RedTop's Config Armory - Explanation of RTCW OSP main server configuration settings

Server Armory - Main file

This file is the meat of the server configuration pack. It contains all the really important server settings. The other files contain only "sidesteps" compared to the settings in this file. This file also contains the commands to start the other configuration files at the right moment. Take your time to read through the explanations. That way you'll gain enough knowledge to create your own, unique RTCW OSP server.

RedTop chose to offer an OSP server explanation because OSP is the most widely used mod available. Other mods, such as Shrub, are cool but just not used as often. Setting up a server without a mod is simply a waste of time in Red's not so humble opinion. OSP can be downloaded from the Orange Smoothie Productions website.

Picture - Screenshot from the game Return to Castle Wolfenstein

index
server.cfg
public.cfg
maprotation.cfg
pbsvuser.cfg
getting started

Public info.

exec public.cfg	Public.cfg contains al the settings used to identify and personalize your server.
	Just like RedTop's RTCW config this server config is split into various seperate files. These files contain settings that are relevant to different aspects of the server configuration. However, a server configuration does not use an autoexec.cfg file but starts the various files from within the main configuration file.

Server config.

seta com_hunkMegs "128"	This sets the amount of memory the RTCW server may use.
	Although dedicated servers do not use as much memory because they don't have to process graphics, they do shift around reasonable amounts of data about player movements and world states. Keep the amount of memory available to the RTCW server nice and comfortable or suffer huge decreases in performance, which translates into horrible ping.
seta com_zoneMegs "96"	This sets the amount of memory the RTCW server may use to load maps.
	You want to have a server load the maps as quickly as possible to keep the action going. Keep this therefore also nice and comfortable.
seta sv_allowanonymous "0"	If enabled, anonymous logins are allowed.
	Why let anybody join you server anonymously? You want to know who's ass you are going to kick, right?
seta sv_allowdownload "1"	If enabled users may download missing files directly from the server.
	If you have plenty of bandwidth it is a nice thing to allow players to get files directly from your server. That way they won't have to disconnect, look for the file on the Internet, install it and reconnect again. However, if your bandwidth is limited this should be disabled to prevent downloads that interfere with the game.
seta sv_floodProtect "1"	If enabled this prevents people from flooding the server with chat messages.
	Some people are really annoying and keep on using the voice commands. "Medic!, medic!, medic!, medic!... Most medics will not answer those punks and if this is enabled nobody has to hear these guys either.
seta sv_fps "23"	This sets the amount of world updates per second the server should send to clients.
	Red knows there is a reason why he set this to 23 in a distant past. Alcohol consumption must have damaged his brain, because he cannot recall that reason.
seta sv_maxclients "20"	This sets the amount of players that may log on to the server.
	This is the maximum amount of people that may connect to your server. That includes players and spectators.
seta sv_maxping "0"	This sets the maximum ping before clients are disconnected. "0" disables this setting.
	Keeping this set to "0" prevents people from being kicked when they experience a ping hike.
seta sv_maxrate "10000"	This sets the maximum upload rate in bytes the server uses to communicate with a client.
	This is an important setting that depends on how much bandwidth the server has at its disposal. The maximum amount this can be is the total amount of bandwith divided by the maximum amount of connections. Don't set this to low though, pings will sore.
seta sv_minping "0"	This sets the minimum ping before clients are disconnected. "0" disables this setting.
	This setting can be used to prevent unfair ping advantages by enforcing a minimum ping. It might be nice for dial-up users, but they should not play this game online anyway.
seta sv_minrate "3000"	This sets the minimum upload rate clients should be able to recieve.
	This setting is used to prevent people with lousy connections to join your server.
seta sv_privateclients "2"	This sets the amount of slots reserved for players with private member passwords.
	This allows you to reserve spots if your server is particularly popular, but you do not want you and your friends having to wait to join the proceedings.
seta sv_pure "1"	If enabled the server checks whether al files used by clients are authentic.
	Servers have the ability to check the RTCW files players use. If they have been tampered with those players will not be allowed on your server. This measure helps to prevent cheating.
seta sv_reconnectlimit "3"	This sets the maximum amount of reconnect attempts a player is allowed within a certain time.
	Red is not exactly sure what the use is of limiting reconnect attempts.
seta sv_timeout "300"	This sets the amount of time after which a player whose connection is interrupted gets kicked.
	People whose connection is interrupted unnecessarily take up a spot. Off course everybody has to deal with such interruptions now and again, but if it takes very long it is better to kick the interrupted player to free up the spot.
seta sv_zombietime "1"	This sets whether players should get kicked after a certain amount of inactivity.
	Some people simply go on a break will they're in the middle of a game and thus keep a spot unnecessarily occupied. This setting allows the server to kick these players after a certain amount of time. This time is specified by g_inactivity.

