-- I'm not speaking about network latency or quality. I'm speaking about IP order in the steam browser.
For example, I have to wait the end of the server list refresh if I want to see the servers of my country. Even with good filters, this is very long, and it does have a real impact on the servers popularity. -- Johann On Apr 24, 14:18, Scott Long wrote: > Hopefully, the GSP has researched which backbone/colo providers have the > best transit. There are some game server providers who have servers 9 hops > off of the major backbone/s in the area. There are others who are able to > place their servers one hop off the backbone. The IP range doesn't matter. > It is the transit that can make or break a GSP IMHO. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Thiesson > Johann > Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2006 2:04 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [hlds_linux] Analysis: why servers with good latencies show up > last in Steam's servers list > > -- > 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 > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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
