(cod2 v1.3 compliant)

Dedicated Server Setup and Usage Guide
This guide assumes you have remote access, FTP, and at least one IP to your Dedicated Server box.

Dedicated Server Installation

Step 1 - Install The Server Files

Make sure your game install is patched and fully operational, including Punkbuster. If you need it, you can get the 1.3 patch HERE.
- Open C:/Program Files/Activision on your pc, and copy/paste the Call of Duty 2 folder to C:\ on your hard drive. To simplify things, rename the copy to cod2.

We now need to make sure your using a clean install of the server files, so we will clean everything up next.
- Open the new cod2 folder and delete anything you don't see here:


- Open the 'main' folder and delete both the 'save' folder and the 'players' folders.
- Replace the C:\cod2\main\players folder with this file: Download
- Remove anything else in the 'main' folder that you don't see here:

- Open the C:\cod2\pb folder and delete everything.
- Upload the cod2 folder and all of its contents to C:\ on your box.
It is critical that the naming and file structure remain intact, do not change anything.
This will take quite a few hours, so time it so it does not interfere with your normal pc usage.

Step 2 - Install The Punkbuster Files

The next thing to do is get the Punkbuster server files.
- Login to your box and create a folder on the desktop called "pbsetup".
- Download pbsetup.exe from Evenbalance to your new pbsetup folder from this link: PBsetup
- Run pbsetup.exe and click "Add a Game". Choose a CoD2 server. You might need to browse to the CoD2MP_s.exe file so that pbsetup knows where your CoD2 server is located.
- Once you have added your CoD2 server, select/highlight the CoD2 server in the list and click "Check For Updates". This should download a number of files to your CoD2 server directories. You do not have to do anything else at this time, but you will have to add cfg's and cheat detection checks later.

Step 3 - Copy The Game Files

- Before you do anything else, create a copy of the cod2 folder using copy/paste. You will need this if you plan to run multiple servers or if something goes fubar on your server you will have a fresh copy of the files. Just copy/paste it anywhere convienient.

Step 4 - Create The Startup Shortcut

- Login to your box and open the cod2 folder.
- Right click the CoD2MP_s.exe file and select "Create Shortcut". Drag the new shortcut to the desktop.
- Right click the new shortcut and select Properties.
- Find the Target field, you will see "C:\cod2\CoD2MP_s.exe"
- Add the following to the end of the existing target, do not delete or change any of the existing target!

+set dedicated 2 +set net_ip 123.456.7890 +set net_port 28960 +set sv_maxclients 32 +set sv_punkbuster 1 +exec server.cfg +map_rotate

Note: Make sure there is a space between CoD2MP_s.exe" and +set dedicated 2
Note: Change sv_maxclients to how many player slots you want.
Note: Change net_ip to your server ip.
Click Apply and OK.

Command Line Information
The command line is what starts your server, it sets the global variables for a server such as the IP and Port.
There are quite a few parameters you can use but I prefer to use the basics, the rest can be used in the server cfg to make changes much easier.
This is the startup command line for the above instructions: (Windows Only)
"C:\cod2\CoD2MP_s.exe" +set dedicated 2 +set net_ip 123.456.789.012 +set net_port 28960 +set sv_maxclients 32 +set sv_punkbuster 1 +exec server.cfg +map_rotate

Step 5 - The Server Configuration File

In combination with the startup command, all you need to run a stock server, is the cfg located here: Server.cfg
Edit it to your needs, don't forget to set your rcon password and put the file in the "C:\cod2\main" folder of your server installation.

Step 6 - Starting and Joining The Server

Double click the shortcut to start the server.
Your server should now start if you didnt make any typo's or configuration errors. Wait for 10-15 minutes and go seeif you can find it in the server browser. You may need to refresh a few times.
If you can't find it, stop the server for approx. 30 minutes and try again.
You can also use your console to connect, but sometimes it won't work. Open your console using the tilde (~) key.
Type in /connect xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (your server ip) and hit enter.

