Ubuntu 24.10 - connected external HDD (games inside): no internet connection / content configuration unavailable on update queue

[dziadulewicz]

Ensure there isn't an existing issue for this and check the wiki

• This issue is not a duplicate and I have checked the wiki.

Current Behavior

The internet connection is affirmed to be working correctly (using is also here). A fresh install of Ubuntu 24.10 and a Steam snap from App Center. Seems to work otherwise fine, but as the main storage is changed to external HDD, starts intensive apparently "indexing" type action (as the many games presence is applied). But also as the titles need updates and the list is many, Steam gives: "no internet connection" OR "content configuration unavailable" for the titles.

The download can be "forced" by keeping clicking "download now" but the connection "drops" right away OR bit later and the title returns to waiting list.. This seems to be a snap package specific (?) because i have experienced this two times now.

The HDD is connected to a laptop via an adapter that makes an older mechanical HDD usable as an external drive (data cable and power).

Expected Behavior

The game update downloading to commence as normally in Steam.

Steps To Reproduce

Install Ubuntu 24.10. Install Steam Snap. Attach an external HDD drive. Set it as default. Games list appear to library and update queue indicates "no internet connection" OR "content configuration unavailable".

Environment

os_release:
    name:               "Ubuntu"
    version:            "24.10 (Oracular Oriole)"
snap_info:
    steam_revision:     200
    snapd_revision:     21759
lspci:
    00:02.0:            Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller (rev 09)
    01:00.0:            NVIDIA Corporation GK107M [GeForce GTX 660M] (rev a1)
glxinfo:
    gpu:                Mesa Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2)
    gpu_version:        4.2 (Core Profile) Mesa 24.2.3 - kisak-mesa PPA
lscpu:
    model_name:         Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz
xdg_current_desktop:    ubuntu:GNOME
desktop_session:        ubuntu

gaming-graphics-core22 version

No response

Anything else?

No response

[dziadulewicz]

Additionally "content servers unreachable" while trying to download even Proton. This happened the last time and Valve's servers were definitely working and reachable on other machines with deb package.

[ashuntu]

Does this only occur if the external drive is set as the default? If you just add it as a library and use the built-in default does it work normally?

[dziadulewicz]

Does this only occur if the external drive is set as the default? If you just add it as a library and use the built-in default does it work normally?

Tried setting both as separately as default; no difference.

[ashuntu]

I cannot reproduce this myself. Does behavior change at all if you switch to the beta version of snapd?

snap refresh snapd --beta

Make sure to go back to stable after testing:

snap refresh snapd --stable

[dziadulewicz]

I cannot reproduce this myself. Does behavior change at all if you switch to the beta version of snapd?

snap refresh snapd --beta

Make sure to go back to stable after testing:

snap refresh snapd --stable

No difference. Made sure it is beta actually after that command by running steam snap from terminal too (snap run steam).

I'm not sure if this is snap Steam specific at all: the same behaviour comes with the .deb package of Steam.

Someone also pointed out that an external hdd is not recommended (apparently even Valve has stated this (?) ) https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/1843566500531225113/

But, if this could somehow be worked out for Steam's Snap package: what an achievement and a bonus that would actually be.

[rapenne-s]

How did you use your external drive in steam snap?

It would bypass the sandbox from my understanding. I tried to mount something in ~/snap/ and although Steam was able to find it, it was unable to write anything in the mounted directory.

[rapenne-s]

How did you use your external drive in steam snap?

It would bypass the sandbox from my understanding. I tried to mount something in ~/snap/ and although Steam was able to find it, it was unable to write anything in the mounted directory.

Sorry for this comment, since then I discovered it was possible to allow a snap to use a removable media using

snap connect steam:removable-media

and mounting the hard drive in /media/something

No issue so far, even after unmounting / mounting the drive

[dziadulewicz]

How did you use your external drive in steam snap?
It would bypass the sandbox from my understanding. I tried to mount something in ~/snap/ and although Steam was able to find it, it was unable to write anything in the mounted directory.

Sorry for this comment, since then I discovered it was possible to allow a snap to use a removable media using

snap connect steam:removable-media

and mounting the hard drive in /media/something

No issue so far, even after unmounting / mounting the drive

Ok, this appears a very positive turn? Are we talking actually even about a nice helpful implementation to Steam's snap package here...?

[rapenne-s]

Ok, this appears a very positive turn? Are we talking actually even about a nice helpful implementation to Steam's snap package here...?

Yes, I'm using Steam snap on ubuntu 24.04 :) on the stable channel

So far, no issue using an external drive, I did not tried to import games that would have already been installed though. Maybe you have an ownership or permission issue on that mountpoint?

[dziadulewicz]

Ok, this appears a very positive turn? Are we talking actually even about a nice helpful implementation to Steam's snap package here...?

Yes, I'm using Steam snap on ubuntu 24.04 :) on the stable channel

So far, no issue using an external drive, I did not tried to import games that would have already been installed though. Maybe you have an ownership or permission issue on that mountpoint?

I don't think it's a permission issue on the drive; the downloads somehow occasionally and for some reason actually start to happen as you click click click, sort of "forcing" the event. This is a very weird issue and i would like some clarification (and others for sure if facing the same but not technically inclided to report or anything).