Steam unable to connect to network (Garuda Linux)

[BeardWarrior]

For the last couple of weeks, my Steam install in Garuda Linux has been unable to connect to Steam services, leaving me unable to update or log in to anything other than offline mode. I am able to navigate to steam website and all related domains specified on the troubleshooting page, and have ruled out any issues with my firewall/DNS resolution. The Steam flatpak connects and updates fine as well, so the problem seems to be exclusively with the Steam package for Arch/Garuda.

Things I have tried:

• Disabled Beta program
  
• Changed download server
  
• Verified availability of steam services
  
• Rebooted
  
• Launched both `steam` and `steam-native` packages
  
• Uninstalled and re-installed `steam` and `steam-native-runtime` packages.
  
• Uninstalled and re-installed steamtinkerlaunch, mangohud, and goverlay
  
• Downgraded `steam` package from 1.0.0.74 to 1.0.0.73 using pacman
  
• Deleted all files in ~/.local/share/steam, ~/.steam, .steampid, .steampath, and /usr/share/steam
  
• Checked for local firewall (ufw installed but not active)
  
• Connected to a public wifi network
  
• Restored a known working steam configuration to .local/share/steam and .steam from a backup
  
• Various combinations of the above steps at the same time

My current steam output when running steam from the terminal is:

❯ steam
steam.sh[47374]: Running Steam on garuda Soaring 64-bit
steam.sh[47374]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
setup.sh[47446]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
steam.sh[47374]: Can't find 'steam-runtime-check-requirements', continuing anyway
[2021-12-29 11:39:05] Startup - updater built Nov 22 2021 22:06:59
ILocalize::AddFile() failed to load file "public/steambootstrapper_english.txt".
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(0)
Looks like steam didn't shutdown cleanly, scheduling immediate update check
[2021-12-29 11:39:05] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/taylor/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2021-12-29 11:39:05] Failed to load cached hosts file (File 'update_hosts_cached.vdf' not found), using defaults
[2021-12-29 11:39:05] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
[2021-12-29 11:39:05] 1. http://media.steampowered.com, /client/, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1.0)
[2021-12-29 11:39:05] Checking for update on startup
[2021-12-29 11:39:05] Checking for available update...
[2021-12-29 11:39:05] Downloading manifest: http://media.steampowered.com/client/steam_client_ubuntu12
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1.0)
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Download failed: http error 0 (media.steampowered.com/client/steam_client_ubuntu12)
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] DownloadManifest - exhausted list of download hosts
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] failed to load manifest from buffer.
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Failed to load manifest
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Error: Download failed: http error 0
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Saving metrics to disk (/home/taylor/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Error: Failed to determine download location for universe 1
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Verifying installation...
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Performing checksum verification of executable files
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Unable to read and verify install manifest /home/taylor/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_ubuntu12.installed
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Verification complete
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Downloading Update...
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Checking for available update...
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Downloading manifest: http://media.steampowered.com/client/steam_client_ubuntu12
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Download failed: http error 0 (media.steampowered.com/client/steam_client_ubuntu12)
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] DownloadManifest - exhausted list of download hosts
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] failed to load manifest from buffer.
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Failed to load manifest
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Error: Download failed: http error 0
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Saving metrics to disk (/home/taylor/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2021-12-29 11:39:06] Error: Steam needs to be online to update.	Please confirm your network connection and try again.
[2021-12-29 11:39:42] Shutdown
src/tier0/threadtools.cpp (3594) : Assertion Failed: Illegal termination of worker thread 'Thread(0x0x58991ed0/0x0xe5dfea'
src/tier0/threadtools.cpp (3594) : Assertion Failed: Illegal termination of worker thread 'Thread(0x0x58991ed0/0x0xe5dfea'
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1.0)
assert_20211229113943_6.dmp[47589]: Uploading dump (out-of-process)
/tmp/dumps/assert_20211229113943_6.dmp
assert_20211229113943_6.dmp[47589]: Finished uploading minidump (out-of-process): success = no
assert_20211229113943_6.dmp[47589]: error: Couldn't resolve host name
assert_20211229113943_6.dmp[47589]: file ''/tmp/dumps/assert_20211229113943_6.dmp'', upload no: ''Couldn't resolve host name''

I have an active topic open on the Garuda Linux Forums [forum.garudalinux.org] as well, which seems to have stalled out.

[BeardWarrior]

Just found the solution in the arch wiki. Needed to enable nscd for dns local cacheing, for some reason. After running sudo systemctl enable --now nscd, Steam now connects without an issue. I'm not sure why this just cropped up now, but I'm glad it's fixed.

Classic RTFM moment.