Logging.

seta g_log "games.log"	This tells the server where to place and what to name the log.
	What it says above.
seta logfile "2"	Sets how the log should be updated. 0=no log 1=buffered 2=continuous 3=append.
	Red has to do some research into this.
seta g_logsync "1"	?
	If you know what this does, please let Red know.
seta viewlog "0"	Sets type of view of Console upon game launch. "0"=hidden, "1"=window sized with scroll, and "2"=minimized.
	What it says above. No need to elaborate.

Public or private.

seta g_needpass "0"	If enabled players need a password to join the server.
	This is the setting that makes the server either public or private. Set to "1" to make the server private.

Voting.

seta g_allowVote "0"	If enabled players are allowed to vote.
	Although voting sounds cool, a lot of people take disadvantage of it by continuously voting and annoying other players. Besides, you don't want players to screw up your server settings. A better option is to use the OSP voting settings, which allows you to enable or disable votes on certain settings. Also, since version 1.4 RTCW uses the g_voteflags setting rather than this because it allows more control over voting.
seta g_complaintlimit "3"	This sets the maximum amount of complaints a player is allowed to receive before getting kicked.
	This is pretty straightforward really.
seta g_voteflags "64"	Sets what players may vote for if voting is enabled.
	Since version 1.4 RTCW uses this setting rather than g_allowvote because it allows for greater control over voting. The available options are; restart map 1, reset match 2, start match 4, next map 8, swap teams 16, game type 32, kick player 64 and change map 128. You can pick the options you want by adding the numbers. In this configuration players are only allowed to vote on whether to kick a player.
seta vote_limit "3"	Sets the maximum amount of votes per match.
	This prevents excessive voting.
seta vote_percent "51"	Sets the threshold for a vote to make it.
	Majority wins, so "51" is the correct value to enter here.
seta vote_allow_capturelimit "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on capturelimit.
	Voting on this is not necessary.
seta vote_allow_comp "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on use of default competition server settings.
	On a public people should not be able to change the server to a competition server. On a private server there is no need to override the settings with default competition settings.
seta vote_allow_fraglimit "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on fraglimit.
	Voting on this is not necessary.
seta vote_allow_gametype "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on gametype.
	Stopwatch it is, stopwatch it stays.
seta vote_allow_kick "1"	Sets whether to allow votes on kicking players.
	Players should have the ability to vote to have a lamer kicked.
seta vote_allow_map "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on map changes.
	On a public server, the maprotation is sacred.
seta vote_allow_mutespecs "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on muting spectators.
	Voting on this is not necessary.
seta vote_allow_nextmap "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on changing the map to the next map in the maprotation.
	Again, the maprotation is sacred.
seta vote_allow_pub "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on use of default public server settings.
	No need to override settings by default settings.
seta vote_allow_referee "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on use of referee.
	This has been disabled to keep players from becoming referee without a referee password. Keep the referee password exclusive to your and your friends.
seta vote_allow_shuffleteams "1"	Sets whether to allow votes on shuffling teams.
	Sometimes teams are unbalanced. Shuffleteams takes care of this problem and is may therefore be voted on.
seta vote_allow_swapteams "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on swapping teams.
	Swapping teams is done automatically in stopwatch mode so this has been disabled.
seta vote_allow_teamdamage "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on toggling team damage off or on.
	This tinkers with game mechanics and is therefore disabled.
seta vote_allow_timelimit "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on timelimit.
	Voting on this is not necessary.
seta vote_allow_warmupfire "0"	Sets whether to allow votes on whether or not fire during warmup hurts players.
	Voting on this is not necessary.

