For games using the legacy Networking code. Will the Unity Master Server ever be taken down?
I am using it for Nat punch through for one of my games soon to go on Steam.
I would like to know a time frame for how long the Master Server will still be supported. If it will still be running for 2-3 years that is fine.
I think there will be a lot of games using it so if it suddenly stopped running that would be a shame.
Can someone answer?
Im curious, cause im using old legacy unity networking.
I don’t think it would be taken down,(any soon) but you should still run your own master server instead of unity one.
Well they do say it’s for testing only and not to be used in production, so realistically it could be taken down or changed at any time.
@Johny_Roy Are u talking about Unity 5.1 networking?
Whats about old deprecated networking?
Not really. They are very ambiguous. On the one hand they say it is the default server that is used. Yes, they do say it is for testing. But it doesn’t say it is ONLY for testing.
Of course, I understand it is in their interest not to promote it too much and to promote their new cloud based services. But it is also in their interest to keep it running.
I would run my own one if I could find an easy PHP implementation. But so far I haven’t seen one that is bug free. And I’m only using it for Nat punch through which I don’t think puts a huge strain on the system.
(No I’m not talking about Unity 5.1 Networking, I’m talking about Unity 4 Networking)
On this page:
http://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/net-MasterServer.html
Unity Technologies also has a fully deployed Master Server available for testing purposes…
Nowhere does it say after this which you can use to host your own games, the fact the word only is missing is making a huge assumption that it is for use for release use when it doesn’t mention that anywhere.
If you want to use it, then do, but it has no SLA and goes down regularly for long periods of time, basically if it does down on a weekend, you are waiting for Monday until someone reboots it. And yes this is only with reference to legacy ie 4.x networking.
It’s not for anything except testing. Don’t use it for your own finished games. It doesn’t matter what argument or justification you invent about it, the fact remains it will bite you in the arse.
In future I’d expect unity will come out with a proper paid service, but this is only my guess and only for UNet.
Is this from Unity, or just what you assume?
Is there a version of the Master server that I can deploy on Google Cloud for free?
All I need is the Nat punch through. If someone can recommend a simple free service for this then I would be very grateful.
I have my own website which can host php and sql databases too but I would prefer to put it as an appspot app.
I don’t have access to any personal server though (virtual or otherwise) and can’t see the point in renting one out for something so simple.
I have my game working with the legacy Networking code so it would be nice if I could keep all that.
Does Nat punch through really take that much of a toll on the Unity servers?
Suit yourself. I know you will anyway.
http://unity3d.com/master-server/
Server source is here, the old system uses TCP IP so as long as you can open a socket in PHP, you could create your own punchthrough using the source from here as a guide.
Is there video tutorial for it?
Or just only tutorial?
I had a look at this PHP one: PHP Master Server - Community Showcases - Unity Discussions but it says it still uses Unity’s default Nat facilitator.
What have other people done? Is there a good place to host the master server? Any good cloud based solutions?
Is anyone renting out their implementation of the Nat Facilitator?