Remote Start/Stop Tools

If you have your own box, chances are you need a remote start/stop tool so you don't have to share access to the box. These are my 3 favorites:
ServerDoc (FREE - Easy install)
FireDaemon (30 Day Trial - Starts at $39 a Month)
TC Admin (Nice GUI - Starts at $15.95 a Month)

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Custom Mod Setup

Step 1 - Get The Mod File Set

Note: Adding mods is very easy, however you should know that there is a character limit of 1024 when the server starts and reads the .iwd files. I don't know if the devs patched this or not, but if you get a info_string error, or commonly known as the sum/mismatch error, the character limit has been exceeded. Community member Bullet Worm figured out a work around for this problem, and you can read it HERE

At any rate, adding a mod is easy.
- Find the mod you wish to add to your server. Most of the time mods come with a readme file with instructions on how to install the mod.
This may differ from the following steps, but the premise is the same.

For the sake of this how to, we will call it 'mymod'. You can name it anything you want btw.
- Create a folder called 'mymod' at the same level as your servers main directory. (see below)

Tip: At this point, you need to read the mods readme file on how to execute the mod. If the mod comes with its own server.cfg file, I prefer to use my own server.cfg and add the mod stuff to it. I just open the two side by side and compare.
I usually add the differences AND execute the mod right before the Map Rotation section of the server.cfg. Its neater, cleaner, and makes sure anything that effects any maps is loaded before the maps themselves.

- Open the server.cfg file and set the hostname, rcon password, and make any changes needed for the mod.
- Add the new server.cfg and all the mods files to the new 'mymod' folder on your server.

Step 2 - Create the Redirect Download Files

In order to allow players to join your server and download the needed mod files or custom maps you are running, you need to setup a redirect to a webspace and create some file structures to faciliate the process.

- Create a folder called "cod2".(most people use cod2, you can use w/e)
- Open the "cod2" folder and create a folder called "mymod".
- Create another folder called "main", right next to the "mymod" folder. If you plan to use custom maps in the future, you will need this folder. (see below)

- Refer to the mods readme file if needed, and place the client side mod files into the 'mymod' folder. Players need these files only, the rest is serverside.
- Upload the "cod2" folder and its contents to your websites Root directory (html folder or public_html folder, depending on your sites setup), keeping the file structure intact.

NOTE: You should be able to put the url in your browser (http://www.yourwebsite.com/cod2) and see the contents of the cod2 folder, the "main" and "mymod" folders.
If you can't view the files, you either installed the cod2 folder in the wrong place, or you have a permissions problem. Discuss permissions with your webhost if need be.

Step 3 - Setup The HTTP Redirect Download

All you need to do now is tell the server where the "cod2" folder is, the server will do the rest from there.
- In the server.cfg file, scroll down to the HTTP Redirect Download section.
- Find this line and change it to the website address of the "cod2" folder you created: seta sv_wwwBaseURL "http://www.yourwebsite.com/base_directory"
- The server will look for a folder called " cod2" at the url you specify, so for example, make the url to the download look like this:
seta sv_wwwBaseURL "http://www.yourwebsite.com/cod2". It is always one directory above the "main" or "mymod" folders.
EXAMPLE
set sv_allowdownload "1"
seta sv_wwwDownload "1"
seta sv_wwwBaseURL "http://www.yourwebsite.com/cod2"
seta sv_wwwDlDisconnected "0" (IMPORTANT: Set this to "0")

Step 4 - Edit The Startup Command Line

mymod will be your fs_game mod_folder.
In your command line, you will be adding this:
+set fs_game mymod

Finally, you need to change the command line to activate the mod:
+set fs_game mymod +set dedicated 2 +set net_ip 123.456.7890 +set net_port 28960 +set sv_maxclients 32 +set sv_punkbuster 1 +exec server.cfg +map_rotate
Note: Make sure there is a space between CoD2MP_s.exe" and +set fs_game
Note: Change sv_maxclients to how many player slots you want.
Note: Change net_ip to your server ip.

Thats it! Just start your server.

Adding Custom Maps

For custom maps to download to players, you have to have the files in two places at the same time. One set on the server, and one set on a website or file server of some sort.
Otherwise, the server will try to download the files to the player so slow that it can disconnect or timeout.

