Twelve99 Problem again

[Leeroy]

Greetings Charles_Cimeaurant,

I'm really sorry to hear that you and your fellow adventurers have been experiencing these connection issues.

We would like to ask for the following information to get a better idea of the issue:

- Error messages (If any):
- Type of connection (wired or wireless):
- Frequency at which error occurs (If this occurs during specific hours, please provide the date(s), time and timezone):
- Are there other programs being used when running FFXIV:
- Re-Confirm what data center and server/world were you trying to connect to:
- What is the ISP and what region/country are you connecting from:

We would also like to ask what you have tried so far to alleviate the issue:

Also, seeing as this appears to be a recurring issue from a specific connection (twelve99), on top of replying back here with the requested information, I'd also suggest submitting the traceroute information through our submission form as directed by our sticky post here: https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...t-Loss-and-Lag

At this time, we are also experiencing DDoS attacks further causing issues with connectivity to the game. The most recent announcement can be found via our official lodestone post here: https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...a77a75683c3aeb


We look forward to hearing back from you as well as for any and all reports made through the packet loss and lag submission form.

- Error messages (If any):
No error messages as there are no disconnects, just lag (from usual 20-25ms jumps up to 100-200 ms latency), packet loss causing rubber banding, battles freezing for 2-5 sec then everything releasing at once, actions failing, etc

- Type of connection (wired or wireless):
Wired VDSL connection

- Frequency at which error occurs:
99% of the days for the past year+, always during prime time from around 6pm until around 11pm CET, all good outside this time frame

- Are there other programs being used when running FFXIV:
None worth mentioning, why and how would any program cause lag starting on twelve99 hops only and not before, and only during prime time. This is clearly twelve99 congestion.

- Re-Confirm what data center and server/world were you trying to connect to:
EU datacenter both Chaos and Light, Home world Ragnarok but same issue on any world. For NA/JP/OC there is no difference in latency during their prime time vs out of prime time (tested), although higher latency due to physical distance.

- What is the ISP and what region/country are you connecting from:
ISP: Hrvatski Telekom (T-HT), T-Com, Region: Europe, Croatia

Regarding the packet loss and lag submission form, I've submitted a great dozen reports ever since this started happening to no avail, it's ongoing for over a year now. It used to be all normal (or at least without daily congestion) before certain maintenance on SE's ISP side, where routing changed from Congent to twelve99.

[DhahliaQ]

Hello,
I have the same issue as the others have outlined, the game is genuinely unplayable during peak hours and this is unacceptable.

- Error messages (If any): None, it's a packet loss issue which causes rubberbanding but doesn't disconnect me from the game
- Type of connection (wired or wireless):Wired
- Frequency at which error occurs (If this occurs during specific hours, please provide the date(s), time and timezone): Every day after 18:00 CEST, no clue how long it lasts because I just can't be bothered to keep an unplayable game running.
- Are there other programs being used when running FFXIV: This is irrelevant, me having a browser, music player, or Discord open is not the cause of the issue.
- Re-Confirm what data center and server/world were you trying to connect to: Light - Zodiark
- What is the ISP and what region/country are you connecting from: Telekom, Hungary

[Votraftur]

Good morning! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

The issue you are describing is most associated with interference with game data. Many actions can trigger this error, such as a slow internet connection, certain security/privacy changes on the default Internet browser, an application running in the background causing interference, use of a VPN or an odd connection (EG: schools or cafes), a possible virus detected on the device, many rapid payments at once, and numerous other actions.

We advise clearing the cache/cookies/browsing data from your default web browser, disabling any web browser extensions (EG: ad-blocker) and trying again. We also suggest resetting the connection (router/modem) you are using to connect to the Internet before trying again.

Open the control panel of the PC and go to ‘Network and Internet’. Once there select ‘Internet Options’
- Under the "General" tab, please delete ALL browser history.
- Under the "Security" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or no higher than "Medium"
- Under the "Privacy" tab, click “Advanced” and select ‘Accept’ under both First Party and Third Party Cookies.
- Under the "Advanced" tab, please make sure that "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid" is CHECKED.
- Make sure that all SSL and TLS (EXCEPT SSL 3.0) are CHECKED. [SSL 3.0 should be UNCHECKED]
- Hit "Apply" to save the settings, and then "OK, to close the Internet Options menu.
- Right-Click on the FFXIV launcher icon and select "Properties"
- Hit "Apply", then "OK" to save the changes.
- Please RESTART your PC now. Once your PC has been restarted, Right-Click the FFXIV launcher icon once more and select "Run as Administrator"
*Make sure your fire wall or antivirus program is not interfering with the game

Lastly, check to see if the following port ranges are opened on your router. You can contact your ISP and request they open them for you:
▼TCP
54992 through 54994,
55006 through 55007,
55021 through 55040

Try disabling background applications and do a clean boot by opening the task manager and selecting the “Start up” tab. Disable everything and then restart the PC.
Lastly, we suggest to power cycle the console and router by shutting down the PlayStation/Router and leaving the power supply unplugged for 5-10 minutes.

Please do note, if you have done all of the above including contacting your ISP and the issue persists you may report the issue here in the sticky thread (for the European region):
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...rope-Region%29

Thank you once again for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

[Leeroy]

Good morning! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

The issue you are describing is most associated with interference with game data. Many actions can trigger this error, such as a slow internet connection, certain security/privacy changes on the default Internet browser, an application running in the background causing interference, use of a VPN or an odd connection (EG: schools or cafes), a possible virus detected on the device, many rapid payments at once, and numerous other actions.

