LAN TF2 server not showing in list when -nomaster is used

[Narwhal]

This is regarding LAN-only dedicated servers. Copied from my post in the HLDS mailing list. I believe this to be a bug induced by a game update, based that I've tested this recently in several scenarios and have received the same results each time. It worked fine about a year ago on the same install, when I last utilized -nomaster.

I was tasked to set up some servers for an upcoming annual LAN party where there will be no internet connection readily available. I have done this is previous years with no issues whatsoever. However, when testing this time around I have ran into several buggers. I'm guessing an update was released since then that broke something...

Here's what I've been able to trouble-shoot and confirm:

TF2 servers do not show up under the "LAN" servers master list when the -nomaster switch is used. The console starts up fine. I can connect to it manually with the client (connect 192.168...). sv_lan 1 is set. If -nomaster isn't present in the startup line they show up fine. However, this switch is (obviously) necessary when no internet connection is present so that the servers don't go into an infinite loop searching for a master server they can't possibly find. L4D servers show up fine when using the -nomaster switch, and similar startup parameters. This is most likely a server-side issue.

TF2 server startup line (does NOT show up in LAN list):

Code:

#!/bin/sh
echo "Starting Server #1 as TF2 (server-1)"
sleep 1
screen -A -m -d -S server-1 ./srcds_run -nomaster -game tf -ip 0.0.0.0 +fps_max 375 +map ctf_2fort +maxplayers 32

L4D server startup line (shows up perfectly fine on the LAN list):

Code:

#!/bin/sh
echo "Starting Server #2 as L4D (server-2)"
sleep 1
screen -A -m -d -S server-2 ./srcds_run -nomaster -game left4dead -ip 0.0.0.0 -port 27019 +map l4d_hospital01_apartment

Both are running on same Arch Linux machine. And, again, everything works fine when -nomaster isn't used. I decided to see if a -nomaster sv_lan 1 server would show up in the "LAN" list if it was ran on Windows. I did a base install of SRCDS for TF2 under Windows XP on the same machine (dual-boot setup). It had the same results. It also does not show up under the "LAN" server list on the client end, but can be manually connected to and otherwise runs fine. So, this rules out it being a Linux specific issue at least.

Are there any workarounds for this that anybody knows of? I think telling everyone at the LAN Party to manually connect might be too much for some people (developer console not enabled by default, people being unable to remember the IP, etc.) I suppose a possible solution might be to hand out a game menu modification that list's any dedicated servers at the event (easy to make I know). The only tricky part is getting is distributed. Hrm...

[Mooga]

One way around would be if you are running a local webserver for the LAN, link to the server directly off the home page.

Have you tested run the server without -nomaster and without the internet? Also, try using -insecure rather then -nomaster.

[Narwhal]

(03-23-2010, 11:35 PM)Mooga Wrote:  Have you tested run the server without -nomaster and without the internet? Also, try using -insecure rather then -nomaster.

Yes, and as usual when -nomaster isn't set with no internet present the console just hangs indefinitely when it gets to the point where it searches for a master server. -insecure has no effect. I think between the website link and game menu mod it should hopefully be enough. Thanks for the idea !

And hopefully Valve gets it fixed by the next time around .

[Nisd]

(03-24-2010, 06:01 PM)Narwhal Wrote:  And hopefully Valve gets it fixed by the next time around .

Don't get your hopes up.

[Mooga]

E-mail Gabe or Jason...

[Narwhal]

(03-25-2010, 05:10 AM)Mooga Wrote:  E-mail Gabe or Jason...

I suppose I should. Posting in the HLDS mailing list (which I did) doesn't have the same effect I take it? I'm guessing Linux LAN-only functionality is probably lowest on the totem-pole for them though .

Side note: only the Linux console hangs without -nomaster when there's no internet connection present. I tried using -insecure without -nomaster on the same machine running SRCDS under Windows. It takes a little bit longer than normal to start up, but the server works good and is listed under the LAN list at the client end. This is the route I'm going with for my event this weekend. It's really not that much effort as I already had Windows in a dual boot setup. I just have to copy over and re-compile a few of the custom things I made for it.

Their Linux support has been lacking in general lately I know...so none of this surprises me too much. Multiple error messages in the console, certain functionality (like the TF2 bots being able to switch classes) crashes the Linux engine, etc. There's been countless people reporting these bugs, yet it has been months and seemingly no progress to resolve any of it and Valve continues to refuse releasing the code so that someone else can fix it. Oh well...maybe some day.