Dedicated Server Configuration Guide (Useful commands for new server admins)

[Sgt. Pepper]

Re-posting this to help out anyone thinkiing of starting a new server or looking to learn more about running theirs. ~ KindredPhantom 21/12/14

Rcon Commands:

status - Shows player list, IDs, IPs and server info
stats - Shows server info including FPS
users - Shows full player list with less detail
banid - Bans a user by their steamID
banip - Bans a user by their IP
listid - Lists all banned SteamIDs
listip - Lists all banned IPs
removeid - Removes SteamID from banlist
removeip - Removes IP from banlist
changelevel - Changes server to the specified map
mp_timelimit - Changes map timelimit in duel mode
mp_timelimit_free - Changes map timelimit in FFA mode
vs_duel_timelimit - Changes duel timelimit in duel mode
vs_free_duel_timelimit - Changes duel timelimit in FFA mode

You can put these in your server.cfg:

// Server Password
sv_password ""

// Logging
log on
sv_logfile 1
sv_logecho 1
sv_logbans 1
sv_log_onefile 0

// MapCycle File
mapcyclefile maplist.txt

// Time Limit
mp_timelimit 180
mp_timelimit_free 180

// AllTalk Enabled
sv_alltalk 1

// Misc.
sv_allowupload 1
sv_allowdownload 1

vs_duel_rounds 3

vs_duel_timelimit 0
vs_free_duel_timelimit 0

bb_vote_enable 0
bb_vote_required_percentage 0.5

sv_ranked 0

sv_downloadurl "http://fastdl.yourdomain.com"

fps_max "0"

vs_free_corpsetime "1"
vs_free_respawntime "1"

sv_timeout "600"

sv_mincmdrate "30"
sv_minupdaterate "30"

More cvars for rcon admins:

sv_ commands

sv_cheats 0/1 - turns cheats off/on - server operator only
sv_lan 0/1- cvar for local area network - server operator only
sv_password - cvar for password protecting a server - server operator only
sv_pure 0/1/2 - cvar for managing custom content - server operator only

For moderators/admins

changelevel <mapname> - Changes the map.
cvarlist - View complete cvar list.
exec - Execute config file.
map <mapname> - Changes the map and restarts the server.
Starts a new server if entered on the main menu - useful for bypassing the "Create New Server" dialog and map drop-down menu
maps - Display list of maps.
rcon_password <password> - gives player access to rcon commands.
nextlevel <mapname> - Sets the next map to be played.
rcon <command> - Executes an rcon command.
rcon_address <ip address> - Sets the server address to send rcon commands to (if not set, console sends the command to the server that the player is currently in instead)

sv_downloadurl "http://website.com/dir" - Allows you to set fastdl for your server for faster map downloads.

fps_max (default 300, officials use 1000, use 100 or 30 if bad CPU or lag) - Allows you to set maximum FPS of your server, should always be above your tickrate and update\cmd rates, and as high as your server can run with stability.

Command line arguments for starting your server (in your srcds_run.sh or run file):

+maxplayers

+sv_ranked

+servercfgfile - Changes the .cfg file that will launch on start, default server.cfg

Try setting these next 4 in pairs (or leave mins at default if you want). First try min\max update of 45, min\max cmd of 60 and watch for choke on net_graph 4. If you get choke decrease the rates, if no choke on max players increase for better server response. Please note not all maps function optimally on high rates regardless of server, ffa_community on most servers gets 5-20 choke between sections if rates are above default, personally I use 30\40 for ffa_community to eliminate this. It's also a good idea to keep cmdrate around 1\4 above updaterate.

Also most server owners don't adjust their mincmd\minupdates, only the max ones. I fix both to the same number to try to clamp players to fighting at the same network settings. I wouldn't match the minrate to update 66 or 100 though, that could cause loss on poor systems.

+sv_minupdaterate
+sv_maxupdaterate
+sv_mincmdrate
+sv_maxcmdrate

I use 30000 for both these below:

+sv_minrate
+sv_maxrate

+map

--

So an example command line that should run smoothly on most systems is:

FFA:
COMMANDLINE="+maxplayers 24 +sv_ranked 0 +servercfgfile server.cfg +sv_minrate 30000 +sv_maxrate 30000 +map ffa_community"

Duel:
COMMANDLINE="+maxplayers 16 +sv_ranked 1 +servercfgfile duelserver.cfg +sv_minrate 30000 +sv_maxrate 30000 +map duel_temple"

And an example for a higher rate server that takes much more CPU\bandwidth.

