How to start a public server.

[76561198053940203]

How do you host a public server for multiplayer.?

[pizzahut]

You can either rent a server or host it on your local PC.

Local PC

Router

Make sure your router forwards (all) traffic to your PC. This is different for each router. Some routers call it a DMZ but mean "exposed host". My router has an option in network / NAT settings to specify a LAN IP to be used as server. This should match the LAN IP of the PC. You can find it in the properties of the internet connection (Tray icon in the Windows task bar). Or type "cmd" in the start menu, start the command prompt, and then type "ipconfig". In both cases it'll be the IPv4 address.

This is a sure-fire way. It may be enough to just forward port 27015 (UDP).

Firewall

Additionally make sure that the server software has full network access. I guess when using the default firewall which comes with Windows, there's a prompt when the server is started the first time. In case of a "listen server" (starting TFC and using the main menu to create a server), you may have to check the firewall settings in the Windows control panel. I'm using my AV's firewall though, which has application rules in the firewall options. I set it to "allow all connections" for the server ("hlds.exe", or "hl.exe" in case of a listen server).

Again, this is the sure-fire way. You could fine tune which kind of traffic should be allowed, e.g. incoming: port 27015 (local server), 26900-26901 (comm. with Steam servers) , outgoing: all ports.

Three different ways to start a server

• Through the TFC main menu. In this case, a game is started and you're hosting it.
  
• Using the "Half-Life Dedicated Server" (HLDS) in the tools section of the Steam library.
  
• Using Valve's command line Steam client to retrieve the HLDS: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD

For some reason a running HLDS is only then visible for other players (internet tab in Steam's server browser) if console mode is used. This requires a parameter, however the launch options in Steam's library aren't passed on to the server. So it has to be started in a different way, either as shortcut to the executable ("hlds.exe"), or using a batch file. The minimum parameters are:

-console -game tfc +map 2fort

The Linux version of the HLDS doesn't have a GUI and thus is always in console mode.

Rental

Don't know a lot of companies. In America there's for example

NFO - https://www.nfoservers.com/order.php

GameServers - https://www.gameservers.com/game_servers/tfc-half_life_team_fortress.php

Picked those because they have ready-to-go servers. But you could also rent a VPS e.g. at OVH and install SteamCMD there.

[76561198053940203]

Why does if only show up under LAN? How do I get it to show up under internet so other users can connect to it? I changed the router settings but its the same thing.

[76561198053940203]

Let me know if you can see it? its called New Jersey 24/7 2fort. Thanks.

[pizzahut]

Hi, yes it's in the server list - good job!

[76561198053940203]

Thanks now I got to get people on it . is it under Internet for you? It only shows up as LAN for me.

[pizzahut]

Join the server and invite friends to join the game. Probably the only way to get a game going.

There are 7 TFC servers which get more or less traffic, that's about it.

Top 8 from this list of manually added servers, minus the 24hr 2fort server (it's usually just bots).

https://www.gametracker.com/search/tfc/

[76561198053940203]

when some people try to connect it says: Bad file Server is enforcing file consistency for models/w_grenade.mdl what does that mean?

[76561198053940203]

I fixed the problem type :mp_consistency 0 in server console

[76561198053940203]

Can someone tell me if it is still on the list? thanks.

[pizzahut]

Still there.

[76561198053940203]

Can someone tell me if they can connect now I changed my internet service provider.. Its called New Jersey 2 fort. Thanks

[76561198053940203]

Try it now. Look for New Jersey 2fort

[76561198053940203]

Ok good. thanks for checking.

[76561198053940203]

Can someone tell me if it is still there?

[pizzahut]

Don't see it.