Setting up dedicated server on its own machine - tell me like I’m three

[Prydonian]

If the server is discoverable then some of the port forwarding worked (as Steam can see the server).

But starting from the begining...

Update: I tweaked the settings as suggested by PortFoward support, and no joy.  It occurs to me that my network has an extender, to which my machine has a wired connection.  Is that a factor?
 

The specific error I’m getting when I try to join is “Connection to server failed: Could not retrieve server information.”  

I checked the server log file, and there aren’t any logins.  If it’s any help at all, I’ve attached a screenshot of the last part of the server console/log file.  

 

[Beelzybub]

-What is an admin file and where will I find it?

In your saves folder. serveradmin.xml

Once the server is up and running, though, will there be further need for me to edit it?

No

I should change the name of the serverconfig.xml file so it never gets overwritten.  I assumed he meant as a backup, because surely the server won’t function without a file of that name.  Or not?

Not. You tell the server which config file to use in the "startdedicated.bat" file, which you could also rename to prevent it from being overwritten by an update. Or back it up, or both.

I’ve attached a screenshot of the last part of the server

Looks like the server is up and running, so your issue is network.

my network has an extender, to which my machine has a wired connection.  Is that a factor?

If the extender isn't changing the subnet, then, no, it should not be a problem.

 

[Prydonian]

In your saves folder. serveradmin.xml

No

Not. You tell the server which config file to use in the "startdedicated.bat" file, which you could also rename to prevent it from being overwritten by an update. Or back it up, or both.

Looks like the server is up and running, so your issue is network.

If the extender isn't changing the subnet, then, no, it should not be a problem.

Hmm, I see.  Sounds like the extender is the only lead I have now.  How would I discover if it’s changing the subnet, bearing in mind I don’t know what a subnet is?

As for the serverconfig and startdedicated files… I want to make sure I’m following.  Am I renaming them because when an update comes it’ll look for those filenames and, not finding them, be unable to overwrite the files?  And if so, wouldn’t just making backups and sticking them in a folder somewhere also be effective?

 

[Beelzybub]

You rename them because, if an update or validate overwrites them, your server goes down. Yes you can replace them from your backups, but to save the downtime and confusion, it's better to rename them.

 

[Prydonian]

You rename them because, if an update or validate overwrites them, your server goes down. Yes you can replace them from your backups, but to save the downtime and confusion, it's better to rename them.

I see.  Okay, excellent, thanks.  Now if I can just figure out why it’s not joinable…

 

[Beelzybub]

If you can't figure out your forwarding, then try enableing SteamNetworking to help bypass those issues.

If you are trying to connect from your LAN, then you have to use the local ip of the server. Connecting via

local ip should work regardleess of if your router is correctly configured.

 

[Prydonian]

If you can't figure out your forwarding, then try enableing SteamNetworking to help bypass those issues.

If you are trying to connect from your LAN, then you have to use the local ip of the server. Connecting via

local ip should work regardleess of if your router is correctly configured.

I’ll Google SteamNetworking and keep it in mind if PF can’t sort it out.  
 

As for connecting via local IP, web searches haven’t helped me on that one; I’m not having any luck finding what that would entail.  If LAN in this context (man, that acronym takes me back) refers to my home network, then I imagine I must be connecting from it by necessity.  If I can discern my local IP, though, where/how would I use that information?

 

[Beelzybub]

Just read your serverconfig.xml file.

Enable steamnetworking by removing it from this line in your serverconfig.

<property name="ServerDisabledNetworkProtocols"    value="SteamNetworking"/>

So you would change that to:

<property name="ServerDisabledNetworkProtocols"    value=""/>

where/how would I use that information?

Select "Join Game", then "Start Search" then "Connect To IP..."

 

[Prydonian]

Just read your serverconfig.xml file.

Enable steamnetworking by removing it from this line in your serverconfig.

<property name="ServerDisabledNetworkProtocols"    value="SteamNetworking"/>

So you would change that to:

<property name="ServerDisabledNetworkProtocols"    value=""/>

Select "Join Game", then "Start Search" then "Connect To IP..."

Aha!  I was going to ask about the “connect to IP” button, but I had completely forgotten.  Excellent!  I’ll give it a try.

 

[Prydonian]

Just read your serverconfig.xml file.

Enable steamnetworking by removing it from this line in your serverconfig.

<property name="ServerDisabledNetworkProtocols"    value="SteamNetworking"/>

So you would change that to:

<property name="ServerDisabledNetworkProtocols"    value=""/>

Select "Join Game", then "Start Search" then "Connect To IP..."

