Servers
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Like all multiplayer games based on Valve's Source Engine, Team Fortress 2 is designed around the idea of a client/server architecture. Whereas the client is the copy of the game running on a player's computer, the server is how they are connected to the other players. There are more than 3,000 Team Fortress 2 servers currently running worldwide.
Servers control most of a game of Team Fortress 2. It responds to players' actions by updating its knowledge of their locations and states (e.g. firing a weapon) before deciding how to respond to the information (e.g. dealing damage to a target) and then telling all players about the results of the actions (e.g. displaying a damage dealt value). Servers also handle events that are not controlled by other players (e.g. map time, Sentry Gun behaviour, etc).
Contents
Benefits
Instead of circumnavigating and choosing through servers available, players can opt to create their own servers to host the game. This can allow the host player to set the map rotation, determining which particular maps and subsequent game modes are played. Additionally, other built in settings can be altered, such as gravity, class slot limit, Highlander limitations and so on. Custom modifications may also be installed on the server to provide alternate gameplay.
Types
There are 2 types of servers that can be run using the Source engine.
Listen/Local server
A Listen Server is a basic server running within a player's TF2 client. It can be easily created through selecting the Create Server button at the main menu. Other players can connect to the server, but the cost of maintaining the server will put pressure on the host player's hardware. These types of servers are suited for LAN based events.
Dedicated server
A dedicated server is a standalone server that does not require Steam to run. Typically they may run in a command line window, and are usually run on specialized high-end hardware dedicated to maintaining game servers. These are the preferred type of server as they are often hosted on suitable hardware and can be easily adjusted and modified to player needs.
Requirements
While GSPs (Game Server Providers) generally use high-end dedicated hardware to run game servers, anybody can create a server by using a computer running:
Listen server
- Mac OS X 10.5.8 or 10.6.3 and higher meeting the game's requirements.
- Windows XP and higher meeting the game's requirements.
Dedicated server
- Linux (x86 or amd64) running GLIBC 2.3.2 and later.
- FreeBSD (x86 or amd64) running the Linux compatibility code in the kernel and a recent base Linux system from the ports collection.
- Windows 2000 and later.
Update history
See also
External links
- Source Dedicated Server on the Valve Developer Community
- Setting up a Steam Source Dedicated Server – Steam Support Site
