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DCS Launcher error after latest update

daiqan

By daiqan
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CP400

CP400

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Lord Vader said:

Great news. Please keep that feedback coming. 

Hello,

Changing the primary DNS to 8.8.8.8 and the secondary to 8.8.4.4 worked. I hadn't changed anything on my Windows 11, and all other games and apps function normally.

It’s clear that non-Steam users face more authorization issues. Many players—both Steam and standalone—feel insecure about their investment in modules. In 2025, with advanced AI, it's unacceptable that such errors remain hard to resolve, with cryptic and unhelpful messages. Error codes like 28 and 203 are fine, but the messages should be clearer and provide direct links to solutions—many users lack technical knowledge or don't know where to seek help.

We frequently see these issues reported on Facebook and other platforms. At this point, only two things still scare PC users: updating the BIOS and updating DCS. For non-programmers, these errors make no sense—after all, why should map or aircraft updates impact unrelated areas like connectivity or authentication?

silverdevil

silverdevil

Posted
Posted (edited)
59 minutes ago, CP400 said:

Error codes like 28 and 203 are fine, but the messages should be clearer and provide direct links to solutions

no matter what anyone thinks, this is NOT an ED issue. DNS is a basic Internet technology. you are given DNS usually via DHCP from your router. if the DNS sucks, then your connection will be a problem. Google DNS is a solution that a user can change without getting their ISP involved. ED sets a canonical (CNAME) for their servers to be round robin. if your ISP is giving you bad DNS, ED server will not connect. plain and simple. nothing they do about it.

nslookup cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

Name:    1231349722.rsc.cdn77.org
Addresses:  2a02:6ea0:e200::37
          2a02:6ea0:e200::17
          2a02:6ea0:e200::36
          109.61.91.231
          109.61.91.195
          109.61.91.198
Aliases:  cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

Edited by silverdevil
  • Like 1

AKA_SilverDevil Join AKA Wardogs Email Address My YouTube

“The MIGS came up, the MIGS were aggressive, we tangled, they lost.”

- Robin Olds - An American fighter pilot. He was a triple ace.

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Alien_Soldier

Alien_Soldier

Posted
Posted
31 минуту назад, silverdevil сказал:

no matter what anyone thinks, this is NOT an ED issue. DNS is a basic Internet technology. you are given DNS usually via DHCP from your router. if the DNS sucks, then your connection will be a problem. Google DNS is a solution that a user can change without getting their ISP involved. ED sets a canonical (CNAME) for their servers to be round robin. if your ISP is giving you bad DNS, ED server will not connect. plain and simple. nothing they do about it.

nslookup cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

Name:    1231349722.rsc.cdn77.org
Addresses:  2a02:6ea0:e200::37
          2a02:6ea0:e200::17
          2a02:6ea0:e200::36
          109.61.91.231
          109.61.91.195
          109.61.91.198
Aliases:  cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

Then why did this problem happen after installing the new update? Everything was working stably before the update was installed. After installing the update, a problem appeared. This is strange.

  • Like 1
CP400

CP400

Posted
Posted
39 minutes ago, silverdevil said:

no matter what anyone thinks, this is NOT an ED issue. DNS is a basic Internet technology. you are given DNS usually via DHCP from your router. if the DNS sucks, then your connection will be a problem. Google DNS is a solution that a user can change without getting their ISP involved. ED sets a canonical (CNAME) for their servers to be round robin. if your ISP is giving you bad DNS, ED server will not connect. plain and simple. nothing they do about it.

nslookup cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

Name:    1231349722.rsc.cdn77.org
Addresses:  2a02:6ea0:e200::37
          2a02:6ea0:e200::17
          2a02:6ea0:e200::36
          109.61.91.231
          109.61.91.195
          109.61.91.198
Aliases:  cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

This problem only happened after the update and only happened with DCS, while other games that were updated continued to work correctly and my entire system. I'm not part of the group that attacks ED, I'm just requesting clearer messages and URL paths to the correct areas here on the forum, as many users don't know how to do all of this. Authorization errors are common in DCS.

