[41.73][Network] "map download from server timed out" Extremely abnormal.

[P_menta]

Heavily modded server, 

loading 73626 zones from map_zone.bin

More than a thousand people have already joined the server at least once.

Some players played normally, suddenly they can't join anymore.
their client log, nothing anomalous, just:
(It is more frequent to see 0/529)

...
LOG  : General     , 1663283296812> 0> Received 89 / 529 chunks
LOG  : General     , 1663283297814> 0> Received 89 / 529 chunks
LOG  : General     , 1663283298817> 0> Received 89 / 529 chunks
ERROR: General     , 1663283298919> 0> ExceptionLogger.logException> Exception thrown java.io.IOException: map download from server timed out at WorldStreamer.requestLargeAreaZip line:850.
ERROR: General     , 1663283298919> 0> DebugLogStream.printException> Stack trace:
java.io.IOException: map download from server timed out
	at zombie.iso.WorldStreamer.requestLargeAreaZip(WorldStreamer.java:850)
	at zombie.iso.CellLoader.LoadCellBinaryChunk(CellLoader.java:440)
	at zombie.iso.IsoWorld.init(IsoWorld.java:2605)
	at zombie.gameStates.GameLoadingState$1.runInner(GameLoadingState.java:261)
	at zombie.gameStates.GameLoadingState$1.run(GameLoadingState.java:218)
	at java.base/java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
LOG  : General     , 1663283298919> 0> LuaEventManager: adding unknown event "OnPreUIDraw"
LOG  : General     , 1663283298919> 0> LuaEventManager: adding unknown event "OnPostUIDraw"
LOG  : General     , 1663283311401> 0> 1663283311401> znet: ZNetFriends::OnPersonaStateChange
LOG  : General     , 1663283311402> 0> 1663283311402> znet: ZNetFriends::OnPersonaStateChange
LOG  : General     , 1663283325698> 0> 1663283325698> znet: ZNetFriends::OnPersonaStateChange
...

Here comes the weird part.

I created a copy of the Zomboid folder, renamed it to Zomboid2, changed the default port to 17261, the RCON to 27016 and I started the server with the argument "-cachedir=C:\Users\Administrator\Zomboid2"

Two identical servers, running at the same time, same mods, same map, same metadata. A perfect copy, one hosted on port 16261 and one on 17261.
Players with the problem are able to connect perfectly to the "copy server" (17261), but cannot connect to the original server due to "map download from server timed out".

The only real difference is that the "copy server" is empty. While the original always has 3-30 players.
Why only a specific group of players can't download the map on the original server, but can join the "copy server"?



It's not firewall,
It's not network connection quality,
It's not connection speed,
It's not server performance (Server is not dropping connections or "Server is too busy".)
It's just me and my server, for 15 days trying to figure out why some players can't connect.

[P_menta]

Things I've already tried.

1. Completely remove the player, deleting all his entries from both databases
2. Reduce resolution to 1280x720 (load less map)
3. Log into player account via admin/debug
4. Completely reset my network, including router and firewall.
5. Players tried using "Alternate Launch"
6. Player uninstalled Project Zomboid, Steam and renamed Zomboid folder to Zomboid2 (as a way to backup and generate new default files)
7. Increase the RAM values assigned to the JVM
8. Change server ports to 17261
EDIT: 9. While on the players account, I dropped all the loot on the ground and teleported them to the water, where the map files are smaller.
EDIT: 10. Players tried with two different VPN's and public proxy's

Edited September 16, 2022 by P_menta
9 and 10

[acid]

I'm also running into this issue. We have a dedicated server running on G-portal and my friends can play the game without having any issues but me.

 

Without VPN, I simply get "Failed to download map from the server" error end of the map chunk load. like E.g: 278/279 chunks loaded.

 

I tried using VPN but at some point interaction with the world becomes unresponsive and other players becomes invisible (assuming that my connection drops).

 

I also tried running packet loss test and I have 0.00% package loss w/wo VPN. My connection speed is 250mb/ps.

 

The server has 8 GB RAM. My computer has 16 GB RAM. We are 4 people in total and even the server is empty I run into this problem.

 

I tried disabling all mods on the server and the issue persists.

 

I tried mostly everything you listed above but still no luck. I'm unable to play the game, it happens in every server I try to connect.

Edited November 12, 2022 by acid