Steam SDR: what it does and how to configure it

An entry point to Valve’s network

Steam Datagram Relay, or SDR, is Valve’s relay network, which can carry CS2 game traffic. Think of an entrance to a road network: data travels from your PC to an entry point, then through the network to the game session.

DKPanel’s SDR setting lets you limit the available entry points. It gives you control over routing conditions during matchmaking. A country or city in the list identifies an entry point; it does not guarantee a particular game server, low ping or a quick match.

Open Settings and choose a mode

Find Steam SDR routes for CS2. Start with automatic mode if you do not want to choose entry points yourself.

Off: DKPanel does not restrict entry points with its SDR rules.
Automatically: The panel chooses from its available recommendations. You do not need to select individual rows.
Manual: Select one or more entry points yourself. At least one must be selected before saving.

Steam SDR modes in DKPanel settings — All three modes are in the same settings section.

Refresh latency and inspect the list

Select Update delay and wait for the check to finish. The list shows measurements and recommendations for each entry point. These readings describe the connection to relays; latency inside a match may differ.

No response does not mean zero latency. Do not choose an entry point just because you recognise its city: look at the measurement and route state.

Valve entry points and measured latency in SDR settings — Entry points and measurements. Cities, latency values and states in these screenshots are demonstration data.

How to select entry points manually

Use manual mode when you want to keep specific entry points available. The selection applies to the PC; there is no need to configure each of the four clients separately.

After refreshing latency, select Manual. Checkboxes appear beside the entry points.
Select one or more entry points. Only this one keeps that entry selected and clears the others. It updates the form selection; it does not apply the settings immediately.
Compare latency and packet loss. No response means the measurement failed, not that the connection is fastest. A familiar city name alone is not a reason to choose a route.
Keep at least one entry selected and choose Save settings at the bottom of the page. Saving is unavailable with an empty selection.
Wait for the change to apply. Check Allowed for selected entries and Blocked for excluded ones. Not verified or a warning means the setting has not been confirmed.

For example, keep two available entries to retain an alternative route. To test one entry, choose Only this one, save and assess the next connection. If conditions worsen, restore several entries, Automatic or Off, then save again.

Manual SDR mode: FRA and AMS checkboxes, measurements and Only this one buttons — Manual selection example: FRA and AMS are enabled. This demonstrates the interface; it is not a recommendation for every connection.

Save settings and check the result

Select Save settings. Check the application message and the actual entry point states. Selecting a mode alone does not mean the restriction is already active.

The setting applies to the local clients on the machine. An established game session can retain its previous route until reconnecting. Avoid interrupting a match to force an immediate change; check the result on the next connection.

The saved SDR policy and allowed entry point states — After applying, inspect the message and entry point states, as well as the selected mode.

If the policy was not applied

Check the Windows Firewall message. Applying rules requires an available, enabled firewall; organisational policy can also restrict local rules. DKPanel reports a warning and does not enable Windows protection on your behalf.

An SDR warning alone does not block farming, but the selected restriction may not be active. If the error is unclear, note its code in the log and contact support. Do not disable Windows protection to configure routes.