Create a dedicated server for any game using steam CMD

NOTE: this will only work for games that already propose a dedicated server system, several example at the bottom

Steam CMD + GUI download and installation

First thing first you have to download the steam cmd file and the steam cmd gui, a quality of life tool:

steam cmd scroll a bit and download the one for your computer:
https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD
steam gui:
https://github.com/DioJoestar/SteamCMD-GUI

Extract and install the steam cmd package somewhere it will be the root of any server installation so you will keep it, and put the steam cmd gui inside the same folder you just extracted.

Game appid for the server installation and update

To install any server you will need the related game "appid" there are already a few ready inside the steam GUI but you will need to find on google the game appid that you need, it is pretty easy by googling something like: "game name appid" or "game name steam cmd"

Once you have the appid needed here is what you do:
(1) RED rectangle: select your steam cmd folder path it shall never change if you don't touch steam cmd installation folder
(2) BLUE rectangle: select your game if it is not in the list press "add custom" then your game name and lastly the appid of the game (see example below)
(3) GREEN rectangle: the server folder path, you can create it anywhere just know some servers can take some space

To update a server, simply open Steam CMD gui and follow step 1,2,3 and press install/update if you selected the server directory it will automatically update it.

Firewall

This is quite simple you have to open your config panel and then go in
-system and security
-Allow an app in the firewall
-Find the .exe related to your server you just installed and accept

PORT forwarding

This one is quite annoying, you have to open the necessary port, they are all different for every games and also because every internet provider do it in a different way i recommend you to use google:

To see how to open port in your router
-how to open port with "your internet provider"

To see which port needs to be open for the game you want
-"game name" dedicated server port

start server .bat file and settings

This is usually already premade inside server directory, there is a file usually named "start something.bat" if it doesn't exist you can simply create a .txt file and rename it into .bat

This file is the server launcher you will double click to start your server, you can create a shortcut on your desktop with it.

There must have specific launch option inside that file, each game have different option, once again you can google "game name start server .bat file" you will easily find different setup for the game you want to use.

About the settings this is optional the config file of the game for example looting more, exp faster, more or less damage etc etc all depending what game you are trying to make a server for.
The config file is located in different folder depending the game, google "game name dedicated config file" you should be able to find where to said file is located and modify to whatever you desire.

Common issues and bug

If the server instant crash
-Not enough RAM can cause crash
-STEAM may need to be installed and running on the machine
-Use steam cmd gui to update even if you just installed it (for some reason in rare case it doesn't download everything properly)

If the server doesn't start
-Firewall blocking the app
-Use steam cmd gui to update even if you just installed it (for some reason in rare case it doesn't download everything properly)

If players can't join the server
-If players can't join BUT you can it's very likely a port forwarding problem

If the server has perfomance issue
-Your machine can't handle it

If people lagg
-Your internet can't handle it

Early access games an other
-Those games can be very unstable and each update can break your server be aware of that
-Some dev doesn't really make their dedicated installation stable enough to run properly (The Forest is a notable example)

Examples

Valheim
Appid: 896660
Ports: 2456
Start.bat:

@echo off
set SteamAppId=892970

echo "Starting server PRESS CTRL-C to exit"

REM Tip: Make a local copy of this script to avoid it being overwritten by steam.
REM NOTE: Minimum password length is 5 characters & Password cant be in the server name.
REM NOTE: You need to make sure the ports 2456-2458 is being forwarded to your server through your local router & firewall.
valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name "MyServer" -port 2456 -world "Dedicated" -password "MyPassword" -crossplay

V rising
Appid: 1829350
Ports: 9876 / 9877
Start.bat:

 @echo off
REM Copy this script to your own file and modify to your content. This file can be overwritten when updating.
set SteamAppId=1604030
echo "Starting V Rising Dedicated Server - PRESS CTRL-C to exit"

@echo on
VRisingServer.exe -persistentDataPath .\save-data -serverName "MyServer" -saveName "Mysave" -logFile ".\logs\VRisingServer.log"
 

ARK survival evolved
Appid: 346110
Ports: 7779 / 7780 / 27051 / 27052 / 27053
Start.bat:

 start ShooterGameServer.exe "Ragnarok?SessionName=MyServer?ServerAdminPassword=MyPassword?MaxPlayers=50?Port=27051?QueryPort=27053?listen"
-nosteamclient -noBattlEye
exit 

The Forest
Appid: 556450
Ports: 8766 / 27024 / 27025
Start.bat:

 @echo off
cls
:start
echo Starting server...
 
