Dukto Alternatives: Lightweight Tools for Local File Transfer

Dukto Troubleshooting: Fix Common Connection IssuesDukto is a small, open-source, cross-platform tool designed to make file and text transfers over local networks simple and fast. Despite its straightforward interface, users can encounter connection problems that prevent devices from seeing each other or completing transfers. This guide covers common Dukto connection issues, how to diagnose them, and step-by-step fixes for Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile environments.

How Dukto Works (brief)

Dukto uses UDP broadcasts to discover peers on the same local network and then establishes direct TCP connections for transfers. Because discovery and transfer rely on local network behavior, many issues stem from network configuration, firewall rules, or mismatched settings across devices.

Common Symptoms

• Devices don’t appear in Dukto’s peer list.
• Transfers stall, fail, or remain at 0%.
• Intermittent connectivity—transfers work sometimes but not reliably.
• New devices appear temporarily then disappear.

Quick Checklist (start here)

• Ensure all devices are on the same subnet (same Wi‑Fi/LAN network; no client isolation).
• Confirm Dukto is running on all devices.
• Disable VPNs or ensure VPN allows local network discovery.
• Temporarily disable firewalls/antivirus to test whether they’re blocking Dukto.
• Check for multiple active network adapters (Ethernet + Wi‑Fi) and try disabling one to force the correct route.

Windows Troubleshooting

1. Run Dukto as Administrator

   • Right-click Dukto and choose “Run as administrator” to ensure it can bind to network interfaces and update firewall rules if needed.

2. Windows Firewall

   • Open Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app through firewall > Allow Dukto for Private networks.
   • If still blocked, temporarily disable the firewall to test.

3. Network Profile

   • Ensure the active network is set to “Private” not “Public” (Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi/Ethernet > Network profile).

4. Network Isolation / AP Client Isolation

   • Some routers use “AP Isolation” or “Client Isolation” which prevents local devices from seeing each other. Disable this in the router settings.

5. Multiple Interfaces

   • If both Ethernet and Wi‑Fi are connected, Dukto may bind to the wrong interface. Disable one adapter temporarily or change metric priorities.

macOS Troubleshooting

1. Permissions & Network Access

   • Grant Dukto full disk access if macOS prompts for permissions (System Settings > Privacy & Security).

2. Firewall & Security

   • System Settings > Network > Firewall Options: allow Dukto incoming connections.

3. Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth Interference

   • Try switching Wi‑Fi channels or restarting the router if transfer speeds are erratic.

4. VPNs & Proxies

   • Disable VPN/proxy or allow local network discovery through it.

Linux Troubleshooting

1. Check Listening Ports

   • Use:

     
     ss -tulpn | grep dukto 

     to see if Dukto is listening.

2. Firewall (ufw/iptables)

   • UFW: sudo ufw allow proto udp from any to any port 5353 (if using mDNS) and allow the app’s TCP ports.
   • Or temporarily disable firewall: sudo ufw disable.

3. NetworkManager & Multiple Interfaces

   • Ensure correct interface routing; try disabling secondary interfaces.

4. mDNS/avahi

   • Install and enable avahi-daemon for service discovery on some distributions:

     
     sudo apt install avahi-daemon sudo systemctl enable --now avahi-daemon 

Mobile (Android/iOS) Troubleshooting

1. Same Wi‑Fi Network

   • Ensure mobile device and desktop are on the same Wi‑Fi network and not on a guest network.

2. Background Restrictions

   • On Android, allow Dukto to run in background and disable battery optimizations for the app.
   • iOS: Background app refresh may need to be enabled; check system restrictions.

3. Hotspot Connections

   • Some phones block local discovery when acting as hotspots; transfers between devices using a phone’s hotspot may fail.

4. Firewall Apps / Security Suites

   • Disable mobile firewalls or VPN apps that might block local traffic.

Advanced Diagnostics

1. Ping & ARP

   • Ping the target device to confirm basic connectivity:

     
     ping 192.168.1.15 

   • Check ARP table to ensure MAC is visible:

     
     arp -a 

2. Wireshark / Packet Capture

   • Capture traffic to see broadcast discovery and TCP handshake. Look for UDP broadcasts from Dukto and whether replies are received.

3. Check Logs

   • Dukto keeps logs in its application folder; review them for errors or binding failures.

4. Port Conflicts

   • Ensure no other app is using the same TCP ports Dukto attempts to bind. Identify Dukto’s ports in its settings or logs.

Router & Network Considerations

• Multicast/UDP Broadcasts: Ensure your router/switch allows multicast and UDP broadcasts between devices on the same subnet. Managed switches sometimes block these by default.
• Guest Networks: Devices on guest SSIDs are often isolated; use the main network.
• VLANs: Devices on different VLANs won’t discover each other unless multicast routing is enabled.
• IGMP Snooping: On some switches, IGMP snooping can interfere with multicast—try disabling it if discovery fails.

Fix Examples

• Symptoms: Devices don’t show up at all.

  • Fix: Disable AP/Client Isolation on the router, set PCs to Private network profile, ensure VPNs are off.

• Symptoms: Transfer starts then stalls.

  • Fix: Check for firewall stateful inspection dropping long TCP sessions; add explicit allow rules for Dukto’s ports, or disable firewall for testing. Switch from Wi‑Fi to wired if signal interference suspected.

• Symptoms: Intermittent discovery (appears then disappears).

  • Fix: Disable power-saving on Wi‑Fi adapters, uninstall aggressive antivirus network shields, ensure avahi/mDNS is running on Linux/macOS.

When to Consider Alternatives

If you repeatedly hit network restrictions (corporate networks, school Wi‑Fi, locked-down routers), consider using:

• Cloud-based transfers (Dropbox/Google Drive) for reliability.
• SSH/SFTP for tech-savvy users on controlled networks.
• Tools that support NAT traversal or relay servers if devices are not on the same LAN.

Summary Checklist

• Same subnet and network profile set to Private.
• Disable VPNs and client isolation.
• Allow Dukto through OS firewalls and security suites.
• Ensure mDNS/avahi is running on Linux/macOS.
• Test with packet capture if needed to pinpoint discovery vs. transfer failure.

If you want, tell me which operating systems and network setup you’re using and I’ll provide step-by-step commands and exact settings to try.