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Tips for running a Soldier of Fortune Server

By HELNiteTemplar

** I have had many people ask me questions about running a server for SOF and also about using rcon commmands.  This file will hopefully answer most questions.  When I first started running my server, I wanted as much information as I could find about it. However, there was almost no information available.  Through searching the forum boards and talking to other SOF server admins, I gradually learned what I needed to know.  The stuff in this file did not originate with me by any means.  The two most knowledgeable people in SOF are Kuren/Beaker of DK and Intruder from the Ravensoft forum board.  Some of this information is going to be real basic, but I am putting it in anyway.**



I. THE BASICS

A.  What is the difference between running a non-dedicated or dedicated server?  

A non-dedicated server is started from within the SOF game itself.  The host can play on this server; however, as the number of players increase, the host play experience will decrease as well as the clients.  A non dedicated server is okay for 4 to 5 players if the host computer has the necessary requirements (CPU, memory, bandwidth)  A dedicated server is started from outside the SOF game, either thru the start menu or thru a desktop shortcut. The computer running the server is used only for hosting the game.  A small DOS box will be on screen describing the action.  A dedicated server will provide the best play experience for the clients (players).

B. What requirements do I need to run a server? To run a server with 8 to 10 people, I would recommend at least the following:

                1.  CPU = 500 Celeron (Intel) / P3 or higher.  The faster the processor the better, also
                the AMD K6 processors do not perform well, I know this from direct experience!
                 2.  Memory = 256 minimum
                3.  Bandwidth = 300 KB Up/Down (approx 30 KB per client)

 * There is a nice little program at  http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network.htm called NetStatLive that will monitor your CPU usage and bandwidth *

C. What else can I do to help the performance of my server?

                1. Reboot the computer before starting the server.
                2. Hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete one time. In the box that appears the only two necessary programs are Systray and Explorer.  Any other open programs will reduce your system resources.  To check system resources hit Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Performance. There will be a % showing your system resources, the higher the better!
                3. When the dedicated server is running, dont open any other programs or even type at the keyboard.  This will reserve as much resources as possible for the server.
                4. Tweak the settings in the dedicated.cfg file in the user folder for SOF (see below).

D.  PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER!! 

Protect your computer with some sort of firewall as your IP will be available to anyone with gamespy or similar utilities.

II. THE DEDICATED.CFG FILE

A. Desktop Shortcut: 
Create a shortcut on your desktop to the SOF.exe. 
Right click on the shortcut and type this in at the Target line:  "C:Program FilesRavenSOFSoF.exe" +set dedicated 1  
To start a dedicated server just double click this desktop icon.

B. In the RavenSOFUser folder you need to create a file called dedicated.cfg   
This file will contain your server specific settings.  
Here is an example dedicated.cfg file:

The / / means that the program will not read that line. 

//----------------------------------------------
// DEDICATED SERVER VALUES
//----------------------------------------------

// turn on the log file or not (look for sof.log file in your USER folder)
set logfile 0

// Default to a private server (set to 1 for a public one)
set public 1

// turn off or on the ability for users to download skins and stuff
set allow_upload 0

// set the game type
// 1 Sets host to Death Match mode. deathmatch "1" (default)
// 2 Sets host to Assassin mode. 
// 3 Sets host to Arsenal mode. 
// 4 Sets host to CTF mode. 
// 5 Sets host to Realistic mode 
// 6 Sets host to Control game for Control the Base (version 1.06+)
// 7 Sets host to Conquer the Bunker (version 1.06+)
set deathmatch 1

// Name of the server
set hostname "YourServerNameHere" 
 

// The welcome message to your server
set welcome_mess "YourWelcomeMessageHere"


