How to use the WA Steam Server

[CrAzYLeGs69]

In this thread I will explain the methods used to connect to the WA Steam Server.

STEAMWATCH - DOWNLOAD LINK

As some of you may know, there is the option of using the application known as "SteamWatch" to specify what server/s Steam can connect to. This however is a method that I won't recommend as Steam will still be able to access the other servers (very briefly). This results in Steam leaking some bandwidth because SteamWatch only manages to close the connection to other servers after which some traffic has been transferred/leaked.

Now on a 384Kb/s line the amount of BW leaked wont be too significant, but a 4Mb/s line manages to transfer much more BW before SteamWatch closes the connection. (Usually a few Megabytes at most, definitely not 100s of Megabytes. If so, then you've configured SW incorrectly.)


So the Pros and Cons of using SteamWatch would be:

*Pros -Easy to setup. (Just add the desired Server addresses into the XML file.)
-Can easily be dis or enabled.
-A bunch of servers can easily be added to the XML file.

*Cons -Leaks BW. (Note the amount leaked isn't too concerning even on a 4meg line.)
-The need to install third-party software.


The STEAMWATCH how-to Guide:

1) So first off, make sure that Steam isn't running.

2) You'll then want to download and install SteamWatch. (Installing the Tray Icon simplifies the management of the service.)

3) Before you start editing the settings, make sure that the SteamWatch service isn't running. (Right-Clicking on the Tray Icon and stopping the service should work, but I would advise you to have a look at all the running processes in Task Manager and end the SteamWatch process if necessary.)

4) Then navigate to the installation directory and find the SteamWatchSettings.xml file. Open it with Notepad and replace all the other server entries with the two WA Steam Server addresses. (ONLY THE SERVER ENTRIES)

Namely:
< address> 41.185.60.43 < /address>
< address> 41.185.24.21 < /address>

5) After Editing and Saving the file you may then start the SteamWatch service and launch Steam.

6) Be sure to test if everything is working as it should before you attempt to make a large download by monitoring the servers that Steam is connecting to, hopefully the two WA servers. (I mention this again in my second post)

Here is my SteamWatchSettings.xml File (Just Copy&Paste into the installation directory of SteamWatch if you want.)

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FREY STEAM FILTER - (See Xenonification's Thread) (Credit to Xenonification)

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FIREWALL

Now the method (and credit to Detritus) that I make use of is by restricting Steam through the means of a firewall.

I've found that by using a firewall to specify what servers Steam may connect to is much more efficient as it doesn't allow Steam to make any other connections on Port 27030 other than the WA server.

From my experiences, instead of Steam trying to connect to other servers when using SW, Steam just simply locks onto the WA server right away and if the content is available, starts to download immediately. Resulting in no BW leaked.

So the Pros and Cons of using a Firewall would be:

*Pros -No BW leaks.
-Much more efficient and hassle free. (When the server is up and running)
-No third-party software needed.

*Cons -Isn't as easy to setup.
-If the WA server is offline, then Steam will fail to log-in.
(You'll then need to disable the firewall, log-in and re-enable the Firewall.)

The options that I'll be able to help you with are ESET and COMODO. (Tried and tested them myself.)

N.B Very Important, The Protocol used is TCP&UDP and the Direction Both (In/Out). And make sure that you apply these settings to the "Steam.exe" file, and not just as general network rules.

* If you've got ESET Smart Security 4, then here's what you need to do.

Apply 3 Rules for Steam.exe

* Allow everything
* Block all traffic to remote port 27030
* Allow traffic to remote port 27030 on the WA Steam Server(41.185.60.43)

In tabular form

Rule:                       Action: Direction:  Local Port: Remote Host:    Remote Port:

Allow All                   Allow   Both        Any         Any             Any
Block Port 27030            Block   Both        Any         Any             27030
Allow WAGE Steam Server     Allow   Both        Any         41.185.60.43    27030

* If you've got Comodo Internet Security Premium (Free Anti-Virus/Download), then here's what you need to do.

Similar to the Eset rules, except that Comodo seems to apply firewall rules from top to bottom.

