Steam : Multi-PC one files location

FatRakoon

FatRakoon

FatRakoon

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
10,448
Location
Behind you... Naked!
As many of you know, Steam is incredibly flexible in how it works, and how you can have multiple folder locations and so on, and it even allows us to have it installed on multiple PCs, like for example, I have it on my Main PC, I also have it on my Linux PC and I also have it on my Laptop too and they are all running great and have done for years, but of course not all at the same time, and thats fine and dandy.

However, I was wondering...

I have 2 sons that both have Steam accounts too, and they both have lost of the same games, but not all of them of course.

Could I ( for example ), simply point their steam setups to my folder ?

obviously, each PC has a completely different account name setup to it, but surely any games will simply be ignored if they are not for another PC, and then, when the games are in both accounts, they will share the files as needed ?

There is only 2 possible issues that I can think of

1 - When you have the files ready for one PC all done and dusted, but you add the same files for a second PC... I think that it will download the files, and then copy those files into the games-folder and then both PCs can share the files

2 - Sharing the files. Can they? will there be any problems there?
What about if the files were all kept on a NAS or a dedicated Server, would that be better than having them on a PC that also plays?

I may just give it a shot, but I am a bit iffy and I really dont want the accounts disabled or anythign just for doing something that may look a little bit piratey.

I have in tests for one PC, had the files running over my LAN and the file transfers are not as quick as having them local, but they dont seem to be too slow to have any real noticeable effect on the game.

And also steam itsself will be fully installed locally, but the game / downloads folder will be set to the network.

Thanks for trying to reply to this post, if you manage to work through the pap.
 
Having the files stored remotely should be fine, network bandwidth permitting. Your issue will be 2 computers trying to access the same files (Steam files as opposed to games) at the same time. I can't imagine it will work for the second person trying to use it as the files will be locked in use by the first.

Storage is cheap, personally I'd just keep all the machines separate with their own copies of files, and buy bigger HDDs if I needed too.
 
Ye,s but as I said, the steam files themselves will be on eahc PC, with their own accounts etc, but the game files will be on the network.

again yes, network bandwidth does not seem to be a huge issue but of course that may be different if we are playing the same game and want access at the same time, but from trials, I have been pretty happy woth the network speed and so I feel that for now, it wont pose THAT much of a problem... Its just like a slow HD really.

Storage space. LOL I have an utterly stupid amount of storage space and Im always increasing it for god knows whatever reason I can pull out of my bum, so its not that I dont have it. I am simply wanting to try out some things and I wondered what others had to say before I did it, so I knew if I would be wasting my time, or if it would be a useable option.
 
I'm not sure you can.

I can help with the network storage though; Ive had a steam folder on my server for years. Its absolutely fine. Limited to 100Mb transfer rate but in practice it doesnt make a lot of difference to most games, just prioritize what games you want on the network and what games you want locally ect.

If you cant point two steam pcs at the same folder, then maybe just duplicate the folders on your network storage and have one folder per pc. That will definitely work.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom