How to make the thing listen?

[_visible]

hey all,

im a rather experienced user in all of the following hardware\software\networking, but this time its just simple commands that i need (or so i think).

First off my plans:
-i want users to be able to find me through steam
-i want to be able to run the dedicated server on one machine (and sometimes join the same server from the same machine)

My specs:
2.6Ghz AMD Athlon XP (200x13) ~3500+
1024MB PC3200 2.5-3-3-7
120 Gyg 7200RPM 8MB
9600xt 256mb (589/670)
1250kbps downlink & 320kbps uplink (ADSL)

Situation:
i can run the server and i can join the server though console "connect xx.xxx.xxx.xxx" command in "Find Servers" window. I get 10-16ms lag.

Problem:
I cannot see my own server on other machines and\or on the current machine under "Find Servers".

I am guessing i need a command that will force the server to start listening? I am not sure however that its the case..

Note: I am behind a router and port forwarding is set up correctly.

EDIT:
Are the specs enough for such a server? if they are then how many players can i expect with decent latencies on such a connection? Thank you in advance

[PhatBoy]

This might give you what you are looking for:-

http://www.srcds.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=66

ps. Running the game client on the same machine as the server is not really recommended, mainly because you lose most of the performance benefit from the dedicated server.

[_visible]

thanks, yes i realize that, is there a way to make my server appear on the "find servers" tab withi t being non-dedicated?

EDIT: no, that link still doesnt answer my question, since it doesnt mention how to make my server a listening one...

[Hambone]

Hi _visible

First off, let's make sure we're talking about the same thing. A listen server is created when you start Counter-Strike: Source and click on the "Create Server" link. A dedicated server is created by running srcds.exe.

Now, in most cases if the dedicated server machine is on the same LAN as the machine that you're trying to retrieve a list of servers from, it wont show up on the Internet tab. This is because, to the outside world, both machines have the same address. Select the favorites tab and click on Add Server, enter the LAN IP address of your dedicated server box and it should show up.

If you share the public addressable IP of your server, I'm sure people here would be happy to tell you if it's showing up in the master list.

-Hambone

[_visible]

Alright,

today i launched the server and by conducting a mini-survey i found out that all of the users that ended up on my server were either from Europe or Canada. Not a single one was from US. They said they found my server from the Find Servers tab which is good news. All users were playing with a lag of ~200 which can be partially justified by the fact that the server was physically far away from them. No packet loss was occuring though which im thankful for. I need some poeple from around New England to help me test the real latencies. Again, i have a slow connection of 1200 uplink and 320 downlink. Can i hope for a server of 4 people with <50 lag?

EDIT: I launch the server by running the application from "Play Games" window that says Source Dedicated Server.

EDIT: Addressing the above: I am now installing the console version of the server instead of further using the GUI version provided with steam. Can someone explain why "Its strongly recommended to use the Console version of srcds instead of the Steam GUI version!"?

[Label2021]

You an experienced user and you think you have 320 mbps upload speed?

...







-LabeL-

[_visible]

I apppologise for that. Speeds corrected. A little glitch every once in a while happens even with the geekiest of all techies...

[Stealth]

_visible Wrote:I apppologise for that. Speeds corrected. A little glitch every once in a while happens even with the geekiest of all techies...

although we like to wonder sometimes

[Hambone]

_visible Wrote:EDIT: Addressing the above: I am now installing the console version of the server instead of further using the GUI version provided with steam. Can someone explain why "Its strongly recommended to use the Console version of srcds instead of the Steam GUI version!"?

Though I haven't done a comparison to know the exact figures, running the console version of the Source Server saves, at a minimum, the overhead of the GUI. That being said, many people run the GUI and are quite happy with it.

srcds.exe will still start with a GUI by default. Create a shortcut to srcds.exe and include the parameter -console to run it in a console.

Also, it bears repeating though you probably are already aware - don't forget to create a new Steam account for the dedicated server otherwise you'll get the infamous "Steam ticket has expired" message whenever you try to connect to your server.

[_visible]

Yup, i had the console version running overnight, seemed perfectly fine, i have a nice server.cfg to go with it too...