FFA:
COMMANDLINE="-tickrate 60 +maxplayers 24 +sv_ranked 0 +servercfgfile server.cfg +sv_minupdaterate 60 +sv_mincmdrate 60 +sv_maxupdaterate 60 +sv_maxcmdrate 60 +sv_minrate 30000 +sv_maxrate 30000 +map ffa_community +fps_max 0"

Duel:
COMMANDLINE="-tickrate 100 +maxplayers 16 +sv_ranked 1 +servercfgfile duelserver.cfg +sv_minupdaterate 100 +sv_mincmdrate 100 +sv_maxupdaterate 100 +sv_maxcmdrate 100 +sv_minrate 30000 +sv_maxrate 30000 +map duel_temple +fps_max 0"

SourceMod Info:

Metamod Download: http://www.sourcemm.net/
Sourcemod Download: http://www.sourcemod.net/downloads.php
Setup Documentation: https://wiki.alliedmods.net/SourceMod_Configuration

Public Commands:

The following commands are available to players on SourceMod servers using the provided base plugin set.

Note that rockthevote.smx is not enabled by default.

Command Plugin Format Description
currentmap basetriggers.smx Displays the name of the current map.
ff basetriggers.smx Displays whether friendly fire is on or off.
motd basetriggers.smx Displays the Message of the Day (MOTD) window.
nextmap basetriggers.smx Shows the next map in the mapcycle to the user.
nominate rockthevote.smx <map> Nominates a map for rtv.
rtv OR rockthevote rockthevote.smx Starts a rockthevote vote.
thetime basetriggers.smx Displays the current time of the server.
timeleft basetriggers.smx Displays the time left in the map cycle.
sm_settings clientprefs.smx Displays the client settings menu.
sm_cookies clientprefs.smx <name> [value] With no arguments displays the list of available cookies, specify a name to show or change it's value.

Admin Commands:


Basic Commands

Command Plugin Access Format Description
sm_addban basebans rcon <time> <steamid> [reason] Adds a Steam ID to Source's ban list.
sm_admin adminmenu admin Displays the admin menu.
sm_ban basebans ban <#userid|name> <minutes|0> [reason] Bans a client.
sm_banip basebans ban <ip|#userid|name> <time> [reason] Adds an IP address to Source's ban list. Only someone with rcon access can ban an arbitrary IP.
sm_cancelvote basecommands vote Cancels any vote in progress.
sm_cvar basecommands cvar <cvar> [value] Retrieves or changes a cvar value. Protected cvars can only be accessed with rcon access, and sv_cheats can only be accessed with cheat access.
sm_execcfg basecommands config <filename> Executes a config file (path not needed, but extension is).
sm_help adminhelp admin search] Lists all admin commands. Output is paginated and a page number can be specified. Alternately, a search term can be specified to search for a specific command.
sm_kick basecommands kick <#userid|name> [reason] Kicks a player.
sm_map basecommands map <map> Changes the current map.
sm_rcon basecommands rcon <argstring> Executes the argument string via rcon. You will only see RCON output on SourceMod 1.4 or above.
sm_reloadadmins basecommands config Refreshes the Admin cache from all sources.
sm_unban basebans unban <steamid|ip> Unbans a Steam ID or an IP.
sm_who basecommands admin [#userid|name] Lists all users and their access rights, or a specific user's access rights.

Extended Commands

Command Plugin Access Format Description
sm_beacon funcommands slay <target> Adds a ring around each target, making them easily visible.
sm_burn funcommands slay <target> [time] Sets the target(s) on fire for the specified amount of time. This may or may not work fully on certain games (for example, TF2 is missing the fire sprite, but clients will bleed/lose health). If specified, burning effect will stop after the [time] seconds.
sm_chat basechat chat <message> Sends a say-chat message to all admins.
sm_csay basechat chat <message> Sends a centered message to all players.
sm_gag basecomm chat <target> Prevents the target(s) from using messagemode/say chat.
sm_hsay basechat chat <message> Sends a message to all players via a center-bottom hint box.
sm_msay basechat chat <message> Sends a message as a menu panel (only meaningful on games that support radio menus).
sm_mute basecomm chat <target> Prevents the target(s) from using voice chat.
sm_play sounds admin <target> <file> Plays a sound file on the server to each target.
sm_psay basechat chat <target> <message> Sends a private chat message to a single target.
sm_rename playercommands slay <#userid|name> Changes the name of a player.
sm_resetcvar basecommands cvar <cvar> Resets CVAR value back to default.
sm_say basechat chat <message> Sends a say-chat message to all players.
sm_silence basecomm chat <target> Performs both a gag and mute on the target(s).
sm_slap playercommands slay <target> [damage] "Slaps" a player, emitting a noise and throwing them in a random direction. If specified, the damage amount will be subtracted from each target's health.
sm_slay playercommands slay <target> Kills a player.
sm_tsay basechat chat [color] <message> Sends a top-left message to all players. If no color is specified, the text will be white. Colors available are: white, red, green, blue, yellow, purple, cyan, orange, pink, olive, lime, violet, lightblue. The names are not case sensitive.
sm_ungag basecomm chat <target> Allows the target(s) to use messagemode/say chat again.
sm_unmute basecomm chat <target> Allows the target(s) to use voice chat again.
sm_unsilence basecomm chat <target> Perfoms both an ungag and unmute on the target(s).

