TF2 Dedicated Server for Dummies (Post SteamPipe)

AN EXTENSIVE TF2 DEDICATED SERVER TUTORIAL FOR DUMMIES
(post SteamPipe update)

Latest rev: June 2014

TUTORIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. TUTORIAL REQUIREMENTS

Note:
No matter what OS you're using (Win 7/8), you might encounter issues with installing/moving server files in your C:\ partition, with all the OS admin privileges and restrictions.

So, the safest bet is installing all the TF2 server files, on a second partition, say "D:\".

In my case, I decided to create a folder, its full path is:

D:\Servers\

You will need to create the following files/folders:

File Name	Folder Path	What for?
folder1	D:\Servers\steamcmd\	Extract steamcmd.zip files here
folder2	D:\Servers\TF2\	TF2 dedicated server folder
folder3	D:\Servers\misc\	Folder containing all .bat files
steamcmd.bat	D:\Servers\misc\steamcmd.bat	SteamCMD updater
install.bat	D:\Servers\misc\install.bat	TF2 server installer (only run once)
update.bat	D:\Servers\misc\update.bat	TF2 server updater
start.bat	D:\Servers\misc\start.bat	TF2 server Starter

- the "Misc" folder will contain all the .bat files you create before following this tutorial;
- the folder paths will be used when editing those .bat files, just make sure you write the correct path;
- if your folder path contains spaces ( ex. C:\TF2 DS\ ), in every .bat file you create, your full folder path needs to be incased in " ". [advised by Starly396]

TF2 DEDICATED SERVER - INSTALLING STEPS

2. TF2 DEDICATED SERVER - INSTALLING STEPS

• Download and unzip this file:
  SteamCMD in folder "D:\Servers\steamcmd\".
  
  
• Create "steamcmd.bat" file, edit it and copy-paste this:
  D:\Servers\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe
  
  
• Run that steamcmd.bat file and let it update itself. Close that window when you see the string "Steam>". Ignore the error.
  
  
  
• Create "install.bat" and "update.bat" and copy-paste this string in each of them:
  D:\Servers\steamcmd\steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir D:\Servers\TF2\ +app_update 232250 validate +quit
  
  
• Run the install.bat once and wait until TF2 server downloads all its files.

TF2 DEDICATED SERVER - UPDATING YOUR SERVER

3. TF2 DEDICATED SERVER - UPDATING YOUR SERVER

• Run the "update.bat" each time TF2 server updates get released.
  
  - if it cannot connect and update immediately, wait 5-10 until Steam servers are connectable...
  - even if connected, some files will be served slowly by the steam servers, just be patient.

TF2 DEDICATED SERVER - CUSTOMIZING YOUR SERVER

4. TF2 DEDICATED SERVER - CUSTOMIZING YOUR SERVER

• Download and install latest stable versions of:
  metamod[www.sourcemm.net] -- (how to install Metamod[wiki.alliedmods.net])
  sourcemod[www.sourcemod.net] -- (how to install SourceMod[wiki.alliedmods.net])
  
  
• Choose and install your favorite plugins.
  
  
  
• Create a server.cfg file in "D:\Servers\TF2\tf\cfg" and edit it. Here's an example of server.cfg:
  
  

  // Server Name
  hostname "Insert your TF2 server name here"
  
  // Rcon Cvars
  rcon_password "" //Set's remote control password
  sv_rcon_banpenalty 15 //Number of minutes to ban users who fail rcon authentication
  sv_rcon_log 1 //Enable/disable rcon logging.
  sv_rcon_maxfailures 3 //Max number of times a user can fail rcon authentication before being banned
  sv_rcon_minfailures 5 //Number of times a user can fail rcon authentication in sv_rcon_minfailuretime before being banned
  sv_rcon_minfailuretime 10 //Number of seconds to track failed rcon authentications
  
  // Server Password
  sv_password "insert a password here" // Password protects server
  
  mapcyclefile "cfg/mapcycle.txt"
  
