Dedicated server IPV6 support and DS-Lite / CG-NAT issues

[OnlyMadMax]

Hello guys,

my first post here actually!

 

I invested now hours, no actually days until I digged down to the real issue what causes me to not be able to play on externally hosted multiplayer servers.

 

I try to be really quick on the setup:

• VPS hosted by Contabo which is running a 7D2D dedicated server (set-up myself, multiple times already and worked for different Alpha's already - also plain steamCMD or linux-gsm setups were tried)
• My PC / client which is apparently only able to use IPv4 using the DS-lite mechanism (because the ISP told so)

 

So apparently this issue - or some parts of it - were already discussed or at least barely scratched in other threads (for references please read through the following):

Spoiler

 

 

How does the issue manifest itself?

1. Falling through the ground after the initially loaded chunk border is tresspassed
2. Looting is frozen / not working
3. Players & AI is stuck / moving on place
4. Actuall no disconnect by not receiving any packages
5. NO ERROR LOGS!
6. Some WRN logs when joining that "Requesting the TCP rules" failed

 

So much for the issue.

 

I see technically 2 possible solutions for this issue which are not yet there - if yes, PLEASE point me out how to do it, I'm mad desperate:

1. 7D2D dedicated server lets me configure to host on IPv6 so I can connect via IPv6 properly
2. The ISPs fixing the issue with the missing UDP support for IPv6 <-> IPv4 packet translation

 

I also see 2 workarounds, however, both are considered equally bad:

1. Play via a VPN with a static IPv4 so the packages from the server actually reach my client as "callback"
2. Ask your ISP to provide you a Dual Stack / static or real IPv4 address which they might do or might just not do, even if you'd pay

 

So my question is down to the following:

How can I start playing on externally hosted dedicated servers again?

How can I get MY OWN server connection established again?

How is the dev team reacting to the DS-lite issue? Will IPv6 be supported soon?

 

Best regards & leave your thoughts please!

Max (just a dev himself...)

Edited May 22, 2023 by OnlyMadMax
additional infos (see edit history)

[SylenThunder]

Until programs actually start supporting IPv6, this is going to be a continually worsening problem. It not like we didn't see this coming either, but no one planned ahead I guess.

 

Unless you use a VPN or get a dual stack, I don't know of another fix. And the problem will just get worse as more and more ISP's drop IPv4 support. I honestly don't know why the entire industry is so behind the ball on this.

[OnlyMadMax]

Fully true, IPv6 has been around for quite some years now (>20 years AFAIK...), so it's really suprising.

I hope they won't be so slow with the year 2038 problem as well, otherwise I'm seeing a total blackout coming our way...

 

However, thinking less globally and dramatic but yet only about 7D2D I would like to place a feature request to 7D2D in order to push this topic in the long-term 

Do you know where I could do that actually? Or how I could speak to somebody of the Dev team about it quickly?

[OnlyMadMax]

Well...

I would still like to place a feature request for IPv6 support for 7D2D

[The_Great_Sephiroth]

IPv6 is despised by most techs and poorly implemented, which is why it sees little adoption. Most WAN links that use it support IPv4 over IPv6 and that keeps things moving. I've worked for the second largest bank in the country and I can tell you they have no plans of implementing IPv6 when I parted ways with them a few months ago. Heck, just try remembering a single IPv6 address. That alone is a major wall for techs to climb. It's like asking us to remember SHA256 hashes.

 

I believe you'd get farther by asking your ISP to support IPv4-in-IPv6 like most ISPs do. We have one ISP in our area that jumped on v6, but it supports v4 in v6 so home users don't have to switch to v6 in their homes. Barring that, you can always put in a request in the "Pimp Dreams" forum, but this seems more like a Unity game engine issue since that is the engine this game uses. I don't know if The Pimps could patch v6 support into the core engine.

[StevieD]

Yep, corporates generally (with the exception of a few of the tech giants who have exercised a bit of strategic thinking for once) avoid IPv6 like the plague. None of the fintech companies I've worked for or still work for are even considering it. In the commercial world, if there's no way to monetise it or if it doesn't save the company money it won't happen. It's as simple as that. Unfortunately I suspect the same mentiality holds sway in the gaming industry as well.

Problem is that many Euro ISPs are now using non-cgn ipv4 as an additional revenue stream by charging per month for statics and/or non-cgn connectivity, but still provide IPv6 static blocks for free.

This makes home hosting an absolute ballache unless you have native IPv6 support, and also gives those of us with the inclination to experiment a good way to hone our skills with ipv6 at the same time. Now that FTTH is becoming more common it would be really nice to be able to run with native support, but as The_Great_Sephiroth said I think we'll be waiting on the engine/steam support code to support it 1st.