TheForestDedicatedServer.exe 
-batchmode -nographics -nosteamclient -serverip "ip" -serversteamport 8766 -servergameport 27024 -serverqueryport 27025 

7 Days to die
Appid: 294420
Ports: 26900 / 26901 / 26902 / 26903
Start.bat:

 @echo off
rem Starts a dedicated server
rem
rem -quit, -batchmode, -nographics: Unity commands
rem -configfile			  : Allows server settings to be set up in an xml config file. Use no path if in same dir or full path.
rem -dedicated                    : Has to be the last option to start the dedicated server.

set LOGTIMESTAMP=


IF EXIST 7DaysToDieServer.exe (
	set GAMENAME=7DaysToDieServer
	set LOGNAME=output_log_dedi
) ELSE (
	set GAMENAME=7DaysToDie
	set LOGNAME=output_log
)

:: --------------------------------------------
:: REMOVE OLD LOGS (only keep latest 20)

for /f "tokens=* skip=19" %%F in ('dir %GAMENAME%_Data\%LOGNAME%*.txt /o-d /tc /b') do del %GAMENAME%_Data\%%F



:: --------------------------------------------
:: BUILDING TIMESTAMP FOR LOGFILE

:: Check WMIC is available
WMIC.EXE Alias /? >NUL 2>&1 || GOTO s_start

:: Use WMIC to retrieve date and time
FOR /F "skip=1 tokens=1-6" %%G IN ('WMIC Path Win32_LocalTime Get Day^,Hour^,Minute^,Month^,Second^,Year /Format:table') DO (
	IF "%%~L"=="" goto s_done
	Set _yyyy=%%L
	Set _mm=00%%J
	Set _dd=00%%G
	Set _hour=00%%H
	Set _minute=00%%I
	Set _second=00%%K
)
:s_done

:: Pad digits with leading zeros
Set _mm=%_mm:~-2%
Set _dd=%_dd:~-2%
Set _hour=%_hour:~-2%
Set _minute=%_minute:~-2%
Set _second=%_second:~-2%

Set LOGTIMESTAMP=__%_yyyy%-%_mm%-%_dd%__%_hour%-%_minute%-%_second%

:s_start


:: --------------------------------------------
:: STARTING SERVER


echo|set /p="251570" > steam_appid.txt
set SteamAppId=251570
set SteamGameId=251570

set LOGFILE=%~dp0\%GAMENAME%_Data\%LOGNAME%%LOGTIMESTAMP%.txt


echo Writing log file to: %LOGFILE%

start %GAMENAME% -logfile "%LOGFILE%" -quit -batchmode -nographics -configfile=serverconfig.xml -dedicated


echo Starting server ...
timeout 15

cls

echo.
echo Server running in background, you can close this window.
echo You can check the task manager if the server process is really running.
echo.
echo.

pause
 

Satisfactory
Appid: 1690800
Ports: 15777 / 15000 / 7778
Start.bat:

 FactoryServer.exe -log -unattended -ServerQueryPort=15777 -port=7778 

Left 4 Dead 2
Appid: 222860
Ports: 27015 / 27016
Start.bat:

 @echo off
cls
:srcds
del "steam_appid.txt"
start /wait ./srcds.exe -game left4dead2 -console -autoupdate -port 27015 -nowatchdog -maxplayers 20 +map c5m5_bridge +hostname "MyServer"
goto srcds
 

Conclusion

Yeah it seems to be a lot of "google this or that" but since each game are very different and there is so many on steam i canno't list them all but i can give you few example below.

Now you know how to install a dedicated server for any game enjoy.

If you have any question please comment, i am not expert but i will do my best to help you solve the issue

[**DeiRowtag]

If you want to know you can take a look at this https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Dedicated_Servers_List

Or also type on Google the name of the game followed with "appid" if there is no appid you can't

[wungez1923]

HI Mate. just came across this guide. for a game that was sunset in july, is there anyway to create a server for a game so people can play again or is this impossible?