TF2 Server

[Incognitus]

Hi, I just got my own server up today but my friends are having problems joining it. I am able to join and even spawn some bots to kill but no one else can seem to join. I did everything the guide said and I have the ports forwarded so what do I do?

EDIT: Problem solved thanks Angellas.

 

[iWhiskey]

I assume this is being hosted on your home machine, and that you are behind a router or modem with a built-in firewall?

I would suggest PortForward for information on how to forward specific ports for your router/modem.

You will need to open ports 27015 and 27020 on both UDP and TCP. If you need any further assistance, get with me, I will see what I can do.

 

[Angellas]

By 'the ports forwarded' which ports do you mean? Did you forward TCP traffic or UDP traffic?

I'd be more than happy to take a peek at your router for you, but without more information that's all I can do.

You can also try a port scanner to see if your server's responding to requests on the ports you have open.

What operating System are you running the server off of? Is it a dedicated machine, or are you using your gaming machine as a server?

Finally...does your server have a static IP address? Many times people forward a port to an IP that's set Dynamically. If you're not a DHCP-junkie and don't have the MAC address tied to an IP address, then your server MUST have a static IP address.

 

[Incognitus]

I have all the ports forwarded and no firewalls to block the connection or anything. Do you have any other ideas.

Ports Fowarded:
27000 to 27020 UDP/TCP
27021 to 27050 UDP/TCP

I am using my own computer. It is a Windows XP and I have everything forwarded correctly because I used to have a website server and a MMO game I made using a program running off my computer to play over the internet.

 

[Angellas]

Well....if you're willing to let us remote in and take a peek, sure there are several options. Without knowledge of your networking design and/or IP addresses, there's no way to test for the things that are possible.

It MAY be possible that your ISP is blocking the ports. I'd scan it for you, but I don't have your PUBLIC IP address (nor should you post it). Hop in the onlins support chat, and we can walk you through the remote process. It's quite painless.

 

[iWhiskey]

You can join live chat here, since he forgot to mention the link.

 

[Passerby]

how are you friends trying to join you

i find that steam friends usually will grab your lan ip address if your hosting within your lan so you have to get them to connect with the connect command and your wan ip

 

[ronpaul]

how are you friends trying to join you

i find that steam friends usually will grab your lan ip address if your hosting within your lan so you have to get them to connect with the connect command and your wan ip

Bet that's the problem. Connect to your own server via your public IP address and not your LAN one (192.168.1.x etc). Use a service like DynDNS for dynamic host name so you don't need to remember your public address should it change and whatnot. Also make sure your server's sv_lan cvar is 0. They say make your launch options "+ip" to your WAN IP but I use my LAN IP and it works fine, e.g. +ip 192.168.1.1

EDIT:

Go here: http://whatismyip.com/. Copy that IP address. Launch TF2 and in the console type "connect x.x.x.x:27015" where the x's are your adress octets. If that doesn't work you have a port forwarding problem. If you can connect, try having your friends Join Game off of you in Steam Community and that should work just fine.

 

[Incognitus]

Wow sorry guys I forgot to put I fixed it as an edit, Angellas was able to make it work for me.