Game Server FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a list of questions and answers we thought might be useful, not just to GTXGaming customers but also everybody else. If you want to post an article here that might help the gaming community please send us via email in the contact us page.

Call Of Duty 4 Help

How to get your server populated
Rcon and config Command List
How to edit server config
Pam Modes
How to stop helicopters shooting
Punkbuster Messages Template (PBSV.cfg)
Punkbuster Messages Configuration
Promod Modes
Promod: Edit a custom ruleset
Installing Custom Maps
Punkbuster Server Guide

Downloads:

Modern Rcon 0.8 Download

How to get your server populated

Getting your server busy with public users can be a bit puzzling. So here are some good tips that i have found to work rather well. You can do all of these steps or just one or two, but i have had a lot of success when turning a dead server into a heaving gore fest within a couple of days.

Teamdeath match as default:
Having your server set to a team deathmatch rotation really improves the amounts of people joining your server. You can always use modernrcon to change it to Search & Destroy once you have at least 10 people playing. Its nice to come home from work and see 20 people playing on your server and you can just changed it to S+D, only about 2-4 people will leave.

Set scr_war_playerrespawndelay:
Setting the respawn delay to only 1 second, noone wants to wait around for the default 10 seconds to respawn, most people will just get bored and leave, especially if you are owning them ;)

Map Rotation:
Your map rotation will be set to the default GTXGaming rotation of Team Deathmatch Crash, Crossfire, Vacant, Strike, Overgrown.
We find this to be the best rotation for keeping the public interested.

Advertising your IP:
Make sure your server is well advertised, on your website, and maybe in your xfire or MSN subtitle.

How to Edit Server Config

To edit the settings of your server so the settings are permanent do the following steps.

1. go to www.gtxpanel.com
2. go to game services
3. click on the game server you wish to change
4. click on default config files
5. Click edit on the right hand side next to server configuration
6. edit the settings how you want them
7. Click save at the bottom when finished
8. Restart game server to enable new settings

Promod Public Mode

Add this to the bottom of the promodserver.cfg or server.cfg if your not using default GTX mods.

/rcon promod_mode custom_public

Match Mode

/rcon promod_mode match_hc

Pam Modes

sets pam_mode ed_hc // In config file. Sets to hardcore enemy down
sets pam_mode cb_hc // In config file. Sets to hardcore enemy down

Clan Base Optional rules

Perks (Standard):
On : Perks on (pam_mode cbperks) (Default)
Off : Perks off (pam_mode cb)

Perks (Applies to Hardcore Ladders only):
On : Perks on (pam_mode cbhcperks) (Default)
Off : Perks off (pam_mode cbhc)

Rcon Command List

These are the commands for cod4

killserver
quit
map_restart
say "my message"
tell [clientnum] "my message to you"

server settings
--------------
map rotation example
sv_mapRotation "gametype war map mp_crash gametype war map mp_strike"

"dm" - free for all deathmatch
"dom" - domination
"koth" - headquarters
"sab" - sabotage
"sd" - search & destroy
"war" - team deathmatch

sv_hostname "my server name"
g_gametype
sv_maxclients [1-32]
g_password "my password"
sv_voice [0-1]
scr_teambalance [0-1]
g_allowvote [0-1]
sv_punkbuster [0-1]
sv_minping [0-n] (milliseconds)
sv_maxping [0-n] (milliseconds)
sv_connectTimeout [0-n] (seconds)
sv_timeout [0-n] (seconds)

gameplay options
----------------
scr_oldschool [0-1]
scr_hardcore [0-1]
scr_game_spectatetype [0-2] (Disabled, Team/Players Only, Free)
scr_game_allowkillcam [0-1]
scr_team_fftype [0-3] (Disabled, Enabled, Reflect, Shared)

scr_game_perks [0-1]
scr_game_onlyheadshots [0-1]
scr_game_forceuav [0-1]
scr_game_hardpoints [0-1] (i.e. artillery, uav, helicopter)
scr_hardpoint_allowartillery [0-1]
scr_hardpoint_allowuav [0-1]
scr_hardpoint_allowhelicopter [0-1

free for all deatmatch
-----------------------
scr_dm_scorelimit [0-n]
scr_dm_timelimit [0-n] (minutes)

domination
-----------
scr_dom_scorelimit [0-n]
scr_dom_timelimit [0-n] (minutes)

team deathmatch
-----------------
scr_war_scorelimit [0-n]
scr_war_timelimit [0-n] (minutes)

