Cannot connect to Linux/Windows steam host from Linux Client, while android Steam Link always works

[Adam Bot]

Hi,

Recently when trying to connect to Linux host, I got random "cannot connect to remote computer" error very frequently.
Further more, I also tried to start a Windows VM as host (firewall disabled for both Linux and Windows hosts), still the same problem.

The most strange part is, Android steam link can discover and connect to *ALL* those hosts
(my linux desktop, linux laptop, windows VM) without any problem.

I also checked the host streaming_log.txt, nothing at all when client failed to connect.
(I have some rare random success, for those cases, it leaves some log).

Also, I see no devices in 'remote play' tab from the setting menu, I though it's a bug, but not sure.

I also tried both steam runtime and native runtime (steam-native-runtime from Arch), no difference I can tell.

Any idea to further debug the problem?
Thanks.

[Adam Bot]

Anyway, for netstat output of the host (linux desktop):
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.1:27060 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 21588/steam
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:27036 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 21588/steam
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.1:57343 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 21588/steam
tcp 0 0 172.16.0.199:45267 180.101.192.249:443 ESTABLISHED 21588/steam
tcp 0 0 172.16.0.199:27036 172.16.0.99:57959 ESTABLISHED 21588/steam
udp6 0 0 :::27036 :::* 21588/steam

And netstat output for the client (linux laptop):
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.1:27060 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 2285/steam
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:27036 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 2285/steam
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.1:57343 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 2285/steam
tcp 0 0 172.16.0.99:57959 172.16.0.199:27036 ESTABLISHED 2285/steam
tcp 0 0 172.16.0.99:58273 180.101.192.249:27020 ESTABLISHED 2285/steam
udp6 0 0 :::27036 :::* 2285/steam

And since I have disabled firewall for all linux systems and the windows VM, it shouldn't case any problem. (If anyone is really wondering about the firewall, I'm using firewalld, and I see no difference no matter if I enabled or disabled firewalld)

[John]

I have a similar problem. Streaming was working for me from Ubuntu 18.04 server to Ubuntu 18.04 client. No good as of recent steam updates.

I'm going to try the beta versions later.

[Adam Bot]

No need, my Linux desktop is already using steam beta and I'm reporting the problem.

And the Linux laptop is using stable steam, and the same problem.

So I don't know if it's a regression after a certain update.

[John]

There is a suggestion here regarding recent streaming issues on Windows which points to client:server time synchronisation issues as a possible cause. I know my laptop (client) is configured for NTP but I setup my server recently and I haven't checked its time settings.

[Adam Bot]

I don't believe it's time synchronization.

As all my linux machines shares the same NTP server pool from Arch.
And for the windows VM, it uses the time from host, thus should be correct at least for the test duration.

Furthermore, since in my test environment, there are 4 machines (linux desktop, linux laptop, windows VM inside linux laptop, and steam link on Android phone), it's really hard to screw just one direction.

So far, the results are: (LD = Linux desktop, LL = Linux laptop, WV = Windows VM, SA = steam Link), Left is host, right is client:
LD <- LL: Mostly fail
LD <- SA: Pass
LL <- LD: Mostly fail
LL <- SA: Pass
WV <- LD: Mostly fail
WV <- LL: Mostly fail
WV <- SA: Pass

So the problem looks like that the Linux remote play client has something wrong.
While the server side is mostly OK.

[Forsa1t]

get Play On lInux on my ubuntu 18, and then install steam on wine, home translation is workin, but window mode bugged... Only see my mouse. Run steam with pol in window mode will fix mous bug

[John]

Streaming from Ubuntu 18.04 server to Ubuntu 18.04 client is working for me reliably again as of latest Steam beta version.

[Adam Bot]

What's the kernel version of your working 18.04 client?

I see some recent kernel backports causing problems for Steam.

[John]

Client: Linux bellerophon 4.15.0-51-generic #55-Ubuntu SMP Wed May 15 14:27:21 UTC 2019 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Server: Linux home 4.18.0-041800-generic #201808122131 SMP Sun Aug 12 21:33:20 UTC 2018 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[Adam Bot]

Are you using the latest beta Steam? According to upstream issue, the latest beta steam is causing stream client problems.
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/6275

[John]

Yes. Latest steam beta on client and server. Interestingly I have an older laptop, also running 4.15.0-51-generic and the latest steam beta that still has intermittent streaming connection issues so who knows what is going on!