Does Steam use multiple network devices?

[Flybel]

Do the Steam Client and the download servers actually support using multiple network devices at the same time for one download?
I'm having following scenario:
1. I have a WiFi stick which can reach download speeds of about 4 MB/s max and 3 MB/s in average. However at home WiFi is instable (ping) and so unsuitable for gaming.
2. I have a PowerLAN device connected to my laptop's ethernet port. This can reach download speeds of maximum 1 MB/s and ping gets really high when that much data is transferred. But when no large bandwidths are needed, ping stays constant at a good value.
3. I have my internal network card for WiFi + Bluetooth. It is unstable and so it's WiFi is always disabled.

Now, when I disconnect 2. and start a download in Uplay client with 1. and after starting it reconnect 2., I get my standard ping on TeamSpeak and everything else while download runs at 3-4 MB/s (which is really nice since Windows doesn't allow you to select what program can use what network or sound device).
But when I disconnect 2. and start a download in Steam client with 1. and then reconnect 2., my ping on TeamSpeak goes up to almost 300ms and my maximum download speed is at about 4.5 MB/s, while average lays at 3.5 MB/s.
So both the higher ping and bandwidth indicate that Steam uses both network devices. However I know that both client and server need to be compatible with such a technique to handle splitting and assembling packets. Besides, when I paused the download, enabled 3. to join 1. and 2. and resumed the download, I got download speeds of about 0.6-0.9 MB/s (which would suit 2. and 3., I don't know which of those was used then). I cannot explain why that did happen. Does anyone know if Steam actually supports multiple network devices, and if so, is there a limit in quantity?

Thanks for your responses ;)
~Flybel

[Satoru]

Note steam has no visibiltiy into the networking stack on the OS. the OS fully controls how packets are routed. The steam client only says "OS please send this packet to this IP". The OS controls how thta routes and such. The client doesn't understand nor needs to.

If you need packet level control on a per application basis, you need to use a 3rd party tool to do that. Steam doesn't understand anything on the networking layer as it doesn't need to.

The only way to do wahat you want is per application QOS on your system. YOu'd have to employ something like NetLimiter or NetBalancer to do that. Likley you should be creating dedicated bandidwth streams for Steam while limiting the amount of data that goes over your Powerline sine that apparently is your most stable connection

[Flybel]

Originally posted by Satoru:

Note steam has no visibiltiy into the networking stack on the OS. the OS fully controls how packets are routed. The steam client only says "OS please send this packet to this IP". The OS controls how thta routes and such. The client doesn't understand nor needs to.

If you need packet level control on a per application basis, you need to use a 3rd party tool to do that.

Then I don't understand the high ping I get in relation with the download speed, I get how some applications get which network device by Windows and having Uplay downloading stuff with a good ping in TeamSpeak confirms that when Steam can only use one device, it's not the PowerLAN connection.
However, do you know any (free) software to control network devices per application?

[Satoru]

Remember ping, latency and bandwidth are all DIFFERENT things and can be impacted by entirely different metrics. You can have great bandwidth but have terrible latency and ping.

Also all the things you're using have lots of external factors thta impact performance. Powerline can be great up until someone upstairs turns on a television which can saturate the line. Wifi can be fine until someone turns on a microwave which kills the spectrum. Also remember your download speed is also capped by your upload bandwidth as well, which then impacts your latency/ping.

Netlimiter and netbalancer are programs that can limit bandwidth on a per-application basis. But not those programs do not fix environmental factors thta are the ones you are having with wifi and powerline.

[Flybel]

Originally posted by Satoru:

Remember ping, latency and bandwidth are all DIFFERENT things and can be impacted by entirely different metrics. You can have great bandwidth but have terrible latency and ping.

Also all the things you're using have lots of external factors thta impact performance. Powerline can be great up until someone upstairs turns on a television which can saturate the line. Wifi can be fine until someone turns on a microwave which kills the spectrum. Also remember your download speed is also capped by your upload bandwidth as well, which then impacts your latency/ping.

Netlimiter and netbalancer are programs that can limit bandwidth on a per-application basis. But not those programs do not fix environmental factors thta are the ones you are having with wifi and powerline.

I know, but I can tell for my setup that the more bandwidth is used, the more the ping rises, that is especially for the PowerLAN connection.
Besides I am sure that the ping was dependant on the Steam download, because whenever I paused it my ping went back to normal and it went back to 300ms when I resumed it.
I used NetBalancer before (sadly it's not free, I used the trial), I am unaware that it can control the network devices each application uses... I used it to see the bandwidth usage per application and limit it.