sabotage
---------
scr_sab_scorelimit [1-n] (points)
scr_sab_timelimit [0-n] (minutes)
scr_sab_roundswitch [0-n] (after how many rounds)
scr_sab_bombtimer [0-n] (seconds)
scr_sab_planttime [0-n] (seconds)
scr_sab_defusetime [0-n] (seconds)
scr_sab_hotpotato [0-1] (shared bomb timer)

search and destroy
-------------------
scr_sd_scorelimit [1-n] (points)
scr_sd_timelimit [0-n] (minutes)
scr_sd_roundswitch [0-n] (number of rounds before switching teams)
scr_sd_bombtimer [0-n] (seconds)
scr_sd_planttime [0-n] (seconds)
scr_sd_defusetime [0-n] (seconds)
scr_sd_multibomb [0-1]

headquarters
-------------
scr_koth_scorelimit [1-n] (points)
scr_koth_timelimit [0-n] (minutes)
koth_autodestroytime [0-n] (seconds)
koth_kothmode [0-1] (classic mode, non-classic)
koth_spawntime [0-n] (seconds, hq spawn time)

Punkbuster Messages template (PBSV.cfg)

For an example if you wanted your automatic console messages for 60 seconds you would copy and paste the following into you pbsv.cfg Which is located in the default configs section of your game server control panel.

pb_sv_task 60 420 "say message 0"
pb_sv_task 120 420 "say message 1"
pb_sv_task 180 420 "say message 2"
pb_sv_task 240 420 "say message 3"
pb_sv_task 300 420 "say message 4"
pb_sv_task 360 420 "say message 5"

You can change the messages but make sure it says say so example; pb_sv_task 60 420 "say Please Have Fun"

How to Stop Helicopters Shooting!

Add this command to the server.cfg and those helicopters will just fly around without shooting.
Your server will still remain ranked!!! ;)

scr_heli_turretClipSize "0"

Auto Messages Configuration

easy peasy lemon squeasy ^^

in your PB folder open pbsv.cfg
if you dont know have a pbsv.cfg quickly use the rcon on your server and type /rcon pb_sv_writecfg

now you have a pbsv.cfg open it and put any where inside

pb_sv_task 20 1000 "say ^6Welcome to My Clan's server."
pb_sv_task 200 1200 "say ^1No Bad Language please"

Now to keep this simple

pb_sv_task can be used as many times as you like.
The first set of number is the time the first message will be shown when you enter the server. pb_sv_task #1 #2

pb_sv_task 20 means the message will be shown 20 in to the game and never repeated

the second set of numbers is the reapeat time.
pb_sv_task 20 1000 - 20 seconds for the first massage and every 1000 seconds the message will be displayed again.

Remembering my example and my times. This is very important ^^
pb_sv_task 20 1000 - 20 seconds and 1000 repeat.
If you want your message to be shown in the order and in the same time frame you need to change the repeat time to 1000 + shown time.

for exmaple.

Message A, B and C
pb_sv_task 20 "say ^6Welcome to My Clan's server."
pb_sv_task 30 "say ^5No Bad Language please"
pb_sv_task 40 "say ^4Have Fun!"

The message will be shown every 10 second after each other when you first join the game. If you want this same order 5 minutes later (thats 300 seconds)
300 second will be your first time, but your next message will be 330.

This is very easy to work out.
First message repeat time + current message show time.
300 + 30 = 330
second message
300 + 40 = 340

Message A, B and C with repeat times.

pb_sv_task 20 300 "say ^6Welcome to My Clan's server."
pb_sv_task 30 330 "say ^5No Bad Language please"
pb_sv_task 40 340 "say ^4Have Fun!"
pb_sv_task 100 400 "say and so on"
pb_sv_task 250 550 "say and so on"
pb_sv_task 300 600 "say and so on"

Calculations from second task always.

30 + 300 = 330
40 + 300 = 340
100 + 300 = 400
250 + 300 = 550
300 + 300 = 600

of course if you want rulse or a extra message just out side of your message order type when you want the first message and repeat time

pb_sv_task 50 200 "say ^6 Admin Abuse is only accepted oraly"
(first massage 50 seconds from first join, and repeated every 200 seconds)

40 to 60 seconds (1 minute) is a good time for the first message, as the first minute or so is spent on choosing witch side and weapon by the player.

