AU Computer Gaming Club

General Club Discussion - Steam

Scorpion - Apr 06, 2010 - 09:18 AM
Post subject: Steam

Yeah. Got together with Mike after he received a request to look into the issue of Steam not properly initializing.

Apparently Telecom has been experimenting with "new anti-intrusion protocols" and has been graciously accepting requests for ports to be unblocked as a result of their newly established "Zero Intrusion Initiative."

Basically the idiots rediscovered the concept of a firewall and couldn't be bothered to find out what ports even Official University functions require open. So the last couple weeks for them (and for countless University employees) have been a gigantic flustercuck.

Well we pulled some strings and trimmed a few more. The necessary ports are now open for Steam.

Personally tested it more than I care to admit because Mike couldn't be arsed to and your Tech officer wasn't immediately available. Did not encounter a single hang or failure.

I've given it the coveted "But Scorp said it works" guarantee. If it doesn't function this coming Friday, then obviously you screwed something up. Don't call and complain to me. Better yet, don't call me.

You can all go hate on some crawlers now.

You're welcome.

Lamers...

CDplaya - Apr 06, 2010 - 10:04 AM
Post subject: RE: Steam

Thank goodness. Scorp, next Waffle House is on me.

jokeyxero - Apr 06, 2010 - 09:40 PM
Post subject: RE: Steam

I've never figured out why they block outgoing ports. Use other methods to prevent the spread of worms/viruses instead of castrating everyone.

Here's a start for a whitelist:
http://portforward.com/cports.htm
http://www.iana.org/assignments/port-numbers
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~rakerman/port-table.html

And maybe the start of a blacklist:
http://www.simovits.com/sve/nyhetsarkiv ... r9902.html

Scorpion - Apr 06, 2010 - 11:09 PM
Post subject:

Oh, the fun part is that they did a complete lock down.

Seriously. The university's anti-virus software (that due to internal network policy requires the latest update otherwise the computer is temporarily blacklisted thus denying internal network access) couldn't reach the update servers.

But, yeah. I haven't the foggiest on why they decided to grow a wild hair and block all outgoing ports.

Maybe someone just had a really bad day...or maybe someone deep in the bowels of the server room is a old internet bastard who needed a good laugh.

PhukFace - Apr 07, 2010 - 08:33 AM
Post subject:

Let me guess, they use HBSS and McAfee...