[GUIDE] How to setup a KF2 Server with custom maps and mods

[Glitchybun]

Heres a small Guide on how to setup and play on a KF2 Server with custom / workshop maps.

I suggest reading the whole guide once before you start especially because at the end a tool is used that makes the configuration part almost useless.

Server Setup

STEP 1 -- Download SteamCMD

http://media.steampowered.com/installer/steamcmd.zip

STEP 2 -- Start SteamCMD

Execute steamcmd.exe
When you start it the first time it will automatically install all the needed files in the folder it is in, so make sure you put it where you want it

STEP 3 -- Select installation directory (optional)

If you dont want the KF2-Server directory to be in the SteamCMD Folder type:
"force_install_dir <KF2-Server directory>"
Example: "force_install_dir C:\KF2Server\"

STEP 4 -- Login

SteamCMD wants you to login, you can do so by typing:
"login anonymous"
This will login to SteamCMD anonymously

STEP 5 -- Download / Update Serverfiles

Use the command "app_update 232130" to download the current version of the game

If you already downloaded the game and only want to update it use:
"app_update 232130 validate"

If you want to update the game version to a beta branch use:
"app_update 232130 -beta preview"

Serverfiles ~30GB

STEP 6 -- Start the Server

Go to the KF2-Server directory and execute KF2Server.bat

When everything is working it should display this:
"
KF2 Version XXXXX
Initializing game engine completed.
STEAM GAME SERVER UID XXXXXXXXX
"
This indicates that the server is working and communicating with the Steam servers.

Port Forwarding

Every router and modem do this part a little differently with different menus and such.
You need to lookup how to do this on your own router or modem.

Ports

These ports give devices outside of your own network the ability to connect to your Server.
So if you wanna play with friends that are not in your Network or random people online you have to enable the ports.
You yourself can play on the server (given you are in the same network as the server) without forwarding these ports.

7777 UDP -- Game
27015 UDP -- Query
20560 UDP -- Steam
8080 TCP -- WebAdmin (Optional)
123 UDP -- NTP (Weekly Outbreak Only)

You can change the ports in the config files

Configuration

Startup File

The File thats used to start the server can be edited.
The KF2Server.bat file looks like this by default:
start .\Binaries\win64\kfserver kf-bioticslab?adminpassword=123

The first part should remain the same at all times.

The "kf-bioticslab" can be interchanged with any map. This changes the map that loads when you first start the server.

The "?" is a seperator between start arguemnts, maybe. i dont really know.

"adminpassword=123" is the Password used to access the WebAdmin and can be changed to anything you like.
IMPORTANT: This setting takes priority over what is set in the config file.

WebAdmin

You have to enable the WebAdmin if you plan on using it.

Open the file .\KFGame\Config\KFWeb.ini and change the line "bEnabled=" from false to true

To access the WebAdmin you have to find out what IPv4 address the device (with the server) has.
Open the Windows Command Prompt and type in "ipconfig"
Then just read the line that says IPv4
In my case its 192.168.178.33

Then type <YOUR IPv4>:8080 into the adressbar of your browser and you will land on the login page of the WebAdmin interface

You can then login with the Username "Admin" and the Password you set earlier.


In Chrome i had the problem that it wouldnt let me sign in at all.
If you also get the error "Invalid form data."
Go to .\KFGame\Config\KFWebAdmin.ini and change "bHttpAuth=" from false to true and try again

Custom Maps / Mods

STEP 1 -- Download KF2ServerTool

https://github.com/darkdks/KF2ServerTool/releases

STEP 2 -- Install KF2ServerTool

Move the contents of the .zip to the main directory of your server

STEP 3 -- Start KF2ServerTool

Execute the KF2ServerTool.exe inside the Server folder

STEP 4 -- Adjust options

Go to the Options tab and enable "Workshop Download Manager" and "Custom redirect" and add the Redirect URL "http://kf2.tripwirecdn.com/".
This made custom maps work for me.

STEP 5 -- Add Maps / Mods

Go to the Maps / Mods tab and add a file, enter a Workshop ID or URL, open the Workshop browser within the tool itself and subscribe to items there or choose Maps / Mods directly from the given Redirect

STEP 6 -- Verify Map install

when you add Maps with this tool you need to make sure that the coloumn "Map Entry" and "Cycle Entry" have green checkmarks.
Dont know if "Map Cache" needs a checkmark

STEP 7 -- Start the Server with KF2ServerTool

Start the server in the server tab.
Some mods require to be added in the "Additional parameters" for them to work.
The modpage should state what you need to add.

And that should be all.

You should now have a locally running KF2 Server thats listed in the KF2 Server Browser with Custom maps and mods that can be joined by anyone.

This guide is heavily inspired by this one:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/232090/discussions/0/618460129740977382
I have used it multiple times to setup my servers and thought that it could use a little refresher 8 years later.

I hope this guide Helps you setup your own Killing Floor 2 server with custom maps and mods

[AKA_Trunk Monkey]

? tells the program a command follows. Example ?difficulty=3 , telling the program to set the game difficulty to HOE.
I might try some of the suggestions in the guide. Thanks!