Vote Commands

sm_vote basevotes vote <question> [answer1] [answer2] [answer3] ... Starts an arbitrary vote with the given arguments as answers. If no answer parameters are supplied, the answer options will be Yes and No localized into each client's language.
sm_votealltalk funvotes vote Starts a vote to change the value of sv_alltalk.
sm_voteban basevotes vote, ban <target> [reason] Starts a vote to ban a single player for thirty minutes.
sm_voteburn funvotes vote, slay <target> Starts a vote to burn a single player.
sm_voteff funvotes vote Starts a vote to change the value of mp_friendlyfire.
sm_votegravity funvotes vote <amount> [amount2] [amount3] ... Initiates a vote to change the value of sv_gravity.
sm_votekick basevotes vote, kick <target> [reason] Starts a vote to kick a single player.
sm_votemap basevotes vote, map <map> [map2] [map3] ... Starts a vote to change the map.
sm_voteslay funvotes vote, slay <target> Starts a vote to slay a single player.

Cheers!

[KindredPhantom]

Nice topic. Hopefully anyone planning on running a server will find this information helpful.
Perhaps you should put a description next to each command so they know what the command does and why it's useful.

[Sgt. Pepper]

Originally posted by KindredPhantom:

Nice topic. Hopefully anyone planning on running a server will find this information helpful.
Perhaps you should put a description next to each command so they know what the command does and why it's useful.

Not sure if anyone will even use this but I added in some descriptors and copied in some more info from sourcemod and one of the CSS wikis, hopefully at least one new admin finds something here useful.

[KindredPhantom]

I have added a link to in the "Important Links and information!" sticky.

[eternal]

Wait... if there's an sv_ranked, then what is vs_unranked for?

[KindredPhantom]

Originally posted by Ikuinen Ykkönen✝:

Wait... if there's an sv_ranked, then what is vs_unranked for?

Could be a leftover command.

[._.Stashed Girl._.]

Dedicated servers can be installed on other computer than the one the host use ?
(meaning "It is possible to use a non-local server ?" if yes, how please ?

[Cid]

One Question:
sv_download 1
Is this ask to me the server allow to download the maps or disallow to download?

I have installed one map of the steam workshop, but nobody can connet to the server, only the guys they downloaded the map befor conneting on the server.

Need Help :)
Sorry for bad english

[Rukh]

This could be made into a stickied thread and a guide as well.

[Sgt. Pepper]

Originally posted by HazeBaze FHG:

One Question:
sv_download 1
Is this ask to me the server allow to download the maps or disallow to download?

I have installed one map of the steam workshop, but nobody can connet to the server, only the guys they downloaded the map befor conneting on the server.

Need Help :)
Sorry for bad english

That's because when you download a map off workshop it's in another format in the workshop folder and servers run off bsps in the maps folder.

What you need to do with workshop maps is extract the bsp inside the workshop addon you downloaded and put it in your server's /berimbau/maps/ folder.

Then you'll want to set a fastdownload server using sv_downloadurl or the download will take a very long time for connecting users.

Originally posted by Rukh:

This could be made into a stickied thread and a guide as well.

I was planning on adding alot more to this a while ago but nobody really found it useful back when it was made (in march) so I'm not sure sticky\guide would make sense at this point, appreciate that though.

[raffle]

Reminder to stickie this, Himura did a great job

[♔ eBunny]

Originally posted by raffle:

Reminder to stickie this, Himura did a great job

+1

[Sonic]

Sorry to revive this but I'm in a bit of a trouble... Could anyone tell me how a start.bat would have to look like for a BS Dedi? I'm not sure if I need port forwarding and such in this case or what I should exactly add.

[Sgt. Pepper]

Originally posted by Sonic:

Sorry to revive this but I'm in a bit of a trouble... Could anyone tell me how a start.bat would have to look like for a BS Dedi? I'm not sure if I need port forwarding and such in this case or what I should exactly add.

start.bat would ofc be for windows, an example version would be to put this inside your .bat file and make sure it's in the same directory as srcds.exe

srcds.exe -console +maxplayers 16 +map duel_winter

Also srcds.exe may not download automatically, I had to update to nightly and copy srcds.exe to the live version and update back the last few times I used windows.

More information on windows BS servers can be found here:
http://www.blade-symphony.com/server-guide/

As for port forwarding you may or may not need to do that based on your network settings and firewalling, you can test this by going to www.whatsmyip.org and then trying to connect to your server through your remote IP in BS console (example: connect 127.0.0.1). The ports you need are 27005, 27015 and maybe 27020 for the workshop, if those aren't already open you'll need to forward those through your router to the local ip of the machine you're hosting from and\or edit your software firewall (such as windows firewall).

Good luck and cheers