How to Host a Dedicated TF2 Server

Welcome, Dev, to our guide on how to host a dedicated TF2 server. Team Fortress 2 is a popular first-person shooter game with a huge player base. By hosting your own server, you can customize the game settings, create private matches, and have complete control over the gameplay. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps of setting up a dedicated TF2 server from scratch. Let’s get started!

1. System Requirements

Before you start setting up your server, you need to ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements. The recommended system requirements are as follows:

Minimum Requirements	Recommended Requirements
1.7 GHz processor	3.0 GHz processor
512 MB RAM	1 GB RAM
Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 or Linux	Windows 10 or Linux
DirectX 8.1 compatible video card	DirectX 9 compatible video card

If your system doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, it may not be able to handle the load of running a dedicated TF2 server. It’s recommended that you have a dedicated machine or a Virtual Private Server (VPS) for hosting the server.

2. SteamCMD Installation

The first step in setting up a dedicated TF2 server is to install SteamCMD on your system. SteamCMD is a command-line utility that allows you to download and update Steam game servers. Follow the steps below to install SteamCMD:

Step 1: Download SteamCMD

You can download SteamCMD from the official Valve website. The download link is as follows: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD.

Step 2: Install SteamCMD

After downloading SteamCMD, extract the contents of the zip file to a folder on your system. You can rename the folder to “SteamCMD” for easy reference.

Step 3: Run SteamCMD

To run SteamCMD, open a command prompt or terminal window and navigate to the folder where you extracted the SteamCMD files. Run the following command to start SteamCMD:

./steamcmd.sh

If you’re using Windows, run the following command instead:

steamcmd.exe

SteamCMD will start downloading the necessary files to your system. This process may take a while depending on your internet connection speed.

Step 4: Login to Steam

After SteamCMD finishes downloading the files, you need to login to your Steam account. Run the following command:

login

Replace and with your Steam account credentials.

3. TF2 Server Installation

Now that SteamCMD is installed on your system, you can start installing the TF2 server files. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Create a Folder for the Server

Create a folder on your system where you want to install the TF2 server files. You can name the folder anything you like. For example, we’ll name our folder “tf2server”.

Step 2: Update SteamCMD

Before installing the TF2 server files, you need to update SteamCMD. Run the following command:

app_update 740 validate

This command updates SteamCMD with the necessary files to install the TF2 server.

Step 3: Install the TF2 Server Files

After updating SteamCMD, run the following command to install the TF2 server files:

app_update 232250

This command downloads and installs the TF2 server files to the folder you created in Step 1.

4. Configuring the Server

After installing the TF2 server files, you need to configure the server settings. The configuration files are located in the “tf/cfg” directory of your server folder.

Step 1: Server.cfg File

The “server.cfg” file contains the basic server settings such as server name, password, and game rules. You can edit this file using any text editor. Here’s an example configuration:

// Server Name
hostname "My TF2 Server"
// Rcon Password
rcon_password "myrconpassword"
// Game Settings
mp_timelimit 30
mp_maxrounds 3
mp_winlimit 2
mp_disable_respawn_times 1

Save the file and exit the text editor.

Step 2: Mapcycle.cfg File

The “mapcycle.cfg” file contains the list of maps that your server will cycle through. You can add or remove maps from this file depending on your preference. Here’s an example configuration:

// Mapcycle
ctf_2fort
cp_badlands
koth_harvest_final
pl_goldrush
plr_hightower
ctf_turbine
cp_dustbowl

Save the file and exit the text editor.

Step 3: Bans.cfg File

The “bans.cfg” file contains the list of banned players from your server. You can add or remove players from this file depending on your preference. Here’s an example configuration:

// Bans
"76561198012345678" "Permanent Ban"
"76561198087654321" "Temporary Ban for 1 week"

Save the file and exit the text editor.

5. Starting the Server

After configuring the server settings, you’re ready to start the server. Run the following command to start the server:

./srcds_run -game tf -console -autoupdate +maxplayers 24 +map ctf_2fort +ip +port

Replace and with your server’s IP address and port number. For example:

./srcds_run -game tf -console -autoupdate +maxplayers 24 +map ctf_2fort +ip 192.168.1.100 +port 27015

The server will start and you’ll see the console output in your terminal window. You can now connect to your server from the TF2 game client.

FAQ

1. Can I host a TF2 server on a shared hosting account?

No, it’s not recommended to host a TF2 server on a shared hosting account as it requires a lot of resources and may violate the hosting provider’s terms of service.

2. Can I host a TF2 server on a VPS?

Yes, you can host a TF2 server on a VPS. Make sure that your VPS meets the recommended system requirements and that you have enough bandwidth to handle the load of running a dedicated server.

3. How do I add custom maps to my server?

You can add custom maps to your server by downloading the map files and placing them in the “tf/maps” directory of your server folder. Then, add the map name to the “mapcycle.cfg” file as described in Step 4.

4. How do I update my TF2 server?

To update your TF2 server, run the following command:

./steamcmd.sh +login +app_update 232250 validate +quit

Replace and with your Steam account credentials.

5. How do I backup my TF2 server files?

You can backup your TF2 server files by copying the entire server folder to a backup location on your system or a remote location using FTP or SCP.

Congratulations, Dev! You’ve successfully learned how to host a dedicated TF2 server. Enjoy customizing and playing with your friends on your own server.