[iKill]

(I know that I said I would post a link in the admin meeting, but I thought that this would be better and more beneficial)
For those wanting to set up their own servers or anyone that would like to learn how to set up a server, use this guide!

TOPICS COVERED!
INSTALLING SRCDS (Source Dedicated Server)
UPDATING YOUR SERVER
FPS BOOSTER (Not needed, but recommended!)
READING SERVER LOGS
INSTALLING SOURCEMOD & SOURCEMOD PLUGINS
PORT FORWARDING (OFF SITE TUTORIAL)

SOME ISP'S DO NOT ALLOW YOU TO HOST SERVERS! I CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF YOU SET UP A SERVER AND LOSE YOUR INTERNET ACCESS! IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT, ASK YOUR ISP IF YOU CAN HOST A SERVER!

1) Follow this link to download the update tool.
http://www.steampowe...supdatetool.exe

2) Once you have downloaded it, make a folder anywhere on your computer and call it srcds. Im using the root of my harddrive in this example. (C:\srcds)
Now that you have that done, Double-click the hldsupdatetool and install it into that directory.


Now that you have that set up, you can now start installing. This may take a while to download (it downloads a few gigs of data)
3) Go to your command prompt. If you don't know where that is, click the start menu and find the "run" icon near the bottom right. Click it and type 'cmd' into the window and click run. Now your at your command prompt.
4) Once you're there type "cd C:\SRCDS".
It should now say something similar to C:/SRCDS.

Now, if we wanted to install a TF2 server, we would now type the following:

hldsupdatetool.exe -command update -game tf -dir c:\SRCDS\tf2

The updater will now download the TF2 server files. Use the above step to update your server after a tf2 update has been released!


NOW, THE SERVER.CFG file. This is where your server gets all it's settings from.
Once the updater is finished downloading, you will want to create and add your server.cfg file to C:\SRCDS\tf2\orangebox\tf\cfg. So open up notepad, copy and paste this and then save it as "server.cfg". Then add it to the location mentioned above!

// General Settings //

// Hostname for server.
hostname 'iKill's TF2 Server"

// Maximum number of rounds to play before server changes maps
mp_maxrounds 5

// Control where the client gets content from 
// 0 = anywhere, 1 = anywhere listed in white list, 2 = steam official content only
sv_pure 0

// Is the server pausable
sv_pausable 0

// Type of server 0=internet 1=lan
sv_lan 0

// Whether the server enforces file consistency for critical files
sv_consistency 1

// Collect CPU usage stats
sv_stats 1



// Execute Banned Users //
exec banned_user.cfg
exec banned_ip.cfg
writeid
writeip



// Contact & Region //

// Contact email for server sysop
sv_contact "xxxxx@xxx.xxx"

// The region of the world to report this server in.
// -1 is the world, 0 is USA east coast, 1 is USA west coast
// 2 south america, 3 europe, 4 asia, 5 australia, 6 middle east, 7 africa
sv_region 5



// Rcon Settings //

// Password for rcon authentication
rcon_password "xxxxx"

// Number of minutes to ban users who fail rcon authentication
sv_rcon_banpenalty 1440

// Max number of times a user can fail rcon authentication before being banned
sv_rcon_maxfailures 5



// Log Settings //

// Enables logging to file, console, and udp < on | off >.
log on

// Log server information to only one file.
sv_log_onefile 0

// Log server information in the log file.
sv_logfile 1

// Log server bans in the server logs.
sv_logbans 1

// Echo log information to the console.
sv_logecho 1



// Rate Settings //

// Frame rate limiter
fps_max 500

// Min bandwidth rate allowed on server, 0 == unlimited
sv_minrate 0

// Max bandwidth rate allowed on server, 0 == unlimited
sv_maxrate 20000

// Minimum updates per second that the server will allow
sv_minupdaterate 10

// Maximum updates per second that the server will allow
sv_maxupdaterate 66



// Download Settings //

// Allow clients to upload customizations files
sv_allowupload 1

// Allow clients to download files
sv_allowdownload 1

// Maximum allowed file size for uploading in MB
net_maxfilesize 15

// Download URL where users get files from, i.e, maps, sounds, etc.
sv_downloadurl "www.yoururl.com"