I think you can show maximum 3 messages at one time as the 4th would be pushed in to console and never seen. Thats taken in to consideration that each sentence is less then around 10 words per line as it would make a second line like a second message only leaving you one message space.

Custom Maps Installation

First off you need a Mod to run the Custom Maps with, in my experience Modern Warfare isnt designed to run custom maps. The mod i use is AWE4.

Next install your mod of choice (AWE4 in my case).

Next create a "usermaps" folder in the root of your server. Same level as the Main & Mods folder. Do this in file manager on the control panel, or using FTP.

Download a Map of your choice, i am using mp_matmata. Extract the contents of the zip/archive onto your PC, then making sure you keep the folder name the same as the mapname ie mp_matmata upload it to the "usermaps" folder on your server. Usually there are 2 .ff files & 1 .iwd file. Make sure that you read the map instructions if any. Mp_matmata doesnt require the .iwd file to go into your mods folder but some do (so read the read me's)

To get people to download the files quickly you need to use the HTTP Redirect part in your server config file:

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//Download Redirect

set sv_allowdownload "1"
seta sv_wwwDownload "1"
seta sv_wwwBaseURL "http://mywebsite.com/cod4/"
seta sv_wwwDlDisconnected "0"

Obviously replace the BaseURL with the one you are going to use, some Game Host might have there own Repository you could use. If you dont use this the Maps will download directly off your Game Server at 13kbs at best (usually) so a 30mb map will take ages to download.

Redirect Server folder structure needs to mirror your Game Servers Structure. Aim the redirect as the base directory not the usermaps one. So it should look like this:

BaseURL mywebsite.com/cod4

cod4/usermaps
cod4/mods/modwarfare (install it in Game Mods on the control panel)

Then using this method your public can also get the mods downloads from your redirect server too.

Then all you have to do is from a console
/rcon map mp_matmata

*Note* Not all custom maps support all gametypes. What we do is run it as Deathmatch/Team Deathmatch because all maps support these gametypes.

I think i have covered most thing, let me know any questions thoughts... Big Grin

=====
Maps i can confirm that work.
mp_matmata
mp_dhc_carentan (requires .iwd in mods folder)
mp_offices_v2
mp_dawn_beta_2

Promod: Editing a custom ruleset

These are instructions on how to edit a custom ruleset file for promod.

1. Download Winrar
2. Download the custom ruleset iwd to your desktop
3. open the ruleset with winrar
4. extract the gsc file from the ruleset with winrar
5. edit the gsc file with wordpad
6 save the gsc file in wordpad
7 drag the new edited gsc file into winrar to replace the existing file in the custom ruleset iiwd
8 re-upload the new edited custom ruleset iwd to the game server
9 start game server

Changing to COD:WAW New Maps in Patch 1.5

Hi to put them maps on type the following in the console while in game, press the key below escape to get the console up

This logs you into rcon
/rcon login rconpasswordhere

For example
/rcon map mp_kwai

the new maps actual names are

mp_kwai
mp_stalingrad
mp_docks

Or simply add them to the map rotation.

Connecting To Your Server

Just type the following in the console

1. Console Key (under escape)

2. type "connect ipaddress" replace ipaddress with the ip of your server.

Enabling Console In L4D

1. Open the game

2. Go to options

3. Then keyboard and mouse

4. Set Enable developer console to Enabled

Server Commands + Changing to 8 Player Versus Mode

Here are the simple commands to control your L4D server.

Open console in game or use HLSW rcon control.

Change Game Mode To Versus (8 Player)

Press Console Button under escape

rcon_password passwordhere
rcon maps * << this command shows u the maps availiable
rcon changelevel mapname << you copy the map name from the previous command, it will display the names of the maps after you type the rcon map *

Example of changing map: rcon changelevel l4d_vs_hospital02_subway (Do not put bsp)

To kick
In console
status << this gives you a list of players with numbers next to them
kick 2 < or whichever number/player you want to kick

