How to Set Up a Local Network Clipboard for Offline Text Sharing

Want to share text between devices on your local network without internet? Here's how to set up Keynou Clipboard as a local network clipboard.

Why a Local Network Clipboard?

A LAN clipboard is useful when:

Prerequisites

Step 1: Install Keynou Clipboard

Clone the repository and install dependencies:

git clone https://github.com/keynou/keynou-clipboard.git
cd keynou-clipboard
npm install

Step 2: Build the Project

npm run build

Step 3: Start the Server

npm start

The server starts on port 3000 by default.

Step 4: Find Your Local IP

On Windows

ipconfig

Look for "IPv4 Address" - something like 192.168.1.100

On Mac/Linux

ifconfig | grep inet

Or:

hostname -I

Step 5: Share with Devices on Your Network

On any device on the same network, open a browser and go to:

http://YOUR-LOCAL-IP:3000/editor

For example: http://192.168.1.100:3000/editor

Step 6: Share the Session

Optional: Make It Always Available

Using PM2 (Process Manager)

npm install -g pm2
pm2 start server.js --name keynou
pm2 startup
pm2 save

This keeps the server running even after reboots.

Using Docker

FROM node:18-alpine
WORKDIR /app
COPY . .
RUN npm install && npm run build
EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["npm", "start"]

Build and run:

docker build -t keynou-clipboard .
docker run -p 3000:3000 keynou-clipboard

Security Considerations

When running on a local network:

Troubleshooting

Can't Access from Other Devices

WebSocket Connection Failed

Conclusion

Setting up a local network clipboard with Keynou Clipboard takes about 5 minutes. It gives you fast, private, offline text sharing between all devices on your network. Perfect for offices, classrooms, and homes where internet access isn't available or privacy is a priority.