Steam streaming client exited unexpectedly (2) issues - Windows 10 Host, Windows 10 Client

[ForkWNY]

I've been having various crashes with the Steam streaming client - it exits unexpectedly at random (cannot be reproduced from specific actions or circumstances, but it always happens when streaming a game from the host), nothing useful in the streaming_client.exe.log, no errors, nothing. Happens frequently. Running various games from my Windows 10 Host. Titles included Metro Exodus, Doom Eternal, The Crew 2, Rocket League, seems to be an issue across the board. My client system is a Windows 10 laptop w/16GB of RAM, Ryzen 5 3500U CPU. The Host does not seem to be the problem as I never experienced any streaming issues on Steam Link on a Raspberry Pi, Steam Link hardware connected to TV, or Steam Link on Android. The streaming_client on the Windows 10 laptop is the only system having problems. The crashes are sometimes frequent or occasional. The streaming client exits and I have to reconnect to the host from Steam when the issue occurs. Definitely disruptive when streaming to my Windows 10 laptop. I haven't found anything online or in forums that seem to provide solutions for this issue.

I've tried reinstalling the Steam software on the laptop several times, disabling/enabling hardware decoding in advanced client options, no luck. I am not using the BETA client, I'm using the same stable versions on both the host and client. Any suggestions appreciated. Again, no errors or anything useful in the streaming_client.exe.log file after the crash occurs.

[maximiano14]

My lap had the problem to not detect my main RIG, something about firewall, I reinstalled windows in both of my machines and now runs like a charm. advise you do the same if you dont want to be tinkering in Firewall settings + doesnt work all the time...and you get a system speed boost. Or in other hand it can be your connection...try cable direct RJ45 and tell me something.

[ForkWNY]

I'm using direct RJ45 1000mbps on the laptop. I haven't refreshed Windows lately, but ran into the same problem even a year back when the laptop was brand new and had a fresh Win 10 Pro x64 install on it. Regarding the firewall, what ports need to be open for the app? I've never run into issues with the laptop detecting the gaming rig, it always shows up for streaming/remote play. I may try disabling WiFi on it as well as I have been running with both WiFi and wired enabled.

I have a SteamLink and a Raspberry Pi both connected to 4K UHD TV's and neither have ever bailed in the middle of a connection with streaming client issues, they run perfectly fine from the same Host. Host has never had any issues (48GB RAM, Ryzen 7 3700x CPU, AMD Radeon 5700XT Graphics).

[maximiano14]

Gosh those are not humble specs, your case is quite specific, I can only give you my Document for streaming...But for the Streaming_client.exe to close manually something must be wrong, did you try other streaming programs to pin-point if its just the steam it self or is the hole Lap system? ether way https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bjPrs6qmHVy4OTUHhwM0Rp112GKohFEF/view?usp=sharing. You can try updating your Ethernet port from the Lap or find a way to see if the port itself doesnt have a limit of data, or time to hibernate...I dont know man, I can only give you recommendations. My streaming setup runs at 10/10 and if I get a persistent problem I just erase the windows and install a new one.

[ForkWNY]

It's just the Steam streaming client that has been having problems. I'm not experiencing issues with any other streaming software from that same Host system. The streaming client exits unexpectedly (2) more often in some game titles than others. If there were useful error messages in the streaming_client.exe.log, I'd be able to troubleshoot the issue on my own, but since there are no error messages in the log, I'm clueless as to what's causing the problems.

I am going to try to reproduce the "unexpectedly exits" error and post the log data here.

[ForkWNY]

It appears as though disabling the WiFi adapter in order to force the laptop to use the Gigabit Ethernet adapter only seems to virtually eliminate the "client exited unexpectedly (2)" errors. I've tested with a few game titles that have had problems and so far no random quits.

[maximiano14]

Glad to know that you got it fixed, is just strange, when the game is streamed through wireless, normal you dont get an "enexpectedly exits", the game just gets slow, unless the communication between both PCs is faulty, but I mostly play indies sooo... since you are using an RX 5700XT I recommend you use x264 or x265 to encode date, it looks like the VMF enconding hardware from AMD is of poor performance, just check if you have enough head room on your CPU when playing the game. And activate chill mode in graphics setting so your PC doesnt produce 120 fps and only stream 60 fps, since some of your hardware doesnt go above 60 fps, like your TV.

[ForkWNY]

It's not totally resolved, but definitely better than it was. I still occasionally see "unexpectedly exited (2)" errors, it's just not as frequent with the Wifi adapter disabled on the client system. When the issue does happen, I quickly hit the Connect button to reconnect to the host and continue the game, an annoyance to say the least. Note that when streaming to my SteamLink device or Raspberry Pi from the same host/gaming rig, I NEVER experience drops or unexpected quits of any sort. Flawless streaming on both.