Map Names
l4d_airport01_greenhouse
l4d_airport02_offices
l4d_airport03_garage
l4d_airport04_terminal.
l4d_airport05_runway.
l4d_farm01_hilltop
l4d_farm02_traintunnel
l4d_farm03_bridge.bsp
l4d_farm04_barn.bsp
l4d_farm05_cornfield.bsp
l4d_hospital01_apartment.bsp
l4d_hospital02_subway.bsp
l4d_hospital03_sewers.bsp
l4d_hospital04_interior.bsp
l4d_hospital05_rooftop.bsp
l4d_smalltown01_caves.bsp
l4d_smalltown02_drainage.bsp
l4d_smalltown03_ranchhouse.bsp
l4d_smalltown04_mainstreet.bsp
l4d_smalltown05_houseboat.bsp
l4d_vs_farm01_hilltop.bsp
l4d_vs_farm02_traintunnel.bsp
l4d_vs_farm03_bridge.bsp
l4d_vs_farm04_barn.bsp
l4d_vs_farm05_cornfield.bsp
l4d_vs_hospital01_apartment.bsp
l4d_vs_hospital02_subway.bsp
l4d_vs_hospital03_sewers.bsp
l4d_vs_hospital04_interior.bsp
l4d_vs_hospital05_rooftop.bsp

Connecting to your server with lobby

you can connect directly to the server I have set up by typing "connect 92.48.112.40:27015" in console.

That won't do you any good if no one is there though.

If you are in lobby and you want to force the lobby to join the server i set up its.

"sv_cheats 1"
"ms_force_dedicated 92.48.112.40:27015"

Add maps to the mani mod menu

Add the map name to votemaplist.txt, maplist.txt, and mapcycle.txt if you want them to be on the rotation.

They should be in your /addon/cstrike folder.

You will have to restart your server in order for the changes to take effect.

Left 4 Dead 2 Server Guide

Starting a game on your own server
Method 1 - As you may have discovered you can not open the console from the lobby screen. Instead, from the Main Menu, open console and type 'mm_dedicated_force_servers xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:xxxxx'. Then start a lobby in the gametype you choose (scavenge, campaign, versus etc) and when you click start it will create that gametype on the server you specified. **^{Provided your GSP allows these game types, read below for more info}

Method 2 - If you have a Steam group, get the group owner to go into its admin page and get the Steam Group ID#

Then in your server.cfg file on your server add a line 'sv_steamgroup xxxxxx' with the group ID. This way the server will list on the main menu for every member of your group. To start a game you can either

Pick the game type from the main menu and select the "Play on Steam Group Server" option, pick a server and that game type will be created on that game server
From the main menu, simply connect to the server and using rcon set the map and game mode you want - 'rcon map mapname gamemode'
gamemode - coop, versus, realism, teamversus, teamscavenge
NOTE: the 'rcon map' command will drop you from the server but the next time you connect it will be in the right mode
e.g 'rcon map c1m4_atrium teamscavenge' would create a scavenge mode game on the atrium map (finalle map in Dead Center)
If your server is password protected (like most servers from GSP's are) type the 'connect' string into console to connect to the server and again type the 'rcon map' commands to set the map you want - 'connect xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:xxxxx;password xxxxxxx'

Method 3
In your server.cfg file make a new line with 'sv_search_key xxxxxxx' making xxxxxx someting unique but not hard to remember.
e.g 'sv_search_key zeebobisgod'

From the main menu enter the exact same command with the search key specified and when you start the game from a lobby it will attempt to connect to to any server with the matching search key

Example server.cfg
//Left 4 Dead 2 Server.cfg
//This file goes inside your L4D server "cfg" folder
//Usually: \l4d\left4dead2\cfg\ <-- Place inside this folder

//----> Start of editable settings

//This is the name for your Left 4 Dead 2 Server
hostname "ZeeBOB's L4D2 Server"

sv_search_key "zeebobisgod"
//Gametypes sets the gametypes you want your server to run
//----> Versus Only: sv_gametypes "versus"
//----> Survival Only: sv_gametypes "survival"
//----> Coop Only: sv_gametypes "coop"
//----> Realism Only: sv_gametypes "realism"
//----> Team Versus Only: sv_gametypes "teamversus"
//----> Scavenge Only: sv_gametypes "teamscavenge"
sv_gametypes "coop,versus,realism,teamversus,teamscavenge"

//Rcon password - Sets the password for remote rcon admin
rcon_password "whatever"

//Steam group # to assign to server
sv_steamgroup 12345

//Set to 1 to only allow members of the steam group to make the initial connection to this server
sv_steamgroup_exclusive 1

//Allow connections without creating lobby. Set to 1 to allow lobby connections only
sv_allow_lobby_connect_only 0

//Region - This sets the lobby in which your server will be part of
//You will want to set this to the closest location to your server
//eastcoast - sv_region 0
//westcoast - sv_region 1
//south america - sv_region 2
//europe - sv_region 3
//asia - sv_region 4
//australia - sv_region 5
//middle east - sv_region 6
//africa - sv_region 7
//world - sv_region 255
sv_region 5

// Server Logging
sv_log_onefile 0 //Log server information to only one file.
sv_logbans 1 //Log server bans in the server logs.
sv_logecho 0 //Echo log information to the console.
sv_logfile 1 //Log server information in the log file.
sv_logflush 0 //Flush the log file to disk on each write (slow).
sv_logsdir logs //Folder in the game directory where server logs will be stored.

