1What Runner is

Every computer running Runner is a complete station. Stations find each other on the local network by themselves and talk directly to one another. There is no central server to install, maintain or lose.

Runner combines text chat, file transfer, shared files, tasks and map positions in one window, and protects all of it with end-to-end encryption and digital signatures.

2What it does

• Messages. Chat with everyone, with a group or with a single station, with replies, reactions, pinning and mentions.
• Files. Send a file directly, or share it with the whole network: every station helps to deliver it, so it spreads quickly also over slow links.
• Tasks. Give tasks with priority, deadline and typed items; every recipient answers individually, so you see who did what.
• Map and position. GPS, MGRS or latitude and longitude, with the live positions of the other stations.
• Works anywhere. On a gigabit switch and on a narrow-band radio link. The bandwidth Runner uses can be limited.

3New in Runner 1.8

Version 1.8 makes Runner more robust in the field: it keeps working when ports are taken or blocked, keeps every station on the same time, and runs on shared computers and over very slow links.

• Time Sync for the whole network. One press sets the clock and the time zone (UTC by default) of every station to the coordinator’s, accurate to about 20 milliseconds. The new Runner Service does this, so operators need no administrator rights. An acoustic check lets every station beep on the same moment, so you can hear that the clocks agree.
• Keeps finding each other. When another program takes or blocks Runner’s ports, stations fall back to a backup entrance on TCP 443 and fetch the station list from each other over TCP. Every port that is not the usual one is written to the log.
• Network check. Help > Network check tests adapters, firewall, ports, discovery, passphrases, time and versions, and connects to every station online and back, so a problem is found in minutes.
• Several networks. Up to four network passphrases, each with its own name and room. A station can work with several units at once, while the members of each network see only their own.
• Remote Desktop and terminal servers. Several operators can run Runner on one computer, each with their own port; stations on the same computer are marked as such.
• Made for slow links. Connection types for fast networks, slow radio, 4G/5G and BGAN satellite set the right speed in one step, with sensible limits on large files over limited links.
• Port reservation. The installer reserves Runner’s ports, so other programs, Hyper-V, WSL or Docker cannot take them.
• Spell checking in Dutch and English together, using the Windows spell checker.
• Clear versions. Every station announces its version; a station on another version is marked in the Clients list and written to the log.
• Licences that say for whom. A licence names the organisation and, when wanted, the department and a free line of text, shown on every station.
• And more. Runner’s own notifications in its colour scheme, a live log window, a turquoise colour style and command-line options for administrators.

4Secure down to the disk

• End-to-end encryption. Every transfer is protected with AES-256-GCM and signed with RSA-2048, with forward secrecy through ECDH P-256.
• Protected storage. An encrypted database, protected with the computer’s TPM chip where it has one.
• On the spot. A lock screen, an optional network passphrase so only your own stations see each other, and an emergency wipe.
• Nothing leaves the network. Runner needs no internet connection and keeps its data only on the computer itself.

5Requirements

6Licences and information

Runner is intended for defence, emergency services, crisis teams and exercise staff. Licences are issued per computer, on request.