// Team Balancing //

// Enable team balancing
mp_autoteambalance 1 

// Teams are unbalanced when one team has this many more players than the other team. (0 disables check)
mp_teams_unbalance_limit 1



// Round and Game Times //

// Enable timers to wait between rounds. WARNING: Setting this to 0 has been known to cause a bug with setup times lasting 5:20 (5 minutes 20 seconds) on some servers!
mp_enableroundwaittime 1

// Time after round win until round restarts
mp_bonusroundtime 8

// If non-zero, the current round will restart in the specified number of seconds
mp_restartround 0

//Enable sudden death
mp_stalemate_enable 1

// Timelimit (in seconds) of the stalemate round.
mp_stalemate_timelimit 300

// game time per map in minutes
mp_timelimit 35


// Client CVARS //

// Restricts spectator modes for dead players
mp_forcecamera 0

// toggles whether the server allows spectator mode or not
mp_allowspectators 1

// toggles footstep sounds
mp_footsteps 1

// toggles game cheats
sv_cheats 0

// After this many seconds without a message from a client, the client is dropped
sv_timeout 900

// Maximum time a player is allowed to be idle (in minutes), made this and sv_timeout equal same time?
mp_idlemaxtime 15

// Deals with idle players 1=send to spectator 2=kick
mp_idledealmethod 2

// time (seconds) between decal sprays
decalfrequency 30


// Communications //

// enable voice communications
sv_voiceenable 1

// Players can hear all other players, no team restrictions 0=off 1=on
sv_alltalk 0

Now. Starting your server up!

There is a special way to start up SRCDS. You can either have the GUI server (which is crap and uses more resources), or you can use the console version (text based, less resource intensive and easier to control).

To start up srcds in console mode, do the following (there are 2 ways to do it - METHOD 1 (BELOW)/METHOD 2 - WITH CRASH PROTECTION (thanks Max)). Create a shortcut to SRCDS.exe (located in the orangebox folder), and place it on the desktop.

Now, right click on the shortcut you just placed on the desktop, and select properties. In the Target box, add the following (example) to the end of the line:

-game tf +hostport 27010 -maxplayers 6 -console -nohltv +map pl_swiftwater

That tells SRCDS that it has to load TF2 server, the port is 27010, maximum players is 6, it must start in console mode, no SourceTV, and the map it needs to load is pl_swaftwater.

Open it up, and you should have your own tf2 server (like this).

BUT, you might need to set up port forwarding. I will explain this, and setting up sourcemod/plugins later in a different post.

[SilverSoul]

Good handy guide, iKill! Process seems so much less intimidating when you break it down into simple to follow steps.

[iKill]

I will add pictures instead of large blocks of text and add a sourcemod installation tutorial in the morning!

[Grunge]

"NOW, THE SERVER.CFG file. This is where your server gets all it's settings from.
Once the updater is finished downloading, you will want to edit your server.cfg file to look like this (this is my config):"

Where do I find the server.cfg?

[Ðravu]

The server.cfg file doesn't exist by default. You'll want to create it in: /srcds/orangebox/tf/cfg

You don't necessarily have to have most of the commands he has in his server.cfg file. If you look around (*cough* Google *cough*), then you can take a look at other configs and what each command actually does. The one I have on my server I think only has around 10 - 20 lines in it.

[iKill]

Yeah. I forgot that the config isnt created by default. And... mine does need cleaning up. OK. Cleaned up the config and changed the tut to say that you need to create the file. :P

[Ðravu]

iKill, on 24 January 2010 - 06:31 PM, said:

Yeah. I forgot that the config isnt created by default. And... mine does need cleaning up. OK. Cleaned up the config and changed the tut to say that you need to create the file. :P

Nice. It looks perfect. <3

[iKill]

SOURCEMOD INSTALLATION!