// Cheats off
set cheats 0

// allow or disallow uploads of maps, skins, etc to clients
set allow_upload 0

// set the flags for game play 
// 01)=   No health pickups spawned in level
// 02)=   No item pickups in spawned in level
// 03)=   Weapons remain after being picked up
// 04)=   Player takes no damage from falling
// 05)=   Realistic, body part specific damage
// 06)=   Next level always same as current
// 07)=   Weapons do not reload
// 08)=   Teamplay is enabled
// 09)=   Player's fire can't hurt teamates
// 10)=   Players respawn immediately after dying
// 11)=   No armor pickups spawned in level
// 12)=   Weapons use no ammo
// 13)=   Weapon pickups rotate 
// 14)=   Bullet only weapons
// 15)=   Force Join for CTF (appies to newly joining players)
// 16)=   Activate Red/Blue team style /Conquer Teamplay                

unset_dmflags     01
unset_dmflags     02
set_dmflags      03
unset_dmflags     04
unset_dmflags     05
unset_dmflags     06
unset_dmflags     07
unset_dmflags     08
unset_dmflags     09
unset_dmflags     10
unset_dmflags     11
unset_dmflags     12
unset_dmflags     13
unset_dmflags     14
unset_dmflags     15
unset_dmflags     16
 

// Default to 16 as maximum number of players
// for ISDN use 2 to 4
// for Cable use 5 to 8
// for DSL use 4 to 12 depending largely on your upload speed
// for T1 use 8 to 16
set maxclients 10

// Set when a frag count hits xx - exit the level
// set fraglimit 500

// If you play a level for more than xx minutes - exit
set timelimit 20

// set the flag capture limit
// set ctf_loops 10

// set the control_limit for the end of a Control game
// set control_limit 500

// set the control_bonus for when a team hass all bases controlled
// control_bonus 3

// set the timeout time for a dropped flag
set ctf_flag_respawn_time 30

// Maximum number of allowed spectators
set maxspectators 2

// set the spectator password (uncomment by removing the // to enable)
//set spectator_password yourpasswordhere

// delay time to allow for chatting at the end of a game
set sv_reconnect_limit      10

// Penalty for killing yourself
set sv_suicidepenalty 2

// Overall movement scale, from 0 to 1 (.65 is half speed and 1.0 is full, set to 0 for no movement)
set g_movescale      1.0

// Default to the Raven list of deathmatch maps
set sv_maplistfile "RavDM"

// set passord for remote control of the server
set rcon_password yourpasswordhere

set maxrate 9000
set zombietime 1
set com_maxfps 35
set cl_maxfps 35

// sets the gore level. Default is 200, 100 will allow plenty of gore
// but help reduce overall lag
set sv_max_ghoul_mp 100

set sv_clienttrace 3.5

// sets speed of projectiles, most noticeable with rockets
set sv_maxvelocity 2000

// the following two settings will reduce lag as set
set sv_no_big_ents 1

set sv_flash_big_ents 0

//filter_add xx.xx.xx.xx  this command will ban the listed IPs from 
// joining your server

// Start the server by tellign it what map to begin with
map dm/raven

C. Maplists
RAVDM Maps
dm/nycdm1 - Warehouse (8 to 16 players)
dm/nycdm2 - Underground (4 to 6 players)
dm/nycdm3 - Pawn Shop (2 to 4 players)
dm/nycdm4 - Back Alley (2 to 4 players)
dm/nycdm5 - Bunker (2 to 5 players)
dm/kosdm1 - Sewers (4 to 8 players)
dm/irqdm1 - Refinery (6 to 8 players)
dm/irqdm2 - Palace (8 to 10 players)
dm/jpndm2 - Restaurant (2 to 6 players)
dm/raven - Raven office complex (4+players)
dm/suddm1 - Death Farm (6 to 10 players)
dm/suddm2 - Trainyard (6 to 8 players)
dm/suddm3 - Rusted (2 to 6 players)

RAVCTF Maps
dm/nycctf1 - Gangland (16 players)
dm/sibctf1 - Hell Freezes (16 players)
dm/irqctf1 - Wastelands (6 to 12 players)
dm/jpnctf1 - Parking (4 to 8 players)
dm/sudctf1 - Flag Frag (4 to 8 players)
dm/sudctf2 - Missile Base (16 players)
dm/gerctf1 - Castle Kill (6 to 10 players)
 

RAVRL Maps (Realistic)
dm/nycdm3
dm/nycdm4
dm/nycdm5
dm/kosdm1
dm/jpndm2
dm/raven
dm/suddm1
dm/suddm2

