How can I host my own deticated tf2 server?

forward the ports that the server uses (I think it's like 27014-27016) and then host it using the tool in your library, make sure you have sv_lan set to 0, and then when your server is started tell people to type "connect YOURIP" into console (the IP won't be what's listed in the tool dialog, it will be your actual external IP, whatismyip.com) and it SHOULD work


at least that's how I used to do it

p.s. your bandwidth better be good or else you're going to get unbearable lag when more than 5 people join (as the server is your actual computer, and the connection from it)

I'm pretty sure the server shows up on the server browser (sometimes)

On the other hand, I'm certain it's possible for people to join a server you made under "create a server" without having to change anything. I can recount a few times when some random player joined the server I was on while testing a map I just compiled.

It appears Valve changes the whole dedicated server thing all the time, so yeah.

well, I don't know then..

About "dedicated" servers: yes, you need a tool to host those, but the one in the Steam Library (the one Nik directed you to) doesn't exactly work that well for me. I have to manually download the HLDSUpdateTool (http://storefront.steampowered.com/download/hldsupdatetool.exe), and then I usually install it to C:\SRCDS. After that, I use Command Prompt to navigate to the directory, and then run the real update tool like this: hldsupdatetool -command update -game tf -dir . (the dot represents the current directory.)

After that, the Update Tool takes a while to download everything. When it finally finishes, navigate to tf\cfg, and modify server.cfg how you want (ex. "hostname" followed by what name you want would set the name of the server as it would appear to players, sv_region 1 would set the server browser region to West Coast, meaning your server will show up when people search for servers on the west coast).

After that, launch SRCDS by going to where you downloaded everything to, and use the following command: srcds -console -game tf -port 27015 (make sure that port is forwarded) +maxplayers (whatever you want to be the max playercount goes here) +map ctf_2fort (any map that's in the server's tf\maps directory can go here). After THAT, it should be working, and it should show up on the Server Browser.

Beware, though. If you're on a home internet, any more than 4-10 players, depending on your internet, will cause either the server's connection to start choking, or your client-side internet to start choking. Make sure you have acceptable upload speed for this (I read somewhere 15 kb/s per player is acceptable).

http://www.speedtest.net/

make sure your upload speed is pretty high. i was gonna make a server but my connection was shit so i couldn't.

Are you sure you have port forwarded 27015 correctly? This site can help you out if your unsure.
Whenever I've ran servers in the past it's nearly always been port issues that gave me problems.

http://portforward.com/english/applications/port_forwarding/Steam_Server/Steam_Serverindex.htm

Also, check this thread out to see if any of your problems are discussed there.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1388630

you NEED to have your ports forwarded.

you won't be able to if you don't have the admin password for your network.

Download: 4.33 Mb/s

Upload: 1.19 Mb/s

Is that any good?

that's much better than mine - you should be fine up to a bunch of people

although I suggest uploading the map to an ftp and using sv_download, or distributing it beforehand, otherwise it will take a while for everyone to connect from you

sv_download is kind of annoying so look it up in the VDC