Halo CE Dedicated Server Setup Made By: Fro§ter aka Supersniper

Table of Contents

    * Installation
    * System Requirements
    * Running the Dedicated Server
    * Creating a Batch file
    * Setting up a basic init.txt file
    * Custom Gametypes/Maps
    * Message of the Day
    * Setting up rcon (commands list and rcon guide included)
    * Setting up a server log
    * Setting up an autoban system (and how to unban)
    * Port forwarding
    * Command Line Arguments
    * Running Multiple Servers
    * Relocating Custom gametypes/log file folders
    * Dealing with lag issues

A. Installation
Installing the dedicated server is quite simple. It is included with the installation of Halo CE. Just find your Halo CE root folder. Default is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo Custom Edition\
***Make sure you download this Update

B. System Requirements
System Requirements:

    * Personal computer with a 1.4 GHz or higher processor
    * Windows XP or Windows 2003 Server (with all service packs installed)
    * 256 MB of RAM or more Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
    * When running multiple instances on a server, these requirements have to be adjusted to account for the additional resources required.

Recommended System Requirements when hosting:

    * 1.6ghz Processor
    * 512mb of ram
    * Windows XP (SP2), Windows Server 2003, or Windows Vista
    * Broadband Connection with good bandwidth (see O for bandwidth – players comparison)

C. Running the Dedicated Server
There are two ways to run the dedicated server:

    * Browse to where your Dedicated Server installation folder is and double Click on the haloceded.exe
    * Create a batch file and then double click on the batch file.
    * Click Here to learn how to run it as a service

For Help on the server download HaloAdmin

D. Creating a Batch File
To create a startup batch file:

    * Open Notepad (or a similar pure text editor)
    * On the first line enter: start {drive}:\{path}\haloceded.exe -exec {drive}:\{path}\init.txt
    * Click "File" > "Save As" and then navigate to where you want to save the file and name it "HaloCEStart.bat" - Change Save as Type to "All Files" and Encoding to "Ansi" then click "Save"

E. Setting up a Basic init.txt File
Open up notepad then type this in:

    * sv_name [Type the name of the server here in quotation marks. Default is Halo]
    * sv_public [Type true or false. True=can see in game lobby. False=can’t.]
    * sv_maxplayers [1-16. See L for how much players your server can handle.]
    * sv_password [set the password for the server. For no password leave it blank.]
    * sv_mapcycle_timeout [# of seconds to restart the next game for the server]

    * sv_mapcycle_add [map name] [game variant in quotation marks]
    * sv_mapcycle_begin [Starts the map cycling with the specified game entries.]

You can add as many (sv_mapcycle_add)’s as you want.
Save it in the same folder as the haloceded.exe is in and name it init.txt
Default map names are:

    * beavercreek (Battle Creek)
    * bloodgulch
    * boardingaction
    * carousel (Derelict)
    * chillout
    * damnation
    * dangercanyon
    * deathisland
    * gephyrophobia
    * hangemhigh
    * icefields
    * longest
    * infinity
    * prisoner
    * putput (Chiron TL34)
    * ratrace
    * sidewinder
    * timberland
    * wizard

Default Gametypes are:

   1. oddball
   2. slayer
   3. juggernaut
   4. king
   5. crazy_king
   6. race
   7. ctf
   8. assault
   9. team_slayer
  10. team_oddball
  11. team_race
  12. classic_slayer
  13. classic_slayer_pro
  14. classic_elimination
  15. classic_phantoms
  16. classic_endurance
  17. classic_rockets
  18. classic_snipers
  19. classic_oddball
  20. classic_reverse_tag
  21. classic_accumulation
  22. classic_juggernaut
  23. classic_stalker
  24. classic_king
  25. classic_king_pro
  26. classic_crazy_king
  27. classic_race
  28. classic_rally
  29. classic_ctf
  30. classic_invasion
  31. classic_iron_ctf
  32. classic_ctf_pro
  33. classic_team_race
  34. classit_team_rally
  35. classic_team_ball
  36. classic_team_king
  37. classic_team_slayer

Example basic init.txt file
sv_name “My dedicated server”
sv_public true
sv_maxplayers 8
sv_password levitate
sv_mapcycle_timeout 15
sv_mapcycle_add bloodgulch “CTF”
sv_mapcycle_add putput “team slayer”
sv_mapcycle_add cmt_coagulation_ce “Crazy Rockets”
sv_mapcycle_add coldsnap “classic_race”
sv_mapcycle_add yoyorast_island “No shields slayer”

F. Custom Gametypes
Creating custom gametypes:

    * Open up Halo Custom Edition
    * Click on Multiplayer
    * Then Edit Gametypes
    * Then Create New Gametypes.
    * Then save when done creating.

