AWS gameliftservers documentation change
Summary
Complete restructuring of documentation to explain core components and workflow of Amazon GameLift Servers hosting solution. Added detailed sections about game client, backend service, game server, hosting fleet, placement system, and management system interactions.
Security assessment
The changes emphasize secure communication patterns through backend services ('maintain secure communication with the service on behalf of game clients and avoids having to share sensitive AWS credentials') and mention client authentication. However, there's no evidence of addressing a specific security vulnerability or incident.
Diff
diff --git a/gameliftservers/latest/developerguide/gamelift-howitworks.md b/gameliftservers/latest/developerguide/gamelift-howitworks.md index 8df111808..d9e56721c 100644 --- a//gameliftservers/latest/developerguide/gamelift-howitworks.md +++ b//gameliftservers/latest/developerguide/gamelift-howitworks.md @@ -5 +5 @@ -Hosting game serversRunning game sessionsScaling fleet capacityMonitoring Amazon GameLift ServersUsing other AWS resources +Core componentsHow components work together @@ -7 +7 @@ Hosting game serversRunning game sessionsScaling fleet capacityMonitoring Amazon -# How Amazon GameLift Servers works +# How hosting with Amazon GameLift Servers works @@ -9 +9 @@ Hosting game serversRunning game sessionsScaling fleet capacityMonitoring Amazon -This topic describes how Amazon GameLift Servers manages dedicated hosting for your multiplayer game servers and makes them available to players. It outlines how core features work. +Amazon GameLift Servers is a service that provides dedicated, low-cost servers, infrastructure provisioning, scaling, and session management for your session-based multiplayer games. The service offers flexible tools and features that you can customize for your games or use in collaboration with your own systems. Take advantage of Amazon GameLift Servers managed hosting so you can focus on creating gameplay experiences rather than managing server operations. @@ -11 +11 @@ This topic describes how Amazon GameLift Servers manages dedicated hosting for y -## Hosting game servers +This topic describes the core components of a complete Amazon GameLift Servers hosting solution and how they work together to supply multiplayer game sessions to players. @@ -13 +13 @@ This topic describes how Amazon GameLift Servers manages dedicated hosting for y -With Amazon GameLift Servers, you can host your game servers in several different ways: Managed Amazon GameLift Servers, Amazon GameLift Servers FleetIQ, and Amazon GameLift Servers Anywhere. For more information about Amazon GameLift Servers FleetIQ, see [What is Amazon GameLift Servers FleetIQ?](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/gameliftservers/latest/fleetiqguide/gsg-intro.html) +## Core components of a game hosting solution @@ -15 +15 @@ With Amazon GameLift Servers, you can host your game servers in several differen -You can design a fleet to fit your game's needs. For more information about designing a fleet, see [Customize your Amazon GameLift Servers EC2 managed fleets](./fleets-design.html). +A complete Amazon GameLift Servers hosting solution consists of several essential components that work together to deliver multiplayer game experiences. Some of these components are built and managed by you, while others are provided by Amazon GameLift Servers and managed based on your configuration choices. Understanding how these components interact and their respective roles is crucial for developing an effective game hosting solution. The components include: @@ -17 +17 @@ You can design a fleet to fit your game's needs. For more information about desi -###### Managed Amazon GameLift Servers + * Game client runs on player devices. @@ -19 +19 @@ You can design a fleet to fit your game's needs. For more information about desi -With managed Amazon GameLift Servers, you can host your game servers on Amazon GameLift Servers virtual computing resources, called **instances**. Set up your hosting resources by creating a **fleet** of instances and deploying them to run your game servers. + * Backend service enables game clients to communicate with Amazon GameLift Servers to get game session information and join games. @@ -21 +21 @@ With managed Amazon GameLift Servers, you can host your game servers on Amazon G -###### Amazon GameLift Servers Anywhere + * Game server software runs on game hosting resources and hosts game sessions for a group of players. @@ -23 +23 @@ With managed Amazon GameLift Servers, you can host your game servers on Amazon G -With Amazon GameLift Servers Anywhere, you can host your game servers on compute that you manage. Set up your hosting resources by creating an Anywhere fleet that references your compute. + * Placement system initiates game sessions and matches players to games. @@ -25 +25 @@ With Amazon GameLift Servers Anywhere, you can host your game servers on compute -###### Fleet aliases + * Game hosting fleets provide game servers in one or more geographic locations. @@ -27 +27 @@ With Amazon GameLift Servers Anywhere, you can host your game servers on compute -An **alias** is a designation that you can transfer between fleets, making it a convenient way to have a generic fleet location. You can use an alias to switch game clients from using one fleet to another without changing