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I would like for my Android device (a Samsung Galaxy) to be discoverable through avahi/bonjour when it is connected to a WiFi network, and then to be able to access its filesystem via SSH (SFTP).

For me, that's a familiar and convenient way to access various devices in my local network: to discover their SSh service via avahi/bonjour (not to have to deal with IP addresses), and to ssh to them. I would use this way for my GNU/Linux systems (like Ubuntu).

Is there free (= libre -- because I appreciate the freedom of hacking) software for Android that would implement this, namely:

  • avahi/bonjour support for Android, so that the Android device would be reachable by name in the .local domain (instead of just by its IP address);
  • and an SSH server with support for publishing itself through Avahi/bonjour (mdnssd).
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Just the same wish -- android.stackexchange.com/questions/20907/… : to ssh to Android not by its IP, but rather by the name acquired via zeroconf/bonjour/avahi/mdns (whatever you call it). It would be even better if the SSH service would be published via zeroconf/bonjour/avahi/mdns/dnssd (whatever you call it). – imz -- Ivan Zakharyaschev Aug 13 '12 at 13:02
As for the SSH part of the wish, there are already Q&As: android.stackexchange.com/questions/9905/… , android.stackexchange.com/questions/15503/… . (Although I'll have to find out whether the suggested solutions are free/libre software--to answer my question.) The avahi/bonjour/zeroconf support part of my question is without an answer though... – imz -- Ivan Zakharyaschev Aug 13 '12 at 13:08
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I know it's not the same, but while searching for the "final solution": I advised my routers DHCP to assign the devices a static IP, and then configured that with my local DNS (you could also do so via /etc/hosts). So I don't have to remember IPs, but the devices "nick names", which is quite easy in comparision. – Izzy Aug 13 '12 at 13:45
@Izzy: I see, thanks, that's a very reasonable workaround. But unfortunately, in my case, it seems that I have (as the router) an Airport Extreme basestation which doesn't support "DHCP reservations". Also, it would be nice to be able to connect to the device by a "nickname" in the situation when I'm a "guest" (in a network not configured by me). – imz -- Ivan Zakharyaschev Aug 13 '12 at 14:22
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Sure, that was understood from the beginning -- that's why I thought it as a work-around undtil you find a real solution. There are apps available permitting you to configure a "fixed IP on demand / by network" (as opposed to the "fixed DHCP"), which should even work with your extreme airport basestation. If you're interested, I could sum this up and place it in an answer (together with my above comment). – Izzy Aug 13 '12 at 14:37
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