Can't connect to dedicated TF2 server

[drding]

Hi there

I've trying to get my TF2 server up and running but seem to be having a problem with folks not being able to connect to it out of LAN.

For one thing it's not showing up in the Internet tab list of servers, and even when my friends try to connect via the public ip, it says the server is not responding.

I'm able to get onto it fine, but I'm also on the same wireless connection.

Btw, the server is hardwired to my router, while the computer I'm able to access the server on is connected via wifi.

Here's my info, please let me know if you need anything else:

Server OS: Windows XP SP 3
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.66GHz
RAM: 1 GB
Game: Team Fortress 2

Start up bat:

Code:

orangebox\srcds.exe -console -game tf -hostport 27015 +map cp_dustbowl +maxplayers 16

Admin Mods: None

Server.cfg:

Code:

hostname "TF2 Ding"
rcon_password "#######"
sv_password #########
sv_contact "admin@yourdomain.com"
mp_timelimit "30"
tf_bot_quota 10
tf_bot_quota_mode match
tf_bot_difficulty 2
sv_alltalk 0
sv_lan 0
sv_rcon_maxfailures 5
sv_rcon_banpenalty 1440
exec banned_user.cfg
exec banned_ip.cfg
writeid
writeip
log on
sv_log_onefile 0
sv_logfile 1
sv_logbans 1
sv_logecho 1
sv_allowdownload 1
sv_allowupload 1
mp_autoteambalance 1
mp_teams_unbalance_limit 1
mp_allowspectators 1

Local IP: 10.0.0.3
External IP: 71.187.83.103
Port forwarding: See attached image

I have tried connecting my server computer to my modem directly, basically bypassing the router, and people still can't connect.

And I just this evening checked to see if there were any server updates via the update tool, and everything checks out fine.

I'm pretty stumped, so any and all help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Ghost Assassin]

What type of router do you have?

From the screenshot, it looks correct in terms of port forwarding, but what is above it? The labeling for each entry or category.

[drding]

Hi Ghost,

It's a Netgear Wireless-N 300 router, model WNR2000v2.

Here's a screenshot of the whole window: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/641/portwindow.jpg/

[loopyman]

Change your startup command line to:

Code:

srcds.exe -console -game tf -port 27015 -ip 0.0.0.0 +map cp_dustbowl +maxplayers 16

Post results.

Also if your configuration is the following:

Internet -> [Cable / DSL Modem] -> [Router] -> [Server]
Then most likely your data is going to NAT twice... Both on the modem and the router. Some modems have routing and NAT capabilities built into them so if you're going through two NAT's then you're not going to be able to port forward properly.

There is ways around this, but I'm not going to go into detail on the advanced configuration of your home network

[drding]

(10-01-2012, 08:28 AM)loopyman Wrote:  Change your startup command line to:

Code:

srcds.exe -console -game tf -port 27015 -ip 0.0.0.0 +map cp_dustbowl +maxplayers 16

Post results.

Also if your configuration is the following:

Internet -> [Cable / DSL Modem] -> [Router] -> [Server]
Then most likely your data is going to NAT twice... Both on the modem and the router. Some modems have routing and NAT capabilities built into them so if you're going through two NAT's then you're not going to be able to port forward properly.

There is ways around this, but I'm not going to go into detail on the advanced configuration of your home network

Ok here's my server results (let me know if you wanted something different, I just kinda assumed it was this )

Code:

66.4 fps  1/16 on map      cp_dustbowl
Console initialized.
Game.dll loaded for "Team Fortress"
Particles: Missing 'particles/error.pcf'
maxplayers set to 16
No '-replayserverdir' parameter found - using default replay folder.
Replay: Creating thread pool...succeeded.
Replay: Starting thread pool with 4 threads...succeeded.
Cleaning files from temp dir, "c:\tf2\orangebox\tf\replay\server\tmp\" ...no files removed.
Unknown command "r_decal_cullsize"
maxplayers set to 16
Network: IP 0.0.0.0, mode MP, dedicated Yes, ports 27015 SV / 27005 CL
SOLID_VPHYSICS static prop with no vphysics model! (models/props_foliage/grass_0
2_cluster01.mdl)
Executing dedicated server config file server.cfg
material models/player/items/all_class/all_class_ring_setting has a normal map a
nd $basealphaenvmapmask.  Must use $normalmapalphaenvmapmask to get specular.