We advise clearing the cache/cookies/browsing data from your default web browser, disabling any web browser extensions (EG: ad-blocker) and trying again. We also suggest resetting the connection (router/modem) you are using to connect to the Internet before trying again.

Open the control panel of the PC and go to ‘Network and Internet’. Once there select ‘Internet Options’
- Under the "General" tab, please delete ALL browser history.
- Under the "Security" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or no higher than "Medium"
- Under the "Privacy" tab, click “Advanced” and select ‘Accept’ under both First Party and Third Party Cookies.
- Under the "Advanced" tab, please make sure that "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid" is CHECKED.
- Make sure that all SSL and TLS (EXCEPT SSL 3.0) are CHECKED. [SSL 3.0 should be UNCHECKED]
- Hit "Apply" to save the settings, and then "OK, to close the Internet Options menu.
- Right-Click on the FFXIV launcher icon and select "Properties"
- Hit "Apply", then "OK" to save the changes.
- Please RESTART your PC now. Once your PC has been restarted, Right-Click the FFXIV launcher icon once more and select "Run as Administrator"
*Make sure your fire wall or antivirus program is not interfering with the game

Lastly, check to see if the following port ranges are opened on your router. You can contact your ISP and request they open them for you:
▼TCP
54992 through 54994,
55006 through 55007,
55021 through 55040

Try disabling background applications and do a clean boot by opening the task manager and selecting the “Start up” tab. Disable everything and then restart the PC.
Lastly, we suggest to power cycle the console and router by shutting down the PlayStation/Router and leaving the power supply unplugged for 5-10 minutes.

Please do note, if you have done all of the above including contacting your ISP and the issue persists you may report the issue here in the sticky thread (for the European region):
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...rope-Region%29

Thank you once again for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

I'm sorry, but you are ignoring the fact that this is happening during "peak hours" only. Multiple people in this thread alone have mentioned so, there are numerous reports around other forums as well, always peak hours only and always twelve99. I've sent many reports (50+) via suggested official report form with comparisons of "Out of peak hour" vs "During peak hours" results where normally latency is <25ms and during peak hours 120-200ms+. There is absolutely nothing running on my PC, nor is anything wrong with my network, connection or my ISP that would make FFXIV run smoothly with <25ms latency from past 11 PM CEST until <6 PM CEST, only to jump up to 120ms+ past roughly 6 PM CEST and remain that high until around 11 PM CEST. Every single day, for more than a year now.

Even though I knew none of the above mentioned "solutions" would help, I've already tried all of these generic network solutions, all to no avail.

This is an ongoing issue with congestion on certain overcrowded nodes within twelve99 network and there is absolutely nothing we (users) can do on our side (our network or ISP) to "fix" these congested routes owned by none other than FFXIV's EU Datacenter ISP. It is Square Enix's obligation to deal with such issues and provide proper experience to all customers (players).

For comparison, traceroute as of right now (2:30 AM CEST), always similar results out of peak hours:
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 4 ms 5 ms 5 ms 172.27.99.1
3 5 ms 6 ms 5 ms 172.24.113.129
4 6 ms 5 ms 5 ms htr11-gtr02-2.ip.t-com.hr [195.29.110.137]
5 6 ms 5 ms 5 ms gte01-htr11-3.ip.t-com.hr [195.29.241.142]
6 13 ms 13 ms 13 ms zgb-b2-link.ip.twelve99.net [62.115.183.214]
7 16 ms 16 ms 16 ms bpt-b6-link.ip.twelve99.net [62.115.122.174]
8 14 ms 14 ms 14 ms win-bb1-link.ip.twelve99.net [62.115.138.202]
9 23 ms 23 ms 24 ms ffm-bb1-link.ip.twelve99.net [62.115.137.202]
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 25 ms 25 ms 25 ms squareenix-ic-369631.ip.twelve99-cust.net [80.239.195.85]
12 23 ms 24 ms 23 ms 80.239.145.241
13 24 ms 25 ms 25 ms 80.239.145.101

And earlier today, around 9 PM CEST, always similar results during peak hours:
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 4 ms 6 ms 8 ms 172.27.99.1
3 5 ms 5 ms 10 ms 172.24.112.129
4 5 ms 6 ms 9 ms htr11-gut24-3.ip.t-com.hr [195.29.240.173]
5 12 ms 7 ms 6 ms gte01-htr11-2.ip.t-com.hr [195.29.225.230]
6 115 ms 118 ms 111 ms zgb-b2-link.ip.twelve99.net [62.115.183.214]
7 221 ms 156 ms 227 ms win-bb2-link.ip.twelve99.net [62.115.122.176]
8 87 ms 89 ms 98 ms ffm-bb2-link.ip.twelve99.net [62.115.138.22]
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 145 ms 138 ms 143 ms squareenix-ic-369631.ip.twelve99-cust.net [80.239.195.85]
11 169 ms 166 ms 165 ms 80.239.145.241
12 173 ms 175 ms 164 ms 80.239.145.101

Here's a link to another thread with the same issue from last year, that literally got ignored:
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...ceroute-inside

We shouldn't have to rely on VPN (extra subscription) only to try and hope to avoid congested routes (VPN won't always find a better route).