Regarding Reports on Recent Connection Problems with the NA Data Center

[joep]

In the last 3 weeks, I have had constant lag, especially in areas such as the Feast. It usually occurs in the evenings (5pm-9pm PST). I have no lag issues playing other games, except for this one.

I spoke with my ISP (Cox, Arizona) and they do not detect any issues with my connection. I have spoken with others who use Cox and they also experience frequent lag.

I have tried using VPN's such as Wtfast and the lag continues to occur. I am at the verge of quitting the game, as it is impossible to play with this lag.

When: 5pm-9pm PST everyday
Platform: Windows PC
Connection: Wired
Programs while playing: Discord
Internet Service Provider: Cox High Speed, Arizona

[Dualgunner]

Same issues here, same ISP and same state.

In another thread, another user narrowed it down to an issue with some nodes through Los Angeles, where Cox hands the data off to NTT:
ae-7.a00.lsanca20.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.194.165]
ae-3.r01.lsanca20.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.2.233]
ae-8.r23.lsanca07.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.6.48]

It's very annoying. I don't think it's anything SE can handle, as it is an issue with the route Cox takes to the datacenter though, sadly. I hope something is done soon though...the thought of having to get a VPN for this makes me sad.

[Ravenguard]

I'm also in Arizona on Cox with this exact same issue. I started a thread which got moved to the "Separate Support Required" section and locked.
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/353963-Constant-Dropped-Packets-Rubberbanding?p=4508492&viewfull=1#post4508492

You might be being routed through a section of NTT's network located in Los Angeles which seems to be heavily congested. Judging by the Technical Support forum, along with Reddit posts this is an issue effect a great number of players who have to use this particular NTT hop. It's been an ongoing struggle.

Try running a Traceroute to FFXIV's lobby server.
tracert 209.2.229.9

Then check if you see any of NTT's hops located in Los Angeles
I.e. lsanca20.us.bb.gin.ntt.net

I've been running a ping to FFXIV when I got home today around 4:30PM PST and monitoring it. I get the occational packet loss, but not enough to impact gameplay. However sure enough, like clockwork, as soon as 7:30PM PST rolls around, the one particular Los Angeles NTT node becomes congested and the rubberbanding begins.

Pinging the node in question, ae-3.r01.lsanca20.us.bb.gin.ntt.net
10% packet loss


And pinging all the way to the FFXIV Lobby server
12% packet loss


Unfortunately, its been like this for me for over a month, and looks like something NTT has to fix (not Cox)

[Einmimiria]

Good Morning, and thank you for posting on the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

We do apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced. We are trying to find the best way to assist everyone with their connection issues, but because of the dynamic nature of the network and the multiple parties involved, we have little control over the matter. Please note that there are many parties/companies between you and the servers, this means that if there is a hiccup along the way (sometimes caused by local conditions), we may have trouble assisting. The nodes through Los Angeles (operated by NTT) has no connection or affiliation with Square Enix. Because of this, we recommend that you report your connection issues and packet loss to your ISP and specify exactly where the problem is occurring. We are escalating this on our side as well so it can be investigated and reported. Unfortunately, we cannot get a fix at this time, but we hope we can assist in any way we can.

We hope we can be of assistance in helping you enjoy the exciting world of Final Fantasy XIV!

[Gilaverde]

What is the current solution for this issue? As you can see from the numinous posting, many of the players cannot play. This has been going on for a few weeks now, I had hope this be cleared up by now.

So Until there is a solution, I will need to suspend my account. How can anyone play with consistent lost in connection? I cannot pay for something I’m getting only limited service on.

[Leviathan1usa]

Einmimiria,
I am going to be very direct here as the information provided by you on this is inaccurate as I work for an ISP and I am having this same problem that everyone else is having and it is NTT specifically and I have looked at other's routing tables. When you look at a trace route the first 4 hops are your customer's ISP, once it is past that portion this is the routing table configured specifically for your company (Square Enix) to reach the customer who is paying to have access to the game. From every hop I'm seeing including my own these customers are well past the ISP so instead of giving false information, let's be clear that the issue are not on multiple ISP's but in nature the routing table which the breakdown is where the route is set up for the Square Enix servers that run through NTT. It's time to own up and fix and issue instead of passing the blame. Let's work to get the issue resolved and stop pointing the finger whereas Square needs to contact whom sets up the routing for the servers and have NTT removed from that route, end of story. As an fyi mine is happening at night as well and it is really bad. When is this going to be addressed and fixed? This has gone on long enough and I'm paying for something I can't use!

[Riko_Futatabi]

There's also numerous other hops at the east coast that give me around 30% packet loss, consistently. I'm not Cox ISP though, my ISP is Sky Fibre broadband and I've had this issue since patch 4.06a(Over 3 month ago) and of course I've talked with my ISP many times. Blah blah blah, it's got me nowhere. Why the hell am I still playing?!...I like my friends I guess.

Here's the nodes I'm having trouble with, I don't really expect much but I'm just reporting more troublesome hops/nodes w/e.

ae-5.r24.nycmny01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net

ae-2.r20.sttlwa01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net

ae-0.r21.sttlwa01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net

They all range from 20%~60% packet loss. I'm sure it gets even worse, it's very erratic. But it's always these 3 hops/nodes.

[Einmimiria]

Thank you for your reply,

Gilaverde, unfortunately, there is not a solution at this time, nor can we guarantee one. We are trying to collect as much information as we can in order to investigate. All the information we obtain will be escalated in order to assist in any way we can.

Riko_Futatabi, thank you for providing us with this information, I will add it to our investigation.

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

[Dualgunner]

Would it be helpful if I documented and posted all of my hops to the server? Let me know if there's anything I can do to support the investigation and thank you for your swift response on this matter

[Einmimiria]

Would it be helpful if I documented and posted all of my hops to the server? Let me know if there's anything I can do to support the investigation and thank you for your swift response on this matter

Yes, that would be very helpful. You can also try giving that information to your ISP, tell them exactly where you think the issue is. Reporting it to us will help us investigate, but we ultimately can't control how your ISP routes to our server.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation everyone.