Step 1 - Create the Server Files

- Log into your server with FTP, and upload the map .iwd to your 'cod2/main' folder. The folder called 'main'.

Step 2 - Create the Redirect Download Files

- Open the 'cod2' folder on your webspace or redirect site that you created earlier.
- Upload the maps .iwd file to the 'cod2/main' folder, the folder called 'main'. (see below)

-Add the map to your mapstring on the server and restart.
As long as you have the file structures correct and in the correct places, and your Redirect setup properly, all should work as designed.

Step 3 - Testing

To test, jump on your server, you should get the downloads as you join. If the speed drops to around 12-20KB/sec, your redirect is not working. Double check your setup.
Login with the admin password, and issue the map command /rcon map mapname
Add the map to your map rotation. ex. "gametype war map mp_balarda"

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Multiple Server Installation

Option 1 - Multiple Game File Installs

This option requires that you copy/paste the game install as many times as needed.
- Using the install guide, install a server and get it totally functional, including punkbuster. Join the server and make sure screenshots, logfiles, everything is working.
Once everythings verified, stop the server.
- Open C: on your box, and create a folder called "servers", or "cod2servers", w/e you want, but i'll use "servers".
- Copy/paste the working server folder into the "servers" folder and name it cod21, repeat naming the next one cod22, then cod23, you get the idea.

This is a good time to decide a permanent naming convention for eachserver folder, trust me, down the road you'll be glad you did. One way is have different size servers and name them that way, cod220, cod224, cod232, etc. Or, you can name them by gametype, tdm, sd, ctf, etc. So think about it for a minute, then name them.

- Create the desktop shortcuts next, naming them the same as each server, so you can tell them apart.
- Edit the Target fields of the shortcuts, setting the command line, assigning ip's, ports, and so on.
- Edit your server cfgs for each server, check/edit your PB cfg's as well.
If you have multiple IP's on your box, use one for each server. If you have one IP, just use different port numbers. E.G. 28960, 28961, 28962 etc etc.

Option 2 - Single Game File Install

This option uses one game file install, with custom command line settings and individual server file sets.
- Using the install guide, install a server and get it totally functional, including punkbuster. Join the server and make sure screenshots, logfiles, everything is working.
Once everythings verified, stop the server. You should have a working server at C:\cod2.
- On your box, open C: and create a folder called "servers".
- Open the "servers" folder, create 3 server folder sets, cod11, cod22, cod23, each one containing a "main" folder, and a "pb" folder.

Folder - cod21
-main
-pb

- Add a server cfg to each 'main' folders and PB cfg's to each PB folders.
- Open the cod2 (the working game install) folder and create 3 shortcuts to CoD2MP_s.exe (Step 4 of install guide), rename them to reflect each server, and drag them to the desktop.
- Using Step 4 of the install guide as a reference, change the Target line for cod21 to this:
C:\cod2\CoD2MP_s.exe +set fs_homepath "C:/servers/cod21" +set fs_basepath "C:/cod2" +set dedicated 2 +set net_ip 123.456.789.012 +set net_port 28960 +set sv_maxclients 32 +set sv_punkbuster 1 +exec server.cfg +map_rotate

fs_homepath = Your individual server folders you created. (C:\servers\cod21, cod22, etc)
fs_basepath = Your cod2 game files install. (C:\cod2)

Repeat for the other two shortcuts.
Each server will load all files on basepath, and then load all files on homepath. Each server will generate its own logfiles, screenshots etc.

Installing Mods and Game Patches
- Mods are installed on your servers like normal ( C:\servers\cod21\your_mod ), but you MIGHT need to install the same mod on the game file install ( C:\cod2\your_mod ) for them to work. I have not tested this to see for sure.
- Patches for the game and punkbuster will have to be applied manually to the game files install.( C:\cod2 )

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Home PC Server Installation

Router Requirements

Due to hundreds of different router configurations, there's no real way to guide you in the setup. However, what I can do is give you a quick overview of what you need to do, and point you in the right direction for the information you will need.
What you will need to do is create a static IP in your router, and then point the proper ports to that IP. You might even try placing that IP in the DMZ zone of your router as well.
Players will connect to your server using your EXTERNAL IP from www.whatismyip.com, while you will connect to the server using the Local option of the ingame browser.
To begin, go to this link HERE and find your router or a close model. On the next page look for Call of Duty 2, the procedure will be explained from there.

