Spiral Knights - Disconnect/De-synch issues

Disconnect/De-synch issues

11 replies [Last post]

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 10:57

Notbob

I was having a lot of problems with game lag and disconnects (being booted back to the login screen), so after reading up on several suggestions, I did the following:

* Updated the firmware in my router, D-Link DIR-601 from 1.01NA to 1.02NA
* Gave each of the two computers on the network (my wife and I both play SK, she on a desktop, myself on a laptop) a static IP, then set up port forwarding for the ports recommended in the tech help sticky, with half going to one address, and half going to the other.

After this, the lag and signal strength seemed to be better, but now we have a new problem--we keep getting the de-synch sort of disconnection, where you can move, but can't interact with anything around you (enemies stop moving, can't pick up crowns, use a lift, type in chat, etc.). We show as disconnected to others (with the D/C icon above the head), but unless we're paying attention, we can't tell anything is wrong. Usually if we notice a problem we can launch another instance of the client and end up in the same place, but occasionally, especially if this happens on a lift, we get booted back to Haven.

Some other possibly salient points about the issue: Sometimes this happens to both of us at once, but most of the time it only happens to one computer or the other. It can happen when just standing still (nothing spawning), when using a lift, between rounds of enemy spawns, during a regular fight, etc.

Given that this only started after I did the firmware update, I tried a couple of things:
* Restored the config to factory defaults in case there were any conflicts. No effect.
* Rolled the firmware back to the previous version. No effect.

So now I'm stumped. It's entirely possible that these frequent de-synch issues starting after I messed with the router are coincidental, but it's odd timing. The fact that I essentially re-set the router to how it was prior to the problem and it's still happening is worrisome, as there's not much else I can do. I can try bypassing the router entirely and just hooking the desktop into the DSL modem, but that's obviously not an optimal solution.

BTW, I did a ping test on my connection, and I get a ping of ~25 ms, a jitter of ~4 to 6 ms, and 0 packet loss. Nothing else I'm trying to use online has an issue, this is specific to SK.

If anyone wants to look at the config options for the router and see if they can spot any possible fixes I can do, an emulator is here:
http://support.dlink.com/emulators/dir601/100NA/login.html
The only changes from the default settings are the reserved IP addresses for the two computers, and the aforementioned port forwarding.

Any help would be *greatly* appreciated.

Thanks!

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 11:05

caseyweederm

Legacy Username

This is more proof that

This is more proof that Spiral Knights hates romance!
http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/17639

This is exactly the problem I've been having, and I've tried all the same fixes.
Help me, Obi-Three KenObi! You're our only hope!

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 19:59

Starlinvf

Who is your ISP? And what

Who is your ISP? And what was the destination address for that ping test?

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 21:16

Notbob

My ISP is DSL Extreme. I used

My ISP is DSL Extreme. I used pingtest.net, and it doesn't show the address for the test that I can see. It only tells me the location of the server, and that it is <50 mi away.

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 22:40

Starlinvf

When you a ping test, you

When you a ping test, you typically want it between you and what your actually testing. The servers SK uses are based in the Amazon EC2 cloud on the west coast (they say its in LA, but it always routes me to Seattle), so if your far from there it'll latency is always gonna be an issue.

Now the problems your describing is along the lines of bursty traffic or a saturated connection. Some very rough measurements shows the game can use up to 240kbps up AND down per client during a clockwork run. With both you on at the same time that could choke the up speed of a DSL connection.

Can projectx.log file in the SK folder, copy everything in it and post it in pastebin.com, then paste the link in this thread so we can look over it?

Sun, 07/31/2011 - 10:10

caseyweederm

Legacy Username

So I've discovered

So I've discovered something.

After an hour or two of concentrated Spiral Knights, my router starts gasping like a fish and stops doing anything productive. Everybody in the house gets super bad 'lag' and the eventually gets shuffled to the login screen.
At this point I can't even load the router login page.

This is something I'd assumed was not on my end, but now I'm thinking of chucking my router in the trash and buying a new one.
No, it's not the one with known problems. Dlink DIR-615 B2, with the latest firmware which sadly is from 2008.

So if I'm buying a new router, what should I look for?
And could this solve my wider problems of 'lag'?

