KF2 Server with Game Server Manager - Setup, Updates, Backups

This guide is built around Game Server Manager (GSM), a free tool by a community member that automates running a dedicated server. Instead of hand-written batch files, GSM handles installation, monitoring, restarts, updates and backups. For manual setup compare Starting a dedicated server.

Features

• Automatic update checking and applying via SteamCMD (with configurable delay and a warning message to players)
• Players online graph and player list with ping, score, team and time online
• Built-in Telnet and RCON client that can send commands (for example shutdown notices) automatically
• Auto-restart if the server goes down; optional timed daily restart
• Message broadcasts and Discord notifications for server state and player changes
• INI parser listing settings across multiple files, sortable, filterable, importable and exportable
• CPU, RAM and bandwidth graphs, internal and external IP display, up-time
• Timed incremental backups to zip, one-click backup and maintenance
• Output of status, player count and server name to a file
• Game profiles for multiple instances; works with many other games using the standard query protocol

Initial setup

1. Download and unzip Game Server Manager, and download SteamCMD.
2. In GSM open Settings/Tools, Time Restart and Maintenance, and select the SteamCMD executable as the program location.
3. In the command-line parameters box enter (change the path):

+login anonymous +force_install_dir "C:\KF2" +app_update 232130 +quit

4. Run the maintenance program from the Tools tab to install the server.

Ports and firewall

Forward these ports to the host machine and allow KFServer.exe through firewalls:

Port	Protocol	Purpose
7777	UDP	game
27015	UDP	query, used by GSM
8080	TCP	WebAdmin
20560	UDP	Steam
123	UDP	NTP, Weekly Outbreak only

If you change the defaults, change the rules too.

Telling GSM about the server

Under Server Details select KFServer.exe (in the install folder under Binaries\Win64). Enter the query address, normally 127.0.0.1:27015, and tick Detect via query in the Monitoring tab (recommended for KF2).

Server Details screen.

Monitoring and restarts

Tick "Check server status, every" in the Monitoring tab (increase the interval if your server is slow to become ready). This feeds the Main and Players Online tabs and enables auto-restart after a crash, graphs and status output.

Monitoring tab.

Server configuration

For all other options use the official wiki guide. Setting a config file in Server Details gives quick access, and the INI Parser (Game Specific Tools tab) loads all INI files in that folder. A "Friendly Names" list can be downloaded from the author's site and unzipped into the GSM folder (merge it into an existing INIConfigList.txt without duplicates).

Updates and timed restarts

Under Timed Restart you can restart the server daily at a chosen time. Even without timed restarts you can pick a program to run before starting the server, such as SteamCMD to update the game.

Timed Restart tab.

With a backup location set, "Perform Maintenance Now" backs up game data, stops the server, runs the maintenance program and starts the server again.

SteamCMD parameters

SteamCMD can update any KF2 install, even one made through the Steam client. Useful parameters (omit the angle brackets):

• +login <username> <password>: required to download. The first login may ask for a Steam Guard code.
• +force_install_dir "<path>": where KF2 is.
• +app_update 232130: update KF2; add validate after it (without a plus sign) to verify files.
• +quit: always last.

Example: +login MySteamUsername MySteamPassword +force_install_dir "C:\MyGameLocation" +app_update 232130 validate +quit.

Automatic updating

In the SteamCMD Auto-Updates tab enter your credentials, app id 232130 and branch public, choose how often to check and tick "Check for game updates, every". When an update is found, GSM stops, updates and restarts the server; you can delay it to warn players.

Remote commands via files

If you can reach the GSM folder (FTP or VPN), create a file with one of these names (content is irrelevant) and GSM performs the action and deletes the file:

File	Action
start.txt	start the server
stop.txt	stop the server
backup.txt	perform a backup
update.txt	full maintenance cycle: backup, stop, maintenance program, start
restart.txt	restart the server
parm1.txt / parm2.txt	restart with command-line parameter set 1 or 2 (set in Telnet Commands)
telnetsend.txt	send the file's text to the server console

Set a sufficient delay in the Server Shutdown tab so the server does not restart before it has shut down.

Basic port forwarding

Needed only for internet access, not for LAN play.

1. Find the host's LAN address (shown on GSM's Main tab).
2. Log into the router admin page (address and password are often on a sticker).
3. Find "port forwarding" in the menus.
4. Create rules forwarding the required UDP/TCP ports to the LAN address.
5. Save. Use a static LAN address so rules do not point to the wrong machine after a reboot.

Troubleshooting

• Friends cannot join: check the firewall (Domain, Private and Public profiles, incoming and outgoing), port forwarding to the correct and static IP, and antivirus or VLAN software like Hamachi.
• GSM says Offline when the server is up: check the IP:port under Server Details (default 127.0.0.1:27015).
• Cannot connect from the host machine itself: there may be a port conflict; try changing the server's ports.

The author notes the program also works with Empyrion, Avorion, 7 Days to Die, Space Engineers and other games using the standard query protocol.