- You will need to allow the following ports:
UDP 20500
UDP 20510
UDP/TCP 28960

Additional Resources
http://www.olddogvt.net/cod-firewall
http://www.portforward.com

Determine Server Size

- Before you put your server online, you should try to determine how many players your server will support with minimal lag and max performance.
Rudedog of FPSadmin.com has posted this formula that works quite well in determining server max rate and max players:
http://www.fpsadmin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9016

Server Setup

- Copy your Call of Duty 2 folder and paste it into "C". Rename it to "cod2server". The path will be "C:\cod2server"
The reason for this is simple, using your game install as the server, which you can, is a bad idea. If you need to reinstall your game for some reason, you'll loose your server setup.
Also, you would be mixing your server stuff with your gameplay stuff and it just turns into a big mess.
- If you don't know your IP, you can get it at www.whatismyip.com, write it down of course.
- Copy/paste this into notepad and save it as 'server.cfg' into your "C:\cod2server\main" folder. The folder named main. server.cfg
- Open the server.cfg and set your rcon password and hostname, and save.
- Create a shortcut to CoD2MP_s.exe and name it cod2server or w/e so you know what it is, and move it to your desktop.
- Right click the shortcut and choose "Properties.
- Edit the "Target" line so it looks like this, click "Ok" and close the properties:

C:\cod2server\CoD2MP_s.exe +set dedicated 2 + set net_ip 123.456.789 +set net_port 28960 +set sv_punkbuster 1 +set sv_maxclients 8 +exec server.cfg +map_rotate

Note: Make sure there is a space between CoD2MP_s.exe" and +set dedicated 2
Note: Change sv_maxclients to how many player slots you want.
Note: Change net_ip to your server ip.

- Your server should now start by using the shortcut you created.
- Make sure both cod2server and CoD2MP_s.exe are allowed in the Windows Firewall, under the "Exceptions" tab usually.
If you use a Norton or McAffee type software firewall, you will need to allow the same in their respective exceptions as well.
(NOTE: Sometimes you just have to turn all the firewalls off, so be prepared to do so.)

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Server Administration

Logging Into Rcon

The rcon password is set in the server.cfg file, you must first login to rcon on the server before you can issue server admin commands.
Join your server and open the console with the tilde key (~).
Type in '/rcon login yourpassword' (without the quotes) and hit Enter.
Note: Always use, and never forget, the forward slash "/" when logging in or you will broadcast your rcon password to the other players on the server.
Note: To expand console to full screen, hold down Shift and hit the tilde (~) key.

Custom Desktop Shortcut

This creates a custom shortcut directly to your server, gives you rcon, and puts you in a private slot if you have that configured in your server.cfg.

Right click your MP desktop shortcut and choose Copy.
Right click your desktop and choose Paste.
Right click your new shortcut and choose Rename.
Rename it to w/e you want it to be called.
Right click the shortcut and choose Properties.
In the Target field you will see this:
"C:\Program Files\Activision\Call of Duty 2\CoD2MP_s.exe"
At the very end, after the quote mark, click there so you have a blinking cursor, then hit space one time.

Copy this and paste it in:
+rcon login ***** +password ***** +connect xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:28960"

It should look like this when done:
"C:\Program Files\Activision\Call of Duty 2\CoD2MP_s.exe" +rcon login ***** +password ***** +connect xxx.xxx.xxxx:28960"

Note: Replace the *****'s with your passwords for rcon and private slot. Replace the x's with your server IP.
Note: This will take you right into the server with the last profile you selected in multiplayer.
Note: Also note that you can edit in the IP and Port and share this as is, the rcon and password settings will be ignored.

