What is the point of using ZeroTier?

[SwiftWinds]

Since Parsec uses the STUN protocol, what is the need for ZeroTier? I understand that if one is under a double NAT where even STUN breaks down, it makes sense, but AFAIK, this is rarely the case in most residential network situations (which I assume is where most gaming is).

[putty182]

Simple answer:
Parsec doesn't work all the time, and Zerotier is just one (of many) ways to have a sensible back-door at a network level.

Alternate answers:

• Parsec doesn't always automatically login, which can leave you stranded if that's your only way to access your rig, so RDP/VNC are still good things to keep on standby.
• It's poor practice to leave RDP/VNC ports (or any ports for that matter) exposed on the public internet for inbound connections, unless you're actually expecting traffic from many uncontrolled locations.
• I'm a Steam Controller fanboy, so being able to use Zerotier and the Steam Link app on an Android phone is pretty handy for a quick gaming session on the go.
• Because old-school local LAN party?

[putty182]

I haven't checked recently but I'm fairly sure that Parsec doesn't even use the ZeroTier connection; this could be due to Windows assigning it a different interface metric or the Parsec clients just preferring their own hole-punched routes. It would be interesting to know for sure and see if this is introducing any extra latency, so I'll leave this ticket open until I have an answer :)

[putty182]

Scratch that, we are explicitly trying to lock Parsec down:
https://github.com/putty182/gcloudrig/blob/6662ad3af256d2b61865aacd69a02857d1c1ac51/gcloudrig.psm1#L773-L788

[SwiftWinds]

It would be interesting to know for sure and see if this is introducing any extra latency

I'm a bit confused. Wouldn't ZeroTier, if anything, increase latency? You seem to imply that Parsec bypassing ZeroTier may introduce extra latency, but I'm not sure I understand how that would be the case.

Also, looking through the code, network_ip_address no longer does anything. It's deprecated (not on the website and also according to a Parsec team member):

[putty182]

Not at all - my point was that Zerotier might have no effect on latency because Parsec traffic isn't routed over it. Thanks for confirming that this setting in Parsec is deprecated :)

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On Thu., 24 Dec. 2020, 12:05 pm SwiftWinds, ***@***.***> wrote: It would be interesting to know for sure and see if this is introducing any extra latency I'm a bit confused. Wouldn't ZeroTier, if anything, increase latency? You seem to imply that Parsec bypassing ZeroTier may introduce extra latency, but I'm not sure I understand how that would be the case. Also, looking through the code, network_ip_address no longer does anything. It's deprecated (not on the website <https://support.parsec.app/hc/en-us/articles/360001562772-All-Advanced-Configuration-Options> and also according to a Parsec team member): [image: image] <https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/12981958/103050505-5707f300-4549-11eb-8398-b6b7a74c0780.png> — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#60 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AF5YVP7YQMGBIBLYWBTA6ODSWKOYJANCNFSM4VFG2IYQ> .

[SwiftWinds]

Not at all - my point was that Zerotier might have no effect on latency because Parsec traffic isn't routed over it. Thanks for confirming that this setting in Parsec is deprecated :)

OK, I see. :) Just confirming that you didn't recommend it out of "performance reasons" because that wouldn't be accurate.

I guess this issue is resolved because what you mentioned in #60 (comment) are good reasons to keep it. Optionally, you can get rid of that Protect-Parsec function since it does nothing and only serves to possibly confuse your future self.

[putty182]

Reopening until we've removed the Protect-Parsec function in the powershell module