On 12/16/2011 04:17 PM, Fletcher Dunn wrote:
When we release an update we first send out the bits to the content servers. Then, when all of the content servers have all of the bits, then we flip the master switch to make those depots available for download. After a short delay, this also lets the GMS know that there is a new version of the product.
I believe you, but at the same time I have some evidence to counter this -- with Thursday's update I started steam within 60 seconds of the Steam API (UpToDateCheck) reporting an update available, and it returned "up to date". A second try had more fruitful results. It doesn't bother me so much though, because a quick cross-check of what the UpToDateCheck returned vs what's in steam.inf shows that the updater should continue banging on steam until the bits fall out.
I'll also chip in and say that I've never had missing files from the steam updater. This may be due to my elaborate rsync mechanism, since nothing other than steam ever scribbles in that directory.
It's good to hear that you are considering a new updater because the tool and the protocol that it uses are the entire reason I have this rsync mechanism in the first place. Without fail, every update involves at minimum 20 minutes of waiting while it tries to find a content server that isn't overloaded, but for a typical "big" update like Smissmass it's usually 45+ minutes before anything at all happens. As I write this, I'm *still* waiting for today's patch to start downloading and I'm running the update concurrently in EC2's Oregon and Tokyo regions. I'm considering running it from Norway because a friend there seems to get good update times.
But don't take this as a complete rant, I'm quite pleased with the level of interaction with the server operators here and if I were in your position I probably would have snapped by now considering the way some people here talk. The content distribution system is really my only gripe.
Have a great night, -- m. tharp _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: https://list.valvesoftware.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux
