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What is Mycelium Network?

Mycelium is an IPv6 overlay network that creates secure, encrypted connections between your devices anywhere in the world.

Think of it as your own private internet layer - but without the complexity of VPNs, port forwarding, or NAT traversal.

How It Works​

Mycelium creates a peer-to-peer mesh network where:

  • 🌐 Each device gets its own unique IPv6 address
  • 🔐 All traffic is automatically encrypted end-to-end
  • 🚀 Smart routing finds the fastest path between devices
  • 🔄 Network adapts automatically as devices join or leave

No central servers. No configuration complexity. Just secure connectivity.

Why Use Mycelium?​

🌍 Global Connectivity​

Connect devices across the world as if they were on the same local network:

  • Home server to laptop while traveling
  • Multiple offices without complicated VPN setups
  • IoT devices across different locations
  • Development environments and remote services

🔒 Secure by Default​

  • End-to-end encryption - Traffic is encrypted between devices
  • No trust required - No central authority can intercept
  • Automatic security - No manual key exchange needed
  • Private by design - Only you control your network

🚀 Smart & Fast​

  • Automatic routing - Finds optimal paths
  • NAT traversal - Works behind firewalls
  • Resilient - Routes around failures
  • Low overhead - Minimal performance impact

📱 Cross-Platform & Easy to Use​

Easy-to-use apps for most platforms:

  • iOS - App Store
  • Android - Google Play
  • macOS - App Store
  • Windows - Desktop app
  • Linux - Command-line (for advanced users)

Common Use Cases​

Remote Access​

Access your home server or services from anywhere without opening ports or configuring complex VPNs.

# At home: Run Mycelium on your server
# Address: 5c4:c176:bf44:b2ab:5e7e:f6a:b7e2:11ca

# Traveling: Access your server via its Mycelium address
ssh user@5c4:c176:bf44:b2ab:5e7e:f6a:b7e2:11ca

Private Networks​

Create secure connections between multiple locations:

  • Link office networks
  • Connect distributed teams
  • Secure IoT deployments
  • Private cloud infrastructure

Development & Testing​

Build distributed applications with real-world networking:

  • Test across geographic locations
  • Develop P2P applications
  • Simulate network topologies
  • Remote debugging

ThreeFold Grid Access​

Connect to services on the ThreeFold Grid:

  • Access deployed workloads
  • Manage your infrastructure
  • Use decentralized services
  • Build on the grid

Key Features​

FeatureBenefit
Zero ConfigurationWorks out of the box
IPv6 NativeFuture-proof addressing
P2P MeshNo single point of failure
Automatic EncryptionSecure without complexity
NAT TraversalWorks behind firewalls
Smart RoutingOptimal path selection
Low LatencyDirect connections when possible
Cross-PlatformRun anywhere

How Is It Different?​

vs Traditional VPNs​

  • ✅ No central server - Peer-to-peer mesh
  • ✅ Automatic routing - No manual configuration
  • ✅ Lower latency - Direct connections
  • ✅ Simpler setup - Just run and connect

vs Other Overlay Networks​

  • ✅ IPv6 native - Not limited to IPv4 address space
  • ✅ Production ready - Used in ThreeFold infrastructure
  • ✅ Active development - Continuous improvements
  • ✅ Open source - Transparent and auditable

Architecture Overview​

┌──────────────┐      Encrypted Tunnel        ┌──────────────┐
│   Device A   │◄────────────────────────────►│   Device B   │
│ Mycelium IP  │      Over Internet           │ Mycelium IP  │
└──────────────┘                              └──────────────┘
       │                                            │
       └────────────── Mesh Network ────────────────┘
                   (via Public Peers)

How it works:

  • Devices run Mycelium daemon
  • Connect to public or private peers
  • Build encrypted tunnels automatically
  • Route traffic efficiently

Want to understand the architecture in depth? Read the Architecture Guide to learn about Mycelium's innovative cryptographic design, why it's more secure than TLS/HTTPS, and how its multi-path routing provides real-world resilience.

Getting Started​

Ready to try Mycelium? It's super easy:

  1. Install Mycelium - Download the app for your device
  2. Quick Start - Connect in under 5 minutes

💡 Super Simple!​

iPhone/Android users: Just download from App Store or Google Play, open the app, and tap Start!

Windows/Mac users: Download the app, install, and click Start!

Linux users: Command-line installation available.

Resources​

Next Step

Install Mycelium on your system: Installation Guide