Sun, 07/31/2011 - 21:29

Starlinvf

Overall it would depend on

Overall it would depend on what kind of errors are causing the router to crap out like that. I've found that most power supplies on routers tend to start dying after 3 years of continuous (shorter if its someplace it can bake itself). Symptoms are pretty similar to what your seeing as well... random locks ups, fails after short periods of heavy loads, IOS crashes, but works fine for hours when not under load.

If you like your router and have no reason to upgrade, you could try ordering a replacement power supply from Dlink. It is a bit of gamble though... if I'm right you can easily get another 2 years out of it. If I'm wrong, your down $10 and have to go router shopping anyway.

If you do plan on getting a new router, choice depends on what features you want it to have. As a rule of thumb, the more complicated the features, the more likely it'll have issue, and are often harder to use. Super cheap or no-name brands are almost always garbage. And on Wireless models, always do heavy research into range or stability problems with the radio. Even to this day, they still sell some really crappy ones.

Now I haven't done any in-depth product research in about 4 years, but...... a slightly time consuming, but effective method is to find a decent looking router on sale, and search for reviews about it on the web. Pay close attention to the problems or limitations that people complain about the device, and it'll give you an idea of what your dealing with. Often you'll also find recommendations for other model routers, citing reasons why its a better choice, and then follow up research on it as well.

If you have some understanding networking and TCP/IP, and want to make the jump to a power user, read up on the DD-WRT firmware and check the list of compatible devices. I installed it on my linksys WRTG before the MTU workaround was discovered, and I'm loving it so far. I can do all kinds of connection tracing, logging and diagnostics that I could never find in the stock firmware. Best you can get short of an entry level commercial grade router.

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 11:49

Notbob

partial solution?

I did some experimenting over the last few days, and found what seems to work.

After I had rolled back the router firmware to the earlier version and was still having de-synch issues, I decided to reboot the DSL modem, since that was the last thing I could do on my end. After that, I stopped having the de-synch problems, and over the next couple of days, doing a daily reboot of the modem solved the problem.

Of course, I can't leave well enough alone, so I decided to re-install the newer firmware on the router, and immediately and frequently started having de-synchs, even after rebooting the modem. After once again downgrading the firmware, I stopped having problems.

So, for whatever reason, the newest firmware for the D-Link DIR-601 does not play nice with Spiral Knights, and *something* causes "confusion" (or whatever) in my DSL modem if I leave it alone for too long playing SK. I have no idea why or what causes the latter issue, but at least it's solvable for the moment.

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 19:42

Starlinvf

Is it a dumb modem, or one of

Is it a dumb modem, or one of those Modem/Router combo units? Most of the ISP provided DSL modem/routers I've worked with are garbage. In fact, I use the name Westel as form of profanity. :\

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 08:25

Notbob

Just a DSL modem, which is

Just a DSL modem, which is why I have a separate router. It's a Broadmax Linkmax HSA300A-2, which I can assume is not very good...plus it's about five years old now.

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 07:18

#10

caseyweederm

Legacy Username

I got a new router and

I got a new router and there's no more lag.
I still get caught on corners in PVP, but all of my lag problems have disappeared.

It's a Dlink DIR-825, and the clincher was that DD-WRT runs on it.
Thanks for the advice, starlinvf!

Now if only I could figure out this dual band thing. Does connecting to one mean I'm connected to both? I can't see the 5Ghz network in scans.

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 10:33

#11

Starlinvf

Dual band means its radio is

Dual band means its radio is capable of operating in the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands. The 2.4GHz band supports the 802.11b/g/n signaling standards, and 5GHz supports 802.11a/n.

Unless you have highly complicated (ie expensive) networking equipment, the 2 bands generally operate independently from each other. To connect to either one, your client adapter has to support the frequency and the signalling standard configured on the access point side.

By far the most common adapters only support 2.4GHz because its significantly cheaper to build radios for. Incidentally, the 2.4GHz band is saturated with everything from bluetooth, to cordless phones, remote controls, baby monitors, and poorly shielded microwaves.

The 5GHz band is much cleaner, and has greater channel density (52 vs 12 of 2.4GHz). However, client adapters supporting 5GHz are expensive and somewhat hard to find. If you have the option of running in 5GHz, you'll want to do so.

As for not being able to see the 5GHz band, chances are your network adapter on the computer doesn't support it. 802.11n doesn't require support for both bands, so you have to check the technical specs of the devices to find what frequencies it can operate in.

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Disconnect/De-synch issues