RAVCON Maps|
dm/irqcon1 - Power Plant (6 to 12 players) 
dm/koscon1 - Street Fight (4 to 8 players)
dm/koscon2 - Airfield (6 to 12 players)
dm/jpncon1 - Rooftop (6 to 10 players)
dm/sibcon1 - Cold Front (8 to 12 players)
dm/gercon1 - Castle (8 to 12 players)
dm/sudcon1 - S.I. (6 to 16 players)

RAVCTB Maps
dm/sudctb1 - Meat Plant (8 to 12 players)
dm/kosctb1 - Old Town (6 to 10 players)
dm/irqctb1 - Oil Toil (6 to 10 players)
dm/irqctb2 - Cargo Plane (8 to 12 players)
dm/irqctb3 - Building (6 to 12 players)
dm/jpnctb1 - Clean Room (6 to 12 players)
dm/sibctb1 - Icelock (4 to 8 players)
dm/sibctb2 - Snowbase (6 to 12 players)
dm/nycctb1 - Pendulum (8 to 12 players)
dm/nycctb2 - Death Barge (8 to 12 players)
dm/gerctb1 - Castle Gate (5 to 12 players)

D. Additional server commands: 
The following commands can be entered in at the DOS prompt line of a dedicated server, or at the console of the host in a non-dedicated server.

deathmatch 1  -  sets host to DeathMatch mode
deathmatch 2  -  sets host to Assassin mode
deathmatch 3  -  sets host to Arsenal mode
deathmatch 4  -  sets host to CTF mode
deathmatch 5  -  sets host to Realistic mode
deathmatch 6  -  sets host to Control mode
deathmatch 7  -  sets host to Conquer the Bunker mode
filter_add  xx.xxx.xxx.xxx  - bans this IP from joining your server
filter_remove xx.xxx.xxx.xxx  -  unbans this IP from joining your server
filter_list  -  lists all the IPs on the ban list
fraglimit xx -  sets limit for # of kills before map changes where xx is number
sv_maplistfile  -  selects which file of maps server will cycle through
sv_gravity  xxx  -  set the gravity level, 800 is default.  400 is 1/2 gravity.  -200 makes people rise to the roof
timelimit xx  -  sets amount of time before map will change
kick "name of player"  -  kicks the player 
kick 1  -  kicks the player listed as number 1 when status command is used
map x  -  will change the server to this map immediately when entered
maxclients x  -  will set server to x number of clients
password x - will set server password to x, will require all clients to have this password to connect
public - will make server public or not
say  -  message will appear at top of screen to all players
status -  displays client information:  ID #, Name, Ping, and IP

III. RCON

If someone you know is hosting a server, or you have access to another computer at a remote location at work or school,  you can still admin the server settings and clients with the rcon commands.  The rcon commands are identical to the above server commands with one exception.  You must type rcon then the command (example: rcon status).  In order for a player to rcon a server he must know the rcon password.  Once the password is known, the player must bring down the console and type rcon_password x, where x is the rcon password.(ex: rcon_password open)  Also there must be an underline between rcon and password. All the other rcon commands do not have an underline between them (ex: rcon status).  Another way of getting rcon access it thru the desktop shortcut.  Rt click your SOF shortcut on the desktop, at the target line: type this "C:Program FilesRavenSOFSoF.exe" +set console 1 +set rcon_address xx.xxx.xx.xxx +set rcon_password xxxx. This will always give you rcon access to the server with the IP listed in your shortcut.

IV. LINKS

Useful links to great information:
http://www.kuren.org/sof/   -  kurens home page with solid SOF information
http://sof.ravensoft.com/  -  ravensoft SOF support page, check out the messageboard for all kinds of interesting topics and help
http://www.geocities.com/autokick2000/  -  information about autokickk program that will automatically kick players with high pings
http://www.soffiles.com/  -  best source for all available files for SOF, which includes skins, maps, utilities and other files.
http://www.planetunreal.com/TheAdminPage/  -  This is a great site, its really for Unreal Tournament, but there is some stuff here that applies to all FPS games. Also a lot of nice links here.
http://www.cap-n-yo-ass.com/  -  This is another awesome site with maps and server files.
http://www.hel-guild.com  -  Shameless plug for my clans home!!!!