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How to Set Up a Team Fortress 2 Server on AnonVM – Complete Guide

Team Fortress 2 (TF2) is a popular multiplayer first-person shooter that has a large and dedicated community. Hosting your own TF2 server gives you full control over settings, game modes, and mods, allowing you to create a unique experience for you and your players. By using AnonVM’s offshore VPS hosting, you can ensure excellent performance, privacy, and low latency.

Why Choose AnonVM for Hosting a Team Fortress 2 Server?

AnonVM’s offshore VPS offers great value for hosting your Team Fortress 2 server. With low-latency connections, high-performance servers, and a strong focus on privacy, you’ll be able to deliver a lag-free and secure experience for your players.

Step 1: Choose Your VPS Plan on AnonVM

For a smooth Team Fortress 2 experience, you’ll need a VPS with at least:

• 2GB of RAM
• 2+ cores CPU
• 20GB of SSD storage

1. Visit AnonVM’s website and explore the available VPS plans.
2. Choose a plan that matches your requirements.
3. Complete your order and obtain your VPS login credentials.

Step 2: Connect to Your VPS via SSH

To begin the setup process, connect to your AnonVM VPS.

1. Open a terminal (or use PuTTY if you're on Windows).
2. Connect to your VPS using SSH:
    

   ssh username@your-server-ip
3. Enter your password to gain access.

Step 3: Update Your VPS and Install Necessary Packages

Make sure your VPS is up-to-date and install essential tools for running a TF2 server.

1. Update your VPS:
    

   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
2. Install wget and screen for managing your server:
    

   sudo apt install wget screen -y

Step 4: Install SteamCMD

SteamCMD is required to download and manage Team Fortress 2 server files.

1. Create a directory for SteamCMD:
    

   mkdir ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd
2. Download and extract SteamCMD:
    

   wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

Step 5: Install Team Fortress 2 Server

Now you’ll install the Team Fortress 2 server files using SteamCMD.

1. Run SteamCMD:
    

   ./steamcmd.sh
2. Log in anonymously:
    

   login anonymous
3. Set the installation directory for the TF2 server:
    

   force_install_dir ~/tf2_server
4. Download and install the server:
    

   app_update 232250 validate
5. After installation finishes, exit SteamCMD:
    

   quit

Step 6: Configure the Team Fortress 2 Server

You can now customize your Team Fortress 2 server settings.

1. Navigate to the server directory:
    

   cd ~/tf2_server/tf
2. Create or edit the server.cfg file to adjust settings such as server name, password, and game modes:
    

   nano server.cfg
3. Add the following configuration:
    

   hostname "Your TF2 Server Name" rcon_password "your_rcon_password" sv_password "" map "cp_dustbowl" maxplayers 24
4. Save and exit by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y to confirm.

Step 7: Launch the Team Fortress 2 Server

With the server configured, you can now launch it.

1. Go to the server directory:
    

   cd ~/tf2_server
2. Start the server using the following command:
    

   ./srcds_run -game tf +maxplayers 24 +map cp_dustbowl
3. To keep the server running in the background, use a screen session:
    

   screen -S tf2_server
   Then, run the above command. To detach from the screen session, press Ctrl + A, then D.

Step 8: Connect to Your Server

Once the server is running, you can join it from your Team Fortress 2 client.

1. Launch Team Fortress 2 on your computer.
2. Open the Console by pressing the ~ key.
3. Connect to the server by typing:
    

   connect your-server-ip

Optional: Set Up the TF2 Server as a System Service

To ensure that your TF2 server starts automatically when your VPS reboots, you can set it up as a system service.

1. Create a service file for TF2:
    

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/tf2.service
2. Add the following configuration to the file:
    

   [Unit] Description=Team Fortress 2 Server After=network.target [Service] Type=simple User=youruser ExecStart=/home/youruser/tf2_server/srcds_run -game tf +maxplayers 24 +map cp_dustbowl WorkingDirectory=/home/youruser/tf2_server Restart=on-failure [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target
3. Enable and start the service:
    

   sudo systemctl enable tf2 sudo systemctl start tf2

Conclusion

Hosting a Team Fortress 2 server on AnonVM offers great privacy, performance, and customization options. With AnonVM’s reliable offshore VPS hosting, you can enjoy a lag-free and secure experience while managing your server. By following this guide, you’ll be up and running in no time, creating the perfect TF2 environment for your friends and community.