Rcon Commands

Commonly Used Commands

Other Commonly Used Commands

Kick and Ban Commands

Remote Admin Tools

CoD2 does not have an ingame admin function other than rcon commands. Between these tools and the PB Webtool, you can perform any needed functions.
To use these tools or PB Webtool, you must minimize your game screen or run them from another pc on a home network.

Rcon Commander
Rcon Max
Modern Rcon
Half-Life Server Watch
Tatakai Server Scan

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Punkbuster Information

Because Punkbuster is a server itself, it requires cfg files and commands to tell it what to do. It is only as good as what you configure it to do, including running cheat detection scans and gathering screenshots. Cheat detection is accomplished by the use of cvar and md5 checks that you use on the PB server.
You need to get these checks from an anti-cheat group on the internet, such as PBbans, and Punksbusted. You will need to join these groups to gain access to the "private" checks they have to offer.
I suggest you join PBBans immediately, you can stream your logs to multiple Anti Cheat groups automatically, as well as have live banning to your server.

Anti Cheat Groups

PBBans
Punksbusted
Evenbalance (PunkBuster)

General Information

Note: The settings are a combination of public and stock settings supplied by Punkbuster.

These are links to the Evenbalance CoD2 sections.
Reference: Punkbuster for Admins
Reference: Punkbuster for Players

This is a link to the Punksbusted's PB Wiki.
Reference: PsB Wiki

This is a brief description of the files included in the download:
pbsv.cfg
This file is Punkbusters's server cfg file. It contains all the basic settings for your server, including the streaming info forPBbans.
pbsvuser.cfg
This file is used to load all the other cfg's included in the download.
pbss.cfg
This file contains the screenshot settings.
clan.cfg
This is the most important file. Messages, badnames, namelock, and all the features to PB are in here. This way you only need to edit one file normally.
pbbans.dat
This is the PB banlist. It is currently empty.
pbucon.use
This file is from the live banning feature of Punkbuster. It is needed by PBbans.

The Server Files

Download this file and unzip it. Download
Open clan.cfg with Notepad and scroll to the section called PB WEBTOOL SETTINGS.
Edit the HttpAddr with your server ip. Just the ip, no port number. It is set at 9025.
Editthe HttpKey line, this is your Webtool access password, use a good password, security is everything!!
Upload all the files from the zip to your servers 'pb' folder.
Restart your server.

Checking and Updating PB

You should now be able to go to your Punkbuster Server Webtool. The url would be like this: http://xxx.xxx.xxx:9025
The x's are your server IP, and 9025 is the port number set in the pbsv.cfg. If you get a error, double check the url you typed in, double check the clan.cfg, and if you still get an error contact your game server provider, perhaps they only allow certain ports for PB.
Remember that if you find an error and change something, you have to restart your server and check the url again.

Assuming you can see your Webtool, look at the bottom of the page for the version number of PB running on your server. It should look like this: v2.057 | A1383.
The number on the left is the server version that is running, the number on the right is the required client version number.
Go to Evenbalance and look at the Call of Duty 2 listing to see if yours is current, if not, go back to your Webtool.
Put your password into the Webkey field and click the "Command Screen" button.
Next, click the "pb_sv_update" button. In about 10-15 minutes, come back to the webtool, login, and click the "pb_sv_restart" button.
Check your version number again in a few minutes, you should be good to go.
Note: DO NOT click the "pb_sv_writecfg" button, it will wipe out your pbsv.cfg file.

Other Update Methods
The cfg's in the zip file above have the update command in them, under normal circumstances the server will update itself.
- You can use pbsetup if you installed it on your box, just remember to check the PB server version number afterwards, i have had it update to the old version before.
- You can login with rcon and execute the command /rcon pb_sv_update. A few minutes later, you need to issue the command /rcon pb_sv_restart.
- You can get the server update file from Evenbalance, upload it to your servers pb folder and restart the server, the file is located on this page here.
- Some server providers provide a PB Update link in their gamepanels.

