SE should consider providing its own VPN network to solve the lag problem

[WHS]

Basically all of my FC member living in NA were hit by the post 2.1 lag issue which rendered most endgame content unplayable, and all of the lag problems were solved by the WTFast service.

If SE is having budgetary concerns on opening more datacenters, perhaps they should consider providing their own WTFast-like VPN network which would increase their service quality while having their costs 'under control'.

I have comcast internet and was using a Motorola SBG6580 combo modem/router for a few years. Recently the lag I got in game was so horrible. Complete lockups at times then all a sudden ppl dead. I decided to try battleping and it did not help me at all.

Even though my current setup was working I couldn't help wonder if something could be done to make it better. Sure other games no lag, ffxiv lag. Still I went out and bought a router and a new cable modem. I had no choice but to buy the modem all over again since it was a combo package. Yes set me back 200 dollars but now me and my kids can play ffxiv w/o any lag what so ever. I wish I could promise this be a fix for you but I cannot. I also couldn't find any visible signs my original setup was broken except horrible lag in ffxiv. No other game lagged. Something was just not working right. No way for me to find out because it was a hidden internal problem with my cable modem.

[Lanceton]

Weird, not one of my FC members living in NA were hit by any "post 2.1 lag issue".

I don't live in NA myself, and I've never experienced any lag as my FC members described neither. Since 2.1 they are often having 6~10 seconds of lag spikes with server desyncs from time to time. I have seen the kind of lag in other MMO so it's not hard to imagine, however I only realized its severity after I experienced it myself after I went Canada for a visit.

My FC members locations include Vancouver BC, LA and Alabama; their connections ranging from regular broadband to FTTH(not Verizon FiOS), yet they all had the similar lag during different times of the day. I gave WTFast a try in Vancouver and magically, it fixed the lag issue completely. I asked my FC members also give it a try, and their lags are gone as well... I am not doing a testimonial for WTFast as I think other similar gaming VPN services such as Battleping will produce similar result.

[Billie21]

Someone on this thread posted this:

I purchased a year subscription to both wtfast and battleping. I tried them both out for a week each and got a lot of direction from service support of both service providers and my ISP.

If you're in the following locations, Battleping will be far superior than wtfast

1-21 Route through France and UK servers - choose the one with the lower ping.
21 and above route through Japan
1.Israel
2.UAE
3.Saudi
4.India
5.Pakistan
6.Egypt
7.Tunisia
8.Qatar
9.Bahrain
10.Kuwait
11.Jordan
12.Lebanon
13.Greece
14.Cyrpus
15.Turkey
16.Italy
17.Spain
18. Portugal
19.Slovenia
20.Serbia
21.Georgia
22.Uzbekistan
23.Kazakhistan
24.Russia

The rest of the EU and scandanavian countries will benefit more from Wtfast.

EDIT: Performance differences are drastic if your choose the right server. I used to dodge things like plumes and be across the arena by the time explosion went off and be dead. Now, If I'm out when they disappear, i don't get hit. Drastic changes. Can't imagine playing XIV without battleping.

Just thought some might find it interesting.

[indira]

open your router ports.

learn the fights then lag wont be a problem.

[Alhanelem]

There's a whole thread about it here.

The problems have to do with Level3, one of the network points FiOS uses to send data to Montreal, frequently dropping packets. Anybody with an ISP that communicates with Level3 will experience the problem, not just FiOS customers.

That's why WTFast fixes the issues; it circumvents that whole network.

Well it seems to me like this problem is mostly beyond SE's control then. The only thing they could do would be to relocate to a new datacenter or do something to force routing around the problem areas if Level3 can't fix them. I can say at least the former option would cost a fortune.

[Wargaszm]

1000 character max going to take a couple post:

Fios and other ISP's are connecting to level 3 communications. Level 3 Communications is contracted by SE to support there bandwidth needs. In 2011 world of tanks was the the first game they used level 3 to support. While i can not locate any information on a contract agreement regarding FFXIV, the trace route to the server tunnels through level 3's routers.

This is the press release showing the relationship between SE and Level 3

http://investors.level3.com/investor...t/default.aspx

Now if your wondering how your connection measures up .. perform a trace route to your server, if you do not know the IP address for your server use this site mouse over your server and the IP will appear.

http://www.arrstatus.com/

[Wargaszm]

Then go to: http://network-tools.com/

type in your servers IP address

you will get a read out possibly like this:

TraceRoute from Network-Tools.com to 199.91.189.26
Hop (ms) (ms) (ms) IP Address Host name
1 0 0 0 8.9.232.73 xe-5-3-0.edge3.dallas1.level3.net
2 40 40 40 4.69.145.190 vlan80.csw3.dallas1.level3.net
3 40 40 40 4.69.151.150 ae-81-81.ebr1.dallas1.level3.net
4 40 40 40 4.69.151.117 ae-14-14.ebr2.chicago2.level3.net
5 40 40 45 4.69.132.113 ae-1-100.ebr1.chicago2.level3.net
6 40 40 40 4.69.140.189 ae-6-6.ebr1.chicago1.level3.net
7 40 Timed out 40 4.69.153.86 ae-10-10.car2.montreal2.level3.net
8 40 40 40 4.59.178.74 ormuco-comm.car2.montreal2.level3.net
9 40 40 40 192.34.76.10 -
10 41 41 40 199.91.189.242 -
11 40 40 40 199.91.189.26 -

Trace complete

[Wargaszm]

The important part is this:
7 40 Timed out 40 4.69.153.86 ae-10-10.car2.montreal2.level3.net

Hop 7 is a server with a know problem, its timing out at that point in the connection users are experiencing packet loss.

This site monitors routing servers and has history of the problem.
http://www.dslreports.com/routerwatc...al2.Level3.net

Should SE provide a VPN ... Your crazy, but they should be pressuring level 3 to fix the problem because there game will suffer with poor internet connectivity.

WTFast is a solution but it comes at a cost and will reroute your connection and stabilize your ping spikes and reduce packet loss. Fio's customers pay for the "best" internet available in the US ... Fiber optic connections ... yadda yadda yaddda .. the routing should be fixed on one side or the other but SE is going to have enter into negotiations to solve the problem.

[Alhanelem]

1000 character max going to take a couple post:

You can edit your original post instead of making multiple posts. There is a limit on the number of posts you can make per day, so editing will save you from hitting that limit so fast.

(When you edit your post, the 1000 char limit is gone)

[Rekujen]

All MMOs have lag, deal with it or move closer to the data centre. VPNs give you a slight shortcut in jumps to the server, it's still not gunna make a world of difference.

not all MMO's have terrible netcode and require an amazing connection to do the end-game raiding.

I live in New Zealand and I have no problem in other MMO's... FFXIV is the only game where i have to pay for a VPN to be viable at 50.

ping without VPN: 300
ping with VPN: 150

titan extreme without vpn = dead 90% of the time
titan extreme with vpn = dodge perfectly fine