Local cache for LAN parties

[lynx_nz]

I've run a few LAN parties where downloading updates from the FAF servers can take a while. This is no fault of the FAF servers, just i'll have up to 10 people hitting the same mod and we all sit there watching progress bars as it downloads.

solution :modify the steamcache container image to also cache downloads for FAF
added benefit : takes load off the faf servers

If you want to give it a go, all you need to do;
(you'll need a bit of experience with docker / containers)

• download and run steamcache/steamcache container. This is effectively a reverse proxy running nginx. You can download the image form here https://hub.docker.com/r/steamcache/steamcache/
• modify /etc/nginx/sites-available/steamcache.conf file in the container. Add the following directly below the existing "location /depot/" entry (for steam) to cache all /faf/ URI requests;
  
  

  Code: Select all

  location /faf/ {
                try_files $uri @mirror;
                access_log /data/logs/access.log steamcache-local;
        }


  
  
• redirect local DNS queries for content.faforever.com to your local server (above). I entered a host entry on my local DNS (pfsense : resolver service)
  
• profit

There is a built-in script /scripts/watchlog.sh that displays access.log and highlights in green any cache HITS
(why i've left logging classified as "steamcache-local")

optionally you can use some of their other container images if you want to cache other gaming services i.e ;

https://hub.docker.com/r/steamcache/steamcache-dns/ - as DNS service to direct queries locally
https://hub.docker.com/r/steamcache/sniproxy/ - to forward though any https queries that cache cannot handle

[PhilipJFry]

oooor you just copy the faf patches from C:\ProgramData\FAForever\ from one pc to another (and do the same with mods from the mod folder if you have lots of big mods)

[Deribus]

That's awesome Lynx! I can definitely see how this would be useful. Now to find some friends...

[Uveso]

To copy data from my host to all client PC's i use a simple .bat file.

Example:

Code: Select all

Set sourcedir="\\PCNETNAME\Supreme Commander Forged Alliance\Maps"
Set destinationdir="C:\Users\YOURNAME\Documents\My Games\Gas Powered Games\Supreme Commander Forged Alliance\Maps\"
RD %destinationdir% /S /Q
xcopy /s %sourcedir% %destinationdir%

Set = setting a value to a variable
RD= Remove directory
xcopy /s = copy with subdirectories