So I have 3 Rules for Steam.exe

* Allow Destination Single IP 41.185.60.43 on Destination Single Port 27030
* Block All IPs on Destination Single Port 27030
* Allow All

(You can try the standalone Comodo Firewall and keep your current AV if you wish, if you've decided to install the Free Comodo AV, then after the instalation you'll need to "Add or Remove Components" from the start menu of Comodo and add the Firewall.)

These settings with a bit of alteration should work for most firewalls, just be sure to go and read up on how the rules in your firewall program are applied.

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Games available off Steam via Freezone - Compiled List

[CrAzYLeGs69]

THINGS TO TAKE NOTE OF:

Explanations

*When the whole Steam/FreeZone thing first started out, WA sought to make Steam one of the FreeZone services available to the consumer. The end result was that some technicalities proved to great to implement it as a user-friendly, straightforward service that anyone could use without complications and the need for 3-rd party software. Thus resulting in Steam not being a FreeZone service.

That being said, the WA Steam server still remains FreeZoned, even though the Steam Service isn't.

*The WA Steam Server is a Steam Content Server hosted by WA. They have no means of monitoring what content gets pushed onto the server by Valve whatsoever. This implies that newer content might be pushed onto the WA server at a delayed rate, resulting in one only being able to download something after a few days/weeks. (Some older content might never end up pushed onto the WA server)

*Indications that your game isn't available for download on the WA server would be:
“The Steam Servers are currently too busy to handle your request. Please try again in a few minutes." or your download would be displayed as "SUSPENDED".

*It is known that the WA Steam server doesn't always operate as it should... for no apparent reason. Previously available content would be unavailable and you are met with unresponsiveness from the WA server. This usually returns to normal within a few days and your downloading can continue.

*I can also confirm that I've managed to download all of my Steam Games via FreeZone. At first only some were available, but after a few weeks/months, I managed to download the rest of them successfully. The key is just to be patient and if you don't succeed at first, try again at a later time.

Tips

*The second WA Steam Server may also be added to the allowed Steam Content Servers, under the IP - (41.185.24.21)

*Before letting a download run, make sure that the content is coming from the WA server. You don't want to receive a nasty surprise and see all of your cap gone.
I recommend using This Free TCP Monitor (It's light weight and doesn't require installation) to see what server Steam is connected to. (Be sure to hit the refresh button when downloading in order to see what IP Steam is currently connected to) - 41.185.60.43 & 41.185.24.21, hopefully.

*You might have some luck resolving connection issues to Steam by deleting the ClientRegistry.blob file in your steam installation directory. (Be sure to exit Steam before doing this)

*You can monitor the load of each WA Steam Server HERE.

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I conclude this post by adding that the WA Steam Server is unpredictable. If you've managed to download something successfully in the past, but struggle to do so now, just hang in there and don't go changing your setup right away. Try again within a few days/weeks and if you don't get it to work, consult the WA community for help.

[WAJeff]

Very nice write up CrAzYLeGs69!
Added some sticky

[CrAzYLeGs69]

Thanks Jeff, much appreciated.

[Kalvaer]

Hmm, Ok, I set up everything as you mentioned for use with comodo and unlike steamwatch that just stopped to a crawl, it actually downloaded a game I bought last week.

However when I was done, I noticed that none of it had been taken from the freezone. I opened a ticket and was informed that "STEAM does fall out of freezone usage, as STEAM was only part of a beta testing phase which failed to launch successfully"

Its really not worth even trying to take a chance when one can buy bandwidth at half the price elsewhere, So what is the case here?

[CrAzYLeGs69]

Hi Kalvaer, did you make sure that the content was coming from the WA Steam server? And how did you determine if it was?

Next time, before downloading an entire game, make sure that when you start the download that you confirm that the content is being pulled from the WA Steam server.

Yesterday I bought CoD4 on steam; connected my WA prepaid account; and downloaded the entire game without any cap being deducted. (All counted towards FZ)

[Kalvaer]

From the active connections before I left it, it was all coming down from 41.185..., Of course I then left it and went to bed. It was only the next morning that I noticed all my BW was gone. So after enquiring, I was told that the steam server isn't part of freezone.

I'll have to go through all my settings and things again to double check, But I'm not taking a chance just yet again in case I lose everything I do have right now. I'll wait for my prepaid account to run out before trying to download again

[The-1]

The WA steam server definitely is in Freezone

[CrAzYLeGs69]

I suspect Kalvaer that your setup wasn't implemented correctly and that some of the content that wasn't on the WA server was then downloaded from another server.

