Running a Server and Playing on The Same Computer

Ok, for many questions lately, I've had to answer that it is bad to run SRCDS and play on the same computer, so I am making this post to correctly define just what you should do in the scenario if you only have 1 computer.

Background Info:
If you host SRCDS and the game on the same computer, you are entitled to many issues with ports, hardware, firewalls, and many other problems. It is SUPER HIGHLY UNRECOMMENDED to run SRCDS and play on the same computer.

Solution 1:
Instead, run a listen server. You can do this in game by clicking the little "Create Server" button. The pros of this is that it will actually run better, since it runs inside the HL2 engine compared to running SRCDS. It's easier to maintain, since anything you download from other servers can be applied to your server (ex. Quake Sounds, Models, etc.). The cons is that if you want to run the server 24/7, you will have to leave the game running, because if you leave the game, the server will shut down.

Solution 2:
It's ok to buy a game server from a game server provider! They are usually very helpful, and can help you install mods and help fix problems you might have. The pros are that you can run pretty much as many slots as you can afford, without any lag imposed by your home connection. You also don't have to worry about problems that come up with internet and hardware. The cons, cost. It can be expensive to get a 32 slot server! Another con, is that it can take longer to upload files via FTP compared to downloading it directly to your hard drive.

My Opinion:
When I am in a server, I would rather save a server to favorites that is up 24/7, and has a lot of quality; compared to a server that is horrible, and isn't up longer that 6 hours a day. Renting is the best way, if you lack good internet and an extra computer to run the server.

To wrap it all up, this is all based off fact I have read in many places all over the internet, including what I've learned off these forums. Please don't be to brutal on responses, but I think all experts in SRCDS will agree that it is HORRIBLE to host a server and play on the same computer.

Very well put. Well done!

yeah TF2's annoying me atm i swear they've changed the way srcds works over the past month ... which is a little annoying to say the least esp when i have maps i want to test with my friends

Feel free to put your input, and thanks for the positive reviews!

Ah, thank you very much for so well explaining this. Im about to copy and paste this very thread to several people on my steam contacts list as soon as i hit post.

I'm just saying, not everybody can run a server. When little 8 year old's think "I CAN GET A FWEE SERVAH?!?!?" That totally makes them think that the rules of hardware specs and internet don't apply to them. I also hate going into a server where a bunch of kids just use there mic to go "lolololololololololololol" until the server crashes 30 seconds later.

The point is, everyone needs to know what their boundaries are in game servers. Just because you have a computer, doesn't mean you can run ten 32 slot 100 tick servers

Heya
I defineatly understand that running a server and playing on it with the same computer goes alot less stable, but if i create a server through the gmod menu, nobody can join it. I now run a 4 slot one and just ask my guests to keep the spam down. Do btw admin addons and stuff work on listen servers?

Yes, if you put them in your personal garrysmod folder,

Ye, garrysmod is horrible for that. Personally i just have a 6 slot gmod server running on my home server PC with a password that only 10 or so people know.

Hey great thing man, but thinking that this is the wrong area, wouldnt this be better under tuts or something? Unless a mod stickyed it of corse

Nice Job great info helped me

Well, I have an SRCDS. It's not showing up in the master list... But when my friend type "connect <MY IP:27015>" it works fine. But If he make a listen server, I can see it in the Master list.

Mabye my problem is because of that I run the Server, and play on the same?

thx for the info btw

Well put.. I remember the good old days when running and playing on an HLDS server on the same computer caused pings to go bonanza

You're right man!

I've tried it once and never did it after

good job.

Yea there are lots of people trying to do this, but hell a server should not be run on the same pc u play on, no less a home internet conection