Editing Introduction to a Self Managed Life: a 13 hour & 28 minute presentation by FUTO software (section)

==== 4.1 Understanding Discovery Methods &amp; why we DON’T USE THEM. ====

Discovery methods are how the syncthing app on your phone will “find” the server you set up as your backup server.

<blockquote>'''NOTE:''' Our server has a static IP: <code>192.168.5.5</code>. We went through the trouble to make sure it always lives at <code>192.168.5.5</code> via static mappings in '''pfSense''' and configuring a static IP in the server’s networking settings. Our server will '''always''' be present at <code>192.168.5.5</code> or <code>androidstuff.home.arpa</code> while we are connected via VPN. All Syncthing “discovery” is doing is trying to find our machine, but why use a find feature when we already know where it is? This adds another point of failure for no good reason! Think of it like making your iPhone invisible &amp; then enabling '''“find my iPhone.”'''
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This setup we are installing syncthing onto has the following:

# A static IP configured, so that it is '''always''' <code>192.168.5.5</code>
# A static IP mapping configured in our router, so that no other device on our network can ever steal <code>192.168.5.5</code> from the computer running syncthing.
# A static hostname of <code>androidstuff</code> that does not change.
# Dynamic DNS for our main internet connection, so when we are outside our network our '''pfSense''' router &amp; <code>FreeDNS</code> will make sure that <code>louishomeserver.chickenkiller.com</code> always points to our home network IP address.

'''I will showcase local discovery failing on video.''' It ''“works”'' when I initially connect to my server via QR code &amp; visiting it in the browser, but fails when I try to connect again. This is because my VPN is on network <code>192.168.6.0/24</code> and my Syncthing is on <code>192.168.5.0/24</code>. I was hoping local discovery would be “smart” enough to remember the last IP address my server was on since it had not changed, but it did not.

'''NEVER RELY ON SOMETHING ELSE TO BE “SMART” IN SOLVING A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE!'''

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