I've noticed that Steam now has a "South African" region. Previously the closest match was "Africa". So it would be reasonable to believe that Steam initially locked onto the WA server automatically, but still had the option to change servers when needed.

[Kalvaer]

I suspect Kalvaer that your setup wasn't implemented correctly and that some of the content that wasn't on the WA server was then downloaded from another server.

I'm assuming the same. The thing that worried me, was the support ticket from WA which was pretty clear in stating one thing and one thing only... That the steam server wasn't freezone, unless I've interpreted the part in bold above incorrectly?

[CrAzYLeGs69]

When the whole Steam/FreeZone thing first started they sought to make Steam one of the FreeZone services available to the consumer. The end result was that some technicalities proved to great to implement the service as a user friendly, straightforward service that anyone could use without the need of 3-rd party software and complications. Thus resulting in Steam not being a FreeZone service.

That being said, the WA Steam server still remains FreeZone even though the Steam Service isn't.

[Kalvaer]

I wish the support guys then would at least say as much. Thats pretty much exactly what I believed, though when I asked about it in my ticket, I got told that I was wrong

[Xenonification]

CrAzYLeGs69 - Thanks for this thread, it's awesome .

I tried the firewall method with ESET 4 Smart Security. It wasn't exactly like yours, but it was right I guess. Using that method I couldn't connect to steam at all, but I guess that's because the WA content server was possibly down.

So I tried SteamWatch with my .xml that I edited, and it just wouldn't stop it downloading from international cap. After like 10 minutes, I decided to stop the download, and try your .xml. Using that, I still had the same problem. But with your .xml, I noticed that SteamWatch settings gives a critical error when you try to open it. It's because of the space between < and address and between < and /address. I don't know if you did that purposely though so that the settings couldn't be altered?

So with both ESET Smart Security and SteamWatch, it didn't work at all. I then found a program called Frey Steam Filter (Same job as SteamWatch, just a little different). I must admit, I had huge problems with Frey in the end resulting in me having to reinstall Steam. It was my mistake though, as I didn't know how to undo the IP change to the WA content server. This resulted in me not being able to connect to Steam at ALL. I eventually got onto Steam again, used Frey, and was able to download the Half-Life 2 DeathMatch update off local cap. I then tried the Counter Strike: Source update, it got half way, and then just didn't want to download anymore. Is it a problem with my software, or is the WA content server just very unstable?

Thanks
Brandon

[CrAzYLeGs69]

Please remember that at the time of posting this thread, the methods that I stated above where tried and tested myself and proved to be successful. (Downloaded about 10Gb of stuff and confirmed that the usage was counted towards FreeZone).

But with all these recent problems surfacing, I decided to re-download everything that I had tested successfully the previous time. I can now conclude that some games that didn't even get patched recently weren't available for download anymore.

This is most concerning because this might indicate that Steam removes some content from the server.

[Xenonification]

I agree with you Crazy, I downloaded like 5 gigs of stuff early November month via the WA Steam Content Server. Now, I can log onto Steam perfectly fine, but can't download anything. That's why I'm wondering if I perhaps did something wrong?

Steamwatch just outright doesn't work for me anymore. It doesn't block any connections when activated.

[CrAzYLeGs69]

Thus I use a FireWall.

When I get a chance I'll update the thread with known problems, what they mean and what one should do.

[Xenonification]

Thanks a lot

Well I've got two operating systems installed, Windows XP, the one I'm using now with steam (Very cluttered), and Windows 7, without steam. On my Windows 7 side, I'll try installing a fresh copy of steam, and try different methods of connecting to the WA Content server.

I'll update as soon as I get something working, that is, if I do at all ^_^

[The-1]

I gave FreysSteamFilter and its pretty good, better than steam watch. Although WA steam server hasn't been working so lekker so I can't really test it

[Xenonification]

Yeah, I was gonna make a guide for using Frey Steam Filter, but I don't know if there's something wrong with the program, or WA steam server. Atleast with Frey Steam Filter, I haven't noticed a "Suspended" message, and there isn't any BW leaks.

[CrAzYLeGs69]

I've updated one of my posts above.