  • Like 1
BJ55

BJ55

Posted
Posted

Why, after the update, DCS is not using Windows DNS Client and instead is connecting directly to the configured DNS server?

dns1.jpgdns2.jpg

 

  • Like 2

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silverdevil

silverdevil

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, BJ55 said:

Why, after the update, DCS is not using Windows DNS Client and instead is connecting directly to the configured DNS server?

for obvious reasons, DCS will have to respond to this statement. in my 35+ years of being a sysadmin, i have never heard of a program hard coding DNS. a lot can go wrong. but i do not know everything. i can share a post on eset forums about a similar issue.

https://forum.eset.com/topic/40859-dns-stops-working-intermittently-with-eset-installed/

this implies quad9 is in your eset application.

2 hours ago, Alien_Soldier said:

Then why did this problem happen after installing the new update? Everything was working stably before the update was installed. After installing the update, a problem appeared. This is strange.

2 hours ago, CP400 said:

This problem only happened after the update and only happened with DCS, while other games that were updated continued to work correctly and my entire system. I'm not part of the group that attacks ED, I'm just requesting clearer messages and URL paths to the correct areas here on the forum, as many users don't know how to do all of this. Authorization errors are common in DCS.

all i can say is i had no issues with anything before or after the update either. 

  • Like 1

AKA_SilverDevil Join AKA Wardogs Email Address My YouTube

“The MIGS came up, the MIGS were aggressive, we tangled, they lost.”

- Robin Olds - An American fighter pilot. He was a triple ace.

The only man to ever record a confirmed kill while in glide mode.

BJ55

BJ55

Posted
Posted (edited)
56 minutes ago, silverdevil said:

in my 35+ years of being a sysadmin, i have never heard of a program hard coding DNS... quad9 is in your eset application

No, quad9 is in my IPV4 settings and no, I never wrote that the DNS is hard coded, only that DCS is making request to the DNS server, instead of using the Win DNS Client, like all my installed software does.

For the hardcoded DNS: what about Google devices OS/SW?

 

Edited by BJ55

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silverdevil

silverdevil

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, BJ55 said:

No, quad9 is in my IPV4 settings

is or is not? 9.9.9.9 (quad9) is protected dns for lack of a better term. what is showing in your IPCONFIG?

i am not trying to bicker. all i can say is that my system does not query 9.9.9.9 according to filter capture in wireshark. and i cannot answer for ED. and i am not implying anything about your honesty. you are stating what you believe. 

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AKA_SilverDevil Join AKA Wardogs Email Address My YouTube

“The MIGS came up, the MIGS were aggressive, we tangled, they lost.”

- Robin Olds - An American fighter pilot. He was a triple ace.

The only man to ever record a confirmed kill while in glide mode.

BJ55

BJ55

Posted
Posted (edited)

I use Quad9 because my ISP is unreliable (I don't trust Google/Cloudflare). If a program allowed to TCP at some IP's suddenly tries to UDP then I recieve the request above.

Edited by BJ55

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silverdevil

silverdevil

Posted
Posted
13 minutes ago, BJ55 said:

I use Quad9 because my ISP is unreliable (I don't trust Google/Cloudflare). If a program allowed to TCP at some IP's suddenly tries to UDP then I recieve the request above.

nothing we do about your trust. but as far as how dns works, for most DNS lookups, the preferred protocol is UDP because it provides faster response times. TCP is used for transferring zone data from dns server to dns server.

https://networkinterview.com/when-does-dns-use-tcp-or-udp/

when i began my admin journey, ip, internet, or dns was not common. when all that was introduced, i had to teach myself. i have several certifications that the exams concentrated on these technologies.

AKA_SilverDevil Join AKA Wardogs Email Address My YouTube

“The MIGS came up, the MIGS were aggressive, we tangled, they lost.”

- Robin Olds - An American fighter pilot. He was a triple ace.

The only man to ever record a confirmed kill while in glide mode.

