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Server Administration FAQ Q: How do I start a dedicated server? Can I run a server on a machine without a 3d card?

The best way to run a dedicated server is to create two files - a batch file to start the server, and a config file with the server's settings. This will also work on a system without a 3d card. Do this:

Open Notepad. Type a line that resembles the following:

quake3 +set dedicated 2 +exec server.cfg
(You can name the cfg file whatever you want to)

Then save the file as a batch file. To do this - click File>Save As - and for "Save As Type" select "All Files." Name the file server.bat and save it in your quake3 directory. (again you can name it differently - q3server.bat, herb.bat or whatever)

Next open a new notepad file and type the following:

seta sv_hostname "DM Server All Maps"
seta sv_maxclients 16
seta g_motd "Welcome to our Quake3 server"
seta g_quadfactor 4
seta g_gametype 0
seta timelimit 15
seta fraglimit 25
seta g_weaponrespawn 3
seta g_inactivity 3000
seta g_forcerespawn 0
seta rconpassword "password"
set d1 "map q3dm1 ; set nextmap vstr d2"
set d2 "map q3dm2 ; set nextmap vstr d3"
set d3 "map q3dm3 ; set nextmap vstr d1"
vstr d1

What it all means -

sv_hostname "DM Server All Maps" - what players will see on the join server window.
sv_maxclients 16 - maximum number of players on the server.
g_motd "Welcome to our Quake3 server" - message players will see while joining the server.
g_quadfactor 4 - Quad Damage strength. 4 is normal, I usually change it to 1 on Tourney servers.
g_gametype 0 - Sets the type of game. 0 - Free for all, 1 - Tournament, 2 - Free for all(again), 3 - Team Deathmatch, 4 - Capture the Flag
timelimit 15 - Sets the timelimit.
fraglimit 25 - Sets the fraglimit.
g_weaponrespawn 3 - Number of seconds before weapons respawn.
g_inactivity 3000 - Number of seconds before an inactive player is kicked (I set this high on DM servers, low on Tourney servers).
g_forcerespawn 0 - Forces players to respawn. 0 is off, 1 is on.
rconpassword "password" - sets the password to allow client control of the server (more on this later).

The last few lines of this example set up a simple map rotation:

set d1 "map q3dm1 ; set nextmap vstr d2"
set d2 "map q3dm2 ; set nextmap vstr d3"
set d3 "map q3dm3 ; set nextmap vstr d1"
vstr d1

This can be modified to include more maps, for example:

set d1 "map q3dm1 ; set nextmap vstr d2"
set d2 "map q3dm2 ; set nextmap vstr d3"
set d3 "map q3dm3 ; set nextmap vstr d4"
set d4 "map q3dm4 ; set nextmap vstr d5"
set d5 "map q3dm5 ; set nextmap vstr d1"
vstr d1

Save this file as server.cfg (or whatever name as long as it matches your batch file) and save it in your baseq3 folder. To start the server - just run the batch file that you created earlier.

Q: Do I need a CD in the dedicated server at all times?

Nope - add the following line to your server config file:

seta bot_enable 0

You won't be able to use bots, but the server will no longer require the CD to run.

Q: How do I use rcon? (controlling the server from a client)

You'll need to have set an rconpassword in your cfg file for the server. Then set the same password on the client - for example:

seta rconpassword "password" (this should be in your config file)

Then from the console:
/rconpassword password
/rcon kick slynky
/rcon timelimit 15