I have a Gb fiber line with actual download speeds >900mbps. When I download, say, DCS World products, it reaches near full speed and I can download very large packages (>15GB) in just a minute or so.
However when doing a fresh install of MSFS2020, I notice that, instead of downloading a large compressed file and decompressing on the PC, it downloads thousands of small files (with a few larger ones in between) one at a time, and so each time it begins to download a new file the speeds start back near 0, then creep their way up.
Downloading this way means the actual average download speed is around only 50mbps, which is exponentially slower than it could be, as we’ve observed with my previous example. Just wanted to point out this strategy and see if anyone else has noticed this as well and had any thoughts on it. Cheers!
Its by design. Its not designed for optimum download speeds for those of us who have fast connections, but its a reliable way to do it for those who have intermittent or slower connections.
This way more people get the chance to enjoy the sim.
I don’t think it has to be an either-or situation though? Going back to my previous example of DCS World. If you’re downloading a large patch and your internet gets disconnected, the installer is able to pick right up where it left off next time you attempt the update.
MSFS would benefit greatly from a similar system. I’m wondering what the benefits of the current way of downloading are vs the other methods. I’m sure the devs have a reason but hard to discern
I would suspect that it is also a way of managing the vast amount of data that passes through the servers, so that every user gets a fair chance, rather than those at the extreme end of internet performance achieving their target.
I doubt that “DCS” is on the same scale as Microsoft, or that it has as many users online, all trying to download at the same time.
I don’t know if it is a valid analogy, but here in the overcrowded UK, roads use something called a variable speed limit at peak times to regulate traffic flow.
The incontrovertible finding is that at a fixed speed for all traffic, the flow per hour is much greater than a free for all speed, where some are doing 70 and others 40 and so on.
I wonder if the Microsoft fixed download speed has the same affect on the amount of data that can be sent out at any one time.
I read so often about users with a fiber connection and not sure what all the users have for an ISP and the backbones behind, the edge servers to other networks. I have “only” a 100mbit connection and MSFS downloader max out this 100mbit allways.
And thats in contrast to Steam, where my normal connection goes over Germany-Berlin-Main-Node and it is limited from any ISP. If I choose servers from a different country e.g. France Marsaile, I get in Steam my full bandwith of 100Mbit .
i have AT&T fiber 1000gbos connected to my PC with a cat7. I think MSFS has a throttler so doesn’t matter if you have 1000gbps or 100gpbs the download speed will stay the same. but it also takes several seconds for each new file being downloaded to ramp up to full speed which slows down the average quite a bit
but as mentioned, then these throttling is far behind 50mbit, because at least I donwload allways with 100mbit. A throttling is in generally nothing bad to safe the infrastructure. But I really doubt that the MSFS servers do the throttling here
Edit… and I forgot :
thats simple the very old mistake the users do… the download speed which the msfs download show us, is not a real-time network-speed monitor. It goes up and down, e.g. while the decompressions and show only like a average ( like a install speed, in contrast to network-speed ). If users want to see the realtime network-speed, they have to use e.g. taskmanager.
MSFS definitely does the throttling mate. Now whether it’s on purpose or simply a side effect to their design we don’t know. to show the expected capabilities, here’s the downloading of another flight sim showing you taskmanager where of course you monitor the speed (not in msfs itself).
MSFS it around 1/10 of this on average. This post was simply pointing out it seems one of the reasons for this is because it downloads all individual files sequentially which makes it need to restart each download from 0 no matter the file size. Just an observation vs other methodologies
there are so many servers on the way to the MS server … therefore I mentioned edge servers, etc.
So i still see zero proof for these thesis:
More in contrast I mentioned, that at least in my country ( germany ) my bandwith is 100% used. Of course because I not own a 1G fiber connection, my limit is only 100mbit and I get that nearly allways.
is my screenshot showing you a comparable product’s download speed not proof that MSFS (either intentionally or unintentionally) throttles the download speed?
also, as you said, “my limit is only 100mbit and I get that nearly allways.” which is also proving there is throttling going on because thats similar download speeds to what people with much faster fiber lines are getting. it doesn’t matter what your speed above a certain amount is because it will still average much lower.
now, as i said, it’s still up in the air as to whether the are intentionally throttling speed (such as to save money) or if it’s a side effect of the download algorithm
The way it is now is the same for all and does not pull the servers to higher speed consumers and that is as it should be. Those with slower internet need consideration.
you still not noticed what I wrote about edge servers and ISP backbones… downloading DCS is a completly different thing as downloading somewhat from MS servers.
wrong… you spoke about a throttling of 50mbit, and I proofed there is not such a throttling… my connection is fully used. And I’am really happy if a throttling exist for users which comes with a 1Gig fiber connection if that mean that other users, like me, have a chance to also get get usefull download speeds, e.g. my 100mbit.
And I not know what you mean with download-algorithm… there is not a special algorithm for that. The only thing where msfs installer differs a bit to others is, that it downloads in portions and extract that directly , e.g. can also direct remove that files to avoid high disc space usage. Other downloaders often download 100gig in one portion, need then after the download 20 minutes to extract the files and again time moving the temp files and then remove the download sources.
MSFS does it’s downloading, decompressing, and housecleaning during the update process. That is to say, it downloads a file or a small group of files, then pauses to decompress, and install these, and delete or overwrite older files, before downloading the next file or group of files, and so forth.
sigh - seems you’re contradicting yourself again my friend. maybe something is getting lost in translation because we’re going in circles here. “And I am really happy if a throttling exist for users” i’m glad you finally able to see that there is indeed throttling going on. and I’ll say it again, what we don’t know is whether it’s intentional or unintentional. If it is throttling (such as MS not allowing for download speeds above 150mbps), it’s probably as a simple as wanting to save money on bandwidth. nothing wrong with that, but I’m sure many people would appreciate to know this for certain so everyone doesn’t have to guess, like we all are doing right now in this thread.
that, and the combination of the algorithm that michamma confirmed that does the individual file sequential download, extracting, writing, and so on. so it’s probably a combination of the two techniques happening that doesnt allow for faster downloads and installs. but it’s all just guesswork at this point
I do not want MS to mess with the download. I am happy with whatever they are doing as long as it stays online. I normally like to find things out but in this case it is not worth the effort or stress because it works.
I’ve personally never had problems with download reliability. And I’m sure they’ll allow faster speeds as time goes on and technology improves. The MSFS 2028 download process will undoubtedly be better and faster than the MSFS 2021 version. All things change my friend. The march of progress never ceases, you just have to learn to move along with it.