OK. Installing sourcemod is very easy. First, go to http://www.sourcemm.net/ and download Metamod: Source. You will also need to download a vdf (do that here http://www.sourcemm.net/vdf). Now, place the vdf file in your addons folder on the server (C:\SRCDS\orangebox\tf\addons). Now extract the metamod source zip file and place the contents in the tf folder. Metamod source is needed for sourcemod to operate. Without it, sourcemod will not work.

Now, you need sourcemod. Go to http://www.sourcemod.net/ and download the latest release of sourcemod. Do the same as you did with metamod. Extract it to the tf folder.

You now have sourcemod installed!

INSTALLING/DISABLING PLUGINS:

You can find plugins for sourcemod here. These are plugins that other people have made and released to the public. You can also create your own plugins, but I don't know much about coding. If you want to learn about coding, maybe ask Flux or Dravu nicely and they might teach you the basics.

Anyway, download a plugin from the link above and go to "C:\SRCDS\orangebox\tf\addons\sourcemod\plugins"

Some plugins will provide instructions on how to install the plugin, but others wont.
Once you have placed the plugin into the plugins folder, type into the server console "sm plugins load <pluginname>". For example, if I wanted to load the plugin sourcebans.smx, i would type "sm plugins load sourcebans". Sourcemod will then respond something similar to "[SM] Loaded plugin sourcebans.smx successfully!"


If i wanted to unload a plugin, I would type "sm plugins unload sourcebans". Sourcemod will then respond "[SM] Plugin Sourcebans unloaded successfully!"


Now, to disable a plugin on your server, simply go to "C:\SRCDS\tf2\orangebox\tf\addons\sourcemod\plugins" and find the plugin you want to disable. Then drag the plugin to the disabled folder. (I cant remember if the unload command disables the plugin, but idk).

To get a full list of plugins that are running on your server, type into the server console "sm plugins list"


The little server watching tool I am using is called HLSW. You can download it for free here:
http://www.hlsw.org/

I might also make a small tutorial on HLSW and how to use it and all of its features.

Like I said, I will update this with pictures later on.

[riuthamus]

This is very well done... iKill your making a name for yourself my friend! ;)

[MaximReapage]

Very nice. Only one thing, I think, is missing....a proper watchdog script.

@echo off
cls
echo This script protects srcds from crashes and facilitates server updates
echo To close srcds and this script, close the srcds window and type Y then Enter.
title Team Fortress 2 DS Watchdog
:srcds
echo (%time%) SRCDS has been started.
start /wait srcds.exe -console -game tf -ip <your ip here> -port 27015 +map cp_gravelpit +maxplayers 33 +max_fps 512
echo (%time%) WARNING: SRCDS closed or crashed, restarting after update.
echo (%time%) Updating Team Fortress 2 Dedicated server.
start /wait <directory of HLDS folder>\hldsupdatetool.exe -command update -game tf -dir c:\srcds\sourcebase
echo (%time%) Update completed, now starting game server.
goto srcds 

Now, you name that script as, for example "TF2 Server.bat" and save it in the same folder as your srcds executable. Then, you create shortcuts to actually launch it (I usually go so far as to use little icons to make them not only easier to identify, but also more professional-looking), insert the directory of your hlds installation as applicable, and let the code do the work for you. Note: this will update your server whenever it crashes or is manually quit by console command...therefore, if you ever need to update your installation on the server, simply typing "quit" in console will cause it to check for updates, then relaunch the dedicated server.