  // Server Cvars
  mp_allowspectators 1 //Toggles whether the server allows spectator mode or not
  mp_autocrosshair 0
  mp_autoteambalance 0 //Toggles server autoteambalance
  mp_respawnwavetime 0
  mp_disable_respawn_times 1
  mp_bonusroundtime 5 //Time in seconds after round win until round restarts
  mp_chattime 5 //amount of time in seconds players can chat after the game is over
  
  mp_decals 1
  mp_defaultteam 1
  mp_disable_autokick 1 //Prevents a userid from being auto-kicked
  mp_enableroundwaittime 0 //Enable timers to wait between rounds.
  mp_fadetoblack 0 //fade a player's screen to black when he dies
  mp_falldamage 5 //Amount of damage players sustains from a fall
  mp_flashlight 0 //Toggles flashlight on or off
  mp_footsteps 1 //Toggles footsteps on or off
  mp_forcecamera 0 //Restricts spectator modes for dead players
  mp_forcerespawn 1
  mp_fraglimit 0
  mp_idlemaxtime 999999 //Maximum time a player is allowed to be idle (in minutes)
  mp_maxrounds 999999 //max number of rounds to play before server changes maps
  mp_teams_unbalance_limit 2 //Teams are unbalanced when one team has this many more players than the other team. (0 disables check)
  mp_time_between_capscoring 5 //Delay between scoring of owned capture points.
  mp_timelimit 30 //game time per map in minutes
  mp_winlimit 999999 //Max number of rounds one team can win before server changes maps
  sv_allow_color_correction 1 //Allow or disallow clients to use color correction on this server.
  sv_allow_wait_command 0 //Allow or disallow the wait command on clients connected to this server.
  sv_allowdownload 1 //Allow clients to download files
  sv_allowupload 1 //Allow clients to upload customizations files
  sv_alltalk 0 //Players can hear all other players, no team restrictions
  sv_alternateticks 0 //If set, server only simulates entities on even numbered ticks.
  sv_autosave 0 //Set to 1 to autosave game on level transition. Does not affect autosave triggers.
  sv_bonus_challenge 0 //Set to values other than 0 to select a bonus map challenge type.
  sv_cacheencodedents 1 //If set to 1, does an optimization to prevent extra SendTable_Encode calls.
  sv_cheats 0 //Allow cheats on server
  sv_clearhinthistory 0 //Clear memory of server side hints displayed to the player.
  sv_consistency 0 //Whether the server enforces file consistency for critical files
  sv_contact "" //Contact email for server sysop
  sv_downloadurl "" //Location from which clients can download missing files
  sv_enableoldqueries 1 //Enable support for old style (HL1) server queries
  sv_pausable 0 //Is the server pausable.
  
  // Lan or internet play, Server region cvars
  sv_lan 0 //Server is a lan server ( no heartbeat, no authentication, no non-class C addresses )
  sv_region 255 // Region Codes: 0 - US East coast, 1 - US West coast, 2 - South America, 2 - South America, 3 - Europe, 4 - Asia, 5 - Australia, 6 - Middle East, 7 - Africa, 255 - world
  
  //server Logging
  sv_log_onefile 0 //Log server information to only one file.
  sv_logbans 1 //Log server bans in the server logs.
  sv_logblocks 0 //If true when log when a query is blocked (can cause very large log files)
  sv_logecho 0 //Echo log information to the console.
  sv_logfile 1 //Log server information in the log file.
  sv_logflush 0 //Flush the log file to disk on each write (slow).
  sv_logsdir "logs" //Folder in the game directory where server logs will be stored.
  
