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Azure Web PubSub Transport for Netcode for GameObjects

Azure Web PubSub transport is designed to use Azure's managed realtime service to transfer data between unity server and clients.

Azure's managed Web PubSub service support Websocket, so if you are seeking solution for Websocket or extend your game to support WebGL platform, this transport is just for you.

This transport hides most of the technical details, all you need to do is to create an Azure Web PubSub service, and connect your service with a connection string.

What's more, with managed Azure Web PubSub service, you can have scalability, high availability, live monitoring, private link, auto-reconnect functionality and more.

Quick Start

Video Quick Start

Video quick start

Quick Try Demo with Docker

docker run -p 8080:80  albertxavier100/azure-web-pubsub-transport-sample-unity-netcode-bootstrap:0.2.0 -e Hub="unity_hub_docker" ConnectionString="<azure-web-pubsub-connection-string>"

Quickly Deploy Demo to Azure for Free

Deploy to Azure

Setup Azure Web PubSub Service

Azure provides free SKU to create Web PubSub. Feel free to create one.

Setup Unity

A. Install Packages

Optional:

  1. Install ParrelSync: ParrelSync is a Unity editor extension that allows users to test multiplayer gameplay without building the project by having another Unity editor window opened and mirror the changes from the original project.

B. Setup Dev Negotiate Server

  1. Copy connection string in Keys page of your Web PubSub service you just created.
  2. Install dotnet runtime if you don't have one.
  3. In Proejct view, right click Packages/Azure Web PubSub Transport for Netcode for Gameobjects, and click Show in Explorer.
  4. Extact Resources/NegotiateServersSource~.zip and go into the extracted folder NegotiateServersSource~/AWPSNegotiateServer, rename appseetings.sample.json to appsettings.json , fill the connection string in ConnectionString section.
  5. In terminal app, run dotnet run to start negotiation server.
  6. Get listening URL in console log. For example: Now listening on: https://localhost:7172

C. Setup Transport

  1. Download latest azure-webpubsub-transport.unitypackagepackage from [Releases](https://github.com/albertxavier100/azure-web-pubsub-transport/releases).
  2. Import azure-webpubsub-transport.unitypackage to your Unity project.
  3. Add AzureWebPubSubTransport component to your GameObject containing your NetworkManager.
  4. Set the Network Transport field on the NetworkManager to the AzureWebPubSubTransport.
  5. Enter a room name into the Room Name field of the AzureWebPubSubTransport.
  6. Enter negotiate endpoint. For example, https://localhost:7172/negotiate if you use the builtin developing negotiate server.
  7. Use the StartServer, StartHost and StartClient functions as usually to host a game and have clients connect to it.

At this point, you should be able to exchanges data between unity server and client.

Design Model

So far, the transport should be able to use.

The below sections is optional to read for explaining who to use Azure Web PubSub service to exhcange data between your server and clients. The folliowing contains details about how Unity and Azure Web PubSub service are connected. The following is useful to read when you scalability is in your plan.

This transport supports concept room, which allows a server and multiple clients to enter. All clients in the same room will synchronize through a server, so that they can paly together.

Rooms

Take Alice's room for an example.

Alice's room

Logically, the server and one client's connection is bidirectional communication. In order to do so, Azure Web PubSub service handles:

Negotiation Flow

Negotiation Flow

In generaral, negotiate webapp is used to redirect client/server connection to Azure Web PubSub service. The negotiate webapp can also be the same web app to your server. If you consider scalibility, consider keeping standalone negotiate web apps to handle Websockets connection request.

Server Negotiation

  1. Server requests redirect information from negotiate web app with the room name (Alice's Room).
  2. Server established Websocket connection Azure Web PubSub service only when negotiate web app ensure there's no server subscribes to the room channel.

Client Negotiation

  1. Client requests redirect information from negotiate web app with the room name ((Alice's Room)).
  2. Client establishes Websocket connection to Azure Web PubSub service only when negotiate web app ensures there's a server subscribes to the room channel.
  3. Notify server via the room channel, that this client is connected.

Client Data Synchroniazation: RPC in server

RPC in server

Server Data Synchroniazation: Call RPC in client

RPC in client