Well, I was able to join the game by connecting to the IP directly.  Progress!

Now I just have to figure out why I can’t join the customary way.  I suppose we could just connect this way, but I would like to solve this problem, if only to justify having bought the PF software.  I did some research into extenders and subnets, but I didn’t find anything actionable.

I haven’t enabled Steam Networking yet, that’s the next step.  Then the secondary challenge of importing the world begins.  

 

[Star69]

What router are you using? Did you buy it or did your isp provide it?

 

[Beelzybub]

Now I just have to figure out why I can’t join the customary way.  I suppose we could just connect this way, but I would like to solve this problem

It's not a problem you can solve, it's just the state of things right now. If you're trying to connect from within your own LAN, you need to use the local ip.

You just need to do this once, as it will be in your favorites after.

I suppose we could just connect this way

Only if you are all in your LAN. To connect from outside your location, you need the router set up correctly with ports forwarded to your server.

Or use SteamNetworking, which can bypass some of those problems. The reason SteamNetworking is disabled by default is that it is a

slower connection than LiteNetLib, so can be laggy.

if only to justify having bought the PF software.

It's unfortunate that you bought that software. The recommendation for  using that site is that they have all the information necessary for you to do the port forwarding. I think future recommendations should point that out and dissuade a user from possibly wasting money on the software.

 

[Prydonian]

What router are you using? Did you buy it or did your isp provide it?

It’s an Arris BGW210-700 3.18.5 provided by my isp.  The extender is a TP-Link AX1800 (aka RE605X), if that affects anything.

It's not a problem you can solve, it's just the state of things right now. If you're trying to connect from within your own LAN, you need to use the local ip.

You just need to do this once, as it will be in your favorites after.

Only if you are all in your LAN. To connect from outside your location, you need the router set up correctly with ports forwarded to your server.

Or use SteamNetworking, which can bypass some of those problems. The reason SteamNetworking is disabled by default is that it is a

slower connection than LiteNetLib, so can be laggy.

It's unfortunate that you bought that software. The recommendation for  using that site is that they have all the information necessary for you to do the port forwarding. I think future recommendations should point that out and dissuade a user from possibly wasting money on the software.

Ah, I see.  The other player isn’t on the same LAN, so should he be able connect normally as-is or is that what SteamNetworking is for?

Yeah, I’m certainly regretting the purchase, but to be fair, I did see they had the necessary info to perform the process without purchasing.  I read through it a few times and it was just overwhelming.  This sort of thing, as you may have noticed, isn’t my forté, and the idea of sorting it out was just too much at the time. 

 

[Beelzybub]

The other player isn’t on the same LAN, so should he be able connect normally as-is or is that what SteamNetworking is for?

They may be able to connect normally if your port forwarding is set up correctly. If not, SteamNetworking may help, or put the

work in to get your ports right.

If you want to pm me the server info, I'll see if I can connect, and check my log for errors.

 

[Prydonian]

They may be able to connect normally if your port forwarding is set up correctly. If not, SteamNetworking may help, or put the

work in to get your ports right.

If you want to pm me the server info, I'll see if I can connect, and check my log for errors.

I really appreciate that.  I’ll PM you now.

 

[Beelzybub]

I tried to connect, the server shows in the server browser, I was prompted for a pw, but connection failed after that.

Both LiteNetLib failed and SteamNetworking failed.

Port scan showed that the ports are not open.

 

[Beelzybub]

I pm'd you the details.

 

[Prydonian]

I pm'd you the details.

Now that I’ve been doing this for a few days, the port forwarding process seems significantly less overwhelming.  I’m going to give it a try this evening.  Perhaps I can get a refund for the software.

 

[Beelzybub]

Perhaps I can get a refund for the software.

Hope you can, for the price of that software you could've rented a 7D2D server for 6 months.

#cost-benefit-analysis

 

[Prydonian]

I tried to connect, the server shows in the server browser, I was prompted for a pw, but connection failed after that.

Both LiteNetLib failed and SteamNetworking failed.

Port scan showed that the ports are not open.

Well, I’m stumped.  Now that I have some grasp of the terminology, the port forwarding instructions seem perfectly simple.  I’ve done it to the letter, and… port checker still says the ports aren’t open.  I created a custom NAT/Gaming service entry, sent it to the router, but still nothing.  
 

EDIT: Er, it’s open now.  I did nothing, just checked in desperate hope half an hour later and suddenly it’s open.  MAGIC COMPUTER PROGRESS!  

I may be going a bit strange.