How to create your own game server

[whyy]

Many people have the idea of renting a game server. most of their problems is that they do not have enough information to do so and do not want to waste their money on something that they cannot do. That is why some people create their own server to get the idea of how it works. i will give you help on creating your own Source or Regular Game Server. People who usually try to make their server uses their steam account and goes to the tools section.
DO NOT DO THAT.

That is the express way for a server, if you want to fully understand your server you need all the files a real game server has.

I will be giving you instructions for Source Dedicated Server.

It is pretty straight forward, as long as you have some sense of windows and command prompt this should not be a difficult task. This also works best if you have a old computer that is not used but is still hooked up to your network. Remember that to run a game server you do not need a graphics card, you really don't need much, a Pentium 3 is fine to do the job.

How To Create A Dedicated Source Server, The 8 Step Program by: Whyy
STEP;
1. download the HLDS UPDATE TOOL

2. after you finished downloading the .exe run the wizard. when it asks you for the destination folder, click browse and type c:\srcds in the text and then click OK. Finish installing the wizard.

3. Press Start and click on Run (right side of the start menu). after you click on run a small window will open. type cmd in the box and hit enter.
a command promopt will open and it would say
C:\Documents and Settings\User>
type cd.. and hit enter. Now it will look like
C:\Documents and Settings>
type cd.. and hit enter again. Now it will look like
C:\>
Do not forget that this is case sensitive.
now type cd srcds and hit enter.
It should now look like
C:\srcds>
type hldsupdatetool and hit enter. it will check for the newest version of the tool. there will be a list of things in the command prompt. do not read that it would most likely not make sense to you. just follow the steps here and not on the command prompt.

4. now in your command prompt type
hldsupdatetool -command update -game "Counter-Strike Source" -dir C:\srcds

that is assuming you want cs:s for your game server. this will take you on the average about 30 minutes to an 1 hour depending on your internet connection. in that time you can either surf for admin plugins and game mods, or you can "drop the kids off at the pool" if you catch my drift. who says you can't have a good time while working?

5. You will know that your download is finished because it will say it on the command prompt. go to your srcds folder, that means click on my computer then local disk drive C: and then srcds.

6. If you don't know how the server works then i would suggest using the GUI, this is the easiet thing to do.. if you know your commands to run a game server for ex. mp_friendlyfire, then you could probably work through the server console and not the GUI. The advantages of the console over the GUI is that it uses less cpu usage and would not lag as much.a GUI is fine for learning. If you want to use a GUI then you are done. your journey has stopped and you can leave.

7. To run in console you first need to make your own config file. it is simple becuase i will give you the tools to do so. first your C:\srcds folder should still be opened. go into your cstrike then your cfg folder. in there you should see a game.cfg file. if you do then open it up using notepad. if there is information in their press ctrl + a and then press the delete button. Now go to this site CFG MAKER
this is a easy way to make your own cfg. it is straight forward not that much explanation. after you are done creating your cfg from the website copy and paste the information from the website in the black box to your game.cfg file. now press save. close the notepad and right click on the game.cfg press rename and rename the game to server.

8. Now press start and press Run. copy and paste this information in the run box. depending on what map game and players you want to have.
c:\srcds\srcds.exe -console -game cstrike +map de_dust2 -maxplayers 16 -autoupdate

ENJOY.

[Homey]

A more complicated approach to it. But Good work, It will help out many people. =)

[whyy]

homey, it is really not complicated. if you know what you are doing then it will work smoothly. if you go and install a server through steam it is not a real game server. this way is the best way and this way is used to create game servers on dedicated servers.

[Titan]

Excellent post.

My only thoughts are that even though many people will have the ability to set up the server, they might not have the bandwidth to support too many players.

[whyy]

Titan, if people don't have great bandwidth and it is dsl or a low cable they can still support maybe 4 to 8 people. this is just to give them the concept of a game server and how it runs. since this is the actual files they can look at it on their pc and install and diagnose the problems if they have any.

[Titan]

Ahhh, understood.

[whyy]

i have had alot of people who rented a game server come to me and ask me to help them. and i like to help but that was to much to do for them. so i keep on telling people before they rent a game server at least know how it works so they can do things themselves. This thread is pretty simple, i spent a lot of time make the steps and it is very detailed so their shouldn't be anyone saying how do i do this.. This thread tells you what to do and what you should see. if you cannot complete this then you should not rent a game server. all that said i would like to say enjoy. and post your ip's to your servers when your done.

[whyy]

UPDATE TO STEPS!! 12/05/07 12:06PM EST

PEOPLE WITH ROUTERS
if you are using a router you must forward your game port. if you do not know how to forward ports please go to the port forwarding site.
they have a complete list of routers so you can find your router and open the ports that you need. the default game port is 27015. once your ports are open you can go to whatsmyip.org and get your external ip from there. people can only connect on your external IP if they are not connected to your router.

PEOPLE WITHOUT ROUTERS
if you do not have a router, you should still go to whatsmyip.org and find your external ip so you can give it to people. you would know if you do not have a router if you only have 1 computer in your house.

[Tills13]

If you do it the "simple" or "express" way, What is the difference?

[Tills13]

I have to add something, When I add my ports to the port fowarding page and I hit "apply". It only saves the first port range setting. The rest go back to "0 To 0"...What should i do here?

[whyy]

the express way is a watered down version of a dedicated game server which is installing it by using steam tools. the dirrection i wrote down gives you the actual files game server companys use for windows operating systems. this is the best way to know how your game server works. for the ip problem IM me on something. i will try to go ahead and help you with that

[Jihad]

Okay, tell me how to determine how many players my computer could handle. (using Comcast)

here is my speedtest



Upstream test from Changeip.com

Your upstream speed that we tested is:

1390.28kbps

Your browser was able to upload 533,867 bytes in 3 seconds. Please note that this test is not conclusive, but should be +/- 15% of your actual upload speed. This test was performed between your browser and our main data center in San Diego, CA. Many factors can affect the speed of your connection as reported by this test, including distance from the Level3 network, existing traffic on your internet connection, current cpu usage, as well as the overall congestion on the internet.

[whyy]

you can go here to determine how many players can be on your server
Half Life 2 Server Test
but you also have to remember that if you are playing on the server on the same computer that it will also slow it down.

[Jihad]

yeha....im not going to be "listening"