No this is not another topic on how to create a Halo Dedicated Server, I have already done that, however, I have a few questions that are specific to my problem, and people do not enjoy when new members revive old topics, so I will start my own.

First off, please read this whole post before commenting, I am looking to keep halo alive, and want to contribute to this community with quality content, as such I need complete answers from competent users, who are willing to read and understand the question.

Let me explain to you how I got where I am now with my Halo Server, so that you may tell me if the server I created is in error, or I am on the right track but need some tweaking. I downloaded the haloded.exe file. Placed it on my server, downloaded a strings.dll (since it always seems to be missing), and also created an init.txt file.

All these files are placed on the Desktop of the dedicated server in a file called Halo Server. To give you more detail, here is my init.txt file coding on the inside;

sv_name "Zero is back! | 24/7 | Old School Players"
sv_public 1
sv_maxplayers 16
sv_mapcycle_timeout 15
sv_mapvote true
sv_mapcycle_add bloodgulch "TS Snipers"
sv_mapcycle_add beavercreek "TS Rockets"
sv_mapcycle_add bloodgulch "TS Pistols"
sv_mapcycle_add beavercreek "S Nade Wars"
sv_mapcycle_add bloodgulch "TS Nade Wars"
sv_mapcycle_add beavercreek "CTF Shotguns"
sv_mapcycle_add bloodgulch "TS Nade Wars INV"
sv_mapcycle_add beavercreek "TS Pistols"
sv_mapcycle_add bloodgulch "CTF Shotguns"
sv_mapcycle_add beavercreek "TS Snipers INV"
sv_mapcycle_begin

I have port forwarded 2302 for my correct Internal IP 192.168.1.107 (which is the dedicated server), and I make sure the server is added as an exception in both incoming and outgoing connections in the firewall. This is as far as I have gotten, as you can see above I have created some custom game modes, but nothing special, I am working on more game modes now so I can incorporate more maps with those game modes and have it not be so repetitive.

Now that you know the EXACT state of my server and how / what steps I have taken in creating it, let me explain some of the issues I am running into.

1.) When I first start the server, everything works fine. I show up in the Lobby, Lan, and also can use Direct IP. However after about 30-60 minutes of the server not having anyone playing, it seems to "vanish" although the command prompt is still responsive and running.

Now what I mean by Vanish is no methods of connection work, it disappears from the lobby, and LAN screen, and Direct IP fails. I have checked filters to make sure nothing is blocking the server, but then why would Direct IP fail as it has no filters.

2.) The second issue I am running into is the server using the init.txt file to command a map-cycle file. Is there a way I can create a Map-Cycle file and have the server call on it like it does the init.txt file?

To finish off this topic, I would just like to know what I can change / add to improve the quality of the server. I do not mean mods / custom maps, but rather configuration changes, or perhaps server file structure knowledge. I am not new to running dedicated servers, I purchased an actual server station for running dedicated servers at my office. However I am new to Halo Dedicated servers, and I would like to release the best possible server for us Old School members and keep it going till the day I die...which will be the day halo pc dies....

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated, I have done lots of Google / YouTube searching, but only have found outdated tutorials or Tutorials that don't work at all. I did use my CD of Halo PC to install it on my server, will this effect my server running when I am playing with the SAME CD key? Also, I need my CD to play halo, but should I buy another copy so I can use the CD when RUNNING the server? Or will it running fine without a CD in?

Thank you and best of wishes,
0Z

I installed the game via CD, and used the newest patch. When in-game it says my game (On the dedicated server) is 1.0.10. I assume this means that my haloded.exe is the same version? If not how may I check / update the server files. Also where might those be stored, because at current I have three files inside that folder on the desktop.

I was under the idea, that the game files were actually the server files.

I double checked for you, I had disabled my firewall all together, when these problems occurred, but for the record, I have (just now) enabled the fire wall again and made sure the exception is created for both the incoming and outgoing to allow haloded.exe

I didn't think it needed the CD, as everything works when first started, and no errors occur after the server vanishes, but I wasn't sure if that was the case.

Thank you for the quick response, I will be looking forward to that tutorial. I am grateful to have found someone willing to pass their knowledge onto me.

Best of wishes,
0Z

Would it be wise to install Halo CE (Custom edition). Right now only Halo CE PC is installed.