Steam Server/Client Update :)

mattjd

mattjd

mattjd

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Just saw this posted by Valve:

Over the years, Steam has delivered a lot of bits to a lot of people. Delivering content is really at the core of Steam, and we have been working on improving that core. As of today, you can download some of the content on Steam using all-new server and client code to get the job done.

The new content system is designed to do two things: deliver better download rates in more places around the world, and also to simply streamline the publishing process on Steam, ultimately making it possible to ship more games than we would have been able to with the old system.

The maximum aggregate bandwidth of the system will be greater than the current system; this will help us satisfy spikes in demand when there’s a big release. We will also be able to send content from more places, to better serve people all around the globe. All the content on the new system is sent via HTTP; this is more firewall-friendly than the current system, and will automatically take advantage of web-caching proxies installed at ISPs.

Another way that the new content system improves the bandwidth picture is by requiring each user to download less data. With the Steam content system that’s been in place for a few years now, if an individual file on disk were modified by a game update, your client had to download the whole file. That can be painful when the file in question is really large. The new system supports delivering only the differences between the old and new files, meaning game updates will be much smaller overall.

These changes have given us an opportunity to write new tools for game developers and content publishers that simplify the process of both publishing and updating a game on Steam. Simplifying the publishing process means it takes the partner and us less time to ship each product, so we can ship more stuff to more users.

In addition, the new content system will allow us to build several new features that we’ve often heard requested. Upcoming client releases will include things like download scheduling, bandwidth throttling, and prioritizing which games get downloaded first. You’ll also be able to download an update to a game while you’re playing that game; Steam will apply the update after you exit the game.

Over time, more and more of the content on Steam will be delivered using this new system. Soon, Dota 2 will be delivered using it. In the meantime, if you’d like to try out this new content system you can do so right now; if you download a 1280x720 (HD) trailer from the store, it will happen via the new content system. Give it a try!
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This would mean new game releases and sales wont cause as much of a slow down as usual :D

Also the upcoming The Witcher 2 1.03 patch won't be 9gb! Yay!

Steam is getting better and better :cool:
 
Good example is witcher 2. Every time there is a update on steam only, you need to redownload like 13gb of data, which is close to the full game.
 
Superb. :)

I'll be glad to see the back off multi-gig downloads that don't even supply new content.

Can't wait for some of the new features like priority downloads. And DotA 2 soon. :D
 
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Good my download speeds have gone right up now.
Before I got about 1.1meg now i'm getting 6meg much better still wish I got my full 50 :)
 
Robert said:
6MB pretty much IS full 50MB?
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He is probably getting confused between 50Mbits and Mbps :p

50Mbits means you should be getting around 5Mbps.

For example my internet is 4.4Mbits but when I download I get 440kbps which is what I am suppose to get.
 
mattjd said:
He is probably getting confused between 50Mbits and Mbps :p

50Mbits means you should be getting around 5Mbps.

For example my internet is 4.4Mbits but when I download I get 440kbps which is what I am suppose to get.
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Not quite - the theoretical speed for 50Mbit is around 6.4/5MB/s.

But there are obviously overheads which knock it down.
 
Oh one thing that really annoys me. I've got TF2 set to NOT keep this game up to date (as I don't play it and they seem to have updates release for it every 5mins). Yet I still get updates thrown at me, I've had a TF2 update paused in my downloads section for weeks now, anyway to remove it? Short of uninstalling the game completely of course.
 
I would imagine that is mandatory, from when it became F2P, and that's why you got the update even though you have it turned off.
 
HangTime said:
Oh one thing that really annoys me. I've got TF2 set to NOT keep this game up to date (as I don't play it and they seem to have updates release for it every 5mins). Yet I still get updates thrown at me, I've had a TF2 update paused in my downloads section for weeks now, anyway to remove it? Short of uninstalling the game completely of course.
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You've got to finish any outstanding downloads before it'll stop downloading future ones iirc. :)
 
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