KF2 Server with Custom Maps and Mods - Setup Guide

This guide walks through a Windows Killing Floor 2 dedicated server from zero to a public server with Workshop maps and mods. It is based on a 2023 community refresher of an older Steam discussion guide. Read it through once before you start: the last part uses KF2ServerTool, which does most of the config editing for you.

Part 1: Install the server

Step 1 - Get SteamCMD

Download SteamCMD from Valve: http://media.steampowered.com/installer/steamcmd.zip. Unpack it into the folder where you want it to live. On first launch it downloads its own files into that same folder, so do not run it from the desktop.

Step 2 - Start SteamCMD

Run steamcmd.exe and wait for the first-time self-update to finish.

Step 3 - Choose the install folder (optional)

If you do not want the server inside the SteamCMD folder, set a target first:

force_install_dir C:\KF2Server\

Step 4 - Log in

The KF2 server files do not need an account:

login anonymous

Step 5 - Download or update the server files

The KF2 dedicated server app ID is 232130.

Task	Command
First download	app_update 232130
Update and check files	app_update 232130 validate
Switch to a beta branch	app_update 232130 -beta preview

Plan for around 30 GB of disk space. See Killing Floor 2 server size for more detail.

Step 6 - Start the server

Open the server folder and run KF2Server.bat. A healthy start ends with lines like these:

KF2 Version XXXXX
Initializing game engine completed.
STEAM GAME SERVER UID XXXXXXXXX

The STEAM GAME SERVER UID line means the server is running and talking to Steam.

Part 2: Port forwarding

Every router names these menus differently, so look up the steps for your own model. Forwarding lets devices outside your home network reach the server. You can play on it yourself from the same network without forwarding anything.

Port	Protocol	Purpose
7777	UDP	Game traffic
27015	UDP	Server query (server browser)
20560	UDP	Steam
8080	TCP	WebAdmin (optional)
123	UDP	NTP, needed only for Weekly Outbreak

All of these ports can be changed in the config files. For general NAT and firewall background, see server ports and NAT.

Part 3: Configuration

The startup file

KF2Server.bat launches the server. By default it contains:

start .\Binaries\win64\kfserver kf-bioticslab?adminpassword=123

• .\Binaries\win64\kfserver - the server executable; leave it alone.
• kf-bioticslab - the map loaded on startup; replace it with any map name.
• ? - separates URL options. Each ?key=value passes one setting, for example ?difficulty=3 starts on Hell on Earth.
• adminpassword=123 - the WebAdmin password. Change it. A password set here overrides the one in the config file.

WebAdmin

WebAdmin is off by default.

1. Open KFGame\Config\KFWeb.ini and change bEnabled=false to bEnabled=true.
2. Find the server PC's local address: open Command Prompt, run ipconfig and note the IPv4 line (for example 192.168.178.33).
3. In a browser, open <your IPv4>:8080.
4. Log in with the user name Admin and the password from the startup file.

If the browser refuses to log in with the error "Invalid form data", open KFGame\Config\KFWebAdmin.ini, change bHttpAuth=false to bHttpAuth=true and try again.

Part 4: Custom maps and mods with KF2ServerTool

Editing map entries, map cycles and Workshop subscriptions by hand is error-prone. KF2ServerTool automates it. More about the tool: KF2ServerTool overview.

1. Download the latest zip from the project's GitHub releases page.
2. Install by extracting the zip contents into the main server folder (where KF2Server.bat is).
3. Start KF2ServerTool.exe from inside the server folder.
4. Options tab - enable "Workshop Download Manager" and "Custom redirect", and set the redirect URL to http://kf2.tripwirecdn.com/. This is what made custom maps work in the author's setup.
5. Maps / Mods tabs - add items by Workshop ID or URL, by subscribing through the built-in Workshop browser, or by picking files from the redirect.
6. Check the map install - every added map needs green check marks in the "Map Entry" and "Cycle Entry" columns. The author was not sure whether "Map Cache" also has to be checked.
7. Start the server from the Server tab. Some mods only work when you add their options to "Additional parameters"; the mod's Workshop page usually says what to add.

When this is done, the server runs locally, shows up in the in-game server browser, has your custom maps and mods, and anyone can join.

Quick checklist

• SteamCMD installed in its own folder
• Server downloaded with app_update 232130 validate
• STEAM GAME SERVER UID appears on startup
• 7777, 27015, 20560 UDP forwarded (8080 TCP if you want remote WebAdmin)
• Admin password changed in KF2Server.bat
• WebAdmin enabled in KFWeb.ini
• Maps show green Map Entry and Cycle Entry in KF2ServerTool