, and speed, and potential future research and development possibilities are discussed.
Key words: blockchain, IPFS, P2P network, IPE, DPKI, DHT.
1. Introduction
As the number of created files grows, the demand for a secure and efficient way of file-sharing systems also increased. The traditional way of sharing files is built up on centralization which raises concerns about security and data privacy issues such as unauthorized access to personal or sensitive information, and data breaches. Over the past few years, as the decentralized file-sharing systems offered an effective solution to solve these challenges, they have become more popular. One of these solutions that is used to build decentralized file-sharing systems is IPFS. IPFS is a P2P protocol that solves the issue of effective file storage and retrieval. As IPFS does not have a central data server unlike traditional file-sharing systems and employs a network of nodes in a distributed way to store and retrieve files, it makes IPFS more resilient to network failures and censorship. IPFS has been used in various applications, such as data backup, social media, and content distribution. This article explores several case studies of IPFS-based systems, analyzing their limitations, use cases, and architectures. The benefits of IPFS as an off-chain file storage solution like increased resilience, security, speed, and potential future research and development possibilities are covered in this article.
2. IPFS technology and its key features
IPFS is a P2P protocol that enables a decentralized and secure way of storing and sharing files. It makes the creation of a global network of nodes for sharing and storing files possible from any location in the world. It employs a content-addressable
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system in which the identification of files is done by their content hash, not their location without having a centralized server. As a decentralized system we do not have a centralized system and sharing files is possible from anywhere in the world. As it is decentralized, there can be no single point of failure, no federal authority, and users can easily share files without any third-party involvement. It is also immune to attacks and censorship which means users have control over their data and can choose how they share their files with others. Content addressing is another key feature of IPFS, and it means that identification of files is done by their uniquely identified hashes based on the content, rather than their name or location. A unique hash based on the content is created when a file is added to the network which can later be used to get the file from any node on the network which makes it a scalable and highly efficient technology for file sharing. Versioning of files is another key feature, which makes different versions of a file available. In its turn, this makes the creation of a distributed version control system possible so that it can be used to control changes to the shared files. Another key feature of IPFS is having strong authentication and encryption mechanisms which guarantees the security and privacy of the shared files in the network. The encryption is done by default with the InterPlanetary Encryption (IPE) protocol which offers end-to-end encryption between the recipient and the sender. This, in turn, prevents the tampering of files or unauthorized access during the process of transmission. IPFS also employs a distributed public key infrastructure (DPKI) to enable secure transmission and control of digital identities among the nodes on the network.
Caching files is another essential feature of IPFS so that users can cache files locally on their devices to improve performance and reduce bandwidth usage. So, a user requests a file, and IPFS first checks locally if it is available, and if so, it serves it from the cache which makes frequently accessed files readily available without the need for a request over the network. A distributed hash table (DHT) is also employed to help nodes in finding and retrieving files more efficiently. If the files are cached locally, then IPFS makes it possible to access them even if the users are offline which can be helpful in rural areas where the internet connection is limited.
3. Case Studies of IPFS-based File Sharing Systems
This section gives information about a few real-world case studies of IPFS-based systems in which their benefits and limitations are discussed.
Our first example is Filecoin. As a decentralized storage network, it provides the functionality of storing and retrieving data. IPFS has been used as a protocol for the transmission of files which makes it more resilient to censorship and network failures. It also gives incentives to its users to contribute to their storage space, which creates a decentralized marketplace. One of the main advantages of using this system is its efficiency and speed. As the network of Filecoin is distributed, getting files from the nearest node increases download speeds, and reduces latency. It also offers a high level of data privacy and advanced security measures like hashing and encryption which help provide authorization. In the case of limitations of Filecoin, the complexity of the system is one of them. As technical expertise is required for setting up and
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maintaining the system, it makes it less accessible for non-technical users. Furthermore, limited documentation and support of Filecoin are other issues as it is in its early development stage.
Pinata is another IPFS-based system that offers an interface for uploading and sharing files. Pinata also employs IPFS which makes it highly resilient to censorship and network failures. Pinata offers a few value-added features, like file versioning, content delivery network (CDN) integration, and automatic backups. Its simplicity and ease of use are the main benefits of Pinata. Users can share and upload files using a web interface, without having any technical expertise. It also gives security measures like hashing and encryption and strong data privacy, so that data is accessible to authorized users only. In case of limitations, the pricing model of it is one of them as it charges users based on the amount of data transferred and stored, which can be not so cheap for some users especially who will have large amounts of data. Moreover, download speeds rely on IPFS, so they may vary on different network conditions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, IPFS has many benefits for sharing files in a secure and decentralized way. It has several essential features like caching, content addressing, and encryption that make it a scalable and highly efficient system for storing and getting files on a P2P network. IPFS-based file-sharing systems like Pinata and Filecoin have shown the potential of IPFS in various use cases. However, usability and scalability are some of the main challenges that need to be solved. To fully realize its potential, further research, and development are needed.
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