[Tutorial] How to Host Portal 1 Multiplayer Servers

A tutorial about how to host dedicated servers for original Portal 1 game.

Preface

Although Portal 1 is a singleplayer game, it can still host the servers, and players can play the multiplayer game together.

But since the launch of Portal 1, the multiplayer gameplay cannot be played like the Portal 2 did, for example, the passing portals in Portal 1 multiplayer would just crash the game, so it cannot be played normally in the past for a very long time.

And recently in early 2022, Valve updated Portal 1 and fixing some Steam Deck controls/UI stuffs, and that update also include a surprising thing, and that's the fix of passing portals crashed problem, so the long term multiplayer problem just being fixed.

So.. there're some people may want to try the Portal 1 multiplayer, and how to host a server?
There are two ways: host from ingame console & host from dedicated server tool

The first one is the easiest one, and the most common method. And the second one is a little bit complicated.

And remember, this game doesn't design to play in this way, there will be A LOT of bugs while playing in multiplayer, so recommend to cheats on (sv_cheats 1) at all time.

Also, if the host has done Port Forward, their servers should show on the public category, if the host doesn't, other players may need to use VPN (like Radmin, Hamachi.. etc) to connect IP, or search in local/LAN category.

Related Videos

How to play Portal 1 Multiplayer (Host Servers Tutorial)

>> Click here if you cannot watch the video in the guide

Portal 1 Multiplayer Gameplay Walkthrough Showcase

>> Click here if you cannot watch the video in the guide

As a reminder, there're download links of Portal Dedicated Server / Portal 1 Multiplayer Maps / Multiplayer Menu Buttons in all video's descriptions.
(because Steam page doesn't allow to post a link right here)

* The following tutorials/steps are all in the tutorial video above, so you can choose to watch the video, or check the steps down below.

Tools / Softwares You Need

• SteamCMD
  
• a clean build of Half-Life 2 Deathmatch Dedicated Server
  
• Notepad++ [notepad-plus-plus.org] <Optional>
  
• HxD [mh-nexus.de] <Optional>

Hosting Servers from Ingame Console

Just typing the following commands in the console, and you can host a server ingame quickly:

Commands	Descriptions
net_start	start network
hostname "name"	change server name
maxplayers "number"	the max numbers of player you want to play with
sv_lan 0 (or 1)	0:Public server / 1:LAN server
map "map name"	running a map for server

And also, if you don't "disconnect" first when hosting a server via console, the game will not let you host, so you should disconnect first. (but I'll tell you how to not disconnect every time when start up the game later)

Hosting from Dedicated Server Tool

1. First, download SteamCMD, and running steamcmd.exe for the first time, let it download some necessary files.


2. After finishing, go to the internet and search the SteamDB page of HL2DM Dedicated Server, and then you can find its AppID is 232370.


3. Create a .bat file for SteamCMD (using Notepad), then type:
"[Your Folder]:\SteamCMD\steamcmd.exe" +login anonymous anonymous +force_install_dir "dir" +app_update 232370 validate
* for example:
"D:\SteamCMD\steamcmd.exe" +login anonymous anonymous +force_install_dir "D:\MyPortalServer" +app_update 232370 validate

then run the .bat file and let it download the whole HL2DM Dedicated Server.

4. After downloaded the HL2DM Dedicated Server, copy entire Portal contents from Portal/portal/, and paste it to your server folder. (portal folder should place alongside with hl2, hl2mp and other folders)

5. And then, copy all the files in Portal/bin/ except tier0.dll, and paste all files to bin/ in your server folder, and override them all.

6. Lastly, create .bat file for running Portal Dedicated Server, the type:
"[Your Folder]\srcds.exe" -game portal -console +clientport 27006 +hostport 27015 +net_start +sv_lan 0 +maxplayers X +exec server.cfg
* for example:
"D:\MyPortalServer\srcds.exe" -game portal -console +clientport 27006 +hostport 27015 +net_start +sv_lan 0 +maxplayers 32 +exec server.cfg +exec skill.cfg

* NOTE: the GUI of Potal Dedicated Server sometimes won't work, so it's recommend to stay the -console parameter in the server .bat at all time

* OPTIONAL 1 - there's a command line -exec "file.cfg" that can execute the cfg files in portal/cfg/ , for example in the server.cfg you can set like server name, passwords and other server-side CVar stuffs.

* OPTIONAL 2 - you can change the game name that show on the server list, by editing [Your Server Folder]/portal/bin/server.dll (using HxD or other coding softwares), search "Half-Life 2" text and replace with "Portal".

For Other Players to Join a Server

For other players, just type connect IP in console window or click the servers on the server list to join in.

* NOTE: command gamemenucommand openserverbrowser can open a server browser.

Some QnA

Q1: Why does pick up turrets crash the game?
A1: The coding stuffs problem, but there's a 2018 leaked code that already fix this problem, so if someone knows about coding, you can merge/insert the fix codes into the current server.dll build.

Q2: Why the turrets don't reaction to players in multiplayer?
A2: The reason of causing this problem is unknown for now, you have to load a map with turrets in singleplayer map first, then disconnect, and then host the server, and turrets should be normal.

Q3: Why is there no player names in the chat?
A3: Also the coding stuffs problem, but the SourceMod / MetaMod plugins can fix this.

Q4: Why does the firstperson shake so much when approaching the portals?
A4: The reason of causing this problem is unknown for now, but you can actually fix this by typing -console in Portal 1's Steam launcher options, that will let the game prevent to load the background map when startup the game (background should remain blur).

* NOTE: some people said sv_maxupdaterate & cl_updaterate can fix camera shaking problem too, but this only affect the host, not for the clients, so the launch option is the current best way.

Q5: Why do the original campaigns from testchmb_a_08 to testchmb_a_14 crash the game everytime when entering the end elevator?
A5: Mapping problems, because the game shouldn't be played in this way. Recommend to download the maps that made by my friend & me for the multiplayer gameplay.

Q6: Can I get HL2 weapons, or spawn HL2 stuffs like vehicles/npcs?
A6: Yes, but be careful with that, they crashed the game A LOT.

Q7: Does this work for mods and other singleplayer-only Source engine games?
A7: Yes.

Q8: Can I make custom maps like Deathmatch, Coop, storytelling.. etc for multiplayer gameplay?
A8: Absolutely YES!

And that all, go try yourself and having some funs!

Other Guide You May Want to Check

[Tutorial] How to install Portal 1 contents into Portal 2

[crazyisthenewfun379]

Nice. I was playing portal 1 once and then wondered if i could do this. (Not in coop portal 2. i mean in single player portal 2)