  //Server Rates
  sv_maxcmdrate 0 //(If sv_mincmdrate is > 0), this sets the maximum value for cl_cmdrate.
  sv_maxrate 40000 //Max bandwidth rate allowed on server, 0 == unlimited
  sv_maxreplay 2 //Maximum replay time in seconds
  sv_maxupdaterate 105 //Maximum updates per second that the server will allow
  sv_mincmdrate 0 //This sets the minimum value for cl_cmdrate. 0 == unlimited.
  sv_minrate 0 //Min bandwidth rate allowed on server, 0 == unlimited
  sv_minupdaterate 100 //Minimum updates per second that the server will allow
  

  
  
• Copy your favorite maps into "D:\Servers\TF2\tf\maps\".
  
  
  
• Create/edit the "mapcycle.txt" inside "D:\Servers\TF2\tf\cfg\". Delete all useless map names, edit/write down only the maps you want your server to run.

TF2 DEDICATED SERVER - STARTING YOUR SERVER

5. TF2 DEDICATED SERVER - STARTING YOUR SERVER

• This file "srcds.exe" should exist in "D:\Servers\TF2\"
  
  
• Create the "start.bat" file and place this string:
  D:\Servers\TF2\srcds.exe -console -game tf -hostport 23 +maxplayers 20 +map mapname
  
  - modify hostport accordingly (if you run your server behind a firewall, etc);
  - modify maxplayers as you wish (32 is usually max)
  - mapname will be your map filename (ex: achievement_idle)
  - if you copy-pasted my server.cfg, the map doesn't restart, there's no timelimit
  
  
• Click on start.bat
  
  
• Enjoy your TF2 Server!

P.S.
Make sure you read some guides on how to properly open your router/server ports, so friends and other players can join your servers.

ADDENDUM

6. ADDITIONAL STUFF

Recommended Plugins

Add Observer Point[forums.alliedmods.net] - required plugin if your server crashes when random player dies/suicides
TF2 Advanced Infinite ammo[forums.alliedmods.net] - infinite ammo, rage, shield charge, metal, decapitation
TF2 first/third person view[forums.alliedmods.net] - a 1st/3rd person view of your character
TF2 100% Critical Chance[forums.alliedmods.net] - blast noobs into oblivion with a 100% crit chance
TF2 Roll the Dice[forums.alliedmods.net] - spam !rtd into chat to get cool bonuses or punishment
TF2 Backpack Viewer[forums.alliedmods.net] - an extensive plugin that lets you preview player's backpack via MOTD window


Note:
These plugins might update/disappear entirely and are not under my control, but in the hands of their original creators.


SteamCMD complete games ID list

- check the proper ID if you want to install a dedicated server for another source game such as CS:GO, DOD:S, CS:S, L4D2, etc.

https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD

ENJOY

QUICK TUTORIAL MOCK-UP (video)

Here's a quick video mock-up of the tutorial, if you still have trouble.

Unedited video with some random music.

[cringe guy from 2019]

When I try to install the server, it says "Error! App '232250' state is 0x202 after update job." Help?

[azrellie ♥]

i have an error with joining my server, i did everything correctly but when i join my server this occurs "connection failed after 4 retries"
fix?

[Son-Dream]

Thank you. Very useful guide. Thumbs up.

[RealmTree]

update.bat is not present on my pc at all... what can i do?

[Goodgun]

wait never mind, accidentally put tf2 content in another folder

[Goodgun]

failed to load the launcher DLL:
The specified module could not be found.

any help with this?

[Copium_TV]

Froot, that has nothing to do with my guide instructions. Fix your OS installation... RIP :D

[Also_A_Duck]

ok i tried to change the +mapname thing in the bullshit start.bat. And Guess what? THE FUCKING START.BAT AND SRCDS.EXE ARE FUCKING GONE AND I CANT MAKE NEW ONES CAUSE I "need permision" EVEN THOUGH IM THE FUCKING ADMINISTRATOR ON THIS COMPUTER!

[Dr. Eggman]

Thank you it is working better way :D

[Ant]

I'm having troubles with an error message "your server needs to be restarted in order to get the latest update" I'm sure I put the proper directory but I moved the srcds from a failed attempt. where do i get a good scrds?