//Server Rates
sv_maxcmdrate 100 //(If sv_mincmdrate is > 0), this sets the maximum value for cl_cmdrate.

//Allow use of cheats
//0 = Off
//1 = On
sv_cheats 0

//All talk - Allow both teams to use audio chat to speak with each other
//0 = Off
//1 = On
sv_alltalk 0

heartbeat

//----> End of editable settings

Starting your server in a specific game mode (versus/scavenge/realism)

Like a lot of you I have wanted my servers to start up in versus/scavenge/realism mode automatically and not have the client need to set one up via a lobby... The answer:

- Create a new file called versus.cfg (or whatever you want) and make sure it is in the CFG's folder
- In the new cfg file enter the following: map c1m1_hotel versus

NOTE: you MUST specify a starting map before the +exec in your startup line. EXAMPLE:

./srcds_run -ip xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx -port xxxxx -console -game left4dead2 -secure -sv_unlag 1 -maxclients 12 -sv_pure 1 +map c1m1_hotel +exec versus.cfg

- In your servers startup line add this variable: +exec versus.cfg

REMEMBER: server.cfg will run on EVERY map change automatically and on server startup so there is no point specifying it in the server startup line, only specify the custom cfg with the game mode you want

REMEMBER: DO NOT put this map command in the server.cfg or your server will just constantly restart as it exec's the server.cfg file and changes the map again and again and again

Notes:
Starting modes are:
- coop - Campaign Mode
- versus - Versus Mode
- survival - Survival Mode
- realism - Campaign Mode (Realism Enabled)
- teamscavenge - Scavenge Mode

Scavenge maps are:
- c1m4_atrium
- c2m1_highway
- c3m1_plankcountry
- c4m1_milltown_a
- c4m2_sugarmill_a
- c5m2_park

If you dont want your server to be able to run any other mode be sure to specify the sv_gametypes command in your server.cfg

More to add as I remember/discover it

Counter Strike Fast Redirect How To

SV_DOWNLOADURL HOW TO!
To use sv_downloadurl you have to do a couple of things.

Ok lets say you have 3 sounds and 1 map for players to use well first we need to find webspace...

Once you have that you MIRROR what you have on your server to what you have on the web server.

Like this

Ok your 3 sounds are 1.mp3 2.mp3 and 3.mp3 and your map is aim_map2 and you have a .res file to distribute.

(I am assuming you are using Mani with auto download and you know how to make a .res file)

On your server they would be in these folders...

cstrike/sounds/admin_plugins/1.mp3
cstrike/sounds/admin_plugins/2.mp3
cstrike/sounds/admin_plugins/3.mp3
cstrike/maps/aim_map2.bsp
cstrike/maps/aim_map2.res (Helps people share .ain and .nav files)

Ok so lets say your webspace is at

http://www.mywebsite.com/

We would make a folder via ftp and name it 'cstrike'

So now your url is....

http://www.mywebsite.com/cstrike/

So now you mirrow your files on to the webserver...

.../cstrike/sounds/admin_plugins/1.mp3
.../cstrike/sounds/admin_plugins/2.mp3
.../cstrike/sounds/admin_plugins/3.mp3
.../cstrike/maps/aim_map2.bsp
.../cstrike/maps/aim_map2.res

These files need the permissions to allow public users to read them and download them

And in your server.cfg you will now place this CVAR

//Downloadurl CVARS
sv_downloadurl "http://www.mywebsite.com/username/cstrike/"
sv_allowupload 1
sv_allowdownload 1

You MUST have the quotes for the sv_downloadurl address!

Counter Strike Source HLTV TV

Add these settings to config and put some random 5 digit port

also here is a useful wiki http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SourceTV#Console_Commands

//sourceTV
tv_enable 1
tv_port 26***
tv_password 1337
tv_allow_camera_man 0
tv_maxrate 2500
tv_delay 90
tv_name name here
tv_title name here
tv_maxclients 1
tv_transmitall 1
tv_relaypassword gf1