Home >> Internet Games >> Computer Games

How to Make a Fast TF2 Server and Keep It Up When I Close My Computer

Setting up a dedicated "Team Fortress 2" server is a task you can complete more easily if you have prior experience in server configuration. No matter what game you are playing, it's a bad idea to run a server on the same computer that you play on. Not only will you be unable to keep the server running after you shut down your computer but you̵7;ll degrade the speed of your server for all players. Always use a separate computer for your server. Your server speed will be dependent on two key factors: the quality of your Internet connection and the geographical proximity of your users.

Instructions

- 1
  Download and install the HldsUpdateTool from the official Steam website. Installing the tool simply requires launching the downloaded EXE file. You can install the server to any permanent location on your computer. For the purposes of this tutorial, assume that the server is installed to the default location, which is "C:\HLServer."
- 2
  Click on the Windows ̶0;Start̶1; menu. Type "cmd" in the search field and press ̶0;Enter̶1; to open the command prompt window. Type the following command into the terminal window and press the ̶0;Enter̶1; key:
  
  C:\HLServer\hldsupdatetool -command update -game tf -dir c:\HLServer
  
  If you have installed the server to a different location, you̵7;ll need to change this command accordingly. Executing this command will download the files necessary for running a dedicated TF2 server. These files are 1.8 GB in size, so the download may take a while, depending on the speed of your Internet connection.
- 3
  Create a new text file using the text editor of your choice. This will be your .cfg file, which can be rather complicated to set up. The .cfg file determines your server̵7;s configuration. It defines things such as your server name, how often the server changes maps, password settings, round times, team balancing and banned users. Hundreds of configuration commands are possible in this file. Once you̵7;ve put together the text commands, save the file as "server.cfg." Do not save the file with a ".txt" extension. Place the file in the following location:
  
  C:\HLServer\orangebox\tf\cfg folder
  
  Again, you must edit this address if you̵7;ve installed the server files in a different location.
- 4
  Type the following command in the terminal window to launch your TF2 server:
  
  c:\HLserver\orangebox\srcds.exe -console -game tf -hostport "port number" +maxplayers "number" +map "map name"
  
  Change the "port number" value to match your hosting port. Change the "number" value to set the maximum number of players you'll allow on your server. Change the "map name" value to the name of the map you will be playing on. Press ̶0;Enter̶1; to launch the server. Your users will be able to connect to your server through their own Steam interface.

Computer Games