Also, please note, the IP and PORT options are optional, as is max_fps. Just as an fyi, though, any srcds starting instructions that start with a minus (-) sign happen before the server launches, and are generally not changeable without a restart of the server. Any srcds starting instructions that start with a plus (+) sign happen after the server launches, and are generally able to be changed with a command in console. This script can work with any game, simply copy the script to the other directory with the other game, update relevant information (-game switch, -dir, +map, +maxplayers, -port if applicable, "Team Fortress 2" references in the script, etc.) and away you go.

I have to give a tiny bit of props to Flux for finding the original script, which simply protected from crashes and was in pretty broken english. I rewrote it a couple of times and cleaned up the language to finally arrive at this, which I feel is not only much more useful, but also more elegant as well.

Cheers.

[iKill]

AAHHH Max... i was going to add a similar script when I added images!!

But oh well, this one is better. Thanks guys!

EDIT: Updated SRCDS installation with images. I will add SourceMod installation pictures shortly.

This post has been edited by iKill: 25 January 2010 - 05:36 PM

[MaximReapage]

Also, I recommend using notepad++ instead of the default windows notepad application, because it is much more useful (it's not what I use but I have an expensive pay program that practically cooks me breakfast).

[Ðravu]

MaximReapage, on 25 January 2010 - 08:44 PM, said:

Also, I recommend using notepad++ instead of the default windows notepad application, because it is much more useful (it's not what I use but I have an expensive pay program that practically cooks me breakfast).

+1 to this. Notepad++ is an amazing program, especially if you're a programmer.

[iKill]

I do all of my stuff in notepad++ and also recommend it. These screenshots were taken directly from my server (which doesn't have N++). I do all my configs on my good computer, and then FTP them to my server.

Download Notepad++ here:
http://notepad-plus....net/uk/site.htm

[Poland Fun]

I always turn on windows media player, whenever i set up a server, it boost the fps of the server quite dramatically.
Soposedly wmp speeds up kernal access times, so it works faster.

[iKill]

Yep. I will also add an FPS booster that does the exact same thing as WMP.

I'll add it tomorrow when I get home from school... :(

EDIT: Here is the SRCDS fps booster tool. Basically, start it as soon as your server starts. It doesn't have to go anywhere special, so place it anywhere you want.

Download it here:
http://ikill.serveht...cdsfpsboost.exe
If the download link doesnt work, plese tell me. (LINK UP AND RUNNING!)

This post has been edited by iKill: 14 April 2010 - 02:18 AM

[iKill]

UPDATING YOUR SERVER:
If you are not using the crash and update protection script that Maxim has posted, you will need to manually update your server(s). To manually update your server, do the following.

1. Close your server
2. Open a command prompt and type in the following:
"cd C:\SRCDS".

To update the server, type the following:

hldsupdatetool.exe -command update -game tf dir c:\SRCDS\tf2

The updater will now download the updated TF2 server files (It will NOT download everything again. Only the files that were updated). And BAM. Your server is now updated. Start up your server again.

[ATM Banana]

I got as far as the hlupdatetool before I got lost in threads dating back to 2007 searching from google. Riu referred me to this thread for when I try to set up my extra tower. Hopefully I'll get along fine but I'm sure I'll have questions pertaining to things like ISPs and if I need to do certain tweaks to maintain bandwidth limits. Until I actually get through all these directions I'll try to figure it out on my own. I'll probably revisit this thread as I make progress.

Thanks again to riu, and of course ikill for having this resource available.

[RandomExpletive]

can you make a list of known ISP's that support server hosting?

calling comcast is a big mistake one way or another, it'd take YEARS to get to a human, much less a competent one :\

[iKill]

RandomExpletive, on 04 February 2010 - 06:07 PM, said:

can you make a list of known ISP's that support server hosting?

calling comcast is a big mistake one way or another, it'd take YEARS to get to a human, much less a competent one :\

I can't do that... I mean, I COULD do it, but im not going to simply because i'm in Australia and I don't know what your isp's are. The only 3 I know are Cox, Comcast and Verizon. I know for a fact that Verizon FIOS doesn't allow it, but im not sure about any others. Sorry.