To add the custom gametype to your dedicated server:

    * Go to (by Default): My Documents\My Games\Halo CE\savegames
    * Look for a folder with the name of your newly created gametype then add it to the init.txt file where the gametypes go.

Adding Custom Maps

    * First download the map from www.halomaps.org or where ever you got it from.
    * Extract the map file with winrar. Download it here
    * Move the map to the maps folder. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo Custom Edition\maps
    * Then in the init.txt file type sv_mapcycle_add [exact name of custom map] “[gametype]”

G. Message of the Day
Adding a Message of the Day:

   1. Add sv_motd "[Name of file].txt" to your init.txt file before the maps area
   2. Open Notepad (or a similar pure text editor)
   3. On the first 4 lines line enter your message. (note keep each line to less than 30 characters)
   4. Click "File" > "Save As" and then navigate to the folder where you installed Halo CE then save the file and name it "MOTD.txt" - Leave Save as Type to "Text Documents (*.txt)" and Encoding to "Ansi" then click "Save"

H. Setting up Remote Control (RCON)
How to add rcon

    * Add sv_rcon_password [one word password. Example madhound or color]

RCON GUIDE
How to use rcon
1.First enable console

    * Right click on your Halo CE icon and click on properties.
    * Go to tagset where it says“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo Custom Edition\haloce.exe"
    * Type “ –console” exactly without the quotation marks.
    * It should look like this:
      “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo Custom Edition\haloce.exe" –console

2.Next using it in game

    * Press the tilde button or ~ on the keyboard to the left of the 1 button under the Esc button.
    * Next type: rcon [what ever the password is] [command]
      Example: rcon donkey sv_ban Tommy

List of Commands (for rcon use):

    * sv_ban [player name or index]
    * sv_banlist
    * sv_end_game
    * sv_kick [player index or name]
    * sv_map_next
    * sv_map_restart
    * sv_players [shows the list of players]
    * sv_unban
    * sv_say “enter text”

I. Setting up a Server Log
To enable the Server log function add the following commands to the init.txt before the sv_mapcycle_add commands:

   1. sv_log_file "[logfilename]"all one word.
      Location: C:\My Documents\My Games\Halo CE\savegame
   2.
      sv_log_enabled [1 or 0] 1=Enabled 0=disabled
   3.
      sv_log_echo_chat [1 or 0] 1=Enabled 0=disabled. Tells it to record all chat in the log.
   4.
      sv_log_rotation_threshold [numeric in kilobytes.] Tells it when to create a new log file so it doesn’t get to big. Ex: sv_log_rotation_threshold 1000

Example of what it looks like:
sv_log_file “HaloCElog”
sv_log_enabled 1
sv_echo_chat 0
sv_log_rotation_threshold 1000

J. Autoban System
How to set up an Autoban system:

   1. sv_tk_ban [number of tk’s it takes to be banned from server.]
   2. sv_tk_grace [time in seconds] a player can only be credited for one team kill every #
      seconds, to prevent accidental grenade kills.
   3.
      .sv_tk_cooldown [time in minutes] cool down period is when a player will be forgiven one Team Kill Point (TKP) if they have not committed another team kill.
   4.
      sv_tk_penalty [ #m #h #d 0] m=minutes h=hours d=days 0=infinite. Up to four bans can be made. Uhen the fifth one is permanent.

Example of how it looks:
sv_tk_ban 5
sv_tk_grace 3
sv_tk_cooldown 10
sv_tk_penalty 5m 3h 1d 30d
How to unban:
Type the thing below in the dedicated server box or using rcon in the server.
sv_unban [player name or corresponding number]
The banlist is located (by default) My Documents\My Games\Halo CE

K. Port Forwarding
To make your Server visible in the Game lobby you need to forward these ports through your firewalls and your router (if you have one)
Visit www.portforward.com for step by step instructions.
The default ports for Halo CE are:

    * 80 (Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)) – Auto-update looks for and downloads updates through this port.
    * 2302 (User Datagram Protocol (UDP)) - Game host listens on this port.
    * 2303 (UDP) - Game client connects to host through this port