Spawnpoint at (2472.00 -1616.00 -124.00) is not clear.
Spawnpoint at (2400.42 -1622.53 -124.00) is not clear.
Spawnpoint at (2576.61 -1624.86 -124.00) is not clear.
Spawnpoint at (2425.47 -1506.63 -124.00) is not clear.
Spawnpoint at (2520.00 -1592.00 -124.00) is not clear.
Spawnpoint at (2576.61 -1547.52 -124.00) is not clear.
Initializing Steam libraries for secure Internet server
Logging into anonymous gameserver account.
exec banned_user.cfg: file size larger than 1 MB!
exec banned_ip.cfg: file size larger than 1 MB!
Writing cfg/banned_user.cfg.
Unknown command "71.187.83.103"
Server logging enabled.
Server logging data to file logs\L1001000.log
L 10/01/2012 - 10:19:03: Log file started (file "logs\L1001000.log") (game "c:\t
f2\orangebox\tf") (version "5072")
'cp_dustbowl.cfg' not present; not executing.
Sending CMsgGameServerMatchmakingStatus (state=ServerMatchmakingState_NOT_PARTIC
IPATING)
Connection to Steam servers successful.
   Public IP is 71.187.83.103.
Assigned anonymous gameserver Steam ID [A-1:1159592964(3103)].
VAC secure mode is activated.
Connection to game coordinator established.
Current item schema is up-to-date with version F233DD5C.
tf_server_identity_account_id not set; not logging into registered account

Still not showing up after the startup addition.

Yeah that's my exact configuration at the moment. I don't know if this helps but when we originally got the router, we set it up so the modem was dumb, I don't know if that makes any sense.

Also I checked to see if my ports were opened and all of them are reporting to be closed.
I'm guessing that could be because of my internet setup?

[Ghost Assassin]

http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Netgear/WNR2000v2/Team_Fortress_2.htm

Try -ip 71.187.83.103 -port 27015 in your startup command line.

[drding]

(10-03-2012, 09:02 AM)Ghost Assassin Wrote:  http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Netgear/WNR2000v2/Team_Fortress_2.htm

Try -ip 71.187.83.103 -port 27015 in your startup command line.

I tried to use the settings in that port forwarding link, the second one was fine, but when I tried to forward the 3478 - 4380 I received this error from my router:

"The specified port(s) are being used by other configurations. Please check your configurations of Remote Management, Port forwarding, Port Triggering, UPnP Port Mapping table, RIP, and Internet connection type."

I found turning off UPnP allowed me to add the port, but that's probably not the most optimal solution.

When I added -ip 71.187.83.103 -port 27015 to my startup, I got this error from the server:

"Engine Error: Couldn't allocate any server IP port"

And everything closed out when I hit ok.

So I put my startup back as I had it before but now with the suggested port forwarding settings, still no luck.

[n0stalgia]

Did you ever get this resolved? I'm having this exact problem.

[drding]

(12-06-2012, 07:07 AM)n0stalgia Wrote:  Did you ever get this resolved? I'm having this exact problem.

Sadly no lol. Ended up trying just about everything then gave up. I pretty much ran out of leads.

Maybe I'll try to get it going again. The problem is I have to have my friend test it out every time I try something new I felt bad pestering them all the time, you know?
The reason for that is that I needed to know if *they* could see the server and connect to it. I could connect and see (though it only showed up on my LAN list, rather then the public servers list).

The only thing I can think of is that it has something to do with my router/firewall. I've always had a problem forwarding ports (I'd do it and they'd never check out as open) so that might be it.

Wish I had some advice or progress for you.