your game client. You can also create a terminal alias that you point to content. + * Game hosting management system monitors game hosting status and manages capacity. @@ -29 +28,0 @@ An **alias** is a designation that you can transfer between fleets, making it a -## Running game sessions @@ -31 +29,0 @@ An **alias** is a designation that you can transfer between fleets, making it a -After you deploy your game server build to a fleet and Amazon GameLift Servers launches game server processes on each instance, the fleet can host game sessions. Amazon GameLift Servers starts new game sessions when your game client service sends a placement request to the backend service or to Amazon GameLift Servers. @@ -33 +30,0 @@ After you deploy your game server build to a fleet and Amazon GameLift Servers l -###### Game session placement and the FleetIQ algorithm @@ -35 +32 @@ After you deploy your game server build to a fleet and Amazon GameLift Servers l -Queues use the FleetIQ algorithm to select an available game server to host a new game session. The key component for game session placement is the Amazon GameLift Servers game session **queue**. You assign a game session queue a list of fleets, which determines where the queue can place game sessions. For more information about game session queues and how to design them for your game, see [Customize a game session queue](./queues-design.html). + @@ -37 +34 @@ Queues use the FleetIQ algorithm to select an available game server to host a ne -###### Optimizing game session placement with UDP ping beacons +### Game client @@ -39 +36 @@ Queues use the FleetIQ algorithm to select an available game server to host a ne -Using Amazon GameLift Servers UDP ping beacons, you can calculate roundtrip latency for UDP packets between players and game servers in different locations to help pick the optimal location for a game session. For more information about UDP ping beacons and how you can use them to measure latency, see [UDP ping beacons](./reference-udp-ping-beacons.html). +The game client is your game software that runs on a player's device. It initiates player placement into a game session by communicating with a backend service and connects directly to a game server to participate in gameplay. @@ -41 +38 @@ Using Amazon GameLift Servers UDP ping beacons, you can calculate roundtrip late - * For games that use game session queues for placement, the placement request can include latency data, which the queue automatically uses to prioritize placement locations. You can further customize prioritization and can set up policies including latency value caps. See [Prioritize game session placement](./queues-design-priority.html). +###### Key functions for game hosting @@ -43 +40 @@ Using Amazon GameLift Servers UDP ping beacons, you can calculate roundtrip late - * For games that don’t use game session queues but have fleets with multiple locations, you can evaluate latency data and choose the best available location before making a game session request to Amazon GameLift Servers. See the Get and Create game sessions sections in [Add Amazon GameLift Servers to your game client](./gamelift-sdk-client-api.html). + * Send join requests to the backend service. Include relevant player data and game session data as part of the join request. @@ -45 +42 @@ Using Amazon GameLift Servers UDP ping beacons, you can calculate roundtrip late - * If you're using FlexMatch for matchmaking, you can set match rules to use latency data. See [Request matchmaking for players](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/gameliftservers/latest/flexmatchguide/match-client-start.html) and the [Latency rule](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/gameliftservers/latest/flexmatchguide/match-rules-reference-ruletype.html#match-rules-reference-ruletype-latency) section of FlexMatch rule types in the Amazon GameLift Servers FlexMatch Developer Guide. + * Collect latency data for the game client and include that information in the join request. @@ -46,0 +44 @@ Using Amazon GameLift Servers UDP ping beacons, you can calculate roundtrip late + * Receive game session connection information from the backend service and use it to connect to a game server. @@ -47,0 +46 @@ Using Amazon GameLift Servers UDP ping beacons, you can calculate roundtrip late + * Handle session connection scenarios such as player verification, match acceptance for Amazon GameLift Servers FlexMatch, session interruptions, or disconnects. @@ -50 +48,0 @@ Using Amazon GameLift Servers UDP ping beacons, you can calculate roundtrip late -###### Player connections to games @@ -52 +49,0 @@ Using Amazon GameLift Servers UDP ping beacons, you can calculate roundtrip late -As part of the game session placement process, the queue or game session prompts the selected game server to start a new game session. The game server responds to the prompt and reports back to Amazon GameLift Servers when it's ready to accept player connections. Amazon GameLift Servers then delivers connection information to the backend service or game client service. Your game clients use this information to connect directly to the game session and begin gameplay. @@ -54 +51 @@ As part of the game session placement process, the queue or game session prompts -## Scaling fleet capacity +###### Who builds it @@ -56 +53 @@ As part of the game session placement process, the queue or game session