Posts: 1135
Joined: 2005-05-16
User Profile For making a PC dedicated stand alone server you first need to get the dedicated server files and also have the retail copy of Halo installed. You need the retail copy installed as well because the dedicated stand alone server needs to access your save games folder to look for the ER Event gametype you made.
Here's the MS site with links to the things you'll need.
http://www.microsoft.com/games/halo/downloads.aspx
Towards the end of the page is the Dedicated Server/Maps area. You'll need a copy of DEDICATED SERVER v1.02 and also DEDICATED SERVER UPDATE v1.07.
If you are running this server without wanting to install the retail version of Halo as well then you'll also need the maps - DEDICATED SERVER MAPS.
1. First install DEDICATED SERVER v1.02 (Halo_DS_1_02.exe) and then to complete the installation you'll need to replace the old haloded.exe file with the new DEDICATED SERVER UPDATE v1.07 haloded.exe file.
The Halo Server is installed here and this is where you replace the haloded.exe file:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo Server
This is all there is to installing and updating the dedicated server application.
2. Now you need to configure it. Halo servers need a init.txt file with a list of commands to run the server how you like. There's a Readme file within the main server folder but here's a sample you can use for your own rotation.
sv_name RW1_Clan_vs_Clan
sv_public True
sv_maxplayers 16
sv_mapcycle_timeout 10
sv_password ringers1
sv_mapcycle_add
sv_mapcycle_add wizard "ER Event"
sv_mapcycle_add longest "ER Event"
sv_mapcycle_add timberland "ER Event"
sv_mapcycle_begin"
As long as you've made your ER Event gametype the Halo server will look in the saved games area in the regular Halo install and run the map using that setup.
To allow for customisations that we can have you can make some additional ER Event gametypes. I wanted to run Wizard with only shotguns and made a gametype ER Event Shot with all the regular settings except for No Shields and weapons all set to shotguns. I also wanted a rockets map and sniper map and made ER Event Snipe (Sniper Rifles, No Shields and Warthogs) and ER Event Boom (Rockets and Warthogs). My new server configuration file looks like this.
sv_name RW1_Clan_vs_Clan
sv_public True
sv_maxplayers 16
sv_mapcycle_timeout 10
sv_password ringers1
sv_mapcycle_add
sv_mapcycle_add wizard "ER Event Shot"
sv_mapcycle_add timberland "ER Event Snipe"
sv_mapcycle_add bloodgulch "ER Event Boom"
sv_mapcycle_begin"
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Here's an update on how to manually add custom gametypes to a server that's only running the dedicated server application. This update is in the official server readme.
You can create custom game types (using the full retail version of Halo) and include these game types on your server rotation. This would enable you, for example, to include a Rockets only game on your server rotation. To do so, follow these steps:
· Launch the full retail version of Halo.
· Under Multiplayer, choose Edit Game Types.
· Create a new game type (refer to the Halo documentation if you need help to do this).
· Save your new game type.
· Quit Halo.
· Open your Halo save games folder (by default, this would be “My Documents\My Games\Halo\savegames”).
· You will see the name of the custom game type you created as a folder directory.
· Make sure this folder is available on your server (in the same location on disk).
· Use the name of your custom game type in your mapcycle.txt file.