Iptux is a LAN messenger and file sharing client for Linux that can be used to send messages and files over the local network.
To install it in Linux Mint , open the Terminal and type in:
After it is installed, it will show up in the Internet menu.
Using it is simple. Launch it and on doing that, it will initially show your LAN IP address and your username with which you are logged into the system.
When it is installed and opened on different PCs that are running Linux Mint over the same LAN, it will automatically detect them along with their LAN IP addresses and logged in users.
To manually refresh this list, press F5 or choose Tools > Update.
You can also sort the PCs using Iptux by clicking on Tools > Sort.
They can then be listed as per their IP addresses or user nicknames.
If some of the logged in users are not able to show up in the Iptux pal list, you can manually add them using their LAN IP addresses. This is by choosing File > Detect and adding those IP addresses.
From the available online users, you can also find specific users if there is a long pal list by using File > Find.
This will show the complete Iptux pal list and list all the details of online hosts with the user nicknames, hostnames, and IP addresses.
Sending messages using Iptux:
To start sending messages, double-click the username. This will open a messenger window. Type in the message and click on Send.
Alternatively, you can also right-click on them and select Send Message.
The name of the sender will blink in blue when a message is sent from there and is yet unread.
These messages will be delivered to the recipient only if they are logged in and online on Iptux. Otherwise, an error message of non-delivery will be displayed.
Sending files using Iptux:
To send a file, click on the Files button from the bottom-right panel of the message window. Once selected, click on Send.
The recipient will get a prompt to accept the file or refuse it.
When accepted, it will be downloaded to the recipient’s PC. You can also send images. Click on Tools > Insert Picture and add the image to be sent. The Clear Buffer option is to clear the chat history.
The recipient will be able to see the image right from within the chat window.
Other than that, folders too can be sent using Iptux. Click on Files > Attach Folder to choose the folder to be sent.
Iptux also supports shared management. So, you can share files and folders. To do that, select Tools > Shared Management.
Then add the file or folder to be shared. You can also set a password for it.
To access this, the recipient needs to request for Shared Management by right-clicking the source user and choosing Request Shared Resources.
There will be a password prompt to access it if the password was set for it.
Iptux settings:
You can change the username details as well as other settings by choosing from Tools > Preferences.
To change your nickname that is displayed, click on the Personal section, and change from there.
A group name can also be added from there as well as changing the default folder where all the received files will be stored. You can also add a photo and signature.
For changing the font settings, saving the chat history, and other options go to the System section.
You can also enable the Enter key from here to directly send messages instead of clicking the Send button every time.
To manually add a list of LAN IP addresses, click on the Network section. You can also export the existing list from here if needed.
By the way, from Linux Mint 20 onwards, there is already Warpinator that comes installed by default for local file transfers. However, Iptux can be used too as a simple LAN messenger for sending messages and files.
Happy messaging.
