How to create a TF2 server with LogMeIn Hamachi

This guide will walk you through creating your very own TF2 server using LogMeIn Hamachi. It will also cover how to join a Hamachi server, and some more advanced commands at the end. However, if you are trying to find out how to make a dedicated server for TF2, this is not the guide for you.

Getting Prepared

Hamachi

First of all, you're going to need to download LogMeIn Hamachi. The link for it is right here.[www.vpn.net] Download the one that says "unmanaged". With the free version of Hamachi, you can have up to four friends in a server with you. Anyone who wants to join your server must have LogMeIn Hamachi installed as well. Now that you have it downloaded, click the power button. Once it's powered on, click the network button and "Create a new network". The pop up will ask for a Network ID and a password. Enter whatever you want for both fields (but something unique) and make sure you have it written down or can remember it, since your friends will need these to connect to your Hamachi. You will also need to right click the numbers by the power button and select "Copy IPv4 address". Send this to whoever is going to be joining your server.

Developer Console

Before we go any further, open up Team Fortress 2. To create a personal server, you need to have the developer console enabled. If you already have it enabled, skip to the next section.
From the main screen, click options and then advanced. Put a check next to 'enable developer console'. You are now ready to create a server!

Making the Server

Setting it up

From the main screen, click the big plus on the servers button. This will bring up a menu. The first tab is where you choose a map.

IMPORTANT

Do *NOT* choose the map you want to play on in this menu!

Any map will do, so choose a random one. Now, on the next tab, you'll see a lot more options. Some of the options won't matter such as host name, so just leave that alone. You are going to want to change the player limit, the time limit, the win limit, and the round limit. If you leave them blank, it won't have a limit. I would suggest leaving time limit blank but changing the win and round limit to 2 or so in case you and your friends want to change maps. The player limit should be 24, even though you won't have that many players. Note, if you are playing MvM maps, you need at least 32 as a limit. Now, click Start!

Getting it going

Once you've spawned in, open your developer console. By default, it's the ~ key to open it (to the left of the 1). Once you have it open, you're going to type (or paste) in some commands.
Type this in:

sv_lan 0 

and hit enter.
Now, you can finally go to the map you've always dreamed of! To do this, type

 map <insert desired map here> 

For example, if I wanted to go to Upward, I would type:

 map pl_upward 

In TF2 all the maps are denoted by the type they are; i.e. CTF, KOTH, CP, PL, PLR, and so forth. After the new map loads, your friends can finally join!

Joining a Server

This section is more for the people joining rather than the creator

How to Join

In Hamachi, click network and then 'Join an existing network'.
It will bring up a pop up asking for a network ID and a password. You'll need to get these from whoever started the server. Now, once you're connected, start up TF2 and enable the developer console if you haven't already. Click options, then advanced and check the box next to 'enable developer console'. After that's done, open the console by pressing the ~ key (next to the 1) and type in:

 connect <IPv4 address here> 

and hit enter. You will need to get the IPv4 address from whoever created the server. Now you can play together on a server!

Other Important Commands

Now, if you just wanted to have a plain Jane server, you can finish reading this guide and have fun. But, if you want to do some crazy stuff with your friends, I'll go through some relevant commands.

Command	Function
sv_cheats 1	Most commands require this to be set to 1
sv_gravity <#>	Changes the gravity of the server. 800 is default. Can be a negative value.
noclip	Lets you fly around through walls and generally go nuts
currency_give <amount>	On MvM maps this will give you the specified amount of currency. Note:this will not work in Mann up
ent_create <entity>	This creates the desired entity. The following are the possible entities: merasmus (Spawns Merasmus) eyeball_boss (Summons a blue monoculus) eyeball_boss teamnum 2 (Summons a red monoculus) eyeball_boss teamnum 5 (Spawns the original monoculus) headless_hatman (Spawns the Horseless Headless Horseman) tf_zombie (Spawns skeletons) tf_spell_pickup (Spawns a random spell pickup) tank_boss (Summons an MvM tank) ghost (Spawns a ghost)
impulse 101	Restores ammo and health
thirdperson	Changes your perspective
firstperson	Changes your perspective
bind {key} <command>	Allows you to bind different commands to different keys
mp_disable_respawn_times 1	Turns off that pesky 20 second respawn time

