[Windows]: How to setup a TF2 server

[Beck]

NOTE: Work in progress! Not complete!

This is based on my experience with setting up a server from scratch, IE I didnt know anything about it when I started!

Installation
1) Download the HLDSTOOLUPDATE to a temp location, like c:\Temp.
Use the link below to download HLDSTOOLUPDATE.
http://www.steampowered.com/download/hldsupdatetool.exe
The tool is used to download, update and run the dedicated Source server.

2) Once you have downloaded hldsupdatetool.exe, run the installer and install to a permanent location, like c:\HLServer

3) Now you need to download the files for your dedicated TF2 server.
To download the dedicated TF2 server, use this script in a .bat file:

Code:

c:\HLServer\hldsupdatetool -command update -game tf -dir c:\HLServer

This is how it should look, if your server location is "c:\HLServer"
When downloading, dont panic over the size....its about 1,8Gb.
Sometimes the update tool will exit for no reason. Just run it again untill you are confident you have everything.

Configuration
4) Now you have you base installation. You just need to configure it.
Open Notepad and create a file called server.cfg and put it in the C:\HLServer\orangebox\tf\cfg folder. (Remember NOT to save it as an "txt" file)
Heres a base server.cfg file:

Code:

// this is your server name as shown in the server list
hostname "Server Name Here"
sv_password ""
// your server password. a pair of double quotes means it is not set and anyone can join

// start rcon settings

rcon_password "RCON Password Here"
// your rcon password to log into the dev rcon console or HLSW rcon console
sv_rcon_banpenalty 5
// Number of minutes to ban users who fail rcon authentication
sv_rcon_maxfailures 10
// Max number of times a user can fail rcon authentication before being banned

// end rcon settings

// start cvars for balancing un-even teams

mp_autoteambalance 1
// 0 is off and 1 is on. if 1 then should be used in conjunction with the following 3 commands
mp_autoteambalance_delay 60
// Time (in seconds) after the teams become unbalanced to attempt to switch players
mp_autoteambalance_warning_delay 30
// Time (in seconds) after the teams become unbalanced to print a balance warning
mp_teams_unbalance_limit 1
// Teams are unbalanced when one team has this many more players than the other (0 disables)

// end cvars for balancing un-even teams

// start cvars for round and game times

mp_enableroundwaittime 1
// Enable or disable timers to wait between rounds. 0 is off 1 is on
mp_bonusroundtime 20
// Time after round win until round restarts (in seconds)
mp_restartround 20
// Time the current round will restart (in seconds)
mp_stalemate_timelimit 240
// Timelimit (in seconds) of the stalemate round
mp_timelimit 40
// game time per map in minutes
mp_stalemate_enable 1
// enables sudden death at the end of rounds

// end cvars for round and game times

// start cvars for win conditions

//FIXED

mp_maxrounds 2
// Max number of rounds to play before server changes maps
mp_winlimit 0
// Max number of rounds one team can win before a server changes maps

// end cvars for win conditions

// start client specific cvars

mp_forcecamera 1
// force dead clients to first person mode disabling freelook. 0 is off 1 is on
mp_allowspectators 1
// enable or disable spectators on the server. 0 is off 1 is on
mp_forcerespawn  1
// People auto-respawn after the cooldown time
mp_footsteps 1
// footsteps on or off. 0 is off and 1 is on
sv_cheats 0
// allow cheats to be used by the client. 0 is off 1 is on
sv_timeout 300
// the amount of time in seconds that a client is booted for no input
sv_consistency 1
// Force clients to pass a consistency check for critical files before joining server. 0 is off 1 is on
decalfrequency 30
// the pause in seconds between a decal being sprayed

// end client specific cvars

// start cvars for communication

sv_voiceenable 1
// allow players to use a microphone. 0 is off 1 is on
sv_alltalk 0
// toggles whether both teams can hear each others voice comms or not. 0 is off 1 is on. recommend it being off
mp_chattime 10
// players can chat for this amount of time (in seconds) after a game is over
// Set to 15 to fix BM map changes

// end cvars for communication

// start download cvars

sv_allowupload 1
// allow custom decals to be uploaded. 0 is off 1 is on
sv_allowdownload 1
// allow files to be downloaded from the server. 0 is off 1 is on
net_maxfilesize 75
// Max download file size. Default is 15
// This is set to 75 because custom maps are HUGE!
sv_downloadurl ""
//redirect download location


// end download cvars

// start bandwidth rates/settings

sv_minrate 20000
// Min bandwidth rate allowed on server, 0 = unlimited. Default: 0
sv_maxrate 30000
// Max bandwidth rate allowed on server, 0 = unlimited. Default: 0
sv_minupdaterate 10
// Minimum updates per second that the server will allow. Default: 10
sv_maxupdaterate 100
// Maximum updates per second that the server will allow. Default: 60
sv_mincmdrate 66
sv_maxcmdrate 100

// end bandwidth rates/settings

// start server logging

log on
// enable or disable server logging. on is on / off is off
sv_logbans 1
// Log server bans in the server logs
sv_logecho 1
// Echo log information to the console. 0 is off 1 is on
sv_logfile 1
// Log server information in the log file. 0 is off 1 is on
sv_log_onefile 1
// log everything in one file

// end server logging

// start cvars for general operation

sv_lan 0
// is this an internet or LAN server. 0 is internet 1 is LAN
sv_region 0
// server location. -1 is the world, 0 is USA east coast, 1 is USA west coast, 2 south america, 3 europe, 4 asia, 5 australia, 6 middle east, 7 africa
sv_contact YOUR@EMAIL.com
// contact email for sysop
sv_pausable 0
// enables or disables whether the server can be paused. 0 is off 1 is on
sv_pure 0
// forces all clients on the server to use content that matches what is on the server. 0 is off 1 is on
sv_pure_kick_clients 0
// kicks clients that do not have content that matches what is on the server

// end cvars for general operation

// start execute ban files

exec banned_user.cfg
exec banned_ip.cfg

// end execute ban files

Complete list of server commands:
http://www.dodbits.com/downloads/cvars/TF2/Team_Fortress_2_cvar_list_a-z.htm
Other great list:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=598508

Starting
To start the TF2 dedicated server you can use this command:

Code:

c:\HLserver\orangebox\srcds.exe -console -game tf -hostport 27015 +maxplayers 24 +map ctf_2fort

I start the server with the above, my server will support a maximum of 24 players, you can make it more or less if you like, and start on ctf_2fort map.

You can use the command in a .bat file

Extras
If you want to control the number of players on each class or spawntimes, use this program:
http://www.beetlesmod.com/comm/

For more info on Dedicated Server:
http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/View.php?view=HL2Guides.Detail&id=4&game=3

Fast respawn without mods, by GTFO Gaming:
http://www.gtfogaming.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2637


This should get you going!

If you have additions for this please post them - then ill add them

edit: server.cfg changed by Mooga. This cfg should give us less problems. Also changed Quotes to Code. ALSO removed my HLstatsX server ALSO removed e-mail address.