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Hosting a DM server
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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by satchmo on Thu Jan 13th at 12:02am 2005

I know it's an extremely basic and simple question, but because I've never played any multiplayer games before, I am not sure how to do it.

How do I host a server for HL2DM so anyone over the internet can join the game? I don't want to create just a LAN server, because I don't have anyone locally to play the map. I want the server to show up on the list of "Find Servers" in the HL2DM menu.

Thanks in advance.
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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by Orpheus on Thu Jan 13th at 12:13am 2005

asked..answered..asked..answered :/

1) go to www.whatismyip.com and write down your ip address.

2) load HL2dm

3) create a server, chose the options you prefer to have in it.. IE flashlight,blah,blah.

4) chose the map.

5) create it.

it is always best if you want people to specifically find you to name it something obvious/unique. and i assume you can still chose a server by ip address, so its wise to post yours that i told you to get.

it is also best to have at the very least, a good cable connection.. T1 is preferred.

have fun.

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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by Joe-Bob on Thu Jan 13th at 12:14am 2005

If you're doing something simple, you could always use the console to load your map, assuming that sv_lan is 0.
If you're wanting to run a proper server, I would guess that installing the "Source Dedicated Server" tool would be the correct route. It's above Source SDK in the Steam game menu.




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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by Orpheus on Thu Jan 13th at 12:15am 2005

? quoting Joe-Bob

If you're wanting to run a proper server, I would guess that installing the "Source Dedicated Server" tool would be the correct route. It's above Source SDK in the Steam game menu.

you do this, you cannot join on the same PC..

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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by Joe-Bob on Thu Jan 13th at 12:18am 2005

? quoting Orpheus
you do this, you cannot join on the same PC..


This is true, and your solution is definitely best if he wants to play the maps while he hosts. However, if you happen to want a dedicated server, you have to use Steam's tools.




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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by satchmo on Thu Jan 13th at 12:22am 2005

? quote:

2) load HL2dm

3) create a server, chose the options you prefer to have in it.. IE flashlight,blah,blah.

4) chose the map.

5) create it.


Thanks, Orph.

I did all these steps, but I never get the chance to put in the server name or IP address. The map spawns and I'm walking around as the lone player in it. Is that all? I'll set sv_lan to "0" to see what happens.

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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by Orpheus on Thu Jan 13th at 12:30am 2005

if you have a firewall up, and the port to HL2 is closed, you will not get anyone to join.

i suggest you research what port it uses, and open it.

this will not create a hole, since only HL2 would use that specific port.

course, thats all your choice.

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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by satchmo on Thu Jan 13th at 12:56am 2005

Thanks again. It's probably the DSL router firewall that's blocking anyone from joining. I'll look into opening a port for the game.
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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by Orpheus on Thu Jan 13th at 2:09am 2005

unless you have one humdinger of a dsl connection, it won't be suitable for a server. cable is barely enough for 5+ people. [addsig]



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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by Gwil on Thu Jan 13th at 2:12am 2005

Orph is right - professional servers are usually mounted into big spools with huge data pipes. T1 is the bare minimum to run any kind of decent server.

2mb DSL could just about cope with 3 players, assuming the people joining had fairly good connections themselves.
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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by Mouse on Thu Jan 13th at 3:20am 2005

There are a lot of services that are set up to host a server for you. Our clan has one, as do most that do not have access to high bandwidth pipes and want a place to practice or build a community out of. Generally you wind up paying between 10-30 dollars. The price can be dependant on the max amount of players you want on the server. You tell them what you want installed on the server, Counterstrike, Half-Life, HL2, Call of Duty, etc etc etc, and they give you admin access to change games, maps, get access to logs, etc etc.

Only downside is you have to pay for it, but such is life. Generally they will have excellent internet connections. Running a server of a DSL line, unfortunatly, does not cut it.

If you want to do this and are having trouble finding a site that offers server hosting, let me know cause I can link you to the one we use which is pretty reliable (Canada based, I believe). None off the top of my head though.

Then, all you need to do is add my map, dm_casual, to your server rotation.




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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by fraggard on Thu Jan 13th at 3:26am 2005

? quote:
Orph is right - professional servers are usually mounted into big spools with huge data pipes. T1 is the bare minimum to run any kind of decent server.

2mb DSL could just about cope with 3 players, assuming the people joining had fairly good connections themselves.


T1 is 1.544 Mbit

The real problem with DSL is that it's usually ADSL, and the upstream bandwidth is usually around 128~256 Kbit. That's not enough. If you had 2Mbit upstream, that would be brilliant.




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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by satchmo on Thu Jan 13th at 5:00am 2005

Informative. . .

Well, I just have this regular ol' DSL from Verizon. So I won't be hosting any server anytime soon. All these are new (and useful) information for me. Thanks a bunch.
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 Re: Hosting a DM server
Posted by SaintGreg on Thu Jan 13th at 5:18am 2005

And beyond that you will need one heck of a computer to run the server and play at the same time, not counting your bandwidth. For example at my college we get 10 Mbit duplex, plenty to run a good server on if I am not downloading something. BUT at around 8 players or so my computer just couldn't hack it anymore and my frame rate started dropping (this was a HL mod) below acceptable levels and everyone was all laggy n stuff. For HL2, I could probably only have about 4 people or so.

My friend has about the same computer as me and with 8 people on a lan game of HL2DM his computer just about hit critical mass. So keep that in mind that running a server off your own computer is probably not gonna work too well.





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