How to Setup a Steam Dedicated Server

This is a guide on how to setup a Counter Strike Dedicated Server on Linux.

The hldsupdatetool method is invalid now, CS 1.6 has been shifted to SteamCMD.

I'm assuming that you already have a debian flavour of linux installed, and are in the directory where you want to install SteamCMD in.


1. Let's make a new folder for SteamCMD.

mkdir SteamCMD

2.  Let's move into that folder. All your dedicated server files will be stored in this directory.

cd SteamCMD

3. If you're running a 64-bit version of linux, you'll have to install 32-bit libraries. If you own a 32-bit version, skip to step 4.

sudo apt-get install ia32-libs

4. Let's download the SteamCMD update tool.

wget http://media.steampowered.com/client/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

5.  Once downloaded, extract the contents into the SteamCMD folder.

tar xvfz steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

6. Let's run the SteamCMD updation tool

./steamcmd.sh

We've set up SteamCMD now. The above steps are the same for any steam based game that SteamCMD supports. In the next posts, I'll guide you through how to setup dedicated game servers for specific games.

How to Improve your Counter Strike Skills #1

1. Learn to not blame configurations or resolutions. 

There are professionals who play on every resolution, low sensitivity, high sensitivity - pretty much anything they can get their hands on. A good Counter Strike player is known for consistency. I'd prefer a player who does well in every match, rather than one who is amazing in a few and awful in the others.

2. Consistency

Consistency isn't just about playing on the same settings. Sit comfortably and make sure that you retain your arrangement every time your play. Avoid leaning forward/backward based upon how the game is going. These small aspects can make a big difference in your Counter Strike gameplay.

3. Muscle Memory

I'm surprised by the lack of content on Muscle Memory with respect to Counter Strike or gaming in general. Reflexes are a big part of gaming, and are improved through training your muscles. Let's look at an example to understand this better. If you haven't played basketball in a year and try to shoot - odds are you're going to miss. The more often you shoot, the better you get at it. Why does this happen? Muscle memory. Your body learns how hard and at what angle you should throw to make a basket through repetition. Any task becomes easier if repeated multiple times. In CS 1.6, if you play in the same spot on a certain map, you'll eventually learn how high above the ground you'll need to aim to get a headshot. This knowledge gets embedded in your muscles. If you change your settings/position, you'll disrupt your muscle memory.

Finally, how to actually Play!

First, decide who is going to be your server.

Instructions for Everyone

• Turn off your net connection
• Launch CS 1.6
• Minimize CS 1.6, make sure that the grey hamachi window is open, and Hamachi is powered off.
• Now turn on your net connection and power on Hamachi.
• Now you'll be connected to the network that you had joined previously.

Instruction for Server

• In CS 1.6, Click New Game. Name your server appropriately, and start the game.

Instructions for Non - Server Players

• In CS 1.6, Click Find Servers. Open the LAN tab, and click refresh. The server should be the only one on the list. Double click on it to join the game.

Setting up Hamachi

Any one of you will have to create a network in Hamachi. You'll be asked to set a password too, for protection purposes. Once this is done, ask all the others in your group to join the network, by giving them the network name and the password.

• Turn off or disable your firewall when you play using Hamachi. If you are using the Windows firewall, remember to turn it off from the Control Panel.
• If turning off firewall doesn’t work, try setting exceptions for ‘Half Life Launcher’ from within the firewall program.
• Run Hamachi. Click the last button and choose Preferences. Then click Window and check the Show “Advanced…” peer menu item checkbox and click OK.

For every new player who joins your network(s) you have to do the following steps:

• Right click the player’s entry in Hamachi
• Click Advanced.
• In the Peer VPN alias box enter the first three parts of your Hamachi IP address (example: 5.46.80) and add the last part of the player’s IP address ( example: .190) so that it makes a new IP address.
• Click OK and then exit Hamachi. Launch Hamachi again.

NOTE - Every single player has to set an alias for every other player on his network, and the alias addresses have to be unique.

Proceed to next part : Finally, how to play!

Source: suhas-tech.blogspot.com

Installing Hamachi 1

Downloading Hamachi 

Download Hamachi 1 from
FileHippo Hamachi 1 Link

During the installation, it is not required to opt for the premium version. The normal one will do.

Proceed to next part : Setting up Hamachi

Installing Counter Strike 1.6

Downloading Counter Strike 1.6 (Non-steam)

As you may already be aware,  use of torrent applications and peer to peer networking for downloading games such as given below is illegal. Do so, at your own risk.

Download the torrent from The Pirate Bay CS 1.6 Link

Run both the .exe files.

You've now Installed Counter Strike 1.6(Non-Steam) and the extra maps along with it.

Proceed to the next part : Downloading/Installing Hamachi

Basics

Things You'll Need to Do

1. Install Counter Strike 1.6 (No steam)

2. Install Hamachi 1

3. Setup Hamachi 1

4. Disable all Firewalls

Basic Concept


Hamachi is a program that creates a VPN (Virtual Private Network). So, the computer treats your friends over the internet as friends over a LAN connection. The procedure for playing over the internet without hamachi, is a far more complicted procedure involving Port forwarding and a Dedicated server setup.