How do you change the encoding (x264/x265)? Not seeing that in the Advanced Host Options within Steam Remote Play's config area. CPU performance is quite good when streaming...normally the CPU is below 20-30% utilization overall with most game titles. GPU doesn't seem to be getting stressed either. Usually when I'm streaming a game, I'll flip on VSYNC so that the PC isn't producing far more frames than are being sent over the stream. Typically I've noticed games seem to limit to 60fps when streaming.

After stopping remote play, after exiting a game, this is always at the bottom of the streaming_client.exe.log, indicating no issues with frame drops, etc...

Tue Nov 24 20:09:02 2020 UTC - Session state Streaming -> StreamStopping
Tue Nov 24 20:09:02 2020 UTC - Stopped audio decoder
Tue Nov 24 20:09:03 2020 UTC - Streaming session complete, average network time: 1.11ms, stddev: 1.32ms, 0.00 percent frame loss, result: excellent
Tue Nov 24 20:09:03 2020 UTC - Session state StreamStopping -> Idl

[maximiano14]

Is hardware encoding, if you pick hardware, it will choose AMD, if you dont pick, it will use x264 aka CPU, for my non-Steam games I use SpaceDesk to stream games such as Forza Horizon, something I forgot to mention, did ye try to totally remove your client from the host list and do the same with the client + set IP address to automatic in your LAN drive?

[ForkWNY]

Yep...cleared out all of the Devices on the Host system (using "Unpair Devices"), then uninstalled Steam from the client experiencing the issues (which removed the Windows 10 laptop from the connected devices list in Remote Play on the Host), and reinstalled. Re-paired all of the devices on the Host. Will probably try uiinstalling/reinstalling the AMD Adrenalin 2020 software on the client (I always run the most current version) and possibly reinstalling DirectX on there. I know the problem has to be the client because the Host simply does not have any issues with any other devices on my internal network with Remote Play, including my Android device.

[ForkWNY]

Downloaded Parsec and tested that for streaming games. Absolutely no issues - using AMD Hardware decoding on Host/Client, H.265. Zero latency on the AMD laptop...games run as if they're being played directly on the host system. Once connected to the Host via Parsec, I simply launch the games from Steam as if they're being run directly on the host. Gamepad, sound, etc. all stream out over Parsec to my AMD laptop flawlessly.

[maximiano14]

ForkWNY eredeti hozzászólása:

Downloaded Parsec and tested that for streaming games. Absolutely no issues - using AMD Hardware decoding on Host/Client, H.265. Zero latency on the AMD laptop...games run as if they're being played directly on the host system. Once connected to the Host via Parsec, I simply launch the games from Steam as if they're being run directly on the host. Gamepad, sound, etc. all stream out over Parsec to my AMD laptop flawlessly.

problem with parsec is if you dont have internet it gives you the middle finger, tried to use, is well optimized for a long range connection but they didnt add the fuction to stream offline.

[ForkWNY]

Haven't had issues with Parsec so far, have been using it on my internal LAN primarily between the gaming rig and the laptop. Using Steam Remote Play for all other devices and to TV using Steam Link. I can understand why Parsec wouldn't work if there wasn't an Internet connection...it reaches out remotely for auth before connecting. Definitely a drawback...should fall back to Windows Auth if it can't reach out for cloud-based auth. VNC more or less is the same deal unless you purchase a license for it. If Parsec offered a licensed edition that worked 100% locally I'd probably buy one.

[maximiano14]

ForkWNY eredeti hozzászólása:

Haven't had issues with Parsec so far, have been using it on my internal LAN primarily between the gaming rig and the laptop. Using Steam Remote Play for all other devices and to TV using Steam Link. I can understand why Parsec wouldn't work if there wasn't an Internet connection...it reaches out remotely for auth before connecting. Definitely a drawback...should fall back to Windows Auth if it can't reach out for cloud-based auth. VNC more or less is the same deal unless you purchase a license for it. If Parsec offered a licensed edition that worked 100% locally I'd probably buy one.

I was waiting too see if you would pick up the desadvantage with PARSEC, I used long ago...it haves nice latency and quality, plus they are expanding in the Remote Play Together, but the fact that you need to be online to use it is mandatory, is a no deal for me...I need reliable tools for use in any situation, there is why SpaceDesk(Video Only), and Steam Remote Play are my choice, because even my Desktop is portable I can go to the Gaming Lounge with him and hook up to my Laptop, no internet needed. I hope the moding community find a way to extract the source code responsable for such a god coding and decoding that Parsec uses. I couldnt recommend you anymore solutions since they are pretty scarce, and the AMD Link is something doesnt seem to fit my need at all.

[Alexithymia]

ForkWNY Idk if you had posted on the github for these issues but in Linux I was able to fix this issue by building ffmpeg 3.4.8 and then deleting steam's built in ffmpeg libraries. Then I was able to stream without any issue but I see you're on a Windows client and not Linux

[[WAH!]vulture987]

HELLO FROM UNGOOGLABLE PROBLEMS

After 45 minutes of bashing my head against this stupid, useless error message on a brand new Windows 10 Ryzen HTPC, I discovered the following fix.

Are you on Windows 10 Education Ed? You need to install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86) .

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5555

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