Server passwords.

seta rconpassword "rconpassword"	This sets the rcon password.
	The rcon password should only be known to you and people you trust. Rcon enables you to tinker with server settings and commands remotely.
seta sv_privatePassword "memberspassword"	This sets the password for the reserved player slots.
	If you reserved private member slots, you and your buddies can use those by entering the password you set here.
seta g_password "privatepassword"	This sets what the password is if above setting is enabled.
	If the server is private, players have to enter the password you have set here. You can remove the password by simply using nothing between the quotes.
seta ref_password "refpassword"	Sets the referee password.
	The referee can control aspects of the game without being able to tinker with server settings. To become referee players have to enter a password that is set here.

Timing etc.

seta pmove_fixed "1"	If enabled, use fixed player physics.
	Typically the player physics advances in small time steps. When this option is enabled all players will use fixed frequency player physics, the time between two advances of the phsysics will be the same for all players. The actual time between two advances of the player physics can be set with the pmove_msec variable. Enabling this option will make the player physics the same for all players independent from their framerate. The benefit of this is that all players will be able to make the high jumps regardless of framerate.
seta pmove_msec "8"	Sets the time in milliseconds between two advances of the player physics.
	What it says above.

Normal RTCW game settings.

seta g_antilag "0"	Tries to even out lag between broadband and narrowband users, but fails miserably.
	Antilag was introduced to try and level the amount of lag between broadband and narrowband gamers. In almost everyone's opinion antilag sucks and only makes broadband players just as laggy as modem players. It is not popular.
seta g_enableBreath "0"	If enabled, show player's breath vapour on "cold" maps.
	It does what it says above, isn't very useful and probably costs performance. It is therefore disabled.
seta g_friendlyFire "1"	If enabled players get hurt by fire from teammates.
	Friendly fire is part of the RTCW experience. You can disable this, but in Red's opinion that takes away from the RTCW experience.
seta g_gametype "6"	Sets the gametype. "5" is objective, "6" is stopwatch.
	In objective mode teams play full-time rounds. The winner is the one that reaches their objective. In stopwatch mode teams play two rounds and swap sides in between those rounds. The team that sets the fastest time wins. The advantage of this is that even maps that are almost impossible to defend, such as Communique, become suitable for match play.
seta g_gravity "800"	This sets the amount of gravity in the game.
	Don't tinker with this setting unless you want to screw up the game physics.
seta g_inactivity "300"	Sets the amount of time after which an inactive player is kicked.
	If you configured the server to kick inactive players, you must set here after how many seconds the server should do so.
seta g_knockback "1000"	Sets the force with which players are knocked back when being hit.
	Don't tinker with this setting unless you want to screw up the game physics.
seta g_quadfactor "3"	Q3 relic.
	The quad power up is not part of RTCW. This setting probably is not relevant.
seta g_speed "320"	Sets the speed at which the players move.
	Don't tinker with this setting unless you want to screw up the game physics.
seta g_teamForceBalance "1"	If enabled joining players are forced in the team with the least amount of players.
	It is a good idea to enable this setting on public servers to prevent uneven teams. However, it is annoying on private servers.
seta g_warmup "15"	Sets the warmup time.
	Fifteen seconds is more than enough warmup time. People are eager to start playing!
seta g_weaponRespawn "5"	?
	If you know this, contact Red please.
seta g_weaponTeamRespawn "30"	Respawn time in seconds for team games.
	Unknown.
seta dmflags "0"	Add to set options. 8=no falling damage, 16=fixed FOV, 32=no footsteps.
	Again, there is no need to tinker with game mechanics so leave this set to "0".
seta timelimit "20"	This sets the time limit on games.
	It sets a time limit, on the games... straightforward really.

