How to connect directly to a server even if it's unlisted [No mods]

Hosting a dedicated server and can't seem to connect to it? Have a friend hosting a server and it's not showing up in your server listing? I have your answers.

Connecting to your own dedicated server

Links:
Star Wars Battlefront II 1.1 Dedicated Server Installer

Where to find your external IP[www.whatismyip.com]

This has not been tested with LAN!

So, you have hosted your own dedicated server for Battlefront II and you want to play with the people who've joined it or test out your admin commands and what not. But you can't seem to see your server anywhere in the internet or lan listing. Here's what you do:

• Navigate to your Steam program file
  
• Find your Battlefront II/GameData folder
  
• When inside, make a shortcut of your BattlefrontII.exe
  
• Edit your shortcut's properties
  
• Edit the target/path

In your new shortcut's target/path you will need to add something after the quotation marks. It will look something like:

"Path/BattlefrontII.exe"

You want to change it to:

"Path/BattlefrontII.exe" -connect ip

Or if your server has a different port:

-connect ip:port

It's recommended you make sure that you have this port forwarded otherwise other people won't be able to connect to you without using something like Hamachi.

Note: The odd thing about the -connect command for connecting to your own server is you would think you would only need to use your local IP to connect. Something like: 192.168.1.2 but that won't work for some odd reason. When connecting to your own server you need to use your external IP found in a link I've provided above.

If you've done these steps but Battlefront II is giving you an error every time you try to run it directly, do these same steps by editing Battlefront II's Steam launch options. Only annoying thing about this is, if you want to play on another server or play singleplayer you'll need to change this.

Connecting to a friend's server

Links:
How your friend figures out their external IP address[www.whatismyip.com]

I haven't tested this on LAN!

So your friend, clan member, or even a random person online wants you to join their server but you can't find it in your server listing anywhere? I can help!

• Navigate to your Steam program folder
  
• Find Battlefront II
  
• Go into it's GameData folder
  
• Copy and paste a shortcut of your BattlefrontII.exe
  
• Edit it's properties and target/path

In your new shortcut's target/path you will need to add something after the quotation marks. It will look something like:

"Path/BattlefrontII.exe"

You want to change it to:

"Path/BattlefrontII.exe" -connect ip

Where it says IP you want to put in your friend's IP address that they can get from the link I included above.Example:

"Path/BattlefrontII.exe" -connect 000.000.0.000

Press apply, ok, whatever you want and run the new shortcut. If it doesn't let you run the game this way you will have to edit the properties of Battlefront II in Steam and set it's launch options. The only annoying thing about this is, when you want to play singleplayer or go to another server you have to change this.

Make sure your friend has their ports forwarded otherwise you won't be able to connect. If they use a different port then the norm you will have to change your shortcut to match:

"Path/BattlefrontII.exe" -connect ip:port

Forwarding Ports

Links:
Router specific port forwarding instructions[portforward.com]

Ports:
3658-3659
6500
27900
(All TCP and UDP)

Want to host a server and don't know how to forward your ports on your router so that other people can connect to it? I might be able to help you depending on if have login access to your router.

I can help you with the most common way to port forward but if you have a specific brand of router that is especially unique feel free to use the link I've provided above.

First we'll need your local IP address. This is easy to get and this is the way I do it:

Run your command prompt either by holding down the windows key and pressing R or going to your start menu and searching "Run" and clicking on the result that comes up. You should have a little program with a text box and a button or two on your screen.

• Type cmd into the text box and press enter
  
• A black command prompt should show up.
  
• type in ipconfig and press enter

This should list all the ip addresses for all the network adapters on your computer. If you have multiple network cards or devices you will need to pick the one that connects you to the internet. I have a wireless adapter myself so it says something along the lines of wireless network adapter.

You want to find this adapter's IPv4 address. It might look something like:

192.168.1.2

The last 2 numbers of your IP address are usually different based on your network. Some people use different numbers where x and y are variable:

192.168.x.y

But anyway, write down this address as you might need it later.

Now, this part is a little weird because it changes depending on the IP address above. Usually your router is number 1 on your network though. But you have to make sure that your X variable from above matches.

So, if my IP was 192.168.0.2, my router might be 192.168.0.1.
If my IP was 192.168.1.2, my router might be 192.168.1.1.

Anyway, load up a fresh web browser or tab and type your router's IP into the address bar. Example:

192.168.1.1

If this brings up a login prompt you will need to login with your router admin details. If it doesn't that's cool too. Look for anything that says port forwarding or port triggering. It might be under advanced options if it's not on the main screen.

Once you've found this add a new port, port range, etc. Depending on your router you might have 1 box, 2 boxes, 4 boxes, etc. but either way I advise adding in each port seperately:

  Port Name: [BF2 Port 1]
  Port Range: [3658] [3659]
  Type: [UDP and TCP]
  IP: [Your IP Here]

Do this for all the ports I've listed above and be sure to apply or save any changes. Now you should be able to host a Battlefront II server and have people connect to it! Start up your server and see.

[+30]

We about to start a LAN party of 35 year old nerds with this. Thank you for the guide!

[Tsproggy]

Updated the link to the dedicated server file again.

[MadDogGamer]

OK so now i'm having an error that when the server is running and i click join it has 14 seconds of busy and then says connection with the host could not be established :/

[MadDogGamer]

Thanks man!

[Konoko]

Thank you.

[Tsproggy]

@MadDogGamer - Updated for you.

[MadDogGamer]

Hey can u update the link for the dedicated server installer or give me a link to another site. Thanks :)

[Wiggenan]

I have done exactly as the guide said, however I did the complicated way with the steam option -connect IP. When me or my friend tries to connect it takes 14 seconds of "busy" then "Connection with the host could not be established". It doesn't matter who hosts, we get the same results. What is the problem? The same stuff has started to happen on other games like minecraft as I played alot before with my friends. Suddenly, I did exactly as I always did with a new server, it didn't work, and it stopped working before the EULA uptade which means that's not the problem. It just didn't work even though I used the exact same settings and stuff as I always have done. Doesn't our country allow gamers to make our own servers anymore without announcing it? Don't answer to that question, it was rhetorical. I just need my help. In the diskussion tab I have made the thread "Server Problems. Need Help", I have written more specific there. Thank you and please help.

[Joaovozao]

muito bom

[Tsproggy]

[h1]Some Random Cake :3:
In the beginning it is a little bit unclear. Certain things don't make up like how do i select maps and gamemodes for the server? Is it automatically launched when i start swbf? When i connect to my own server is "ip" in the shortcut properties to be replaced with my actual game ip? I would be glad if you could help me. Add me if you think you could give me some assistance.[/h1]

You set up maps, gamemodes, and know that your server is running by downloading the: Star Wars Battlefront II 1.1 Dedicated Server Installer from the link at the top of my guide. When you connect to your own dedicated server you do the steps above, edit your BattlefrontII executable but set your IP to 127.0.0.1:[port] You might even be able to get away with your local IP. (192.168.1.2 etc.)