How can I search for a specific computer over a closed network?

Question

I have a network of 16 computers all linked to the same switch, not connected to the internet. One of the 16 computers has a small Java app running on it along with a BlazeDS server (aka it's listening on a port for a message).

Currently, the other 15 "client" computers have to manually enter the "server" IP where the java app resides. My client app is Adobe Air, so I have no abilities there as far as scanning for the server.

I was thinking of writing a helper app / utility in Java or C++. At the very least, this app could display the IP to the user who could then input it into the Air app; sloppy but better than nothing.

I'm sure there are some tools out there that deal with this type of problem. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I would strongly recommend using Zeroconf/Bonjour for this as it makes it trivially easy to handle decentralized "where is the others who I should know about and should know about me"?

The easiest way to do this in Java (and completely inside your own application) is with the jmdns project. http://jmdns.sourceforge.net/

Answer 2

You could code a "discover" feature for the users that sends a heartbeat or test message to all the IP addresses in the same subnet of the current computer looking for the server that accepts / responds appropriately.