L. Command Line Arguments
haloceded.exe -argument [option]

   1. -? (This displays a list of all arguments available.) Example: haloceded.exe -?
   2. -exec (Specify which init.txt file to use for this instance of the dedicated server. The name of this file can be any name.)Example: haloceded.exe –exec c:\Documents\init2.txt
   3. -cpu (When using a multi-processor computer (SMP) server, it is possible to instruct Halo Dedicated Server to run on a specific CPU. To do so, use the –cpu n command line argument)(where n is a given CPU, 0 being the first one). Example: haloceded.exe –cpu 1
   4. -path (This sets the default path to the Gametypes and the log file location. The default is C:\My Documents\My Games\Halo CE\savegames.) Example: haloceded.exe –path c:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo Custom Edition\Server
   5. -port (Different instances must, obviously, use different ports. -port is used to specify the port for the instance being launched. If a port is not specified the server will automatically choose an open port though the chosen port is not reported.) Example: haloceded.exe –port 2012
   6. -ip x.x.x.x (Server IP address used when you have multiple IP addresses and wish to bind the server to a specific IP address. If this command is omitted in servers running multiple IP addresses the Halo Server will answer on all IPs.)Example: haloceded.exe –ip 69.143.28.1

M. Running Multiple Servers
The maximum number of instances that can be run on a server is 8.
Each instance should use its own init.txt file and have its own path for gametypes and log files.
(See N to learn how to relocate log files and custom gametype files.)

How to run multiple servers:
Here is an example on how to run multiple instances, assuming the Halo CE Dedicated Server is installed in the C:\HaloCE folder:

   1. instance 1: C:\HaloCE\haloceded.exe -exec C:\halopc\init1.txt -cpu 0 -path C:\haloCE\variants1 -port 2301
   2.
      instance 2: C:\HaloCE\haloceded.exe -exec C:\halopc\init2.txt -cpu 1 -path C:\haloCE\variants2 -port 2305
   3.
      instance 3: C:\HaloCE\haloceded.exe -exec C:\halopc\init3.txt -cpu 0 -path C:\haloCE\variants7 -port 2308
   4.
      instance 4: C:\HaloCE\haloceded.exe -exec C:\halopc\init4.txt -cpu 1 -path C:\haloCE\variants1 -port 232

N. Relocating Custom gametypes/log file folders
Adding this argument to the startup of the Halo CE Dedicated server:

-path C:\[where ever you want the savegames folder to be]

It will tell the server to look in the new designated folder for the \savegames folder that contains your custom gametypes. If enabled the log file will also be written to the same path.

This is particularly useful for remote access to dedicated servers since the C:\My Documents\My Games\Halo CE\savegames will be determined by the account the server is running under. It is also required when you wish to run multiple instances of the dedicated server each with their own custom gametypes.

O. Dealing with Lag Issues
Why you may have lag when hosting Halo CE:
Info from here: http://www.forumplanet.com/haloplane...07&tid=1463498
When hosting a game you need a good amount of bandwidth. The average amount of upload that comes with an internet connection is between 128 and 384 kbps. There is a difference between upload and download. Download is information your pc receives from the internet and upload is information your pc sends out. Test your upload speed at www.speedtest.net
The amount of upload required/brandwitch (requirements for non-dedicated or hosts):

    * 128kbps or more can host – 4 people (3 recommended)
    * 384kbps or more can host – 8 people
    * 512kbps or more can host – 10 people
    * Greater than 768 – 16 people

Other reasons could that your computer could be out of date.

   1. Processor is slow or needs more RAM
   2. Less than a 128mb video card
   3. Spyware problemsVirus
   4. Protection problems
   5. Other programs running while server is up

Programs that help out lag situations:

    * HaloCE Dedicated DeLagonator v2: http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?pg=3&fid=479
    * HCELagTweak: http://forums.halomods.com/viewtopic.php?t=11930
      (You need to register to see the attachment on the first post.)
    *
      E3pO HEKv1: http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?pg=3&fid=3077
    *
      Install it then go to your Halo CE root folder and click on the E3pO dedicated server. You can delete the other programs if you don’t want them.

The order to use all the programs:

   1. Use the HCELagTweak to patch up the haloceded.exe (***backup if you want the original one also. ***)
   2. Then put your init.txt file in the root folder with the patched up haloceded.exe
   3. Rune the E3DedicatedServer.exe from the E3pO download.
   4. Run the EPG's HaloCE Dedicated DeLagonator v2 last for a maximum lag free environment.