[wuddih]

Originally posted by Flybel #StayTunad:

I know, but I can tell for my setup that the more bandwidth is used, the more the ping rises, that is especially for the PowerLAN connection.
Besides I am sure that the ping was dependant on the Steam download, because whenever I paused it my ping went back to normal and it went back to 300ms when I resumed it.
I used NetBalancer before (sadly it's not free, I used the trial), I am unaware that it can control the network devices each application uses... I used it to see the bandwidth usage per application and limit it.

your internet connection is the limit. and normally anything you hook up to your isps router/modem is way more potent then what your internet connection can handle.

if your inenter connection is full and a download would normally produce that, then your ping goes up.

steam has an own limiter in its settings.

[Flybel]

Originally posted by wuddih:

Originally posted by Flybel #StayTunad:

I know, but I can tell for my setup that the more bandwidth is used, the more the ping rises, that is especially for the PowerLAN connection.
Besides I am sure that the ping was dependant on the Steam download, because whenever I paused it my ping went back to normal and it went back to 300ms when I resumed it.
I used NetBalancer before (sadly it's not free, I used the trial), I am unaware that it can control the network devices each application uses... I used it to see the bandwidth usage per application and limit it.

your internet connection is the limit. and normally anything you hook up to your isps router/modem is way more potent then what your internet connection can handle.

if your inenter connection is full and a download would normally produce that, then your ping goes up.

steam has an own limiter in its settings.

It would be really sad if our VDSL with 100 Mbits/s would be the limit haha. I wired my laptop up to the router with a long ethernet cable and got 95 Mbits/s in download, so I can definitely tell that our router or isp is not the limit ^^
And I didn't enable the bandwidth limitation in Steam

[Bober]

hello

[Sandero]

yes

[skeer]

PowerLan might not be able to handle the increase in bandwidth and maintain ping, so it slows down the sending frequency. Idk, I've never heard of this tech before today. The way your house is wired could make a difference, or the adapter you are using, or maybe something else.

I would recommend trying to set a cap on how much bandwidth both programs (Steam and TeamViewer) can use per second, see if that fixes it.

Another option is to use a series of good networking wire, like ethenet, to connect your PC to the router. It would probably be less painful and cheaper than rewiring the house.

Hope you find an acceptable answer

[Flybel]

Originally posted by skeer:

PowerLan might not be able to handle the increase in bandwidth and maintain ping, so it slows down the sending frequency. Idk, I've never heard of this tech before today. The way your house is wired could make a difference, or the adapter you are using, or maybe something else.

I would recommend trying to set a cap on how much bandwidth both programs (Steam and TeamViewer) can use per second, see if that fixes it.

Another option is to use a series of good networking wire, like ethenet, to connect your PC to the router. It would probably be less painful and cheaper than rewiring the house.

Hope you find an acceptable answer

You missunderstood my concern a little.
I am well aware that using the bandwidth increases my ping, besides I'm not allowed to have a normal ethernet wire laying around the whole house.

Why I posted this thread (and that's why I didn't post it under the Help and Tips forum, but it got moved here) is because I would like to know if Steam can use multiple network adapters simultaneously, because if that is the case I could use the potential that my laptop has more. As I wrote in the original post, I do have 3 different network devices available. If Steam is able to have them work together and so achieve a larger bandwidth, I would really like to make use of that.

[Washell]

Originally posted by Flybel #StayTunad:

because I would like to know if Steam can use multiple network adapters simultaneously

No, because Steam can't and shouldn't dig that deep into the guts of the OS.

What you want is a virtual network adapter which driver/software balances its load over the two real network adapters. It's all quite advanced network stuff.

What you need is a decent WiFi connector and/or maybe rig up a directional antenna, which can be as simple as a pringles can[www.makeuseof.com]. Or find a way to lay the cable that parents/spouse can sign off on.

[Flybel]

Originally posted by Washell:

Originally posted by Flybel #StayTunad:

because I would like to know if Steam can use multiple network adapters simultaneously

No, because Steam can't and shouldn't dig that deep into the guts of the OS.

What you want is a virtual network adapter which driver/software balances its load over the two real network adapters. It's all quite advanced network stuff.

What you need is a decent WiFi connector and/or maybe rig up a directional antenna, which can be as simple as a pringles can[www.makeuseof.com]. Or find a way to lay the cable that parents/spouse can sign off on.

Ok, thanks for clarifying.
I can't complain about my internet speed though, so I won't start experimenting... I just wanted to know if Steam natively supported anything in that manner, which you answered.