[TelstraClear] Telstra Steam Unmetered Content Server

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BGIIGAMER

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#94069 5-Dec-2011 16:34

Hi all,

I've been looking around the internet, trying to find a way to make sure Steam was downloading from Telstra's Steam Content Server, so that It dosen't effect my usage.

I only solution I managed to find was the software 'TCPView'. I partially understand it, but was just wondering something. Beside the Steam download on TCP, if it says 'localhost' does that mean the Telstra Server? Or does it actually have to say, e.g. 'telstraclear.net.nz'.

Im based in Christchurch and on a 60gb Broadband plan

Thanks, Chris

dets00b

60 posts

Master Geek

#554137 5-Dec-2011 16:41

I found these notes on the on3 forum on how to setup a firewall rule in windows vista or windows 7 to block all content servers except telstraclears one, only disadvantage is that if the content is not on the server then it will just say server busy and you would need to manually turn off the rule to download that content or wait to see if the server populates the content in the future:

People using Windows 7 or Vista (sorry XP users!) will have a firewall capable of this built into their OS. On Windows 7, you can find this by opening Control Panel, then going to System and Security and clicking Windows Firewall. Once there, click "Advanced Settings", which will open "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security".

Go to "Outbound Rules" and click "New Rule".
Select "Custom" and press next, then next again to skip the Program selection screen (you could set this up to only apply to Steam, but it doesn't really matter) and go to the Protocol and Ports screen.
Change protocol type to "TCP" and under "Remote port" select "Specific Ports" and enter "27030", then click next.
Under "Which remote IP addresses does this rule apply to?", click "These IP addresses"
Click "Add..." then "This IP address range:" and enter "0.0.0.0" in the "From:" box and "203.167.129.3" in the "To:" box, then click "OK"
Click "Add..." again and then "This IP address range:" and enter "203.167.129.5" in the "From:" box and "255.255.255.255" in the "To:" box, then click "OK"
Click next to go to the "Action" page and leave this on "Block", click next again to go to the "Profile" page.
On the "Profile" page, depending on your situation uncheck any boxes where you don't want this rule to apply. If in doubt, leave them all checked.
Click next and enter a name in the "Name" box. I called my rule "TelstraClear Content Server", but this is arbitrary.
Click "Finish"

From now on, Steam should only connect to TelstraClear's server for content updates!

Questor

31 posts

Geek

#554154 5-Dec-2011 17:33

All TCPView will do is show you where Steam is connecting to, it won't limit it at all.

What detsoob says will work, but if you aren't comfortable doing that then there are a couple of programs which will sort it out for you

SteamManager
SteamWatch

will both do it, albeit slightly differently (IIRC, SteamManager creates the firewall rule for you, and SteamWatch 'watches' the ports, and if it sees a connecction to a server other than the specified one(s) it shuts it down). Both work, after a fashion (I use SteamManager myself) but none are perfect.
Valve are apparently looking at building the option to restrict to one server into the application itself, but I wouldn't hold out much hope for that to be anytime soon, knowing Valve's glacial speed at development!

Both are available through the On3 forum post 'Telstraclear Goes all Steamy' at http://www.on3network.co.nz in the 'On3 network announcements' board (Sorry I'm at work atm and can't link directly to the apps or the thread)

If you need any more info, please ask - I have become a dab hand - I have a Steam folder over 450Gb....!

HTH

BGIIGAMER

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#554160 5-Dec-2011 17:48

@dets00b

Thanks, just did it. Getting about 1.2mb/s :D

Also, would you guys happen to know what games the Telstra Server has?

Questor

31 posts

Geek

#554167 5-Dec-2011 18:02

Most of it is now up there - Simcore over on On3 says that Valve have told them that there are a few that won't be mirrored (although perversely they haven't told them exactly WHAT) and a few games (Borderlands springs readily to mind) seem to download SOME of the data via HTTP from a different server entirely which won't be mirrored

TL:DR version

Pretty much everything SHOULD be on there