Steam does not support connecting through a network DMZ?

Gimpymoo · 14 Aug 2011 at 21:38

Confused

Was reading through an FAQ and noticed this:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5483-YUFN-0521

Note:
Steam does not support connecting through a network DMZ (de-militarized zone), so this setting must be disabled in your router for Steam to function.

Also mentioned here:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6776-MYXU-0480

Important:
Steam does not support gameplay on machines operating in a network DMZ. You must remove your machine from the DMZ in order to play through Steam.

I am confused, how does running Steam through a DMZ stop it working?

More importantly, why as this allways worked for me?

uv · 14 Aug 2011 at 22:11

It doesn't say if won't work, simply that it's not supported. Running a DMZ is generally a bad idea, and there's rarely any need for it.

*edit

Ah, it does say Steam won't function correctly - though I can't see why this would be

Snaggle · 14 Aug 2011 at 22:59

mine works fine through a dmz

Gimpymoo · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:28

I just dont understand why they say it wont work, when it does and also what would stop it from working if at all.

Strife212 · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:30

Nothing could feasibly stop it working surely it shouldn't even be able to tell.

Gimpymoo · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:44

Strife212 said:
Nothing could feasibly stop it working surely it shouldn't even be able to tell.

My thoughts exactly.

Tefal · 15 Aug 2011 at 07:29

Gimpymoo said:
I just dont understand why they say it wont work, when it does and also what would stop it from working if at all.

it's so they don't have to deal with the support side of it and can just say turn off the dmz setting.

And an old version probbaly didn't work (or some 3rd party drm didn't) and they never bothered to change it.

uv · 15 Aug 2011 at 07:52

Whilst there's absolutely no reason a DMZ would stop functionality, I can understand why they state they don't support it - if your Steam account gets hacked whilst you have every single port forwarded, it's no fault of Steams. It's only really cheap/rubbish routers that require a DMZ to be open for Steam to work, and one that has proper NAT can be picked up for the price of a few beers.

Firegod · 15 Aug 2011 at 10:42

What's also a bit funny/ironic is that it lists some AV and anti-malware applications that may conflict with Steam. Then on the other page, it says if you have problems with Steam it maybe because of a virus or malware and lists the same AV and anti-malware applications that it says may cause problems. d'oh!

Vtec9k · 15 Aug 2011 at 12:18

Any half decent DMZ's is normally totally locked down, with stateful firewalls and very strict rules. So really there no way on earth Steam could say they support it.