-- And this solution is still not really good, as GSP IP ranges have no relation with gamers ISP ranges, even in a same country.
-- Johann On Apr 22, 12:39, BlueHawk^4u wrote: > It used to be that way, going from lowest ip to highest, it was changed a > long time ago, they are now in IP order (starting from the clients IP > address, walking the list of servers both forward and backwards). > > Gavin Rodgers > (BlueHawk^4u) > 4u-servers.co.uk > 4u-servers.co.uk/forums (forums, now with 500+ FREE arcade games) > 4u-mobile.co.uk (ringtones logos ..) > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Grievah > Sent: 22 April 2006 12:21 > To: [email protected] > Subject: [hlds_linux] Analysis: why servers with good latencies show up last > in Steam's servers list > > Apologies for the long post, it is a complex issue, which affects some > hosting providers in a hard way. > > > The situation, as I gathered it (corrections welcomed): > ------------------------------------------------------- > When a srcds is launched, it contacts Steam's master servers, which adds > the IP:port to a database. > > Then, when a Steam browser asks for a list of servers in the "Internet" > tab, Steam master servers return the full list it has in its database to > the Steam client, where IP addresses are ordered from the lowest to the > highest. > > As the Steam browser starts receiving this ordered list, it checks for > the latency of each IP:port, one after the other. This leads to hundred > of packets per second being sent and received (in my case, 150 packets/s > sent, 90 packets/s received). > > The Steam browser shows the servers for which it receives latencies > results back. > > > > > The problem: > ------------ > Most home modems/routers/ethernet interfaces and DSL connections are > unable to process this large amount of packets per second and as a result: > - servers with a low IP address are queried first and are more likely to: > a. reply > b. and with a low latency > - server with a high IP address are queried last and are more likely to: > a. see their reply packet dropped > b. or have the query or reply packet stay in output queues somewhere > along the way, which leads to high latencies > > Note I am not speaking about bit/s, here, but about packets/s - changing > the "Internet speed" in the Steam browser has, therefore, no impact > whatsoever. > > Note also I am not the only one affected by this issue, which is > reported on many Steam/Source games forums. > > > > The solutions: > -------------- > 1. for Source games hostings providers: make sure you are being > allocated low IP addresses ranges. Unfortunately, this is not practical, > since IP ranges are allocated by Local Internet Registries, which get > them from Regional Internet Registries (RIPE, ARIN, AfriNIC, APNIC, > LACNIC), which have their own ranges from already depleted IPv4 blocks. > To summarize, allocations to a given Provider are not random, yet > Providers cannot request addresses in a "low" range. > > In other words, providers of Public Source servers do not have much > choice: either they are being allocated low IP ranges and their servers > will fill more easily (whether it is a good thing or not to them), or > they are allocated high IP ranges, and their public servers will > struggle filling up. > > > 2. for people wishing to rent/own a Public Source game server, filling > up easily: just make sure its IP address is as low as possible. You may > ask the provider which IP ranges he uses/has, before spending your money. > > > 3. for Valve: this situation gives unfair advantages to some providers > over others. As I see it, there are two relatively easy ways Valve could > address this: > * on Steam's master servers, have a scheduled job (every 10 minutes, > for instance) than randomly reorders the lists that are sent to Steam > browsers. > * in Steam's browsers, throttle the outputing of packets that check for > latency, to a low default value that do not cause problem with most home > hardware (50 packets/s?). Either hide this, or make it a parameter in > the "Internet" tab. > > > Thoughts? > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux > > > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please > visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux -- Content-Description: Digital signature [ signature.asc of type application/pgp-signature deleted ] -- _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux
