Windows dedicated server
This is a setup guide that allows you to install a basic Team Fortress 2 Windows dedicated server. In the below example the server is installed onto the C drive in a folder called 'hlserver'.
Contents
Download and install the SteamCMD Tool
It is recommended you create a separate user to install and run game servers. It is also recommended you use the non-beta version of the steam client, otherwise it won't locate steam libraries
- Download steamcmd.zip
- Unzip steamcmd.zip to a directory, for example 'c:\hlserver'.
Create a steamcmd script
- Create a file called tf2_ds.txt in the folder where you install the tool, i.e. 'c:\hlserver'
- Edit the file with this text:
@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 1 @NoPromptForPassword 1 login anonymous force_install_dir c:\hlserver\tf2 app_update 232250 quit
If you want to opt in to the prerelease version of the TF2 dedicated server, add this line before the app_update line:
beta prerelease
Create an updating batch file
- Create a file called update.bat in the folder where you installed the tool, i.e. 'c:\hlserver'
- Edit the file with this text:
steamcmd +runscript tf2_ds.txt pause
Start the download/update
- Run the update.bat to start the download, may take several hours as dedicated server content is currently 5.0GB
- You may need to run the file *multiple* times until the message "Success! App '232250' fully installed." displays.
Create/Update server files
- Create a file called server.cfg in 'C:\hlserver\tf2\tf\cfg'
- Edit the file with these details:
hostname "Your_Servers_Name" //The Name of your Server that players will see sv_password "" //Leave empty if you do not want a password rcon_password "Your_Rcon_Password" //Password to enable rcon access from the console mp_timelimit 30 //Round Timelimit mp_maxrounds 10 //Maximum Rounds Playable before map change sv_allowupload 1 // Allow clients to upload customization files (Optional Line, Used for Sprays) sv_allowdownload 1 // Allow clients to download files (Optional Line, Used for Sprays) net_maxfilesize 15 // Maximum allowed file size for uploading in MB (Optional)
An example with more cvars (console variables) can be found in Example Server.cfg for TF2 dedicated server.
- Create the files motd.txt and mapcycle.txt in 'C:\hlserver\tf2\tf\cfg'
- You may want to use the motd_default.txt and mapcycle_default.txt as references
- Create a file called pure_server_whitelist.txt in 'C:\hlserver\tf2\tf\cfg'
- It is advised that you copy and paste the contents of the pure_server_whitelist_example.txt file into your file first, and then apply any modifications you may want
Create a batch file to run the server
- Create a file in 'C:\hlserver\' called tf.bat
- Edit the file with this text:
tf2\srcds.exe -console -game tf +sv_pure 1 +map ctf_2fort +maxplayers 24
- Run the file tf.bat to start your server
Other command line options
Some other common command-line options for TF2 are:
+ip 1.2.3.4- Bind to a specific IP. By default, listens on all network interfaces-port 27015- Bind to a different port (27015 is the default)-strictportbind- If a server is already running on the specified port, stop the server from running+randommap- Use instead of +map to select a map at random+servercfgfile- Which tf\cfg\ file to execute on map change, defaults to server.cfg+mapcyclefile- Which tf\cfg\ file contains this server's mapcycle, defaults to mapcycle.txt. Will also look in tf\-replay- Executes replay.cfg and adds an additonal slot for the replay bot, but removes it from the player count.