Quax456

Quax456

Posted
Posted

 

Am 19.2.2025 um 19:43 schrieb daiqan:

[possible solution] www.reddit.com/r/dcsworld/comments/1itd5x8/launcher_error_after_latest_update/ on reddit is was suggested to do the following: 

- run notepad as admin

- open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

- deposit 185.195.197.4 api.digitalcombatsimulator.com

- type "ipconfig /flushdns" in the windows command line (search cmd in windows start)

This worked for me but this is merely a workaround and I opened an ed support ticket so I'll keep you updated as soon as I receive news from them.

 

 

[Edit] reinstalling the game and deleting the saved games folder didn't help either.

When I start the launcher it fails to log in and after some time displays "bad connection". After some more time has passed the error "Launcher error. Code:-28 Message: Error: News List loading error: Timeout was reached" pops up. When I launch the game anyway it tries to login in again and then starts in offline mod. This never happened before, my internet connection is fine and it just started after the latest update today.

2025-02-19 18:35:25.126 ERROR   ASYNCNET (2744): HTTP request lnch:getUpdates failed with error 28: Timeout was reached
2025-02-19 18:35:25.158 ERROR   LAUNCHER (CrBrowserMain): GUI ERROR:["hasUpdate request fault",{"name":"API Error","code":-28,"message":"Timeout was reached","method":"hasUpdate","queryOptions":{"persistent":true,"parseJSON":true,"logQueries":true,"logResult":true},"stack":"API Error: Timeout was reached\n    at onFailure (https://launcher/ui/assets/index-CGuOwTVl.js:4:1547)"}]
2025-02-19 18:35:55.140 ERROR   ASYNCNET (2744): HTTP request lnch_1 failed with error 28: Timeout was reached
2025-02-19 18:35:55.156 ERROR   LAUNCHER (CrBrowserMain): GUI ERROR:[{"name":"API Error","code":-28,"message":"Timeout was reached","method":"httpGET","queryParams":"master:en/export/requirements/","queryOptions":{"persistent":true,"parseJSON":true,"logQueries":true,"logResult":true},"stack":"API Error: Timeout was reached\n    at onFailure (https://launcher/ui/assets/index-CGuOwTVl.js:4:1547)"}]
2025-02-19 18:36:25.153 ERROR   ASYNCNET (2744): HTTP request getNewsList_en1 failed with error 28: Timeout was reached
2025-02-19 18:36:25.218 WARNING ASYNCNET (Main): Ignoring duplicate request to dcs:ping while one is already in flight.
2025-02-19 18:36:25.231 ERROR   LAUNCHER (CrBrowserMain): GUI ERROR:["Fail to load","News",{"code":-28,"message":"News List loading error: Timeout was reached","stack":"Error: News List loading error: Timeout was reached\n    at gm.loadedDataProcessing (https://launcher/ui/assets/index-CGuOwTVl.js:18:40389)\n    at https://launcher/ui/assets/index-CGuOwTVl.js:16:65998"}]
2025-02-19 18:36:25.231 ERROR   LAUNCHER (CrBrowserMain): GUI ERROR:["Unhandled error",{"message":{"code":-28}}]
 

dcs.log 2.45 kB · 14 Downloads

That did the trick!

My Rig: Windows 11 Pro, Intel i7-13700k@5.4GHz, 64GB DDR5 5200 RAM, Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite AX, 2TB Samsung 990 PRO, RTX4080, Thrustmaster HOTAS WARTHOG Stick + WINWING ORION 2 + MFG Crosswinds, LG 32" 4K 60FPS, ACER 30" 4K 60FPS GSync Display, HP Reverb G2 V2

jojojung

jojojung

Posted
Posted

Same problem here. But Im not able to change any IP things because I dont know how. 
Please ED fix it ASAP!
Would be great to get an update without any major error!

  • Like 1
BJ55

BJ55

Posted
Posted (edited)

@silverdevil : I've wrote that DCS is not using the Windows DNS Client service, look at the second pic, no svchost.exe/DNS requests after flushdns. (btw: started with Basic in '85, does that count?)