prompts -When a fleet is active and ready to host game sessions, you can adjust your fleet capacity to meet player demand. We recommend that you find a balance between all incoming players finding a game quickly and overspending on resources that sit idle. +You add game hosting functionality to your game client software and set up communication with the backend service. @@ -58 +55 @@ When a fleet is active and ready to host game sessions, you can adjust your flee -Amazon GameLift Servers provides a highly effective auto scaling tool, or you can manually set fleet capacity. For more information, see [Scaling game hosting capacity with Amazon GameLift Servers](./fleets-manage-capacity.html). +### Backend service @@ -60 +57 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides a highly effective auto scaling tool, or you ca -###### Auto scaling +The backend service is a coordination layer between game clients and the Amazon GameLift Servers service. It controls all communication with the service to make requests for game session placements and to retrieve game session and player session information. Use of a backend service is a best practice that maintains secure communication with the service on behalf of game clients and avoids having to share sensitive AWS credentials and permissions with game clients. @@ -62 +59 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides a highly effective auto scaling tool, or you ca -Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: +Your backend service implements a player grouping strategy for your game sessions. You have a lot of flexibility in how players end up in a game session. You might set up a game session browser for players or support player-defined parties. Or you might pool game session requests as they come in, form player groups (possibly with pre-sorting), and start a game session for each group. With FlexMatch matchmaking, you can form player matches and backfill existing matches. @@ -64 +61 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: - * [Target-based auto scaling](./fleets-autoscaling-target.html) +###### Key functions for game hosting @@ -66 +63 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: - * [Auto scale with rule-based policies](./fleets-autoscaling-rule.html) + * Authenticate communications from game clients. @@ -67,0 +65 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: + * Make requests to Amazon GameLift Servers to start new game sessions, get game session information, or join existing game sessions. Include relevant game session and player data in requests as needed. @@ -68,0 +67 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: + * Optionally create requests for player sessions to more closely monitor game session availability. Use player sessions to reserve game session slots, validate players when they connect, and track player disconnects. @@ -69,0 +69 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: + * Respond to game clients with game session connection details and other information as requested. @@ -71 +70,0 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: -###### Additional scaling features @@ -73 +71,0 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: - * **Game session protection** – Prevent Amazon GameLift Servers from ending game sessions that are hosting active players during a scale-down event. @@ -75 +72,0 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: - * **Scaling limits** – Control overall instance usage by setting minimum and maximum limits on the number of instances in a fleet. @@ -77 +74 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: - * **Suspending auto scaling** – Suspend auto scaling at the fleet location level without changing or deleting your auto scaling policies. +###### Who builds it @@ -79 +76 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: - * **Scaling metrics** – Track a fleet's history of capacity and scaling events. +You build the backend service in an environment that's managed by you to support your game requirements and implement how players get into games. Integrate the AWS SDK to make calls to the Amazon GameLift Servers service API. Optionally build your backend service on AWS using services such as AWS Lambda, Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), and Amazon Cognito. @@ -80,0 +78 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: +### Game server @@ -81,0 +80 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: +The game server is your custom server software that manages game state, processes player actions, and synchronizes gameplay across multiple connected players. The game server maintains communication with the Amazon GameLift Servers service to manage game session hosting. @@ -82,0 +82 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: +###### Key functions for game hosting @@ -84 +84 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: -## Monitoring Amazon GameLift Servers + * Communicate with Amazon GameLift Servers to: @@ -86 +86 @@ Amazon GameLift Servers provides two methods of auto scaling: -When you have fleets up and running, Amazon GameLift Servers collects a variety of information to help you monitor the performance of your deployed game servers. You can use this information to optimize your use of resources, troubleshoot issues, and gain insight into how players are active in your games. Amazon GameLift Servers