[UNET] Is there an alternative for MasterServer.RequestHostList in UNET?

Is it possible to advertise and discover server IP address?

In other words, is there a way how to get a list of available servers (or their IPs) in local network without knowing their IP addresses in advance?

As far as I know, right now, the remote client needs to know the IP of the server. I want to remove that burden from the user and just give them a list of servers that are available to choose from.

Look to the olde-ways of the pagans

Not sure about UNET, but if …

  • You (or UNET) can dip in/out of sockets
    • I’m not suggesting you implement the whole darn game as broadcast packets - just the discovery bits
    • … might not “jive” with Unity-on-a-shoebox
  • your user’s network doesn’t block broadcast packets
    • I think … Napster? Kazzaa? used broadcast packets
    • … so some admins liked to block them - not sure if this is still in-vouge
    • if the free router that came from your ISP doesn’t block them I’d say go for it
    • … and a locked-down network probably will block games anyway - right?

… so you have servers/unity-app/whatnot;

  • shout “I’m a game” every X time intervals when they want connections
  • have your unity-app listen for “I’m a game” messages and add the senders to a list
  • drop list entries that’re too old

… that would do it … right?