OSP settings.

seta g_doWarmup "0"	If enabled players have to type "ready" in console to start the game.
	Only enable this on private servers.
seta g_spectatorInactivity "0"	If enabled inactive spectators are kicked.
	This is the same as sv_zombietime, but this setting focuses on spectators instead of players.
seta match_latejoin "1"	If enabled players are allowed to join games that are already underway.
	People join servers all the time. No need to keep them waiting.
seta match_minplayers "0"	Sets the minimum amount of players required to start a match.
	It is advised to keep this set to "0". If you do otherwise matches may stop suddenly everytime some players leave or get disconnected.
seta match_mutespecs "0"	If enabled spectators are allowed to chat.
	It's a nice feature to be able to chat with spectators. Disable this on private servers though!
seta match_readypercent "100"	Sets the percentage of players that have to be ready for a match to start.
	The ready up procedure should only be used on private servers. This setting should therefore be set to "100" in order to make sure everybody is ready before the match starts.
seta match_timeoutcount "0"	This sets the maximum amount of timeouts allowed per match.
	You might want to increase this number if you allow basic team commands. However, it is better to leave timeouts up to the server admin.
seta match_timeoutlength "150"	This sets the length of the timeouts in seconds.
	Timeouts are usually used on private servers whenever somebody's connection is interrupted.
seta match_warmupfire "1"	If enabled, players can hurt each other during warmup.
	It is fun to shoot team mates during warmup. It provides something to do before the match starts.
seta server_autoconfig "0"	If enabled OSP configures the game using default settings.
	Red likes to be in complete control, so this has been disabled.
seta team_maxPanzers "3"	Sets the maximum amount of panzers allowed on a team.
	Sometimes panzer usage gets out of hand. In Red's opinion three is still one too many, but this is the official Clanbase setting.
seta team_maxplayers "0"	Sets the maximum amount of players to a team.
	Set this to "6" if you have a private server. Otherwise there is no need to enter a value here.
seta team_nocontrols "1"	If disabled team captains have some extra controls.
	Giving teams controls during matches often leads to conflicts. On publics this prone to laming.

Start PunkBuster.

pb_sv_enable	Enables Punkbuster.
	Use Punkbuster to keep those cheaters away.
pb_sv_cvarempty	Cleans the Punkbuster cvar list.
	Lets you define cvar checks from the start. This makes sure no unwanted cvar checks remain.
pb_sv_kicklen 1	Sets length of time in seconds after which somebody is kicked following a server's or players' decision to kick him or her.
	Increase this setting if you want to make fun of somebody who is about to get kicked. Otherwise, just keep this set to "1" to make the spot available to another player as quickly as possible.
exec pbsvuser.cfg	Pbsvuser.cfg contains all the Punkbuster settings.
	This executes the file that contains the Punkbuster cvar checks.

Start the game.

exec maprotation.cfg	Maprotation.cfg contains the maprotation and starts the game by loading the first map.
	The game starts as soon as the first map is loaded. The maprotation basically is a loop that keeps the proceedings going.

Author.	Richard van Kooten, a.k.a. RedTop.
Latest update.	July 9th, 2003.
Changes to settings.	Set g_antilag and g_enablebreath from "1" to "0".
Changes to text.	Improved explanation of g_password, g_allowvote, g_voteflags, pmove_fixed, pmove_msec, g_antilag, g_enablebreath, viewlog and pb_sv_kicklen.