Edited by BJ55
  • Like 1

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  • ED Team
c0ff

c0ff

Posted
  • ED Team
Posted

Dear guys, thank you for checking with Google's DNS servers.

 

It confirmed that the issue is with C-Ares library (a DNS resolver) which we used in this update. It turns out it has problems with some OS/firewall/ISP/router combinations.

We already disabled it in the internal version and the fix is going through our release pipeline (testing, merging to production, testing again ...)

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 2

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BJ55

BJ55

Posted
Posted (edited)

Thanks. At least now I know the cause of DCS DNS queries.

Edited by BJ55

I7-12700F, 64GB DDR4 XMP1 3000MHz, Asus Z670M, MSI RTX 3070 2560x1440 60Hz, TIR 5, TM WH VPC base, TM rudder, Win10 Pro

  • ED Team
Lord Vader

Lord Vader

Posted
  • ED Team
Posted
12 hours ago, jojojung said:

Same problem here. But Im not able to change any IP things because I dont know how. 
Please ED fix it ASAP!
Would be great to get an update without any major error!

I replied before with the steps to change DNS. But I can confirm a fix is incoming if you prefer to wait. I just can't say how long it will take to be released.

  • Like 2

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trindade

trindade

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 2/20/2025 at 1:44 PM, Lord Vader said:

One last request, can you please change your IPv4 address to google's 8.8.8.8?

  • Got to Windows "Network And Sharing Centre"
  • Ethernet Status -> Properties
  • Select IP protocol version 4 (or TCP/IPv4)
  • Under "General", select "Use the following DNS server addresses:"
  • Write:
    Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
    Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4

Don't worry, this will not affect your online connections. In fact this is considered a good "booster" in online connections for some users. But if it somehow does affect you, you can always revert back to "Obtain DNS server address automatically" in the same menu above. 

None of these fixes worked for me!

Please release an hotfix asap. Very frustrating problem.

Edited by trindade
Actium

Actium

Posted
Posted (edited)

While I do not have the issue on Windows 10, I can reproduce it 10 out of 10 times when running the dedicated server on Linux via Wine 8.0.

Two possible solutions that both work for me (again, on Linux):

  1. Downgrade to version 2.9.12 until a hotfix is out. This will exclude you from all server already running 2.9.13. To perform a downgrade, open the windows terminal or command prompt and enter: "C:\Games\DCS World OpenBeta\bin\DCS_updater.exe" update 2.9.12.5336.1 (adjust to your DCS installation path)
  2. Add the api.digitalcombatsimulator.com domain to Windows' etc/hosts file as suggested by the OP. This is a temporary workaround! Undo it immediately once a hotfix is out! Otherwise, it will come back to haunt you (possibly years in the future), if the ED master server IP address ever changes. You have been warned.
    Apply the workaround as follows:
    a) Open the start menu, search for notepad, rightclick, run as administrator.
    b) Menu: File > Open. Paste C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts into the filename field and press open.
    c) Add the following line: 185.195.197.4 api.digitalcombatsimulator.com
    d) Save and close notepad.
    e) Open a command prompt and run: ipconfig /flushdns

If anyone on Windows, e.g., @trindade, opts for #2, please report back whether it works, as I've only been able to verify it on Linux, i.e., Wine.

Edited by Actium
  • Thanks 1
silverdevil

silverdevil

Posted
Posted

interesting. i came back to see the result of this topic. this morning i did more nslookup queries

nslookup
Default Server:  dns.google
Address:  8.8.8.8

> cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com
Server:  dns.google
Address:  8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    1231349722.rsc.cdn77.org
Addresses:  2a02:6ea0:e200::37
          2a02:6ea0:e200::17
          2a02:6ea0:e200::36
          109.61.91.197
          109.61.91.194
          109.61.91.230
Aliases:  cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

> server 9.9.9.9
Default Server:  dns9.quad9.net
Address:  9.9.9.9

> cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com
Server:  dns9.quad9.net
Address:  9.9.9.9

