Steam Update Server

[S1ght]

Hi all,

This is going to be a long shot question but I'm going to ask anyway. I've got a Media/Download Server now running at home. There are 3 of us currently sharing a house where we all have some common Steam games so obviously if an update gets released then all 3 of our Steams update.

Besides the long winded procedure of 1 updates and the other 2 could get a Backup of the game, is it at all possible or does any software exist currently that I could run on my Download PC where it could download the updates and then we could grab the updates from there? Similar to how a Business could manage Windows Updates?

Thanks in advance,
S1ght

 

[Avenue]

You dont need to backup and restore- if you copy the game from the updated steamapps>common folder, and past it in your folder, the next time you start steam the changes are automatically applied.
Same goes for if you purchase a new game. I transfer stuff all the time from my second PC.

 

[S1ght]

That doesn't always work though. The majority of the game is stored in the compressed GCF (can't remember if that was the right extension) files in the steamapps folder for the different Source games, as well as the Source Engine code.

And while keeping the common folder on the Download box in sync with our desktop pcs wouldn't be that difficult, keeping those large compressed GCF files would be cause then it would recopy xx gigs every time an update gets done. Not that that's a major issue either since we're running gigabit throughout the house, I'm just interested in trying to find a cool solution to this

I wonder how difficult it would be to make a program to do this. I imagine the authentication with Steam to update paid for games could be a bastard but surely it could just be a concept of

1. Run the Steam command line interface to Login with an Account that owns the game
2. Check for updates
3. Store bytes of the update
4. Act as a proxy for pcs to check for updates from this box instead of the Steam servers

 

[guest2013-1]

I think this needs to be under the software system, unless you know any code that the OP can use to achieve what they want?

 

[Chevron]

Wouldn't Steam Watch help with this?

 

[S1ght]

I think this needs to be under the software system, unless you know any code that the OP can use to achieve what they want?

I actually only saw it was in the wrong Software section after I posted but then I thought that if it was possible to code a solution then it's almost in the right section

But agreed I might get a better response there, so if there are any mods reading this and feel like moving it for me that'd be great thanks

Wouldn't Steam Watch help with this?

Have never really used Steam Watch before. Does it monitor all kinds of updates or is it more for specials and those kinds of things?

 

[guest2013-1]

Unfortunately I don't know of any software or precisely how Steam works, but what you could do is setup rsync on the machine you dedicate "the master". It will then copy across any changes in files/structure to the other machines (or using lsyncd, monitor your directories with triggers, but I don't think a Windows port is available). Not entirely sure how it'd work with saved games or setting files (keyboard mapping etc), because, like I said don't use Steam much or know how it's inner workings work.

I'll see if I have 5 min to Google something. Perhaps some keywords I use can yield results

 

[guest2013-1]

You mentioned somewhere (or I think it was you) that you have a server running somewhere? Is this server possibly linux? And could it be possibly setup with some proxy software? I know you can get an addon for IPCop that can keep big files in it's cache that you can nominate. I used to do that for the previous company I worked for, saved a ton of bandwidth with antivirus updates/windows updates (even though we had a WUP or whatever)

 

[S1ght]

You mentioned somewhere (or I think it was you) that you have a server running somewhere? Is this server possibly linux? And could it be possibly setup with some proxy software? I know you can get an addon for IPCop that can keep big files in it's cache that you can nominate. I used to do that for the previous company I worked for, saved a ton of bandwidth with antivirus updates/windows updates (even though we had a WUP or whatever)

Unfortunately it's a Windows Server. I considered Linux but the setup is just generally more of a pain than Windows imho Something like Dropbox would work for file syncing since it can sync via LAN but I doubt you can stop it from syncing online which would make it less than ideal Maybe I should go post in the Valve forums, maybe if I'm lucky a dev will read it there and it could be something they could consider (I'm being very optimistic here )

The only other real use I could get outta sticking Steam on that server box would be that we could remote in and login and download any games there overnight rather than using our main pcs.

 

[guest2013-1]

Well you do get proxy servers with caching ability for Windows. Linux is just easier to setup ... words I wouldn't have spoken about 5 years ago

BTW, it wouldn't JUST help cache steam, you could cache other big files (windows updates, antivirus updates etc) on there as well. Perhaps even movies (if you download those) so that one won't accidentally download the same thing and waste bandwidth

 

[HavocXphere]

Your main options are to copy it over & verify files or to re-download them.

Steam watch allows you to force a specific server. e.g. You'd buy say 1 gig prepaid WA cap & force WA steam servers. Then all of it pulls down without using the 1 gig since its freezoned. Mainly interesting if cost is an issue. NB not all content servers have all content so you'd still be stuck some of the time.

You can forget an update WSUS server type thing...its not happening.

Now for the clever part:

I've got a sneaky suspicion that you could run it with sym links over mapped drives though. I remember from LAN parties that games works eerily well over mapped drives. Hell we had like 6 PCs playing of 2 sets of game data in some cases...Warcraft3, UT3, various Source based games.

That was without authentication & DRM etc though so who knows what might happen with steam...maybe they'll can your accounts...dunno. The symlinks should be transparent though so *should* be OK unless something locks full access w/ multiple ppl playing the same thing. Content heavily games like Skyrim might not go down very well mapped style though...

Also, you had better keep use updated on what you try. K?