update too long : new download system

[fken]

Some people think (and me too) the download is too long.

And your updater system seems to be a strange choice : in fact I dont understand that choice.

I think a single package system would be better.

Explanations:
- run the updater
- the updater verify the update release of the current update package and compare it to the system (very quickly off course just a number comparaison)
- the updater download just ONE file in gzip format for example
- the updater download the md5 of the file too
- the updater compare the md5 of the file with the md5 downloaded
- the updater starts the upgrade (same system as now but every order are in the client computer)

-> every merged files will be merged very very quickly
-> no latency between two files
and the the progress line could be more linear

What do you think about that ?

[Necronomium]

my download took about 1hour and 40 mins with 512 k speed, so if you have much slower like 10 h, you probably should leave it over night loading, or download it in pieces with some programs that are made for that.. but yes it takes quite a long time but theres much bigger files in the net too, so try to survive

[Seytra]

Originally posted by fken
What do you think about that ?

Not good. The updater operates in this way to be somewhat effective for any combination of update. After all, what happens if one single file will be changed, but inside of each package? Take, for example, the maps. Some are 11 MB in size or even more. If one file inside each of them changes, sure you wouldn\'t be happy to download the complete packages, especially if you\'re on 56k?
The updater might be not as efficient for broadband users, but it isn\'t terribly ineffective either, while at the same time being very effective for dialup users. Therefore, I\'m perfectly fine with it, and don\'t think it needs to be changed.

Oh, and of course it is absolutely no option to have the server create an individual package for every user each time, which should really be obvious considering that you\'re already whining about the merging times... after all, the server would need to do the merging for every such package. :rolleyes:

Also, as you seem to be whining about the (IMO rather modest) filesize of the game itself: did you even bother to try BitTorrent? Because that is the alternative download system you\'re crying for!

[Androgos]

The updater is designed to handle updateing from ANY version possible (as long as the updater application stays the same). It also have the possibility to actually merge ZIP files so that you can get 1 texture update and so on.

If you compare that to the other updaters around in the big games, I think they\'re just lazy.
This solution is much better IMO since you get more controll, you can lock specific files for modification, if you hack something too much just re-run the updater and it will replace it, go on a holiday and you will get 2 updates in one with 0 overlapping files.

And, the updater is simply a website so anything too fancy isn\'t possible.
http://laanx.fragnetics.com/updater_hidden (Check the updaterconfig.xml for password)

I plan to add compression on each and every file to get the filesize on the update down to a minimum, but that\'s if the update size is getting bigger (ATM it\'s around 20MB for a lightmap update, which is quite little)

[Tharizdun]

Originally posted by Androgos
And, the updater is simply a website so anything too fancy isn\'t possible.
http://laanx.fragnetics.com/updater_hidden (Check the updaterconfig.xml for password)

Great link, its handy seeing the timestamps and sizes on things before running the updater, just to get a feel how much downloading it will need to sync up to what is current. A whole bunch of the world files have todays date for example, those are chunky downloads and will probably be a substantial download compared to what people are used to.

I\'m guessing the \'-compare\' switch given to the updater performs this process as well? I havent tried it out yet and my CVS install is a bit broken at the moment so I havent run the updater for a while :/

[fken]

Originally posted by Seytra

Originally posted by fken
What do you think about that ?

Not good. The updater operates in this way to be somewhat effective for any combination of update. After all, what happens if one single file will be changed, but inside of each package? Take, for example, the maps. Some are 11 MB in size or even more. If one file inside each of them changes, sure you wouldn\'t be happy to download the complete packages, especially if you\'re on 56k?
The updater might be not as efficient for broadband users, but it isn\'t terribly ineffective either, while at the same time being very effective for dialup users. Therefore, I\'m perfectly fine with it, and don\'t think it needs to be changed.

I think the Problem is the merged files :

if you just have to add a line in a 2000 files the problem is that the file in/out process will takes more time than if you download a little file where it\'s written what the updater has to do... it\'s annoying and I think the server is busier with this method.

So in my mind it could be a better way even for 56Kbps

Originally posted by Androgos
I plan to add compression on each and every file to get the filesize on the update down to a minimum, but that\'s if the update size is getting bigger (ATM it\'s around 20MB for a lightmap update, which is quite little)

Good idea Androgos!

[Under the moon]

Just feel lucky you don\'t have my connection. Now that my PC has stablized, its going to take me a week to DL the client. With the torrent. And that doesn\'t include the update. ;( I HATE rural dialup. X(

[Valbrandr]

I think the dowloader is just fine.  Has anyone here played WoW and had to update?  It is an all day event to download 50 MB in their Bit Torrent option.