A single regional install allows all devices to access the game seamlessly.
A single regional install allows all devices to access the game seamlessly.
Hey, you're looking to set up a gaming setup where all your computers can run the same game from a single local installation. That sounds like a smart way to save space and avoid multiple copies. I checked online, but it’s not exactly straightforward—there isn’t a built-in server solution that automatically fetches files for each machine. However, you could explore a cache system or a shared installation method. If you’re not too familiar with networking, you might need to look into tools like a dedicated server or a custom setup using software that manages downloads. It’s definitely possible, but it’ll require some planning and possibly some technical know-how.
I recall trying it several years back and facing some disappointing outcomes with blurry images and steady input lag. It could be worth revisiting to check for any updates or enhancements.
You might consider placing the game on a network share that all devices can access. Be aware that software often resists installation from shared locations, which could lead to complications when Steam tries to apply updates across several machines. Installing it manually on one device and then restoring others might create confusion. Files saved with the game would also conflict if multiple systems used the same setup. Additionally, network drives tend to be slower than local ones, likely causing significant delays in loading times.
Interesting, thanks for the details! It seems practicality takes priority here—it's disappointing. The main scenario appears to be older, DRM-free games that haven't been updated, where local storage might be preferable. Even then, those files tend to be tiny, making it easier to keep them offline and avoid conflicts. Maybe using the cache system I noticed would help reduce download times.
You have the ability, though it would be quite complicated and expensive compared to simply adding more storage per machine. LMG has already implemented this in their 7 gamers 1 CPU setup. They use a massive PC that hosts seven virtual machines, all running clones of a single base system. These VMs appear independent, each believing they possess its own separate copy of files, but in fact they all access the same physical storage locations. This setup functions effectively because any changes made by one VM are detected, and the backend smartly provides a dedicated copy of the altered file, preventing interference with others. This approach allows you to bypass traditional configuration files that might have changed. Linus discusses this in detail around the 10:45 mark in their video. You might achieve a similar outcome without VMs, using tools like Unraid or FreeNAS, and connecting via a standard Windows file share or an iSCSI connection to each computer. Nevertheless, you’d likely face performance challenges, particularly with newer games that rely heavily on fast SSD storage for asset loading. You’d probably need at least 2.5 or 10GB of network bandwidth (no wireless), plus a high-performance SSD RAID array on the storage. These options aren’t inexpensive. Still, I think it would suffice to run everything smoothly with minimal drawbacks from local storage. Updates would also become problematic, as many changes require rebuilding a new base image for each game and rewriting all linked files across devices. It would quickly become very complicated.
That's great to hear! I appreciate your interest. It seems like you're diving into some advanced topics, which can be challenging but rewarding. I'm here to help clarify anything you need about iSCSI, Unraid, or FreeNAS. Let me know if you'd like a quick summary!