FAQ

Common Network Services issues and solutions

Why are network status events not triggered?

Ensure you've called NetworkServices.StartNotifier() to begin monitoring. Check these common issues:

1. Monitoring Not Started: Call StartNotifier() in Start() or enable "Auto Start Notifier" in settings

2. Events Not Registered: Subscribe to events in OnEnable() before calling StartNotifier()

3. Already Stopped: Verify IsNotifierActive returns true - monitoring may have been stopped elsewhere

void Start()
{
    if (!NetworkServices.IsNotifierActive)
    {
        NetworkServices.StartNotifier();
        Debug.Log("Network monitoring started");
    }
}

Why does network status change before I call StartNotifier?

This happens if "Auto Start Notifier" is enabled in Essential Kit Settings. The plugin automatically begins monitoring on app launch. To use manual control:

1. Open Essential Kit Settings (Services tab)

2. Find Network Services configuration

3. Disable "Auto Start Notifier"

4. Call StartNotifier() manually when needed

How do I monitor a specific server or backend?

Configure the host address in Essential Kit Settings:

1. Open Essential Kit Settings → Services → Network Services

2. Set Host Address (IPv4 or IPv6) to your server URL or IP

3. Subscribe to OnHostReachabilityChange event

4. Call StartNotifier()

void OnHostReachabilityChange(NetworkServicesHostReachabilityStatusChangeResult result)
{
    if (result.IsReachable)
    {
        Debug.Log("Backend server is online");
    }
    else
    {
        Debug.Log("Backend server is offline or unreachable");
    }
}

Can I change the host address at runtime?

Yes, use manual initialization to set a dynamic host address:

void ConfigureForRegion(string serverURL)
{
    var settings = new NetworkServicesUnitySettings(
        isEnabled: true,
        hostAddress: new Address(ipv4: serverURL),
        autoStartNotifier: false);

    NetworkServices.Initialize(settings);
    NetworkServices.StartNotifier();
}

This is useful for region-specific servers or environment switching (dev/staging/production).

Events fire too frequently during network transitions. How do I handle this?

Implement debouncing to ignore rapid status changes during network handoffs (WiFi to cellular):

private float lastStatusChangeTime;
private const float debounceDelay = 2f;

void OnInternetConnectivityChange(NetworkServicesInternetConnectivityStatusChangeResult result)
{
    if (Time.time - lastStatusChangeTime < debounceDelay)
    {
        return; // Ignore rapid changes
    }

    lastStatusChangeTime = Time.time;
    Debug.Log(result.IsConnected ? "Connection restored." : "Connection lost.");
}

How do I stop events from firing when the app is backgrounded?

Stop monitoring when the app goes to background to save battery:

void OnApplicationPause(bool isPaused)
{
    if (isPaused)
    {
        NetworkServices.StopNotifier();
    }
    else
    {
        NetworkServices.StartNotifier();
    }
}

Does Network Services work in Unity Editor?

Yes, it uses your development machine's actual network connection. Test by:

• Toggling WiFi/ethernet on your computer

• Changing firewall settings

• Using network simulation tools (Charles Proxy, Fiddler)

However, always test on physical devices before release to verify mobile-specific scenarios (cellular handoff, weak signal, etc.).

What's the difference between IsInternetActive and IsHostReachable?

• IsInternetActive: General internet connectivity (WiFi, cellular, any network)

• IsHostReachable: Specific server/host configured in settings is reachable

Use cases:

• IsInternetActive: "No internet" error messages, disable all online features

• IsHostReachable: "Server maintenance" messages, disable server-dependent features only

Example:

void CheckNetworkStatus()
{
    if (!NetworkServices.IsInternetActive)
    {
        Debug.Log("Show dialog: No internet connection");
    }
    else if (!NetworkServices.IsHostReachable)
    {
        Debug.Log("Show dialog: Server temporarily unavailable");
    }
}

How much battery does continuous monitoring consume?

Continuous monitoring has minimal battery impact (< 1% over several hours) due to efficient platform APIs. However:

• Best Practice: Stop monitoring when not needed (menu screens, single-player modes)

• Polling Interval: Adjust "Time Gap Between Polling" in settings (default 5 seconds)

• Auto-Start: Disable if you don't need monitoring from app launch

Can I test offline functionality in Unity Editor?

Yes, disconnect your development machine's network to simulate offline scenarios. For more realistic testing:

• Use Device Simulator package to test different network conditions

• Test on physical devices with airplane mode, WiFi toggle, weak signal areas

• Use network conditioning tools (Xcode Network Link Conditioner, Android emulator throttling)

How do I handle queued actions when connectivity returns?

Implement an action queue system:

private Queue<Action> pendingNetworkActions = new Queue<Action>();

public void QueueNetworkAction(Action action)
{
    if (NetworkServices.IsInternetActive)
    {
        action.Invoke();
    }
    else
    {
        pendingNetworkActions.Enqueue(action);
        Debug.Log($"Queued action - {pendingNetworkActions.Count} pending");
    }
}

void OnInternetConnectivityChange(NetworkServicesInternetConnectivityStatusChangeResult result)
{
    if (result.IsConnected)
    {
        while (pendingNetworkActions.Count > 0)
        {
            pendingNetworkActions.Dequeue().Invoke();
        }
    }
}

Where can I confirm plugin behavior versus my implementation?

Run Assets/Plugins/VoxelBusters/EssentialKit/Examples/Scenes/NetworkServicesDemo.unity. If the sample works but your implementation doesn't:

• Compare event registration timing (before vs after StartNotifier)

• Verify settings configuration (auto-start, host address)

• Check if monitoring is being stopped unexpectedly elsewhere

• Confirm event handlers aren't being unsubscribed prematurely

Can I monitor multiple hosts simultaneously?

No, Essential Kit supports monitoring one configured host at a time. For multiple servers:

1. Primary Host in Settings: Configure your main backend server

2. Manual Polling: Implement custom ping logic for secondary servers

3. Rotate Monitoring: Change host address dynamically using Initialize() with new settings

Alternatively, monitor general internet connectivity and handle specific server checks in your backend communication layer.

Is host reachability the same as a ping test?

Host reachability uses platform-specific APIs (iOS Reachability, Android ConnectivityManager) which are more efficient than traditional ping. However:

• Not as detailed as ICMP ping

• Checks TCP connectivity to specified port (default 80)

• Faster and more battery-efficient than continuous pinging

• May report reachable if host resolves but service is down

For true service health, combine with application-level health checks (HTTP endpoint status).