How to host your own Team Fortress 2 game server and have it show up in steam. (Read everything slowly and carefully)

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1. Download the hldsupdatetool.exe.

2. As you install hldsupdatetool.exe, browse and create a new install directory called "c:\hlserver" and then continue to install in that directory. Make sure you select the correct region you live as well.

3. After the install completes go to run and type: cmd. Once the command prompt window opens type "cd c:\hlserver" and hit enter. Now type "hldsupdatetool.exe -command update -game tf -dir c:\hlserver" and hit enter. (Do not include quotes around these commands).

4. Now hldsupdatetool.exe will update/download your tf server files to your computer. Do not get impatient with this update process. Depending on your connection this could take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. (No joke)

5. Once the hldsupdatetool.exe process reaches 100% you can close the window.

6. Now create a shortcut to your desktop by navigating to the srcds.exe file, the path should look like this "C:\hlserver\orangebox\srcds.exe" Then right click on your new shortcut and left click on properties. In the Target line add this "-game tf -console -port 27015 +maxplayers 24 +exec server.cfg +map ctf_2fort". The entire thing should look like this "C:\hlserver\orangebox\srcds.exe -game tf -console -port 27015 +maxplayers 24 +exec server.cfg +map ctf_2fort".


VERY IMPORTANT

7. In order to allow a deticated server to be seen by the rest of the world in the steam server list there are a few things you need to do. Make sure you know your servers internal ip. To do this open up a command prompt and type ipconfig, look for the line that says, "IPv4.............: 192.168.2.7" or whatever it is. I just used that number as an example. Then log into your router and add that ip with port 27015. Every router is different, you will have to navigate around to find where you can add you internal ip and port so that it can be seen in steam. Once that is done you should be ready to launch your deticated tf2 server.

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Just for the record, as you can see I used tf because I created a tf2 server. You might want to create a different deticated server, like CSS. If so, this is what the CSS command line in the command prompt window would look like: "hldsupdatetool.exe -command update -game Counter-Strike Source -dir c:\hlserver", without the quotes of course. Below I've included a helpful list of game abbreviations you could use in "your" server.

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Here is a list of the source engine games.

"Counter-Strike Source" - Counter-Strike Source
"dods" - Day of Defeat: Source
"hl2mp" - Half-Life 2: Deathmatch
"tf" - Team Fortress 2

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Here is a list of the first gen valve games below.

"cstrike" - Counter-Strike 1.6
"czero" - Counters-Strike: Condition Zero
"dmc" - Deathmatch: Classic
"dod" - Day of Defeat
"gearbox" - Opposing Force
"ricochet" - Ricochet
"tfc" - Team Fortress Classic
"valve" - Half-Life Deathmatch

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