Steam doesn't work on IPv6-only (NAT64/DNS64) networks

[oerdnj]

I understand that my request might look like coming from Mars :), but there's an issue in the official steam client using a way to connect to steam servers the is not Internet Protocol compatible. (Yeah, I am not speaking about legacy IP ;)).

I am running on IPv6-only + NAT64/DNS64 network and Steam fails to connect to the servers although the connectivity works as expected - the IPv4 gets remapped to IPv6 addresses, so every application should not notice the difference unless:

a) you use some strange/ancient API to connect to TCP sockets b) you use IP addresses instead of domain names to connect to steam servers

The fix is obvious:

a) add native support for IPv6 into steam and prefer IPv6 if found b) use DNS to resolve the names of steam servers or have IPv6 address that gets used when IPv6 is detected.

I do not expect this to be solved quickly, but a record in internal tracker with some future fix would be nice.

DNS64 example:

$ dig IN AAAA store.steampowered.com @2001:1488:fffe:20::34

; <<>> DiG 9.9.5-4-Ubuntu <<>> IN AAAA store.steampowered.com @2001:1488:fffe:20::34
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 64038
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 6, ADDITIONAL: 1

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;store.steampowered.com.        IN  AAAA

;; ANSWER SECTION:
store.steampowered.com. 5   IN  AAAA    2001:1488:fffe:30:ffff:ffff:173f:40c0

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
steampowered.com.   9320    IN  NS  a8-66.akam.net.
steampowered.com.   9320    IN  NS  a24-64.akam.net.
steampowered.com.   9320    IN  NS  a1-164.akam.net.
steampowered.com.   9320    IN  NS  a11-67.akam.net.
steampowered.com.   9320    IN  NS  a26-65.akam.net.
steampowered.com.   9320    IN  NS  a9-67.akam.net.

;; Query time: 1 msec
;; SERVER: 2001:1488:fffe:20::34#53(2001:1488:fffe:20::34)
;; WHEN: Mon Jun 23 10:08:09 CEST 2014
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 211

[mxdpeep]

I am testing Steam over IPv6 only (using HE.NET tunnel), chat is working, no images or Steam news, updater does not work either

that means = there's some basic functionality within Steam for IPv6??

[cheako]

[0406/210657:WARNING:dns_config_service_posix.cc(292)] Failed to read DnsConfig. nameserver 2001:4860:4860::8888 nameserver 2001:4860:4860::8844

[gangsta2oo9]

Why is Steam dont updating to ipv6 ? -.-

[fiveghz]

I can confirm that the Steam client does not operate on an IPv6 only network, using NAT64/DNS64. This is on Mac OS 10.11.3 and Steam client built Feb 4 2016.

[vician]

Please fix it. Steam still doesn't work on IPv6 only network (with NAT64/DNS64).

[jima-v6]

Strictly speaking, I'm not sure I'd consider this a Linux-specific issue, given that the Windows installer doesn't work behind NAT64, either: "Steam needs to be online to update. Please confirm your network connection and try again."

[pHr34kY]

I'm also unable to connect on my NAT64 setup. Even in after selecting offline mode, Portal2 throws a "STEAM validation rejected" error even when attempting single player mode. The source engine probably needs to have its socket code inspected as well.

Also, this ticket appears to be a duplicate of #2912.

[hsaito]

This also started affecting double-stack setting (e.g. Comcast, etc.) on Linux. The client loads sometimes, but the game fails to download.

[mikaabra]

I tried again now with all-updated steam on fully updated Win10 with yesterdays fall creators update. On an IPv6 only network (with NAT64+DNS64), Steam won't even start. After trying this, it won't even start if I go back to dual stacked network. I actually have to reboot Win10 on the dual stack network for Steam to start again.

Microsoft has fixed Win10 so multiple normal functions now work on an NAT64+DNS64 network, software updates work nowadays for instance. But, Steam is a complete blocker. It won't even start and give an error message on an IPv6 only network (again, with IPv4 reachability through NAT64+DNS64).

[GroverChouT]

It has been four years ago, still no any actions?

[cheako]

Thus no solution to the high price of address blocks.

[No0ne]

+1 ... 2019 is approaching!

[boospy]

IPV6 YEAH!!! :1st_place_medal:

[tambry]

Updated Steam Networking protobufs include a field for IPv6.

[tambry]

Steam Client Beta has received an update to support downloads over IPv6.
Another protobuf update has added support for an IPv6 address in one of the messages.

[boospy]

Nice but how can i enable ipv6? I've changed to Beta and clicked on Download on a game. But it was loaded only with ipv4. So i think there is some changing of option necessary.

[bernhardschmidt]

I don't think the servers are IPv6-enabled yet, but I do see the beta client doing AAAA lookups now. For a normal dualstacked client this won't change anything (downloads still go through IPv4 as long as no IPv6-enabled steam content server is available), but for NAT64/DNS64 clients they finally stand a chance. Will test soon.

[boospy]

Ah ok, thank you :+1:

[tambry]

Actually two content servers now have IPv6 addresses – valve700.steamcontent.com and valve705.steamcontent.com. Although I'm unable to ping either of them over IPv6. They're of course just a few of very many and only used in select regions (cells).

Combined with 6 new IPv6 prefix announcements in the past week, I hope we'll be seeing more progress on this soon.

[tambry]

Another IPv6 related Steam Client Beta update:

Fixed issue "Servers content unreachable" related to some IPv6 configurations

[myxal]

Got around to testing current Steam client (Built Feb 2 2019, 09:29:56) on NAT64, no dice - according to log, the WebSocket is bound to 0.0.0.0 (V4-only). But hey, at least, the server is no longer an IPv4 literal, so that's something...

[2019-02-16 14:13:20] [1,3] Connect() starting connection (eNetQOSLevelHigh, CM03-STO.cm.steampowered.com:443, WebSocket) [2019-02-16 14:13:20] [1,0] ConnectFailed('Connection Failed':0) (0.0.0.0:0, WebSocket

Needless to say, HTTPS-pinging this server over v6 works without issue:

$ LANG=en wget -6 -H https://CM03-STO.cm.steampowered.com --2019-02-16 14:31:49-- https://cm03-sto.cm.steampowered.com/ Resolving cm03-sto.cm.steampowered.com (cm03-sto.cm.steampowered.com)... 64:ff9b::9b85:f208 Connecting to cm03-sto.cm.steampowered.com (cm03-sto.cm.steampowered.com)|64:ff9b::9b85:f208|:443... connected. HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 404 Not Found 2019-02-16 14:31:50 ERROR 404: Not Found.

[treysis]

Yep, still no IPv6, and of course also no NAT64. Can't log in. Didn't check which socket it uses.

[tambry]

Local content caches/proxies seem to now support IPv6.

[RomanTruba]

5 years passed since this issue was reported, and still there is no way to login on IPv6-only network. Such a shame.

[0xE232FE]

Disable IPv4 28.06.2019 no connection to Steam Network available. Fix your Internet connection they say... WTF!

[wuodland]

Here I am at an APNIC conference trying to login to Steam via a v6 network. Nope, doesn't work. Incredible and appalling.

[No0ne]

+1 ... 2020 is approaching!

[zajdee]

So what about all those NAT64-enabled networks? Is there going to be a Christmas present from the Valve team? In June 2020, this bug report will celebrate its 6th anniversary.

[myxal]

June ... 6th anniversary.

I see what you did there. Would be funny if support was rolled out on an IPv6 day!

[DrJosh9000]

I get this issue with the macOS client as well.