Game File Transfer over Local Network?

[Lord Flashheart]

Who is using it?
I understand it is used to help with internet bandwidth issues & to speed up game downloads if it is already on a PC in the local network.
It is accessed through Steam->Settings->Downloads
How much does it improve download speeds?

I am presently using this: https://lancache.net
It is running as a container on my server. It helps a lot The problem is it caches the compressed game download data, but not the uncompressed game data.

Does anyone know which specific network port(s) that steam needs to be open, on each gaming machine?

Useful info appreciated.

Thanks

[Lord Flashheart]

Oh well, just had an RTFM issue. It is TCP port 24070. Yay

[Bad 💀 Motha]

I don't even get why Steam had to wait until now to include such a feature.
Network sharing and transfers are not hard to do.
People act like if Steam doesn't have such a feature, it's hard to do, or inconvenient.

[Viking2121]

Never tried it yet, I always did the old school way, for a big drive I got the games backed up onto and share over the network, Wonder if this even works.

[Talby]

I had to disable on my old laptop, the old wifi card is slower than my FIOS gig connection. Works well on my wired desktop, my laptop and both my kids (also wired) get faster / more efficient updates...

[Lord Flashheart]

It would be good if the various hardware review youtube folks did something comprehensive on this.
It would be nice to find out the optimum hardware setup for that.

Possibly along the lines of using a few super cheap 240GB SSD to install in the various gaming PCs. & setup as the download cache in steam options. Just speculation though.


Right now I am using the lancache as a container on my server. Until then will keep using it.

[_I_]

you can also just copy the game files using windows file sharing, or usb stick/drive
when you install the game, steam will find existing files and just verify them

[Lord Flashheart]

Originally posted by _I_:

you can also just copy the game files using windows file sharing, or usb stick/drive
when you install the game, steam will find existing files and just verify them

I think the whole point of it is to avoid doing that, where it just automated.
Apparently it is the download game data that is transferred across., not the uncompressed game data, which can take up much more space.

[_I_]

installing from steam servers downloads compressed data, which takes up more space when decompressed and copied

after its installed steam *should clean up the download and temp folders freeing up that space
local transfer would not have access to the compressed files, and with gigabit or faster lan internet speed is irreverent, and no need to decompress files at the destination, so space needed during the install process is less than from downloading from steam servers

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Point of the process is not needing to do anything besides just to enable it for your local network, this may boost bandwidth as using your local network instead of your ISP limiting you, if have data cap this be help avoid wasting data cap, also wouldn't need to keep copying files over, and over whenever update happens, or if someone on same network want to download already downloaded game from online.

It's just a simple QoL feature IMO, but doesn't really matter if have unlimited data, and fast internet.

[Lord Flashheart]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Point of the process is not needing to do anything besides just to enable it for your local network, this may boost bandwidth as using your local network instead of your ISP limiting you, if have data cap this be help avoid wasting data cap, also wouldn't need to keep copying files over, and over whenever update happens, or if someone on same network want to download already downloaded game from online.

It's just a simple QoL feature IMO, but doesn't really matter if have unlimited data, and fast internet.

You pretty much have the point of it.
For me, my game downloads are up to 2.5 Gb, which is great. Presently cache & coping over the network with another method - hrttps:/lancache.net. It is on my server.
My internet speed is 100Mb/s unlimted. I set up the server and such before faster speeds were available. I get get 500 Mb/s if I want to, but now see no need & it is about 2 x the price.

Also I guess someone wants to take advantage of this, who has limited internet:

If an old low power machine is available, such as a tiny PC or laptop, get a hard drive to install as a games backup. Install windows and copy over all the games (once) . Just leave it running with steam on and let it update. Make sure it uses an ethernet connection and not wifi to the router. Put it in the garage/cupboard or something. Of course turn om the local network transfer options in steam.

It will be a download cache and a backup of the games. If the PC drive with game fails, then re-downloading could be expensive & time consuming.
It is a new feature & it is curious many more are apparently not taking advantage of it.

Use it, not use it, make your choice.

[Viking2121]

I wonder if this will work on the same account on another PC, I know it throws a fit if trying to log into my account on the same network on my laptop if my desktop is already logged in. Guess its something I should try.

[Talby]

Originally posted by Viking2121:

I wonder if this will work on the same account on another PC, I know it throws a fit if trying to log into my account on the same network on my laptop if my desktop is already logged in. Guess its something I should try.

Yes that should work, I am logging into steam on my desktop pretty much all the time and can login on my laptop, only complains if I leave a game running on my desktop if I start a game on my laptop. Updates work for all steam logins on the network as well

[xSOSxHawkens]

Re the local network transfer built into the client, yes it works, yes its more or less seamless, if you have multiple PC's in the same home with the same game one will get it the rest will copy from it. EZ-PZ.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originally posted by _I_:

you can also just copy the game files using windows file sharing, or usb stick/drive
when you install the game, steam will find existing files and just verify them

That's the way I been doing things since Win98. It's not hard to do, especially with Steam. It's basically the same process for Origin/EA Games Client or UPlay/UConnect as well

[Lord Flashheart]

Originally posted by xSOSxHawkens:

Re the local network transfer built into the client, yes it works, yes its more or less seamless, if you have multiple PC's in the same home with the same game one will get it the rest will copy from it. EZ-PZ.

Yep. The only downside is that another PC with steam installed & the games must be on when updating.
That is why I suggested an always on low power machine, with windows, steam & appropriate games. It is not to play them, but to just be a cache & backup.