collects the following: + * report status (ready to host sessions, ready to accept players, health status). @@ -88 +88 @@ When you have fleets up and running, Amazon GameLift Servers collects a variety - * Fleet, location, game session, and player session details + * respond to service calls (start or end game sessions). @@ -90 +90 @@ When you have fleets up and running, Amazon GameLift Servers collects a variety - * Usage metrics + * Manage game session lifecycle to host one game session at a time per process. @@ -92 +92 @@ When you have fleets up and running, Amazon GameLift Servers collects a variety - * Server process health + * Coordinate with other AWS services for added functionality. @@ -94 +94 @@ When you have fleets up and running, Amazon GameLift Servers collects a variety - * Game session logs + * Optionally validate new player connections. @@ -99 +99,135 @@ When you have fleets up and running, Amazon GameLift Servers collects a variety -For more information about monitoring in Amazon GameLift Servers, see [Monitoring Amazon GameLift Servers](./monitoring-overview.html). +###### Who builds it + +You build your game server software. You integrate the server SDK for Amazon GameLift Servers and add functionality to establish a connection with the service and support game session management. + +### Game hosting fleet + +The hosting fleet is a collection of computing resources that run your game servers. Fleet resources can be distributed across multiple geographic locations to provide low-latency gameplay to players wherever they are. Each fleet resource runs one or more game server processes, which communicates directly with Amazon GameLift Servers. Each game server process can host one game session at a time. + +Fleet characteristics and functionality vary based on the fleet's hosting type. Managed fleets deploy resources to the AWS Cloud and are managed by Amazon GameLift Servers. Anywhere fleets are customer-provided compute resources that are managed outside of Amazon GameLift Servers. + +###### Key functions for game hosting + + * Provision game server hosting resources. + + * Managed fleets deploy cloud-based Amazon EC2 instances with a wide range of configuration settings. A fleet configuration determines the computing power of each instance in the fleet, the physical location of instances, and other details. Managed fleets add or remove EC2 instances in response to capacity scaling + + * Anywhere fleet deployments are self-managed. The fleet can consist of physical hardware or other cloud resources, and be configured as needed. + + * Install runtime environment and game server software. + + * Managed Amazon EC2 fleet instances are deployed with your game server build and an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) with a compatible runtime environment. + + * Managed container fleet instances are deployed with your game server build and a container-optimized AMI with Docker tools and other components to work with Amazon ECS. + + * Anywhere fleets are deployed with your chosen game server software and operating system. + + * Manage game server process life cycle. Apply pre-configured runtime instructions to start and stop processes on each fleet resource. + + + + +###### Who builds it + +This depends on the fleet's hosting type: + + * Managed Amazon EC2 fleets: You upload your game server build to Amazon GameLift Servers, which stores it for deployment to fleet instances. Amazon GameLift Servers provides the fleet's AWS Cloud infrastructure. You configure the fleet and instruct it on how to run game servers on each fleet instance. + + * Managed container fleets: You package your game server build and runtime instructions into a container image to store in Amazon ECR for deployment. Amazon GameLift Servers provides the fleet's AWS Cloud infrastructure. You provide a container architecture and configure the fleet to host your containers. + + * Anywhere fleets: You provision all infrastructure and manage server software deployment. You create Anywhere fleets to connect your active game hosting resources with Amazon GameLift Servers. + + + + +### Game session placement system + +The game session placement system locates available game servers to host new game sessions. The system uses real-time information about game server availability to make optimal placement decisions. + +In Amazon GameLift Servers, the primary game session placement mechanism is the queue. A game session queue uses algorithms, which you can configure, to place game sessions for the best possible outcome. You can prioritize placements based on factors such as lowest hosting cost and lowest player latency, and you can configure a queue to search across multiple geographic locations. As an alternative to queues, you can designate a specific fleet to host your game sessions. + +###### Key functions for game hosting + + * Process game session placement requests received from the backend service. + + * Make placements based on real-time information about hosting resource availability. + + * Use player latency data and other data to prioritize placement options (queues only) + + * Prompt game server processes to start new game sessions. + + * Update game session connection information after the game session is ready to accept players. + + * Optionally set up FlexMatch matchmaking to create player matches and request game session placement for matches.