Connection failed after 4 retries issue

Many people trying to join hamachi servers have an issue with their connection failing after 4 retries. Try these solutions to (hopefully) fix it:

• Set sv_lan 0 and change maps again (this usually fixes it for me)
  
• Try typing <heartbeat> into console (without carrots)
  
• Try making another hamachi server, for some reason some hamachi servers just do not allow people to connect
  
• Restart your TF2 (both server host and those trying to join)
  
• Uninstall and reinstall hamachi (all involved)
  
• Restart all computers involved

I've heard that disabling your firewall can also help the problem, but be wary about doing that. I've been able to fix the problem without disabling my firewall.

If you've done all these things and are still having issues, it might be a problem with hamachi itself. Try these steps (only as a last resort):
Be VERY careful with this solution! If you select the wrong driver you could disable your wifi or cause other damage! If you aren't confident about this solution, don't try it! Skip to the last solution after this one and try that.

• Go to your device manager (Right click your windows button and select it if you're on windows 10, otherwise search for it in the windows search bar)
  
• Click on network adapters
  
• Find Hamachi in the dropdown list VERY IMPORTANT YOU SELECT HAMACHI AND NOT ANYTHING ELSE
  
• Right click and select uninstall
  
• Check the box to delete the driver as well as uninstall it
  
• Uninstall and reinstall Hamachi

If this doesn't work, click on the help tab within Hamachi and select "Diagnostic Tool". Then, click start. If there are any other issues with Hamachi, this tool will tell you and you can look up solutions for the problem.

Both you and the people trying to join your server should do this.

Conclusion

Well, I hope that I helped you and your friends have a fun time on a server! If you have any questions just leave a comment below and I'll try and answer as many as possible.
This method can be used to create personal servers for almost all Source Engine games, at least most that I'm aware of anyway. I know for sure it works for Garry's mod. So use this method for other Source games!

Changelog:
31 Dec 2014

• Added emphasis to certain pieces of information

29 July 2015

• Added descriptions for the ent_spawn portion
  
• Removed the "fun commands" link portion of the guide

26 June 2016

• Updated the link to LogMeIn Hamachi

9 June 2017

• Added a section to address the problem with continual connection failure
  Sorry I haven't been responding to comments as much! Steam stopped notifying me of new comments so I thought no one was commenting! Be very careful with the last solution I put in the connection failed after 4 retries section! If you select the wrong driver you could disable your wifi.

[Maddesu]

Very helpful and easy to understand, good work!

[fortunello007]

nice guide

[QWERTYUIOP6969420]

If you're on linux make sure that you have open ssh enabled and started in your system. Don't know how to do it on any os that doesn't use systemd so look it up if that's the case. If you're using systemd, you have to run the following:
sudo systemctl enable sshd
sudo systemctl start sshd
_
To test:
ssh <your hamachi IP>
_
To find hamachi IP (only if you're not using a GUI for hamachi (i.e. haguichi)):
ip addr
Look for a section that has "ham" on it
Then find the first IPv4 / an IPv4 that isn't listed as a mask. That's the IP of your hamachi server. Send that to your friends.
Hopefully that might fix some of your problems😊

[bayzeen]

I think their privacy settings aren't the greatest, not that it's "unsafe", sorry for the bad wording. If it still works the guide should still be good. Unless you're having a specific problem, then I wouldn't be able to help beyond the guide's tips.

[TIIKKETMASTER]

its not safe? ive been using it for forever it seems fine

[bayzeen]

LogMeIn Hamachi isn't really safe to use anymore, so I would recommend not using it.

[TIIKKETMASTER]

i'd like to know if its still working and what the problem is. thanks

[Light]

is it working now?

[kjr]

why is that

[bayzeen]

it's mostly obsolete now