Additional Features

There are many features to PB, they are in the clan.cfg in the download. I will address them in the same order as the cfg.
Note: The brackets >[]< are not used!

pb_sv__BadName [grace_seconds] [name-or-text] EXAMPLE - pb_sv_badname 0 www.
Adds a bad name to the server to disallow, such as player names, or even a clan tag.

pb_sv_NameLock [GUID or partial match] [Name to Lock]
EXAMPLE - pb_sv_NameLock 1234567890qwertyuiop "theMechanic"
This locks a GUID to a name, anyone that trys to use that name and does not match the GUID, will be kicked from the server.
NameLocks are not stored to disk automatically so Admins should add these to the clan.cfg file in order to have NameLocks extend to future server sessions.

pb_sv_powerguid [GUID] [Powerpoints] [Name]
EXAMPLE - pb_sv_powerguid 1234567890qwertyuiop 99 theMechanic
PB Player Power works with PBrcon to give server admins the abiltiy to have "deputy admins" by assigning point levels and commands to each admin. This way your server can be patroled by trusted players without giving out the actual rcon password to the server.
In my example above, i have 99 power points. In reality, you should only use 99 points as your top level because if someone with 100 points joins the server, it will disable everyones power but theirs. The following is an example of 3 power levels and a list of some of the commands you can set:

The example levels are as follows:
Basic - 25 Points - Kick/Screenshots
Intermediate - 50 Points - Kick/Screenshots/Say/Ban/Badname
Advanced - 99 Points - All PB Commands

All commands are done thru console, and most commands are preceded with /pb_rcon.

So, say you want to kick a player for using bad language.
Open console and type in pb_plist and hit enter.
This will list the players, and next to each one is their slot number, the player you want to kick is in slot #3.
Enter the command like this- /pb_rcon pb_sv_COMMANDHERE PLAYERSLOT# VARIABLE
So you would issue this command: /pb_rcon pb_sv_kick 3 10 language
This would kick player in slot #3 for 10 minutes for language.

Each command has some different variables required, heres the shortlist explanation:

Command: pb_plist - This will display the players, their slot number, and at least the last 8 digits of their guid.
Usage: pb_plist

Command: pb_sv_badname [grace_seconds] [name-or-text] - This can be used for people with foul language in their names, or to permanently ban a clan by using their tag.
Usage: /pb_rcon pb_sv_badname 0 name-or-text

Command: pb_sv_ban [name or slot #] [displayed_reason] [optional_private_reason] - Bans the player and displays the reason banned to to public.
Usage: /pb_rcon pb_sv_ban slot# reason

Command: pb_sv_getss [player_name_or_slot#] - This will get a screenshot of a player and put it in your CoD4/pb/scrnshot folder in YOUR game install.
Usage: /pb_rcon pb_sv_getss slot#

Command: pb_sv_kick [name or slot #] [minutes] [displayed_reason] - This will kick a player for a specified amount of time and display the reason to the public, see example above.
Usage: /pb_rcon pb_sv_kick slot# minutes reason

Command: pb_sv_rlist - This will display all available pbRcon commands loaded onto the server.
Usage: /pb_rcon pb_sv_rlist

This is the current list of commands set in the clan.cfg for PBrcon and the points required for access:
pb_sv_rcon 99 pb_sv_
pb_sv_rcon 50 pb_sv_ban
pb_sv_rcon 50 pb_sv_badname
pb_sv_rcon 50 pb_sv_say
pb_sv_rcon 25 pb_sv_map
pb_sv_rcon 25 pb_sv_mute
pb_sv_rcon 25 pb_sv_kick
pb_sv_rcon 25 pb_sv_getss

Server Messages/Tasks

pb_sv__Task [X] [Y] [command]
Adds a task to PB's Task List; The Task will be executed X seconds after entry and every Y seconds thereafter; use -1 for Y if a one-time task is desired; this can be used to execute game server commands as well as PB commands.

For messages, what this means is the message will load X seconds after PB starts, and repeat every Y seconds.
This is the example message command in the clan.cfg. 90 is X , 400 is Y, say is the command, and the message is Welcome to our server, enjoy and have fun!
pb_sv_task 90 400 say Welcome to our server,enjoy and have fun!

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