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    1231349722.rsc.cdn77.org
Addresses:  2a02:6ea0:e200::17
          2a02:6ea0:e200::36
          2a02:6ea0:e200::37
          109.61.91.198
          109.61.91.231
          109.61.91.194
Aliases:  cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

> cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com
Server:  dns9.quad9.net
Address:  9.9.9.9

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    1231349722.rsc.cdn77.org
Addresses:  2a02:6ea0:e200::37
          2a02:6ea0:e200::36
          2a02:6ea0:e200::17
          109.61.91.195
          109.61.91.197
          109.61.91.231
Aliases:  cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

> cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com
Server:  dns9.quad9.net
Address:  9.9.9.9

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    1231349722.rsc.cdn77.org
Addresses:  2a02:6ea0:e200::37
          2a02:6ea0:e200::36
          2a02:6ea0:e200::17
          109.61.91.195
          109.61.91.197
          109.61.91.231
Aliases:  cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

> server 8.8.8.8
Default Server:  dns.google
Address:  8.8.8.8

> cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com
Server:  dns.google
Address:  8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    1231349722.rsc.cdn77.org
Addresses:  2a02:6ea0:e200::37
          2a02:6ea0:e200::36
          2a02:6ea0:e200::17
          109.61.91.230
          109.61.91.195
          109.61.91.198
Aliases:  cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com

>


and these were all with a few seconds of each other. there are noticeable differences. even from the same servers. and a delay in the results from quad9.

AKA_SilverDevil Join AKA Wardogs Email Address My YouTube

“The MIGS came up, the MIGS were aggressive, we tangled, they lost.”

- Robin Olds - An American fighter pilot. He was a triple ace.

The only man to ever record a confirmed kill while in glide mode.

Actium

Actium

Posted
Posted (edited)
13 minutes ago, silverdevil said:

and these were all with a few seconds of each other. there are noticeable differences. even from the same servers.

That is exactly what to expect from a CDN. The first layer of load balancing is implemented through DNS by directing different clients to different IP addresses, i.e., physical servers or load balancers, for their respective requests, instead of directing all clients to hammer on the same few servers. Also, the login issue is not caused by resolving cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com, but by resolving api.digitalcombatsimulator.com. AFAICT, the CDN is only relevant for the updater.

Edited by Actium
  • Like 1
silverdevil

silverdevil

Posted
Posted
35 minutes ago, Actium said:

That is exactly what to expect from a CDN. The first layer of load balancing is implemented through DNS by directing different clients to different IP addresses, i.e., physical servers or load balancers, for their respective requests, instead of directing all clients to hammer on the same few servers. Also, the login issue is not caused by resolving cdn.digitalcombatsimulator.com, but by resolving api.digitalcombatsimulator.com. AFAICT, the CDN is only relevant for the updater.

agreed. that's the purpose of CNAME. i know there are lots of other topics in these forums caused by bad DNS just to get to the update servers. you obviously know the joke about DNS.

null

image.png

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AKA_SilverDevil Join AKA Wardogs Email Address My YouTube

“The MIGS came up, the MIGS were aggressive, we tangled, they lost.”

- Robin Olds - An American fighter pilot. He was a triple ace.

The only man to ever record a confirmed kill while in glide mode.

silverdevil

silverdevil

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, N0XID said:

Hey, how long will it be until this is fixed? We still can't register our servers...

wie gehts. can you check that your server has correct DNS for api.digitalcombatsimulator.com? should be 185.195.197.4. Viel Glück bei deiner Arbeit. Tschüss

  • Like 1

AKA_SilverDevil Join AKA Wardogs Email Address My YouTube

“The MIGS came up, the MIGS were aggressive, we tangled, they lost.”

- Robin Olds - An American fighter pilot. He was a triple ace.

The only man to ever record a confirmed kill while in glide mode.

trindade

trindade

Posted
Posted

Thank you for the suggestion @Actium
A quick update on my problem. @Lord Vader fix was not working on my side because I'm on a wireless connection so does nothing changing ethernet settings, but changing my WI-FI DNS settings did the trick. Thank you.

  • Like 1
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