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Tutorial: Installation & Configuration of ArmA3 Dedicated Server

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CONTENTS

  • Setting up your server
    • What you need
    • how you do it
  • Links
    • Information
    • useful Tools
    • Useful Addons
  • Selecting between Stable & Dev Builds, full or Dedi package installs
  • Port Forwarding
  • Battleye Configuration
  • Location of files
  • Server Admin Commands
  • Running Dedicated Server and client on same machine
  • Running multiple servers on one machine
  • Re-locating MpMissions
  • Bandwidth Optimisation
  • Trouble Shooting & Help
    • Best way to use this thread
    • Live chat help
    • What cannot be done
    • Known Issues
  • Example files
    • CONFIG_Vanilla.cfg
    • Arma3.cfg
    • .Arma3Profile
  • Advanced configuration
    • -profiles
    • AutoServer_Restart.bat File
    • Firedeamon
  • Addons and Mods
    • Basic introduction
    • Installation
    • Miscellaneous
    • Downloading & Addon Management
  • Changelog

 

The tutorial is intended for the lowest level of knowledge and skill, I make no apologies to those who think it is patronising. if you do, why are you reading a tutorial :j:

LAST UPDATED: Thursday 21st March 2017   :icon_arrow: up too and including this post

 

 

************************************************************************************

IMPORTANT UPDATE (16th March 2017)
arma3server_x64.exe

64 (Released 16th March 2017)

1) Update your firewall rules to include the 64 bit binary

2) BattleEye changes

  • 64 bit binary runs the beserver_x64.dll
  • It also needs a BEServer_x64.cfg (Which is simply a renamed copy of your BEServer.cfg

 

If you run an addon server and are having issues, then try running the 32 bit arma3server.exe until the addon makers have fixed their content

 

 

************************************************************************************

 

SETTING UP YOUR SERVER

What you need

  • 1 Standalone Windows server (2008 or later) (Sound and GPU not required)
  • 1 Steam Account
  • Ownership of ArmA3 No longer required if installing the server using the the Dedicated server package. (Required for Headless client or full client install)
  • According to this THIS POST you can run the ArmA3server on Win2003 now

 

This is how you do it.

Take note.
There are additions within these instructions that you may not need, if you only intend running 1 instance of an Arma3 server on your machine
However, adding these superfluous commands and content will not be detrimental to single instance servers
Directory paths are all customisable but for the sake of this tutorial, all file examples and command lines used will be consistent with the tutorial instructions

 

  • Login as Administrator: (You will need to run Arma3server.exe as "Administrator" or "System". Battleye requires it.)
  • Install the latest version of DirectX
  • Recommended to install  install the  32 & 64-bit 2013 VC++ redist from https://www.microsoft.com/en-GB/download/details.aspx?id=40784 
  • Create the following empty directories
    • D:\Apps\Steam
    • D:\Games\ArmA3\A3Master
    • D:\Games\ArmA3\A3Files
  • Download steamcmd.exe unpack it and save it to your targetted Steam install directory (E.g D:\Apps\Steam)
  • Run the steamcmd.exe. (This will download and install the required steam files to your custom steam directory)
  • Create an ArmA3_Steam_updater.cmd file, (Example shown below) and save it to D:\Games\ArmA3\A3Files
  • Run the ArmA3_Steam_updater.cmd file
  • Just after logging into Steam, the console window will hang and ask for a validation key
  • Steam will have automatically sent you an email with this validation code, which you then need to input at the command prompt
  • The Update console window should then continue to run and install ArmA3 ((DEV or STABLE) version to the target directory as defined in the .cmd file) eg (D:\Games\ArmA3\A3Master)
  • Create a shortcut for the ArmA3Server_x64.exe on the server desktop
  • Add the following parameters to the Target Line in the shortcut tab of the newly created desktop shortcut
    • -port=2302 (Required if running multiple server instances)
    • "-profiles=d:\Games\Arma3\A3Master"
    • -config=CONFIG_Vanilla.cfg
    • -world=empty
    • -mod=
      • -mod=      (Exaclty as it looks, an empty mod parameter

so it looks something similar to the following

"D:\Games\Arma3\A3Master\arma3server_x64.exe" "-profiles=d:\Games\Arma3\A3Master" -port=2302 -config=CONFIG_Vanilla.cfg -world=empty -mod=

  • Add firewall rules for the UDP ports (See below for -Port information)
  • Add firewall rule for the arma3server_x64.exe
  • Create a simple Notepad document called "CONFIG_vanilla.cfg" and save it to the root folder of your ArmA3 install on the server D:\Games\ArmA3\A3Master (See below for ".cfg" content)
  • Then start up your shortcut, check the server runs. (You will see a console pop up in your desktop after a few seconds)
  • Close the console window down, then you will need to edit the following files which will have been created
    • D:\Games\Arma3\A3Master\Users\Adminstrator\Administrator.Arma3Profile
    • D:\Games\Arma3\A3Master\Users\Administrator\Arma3.cfg
      • These files contain minimal content, and require a lot of editing, so to make this easier, there are example files listed below which you can copy n paste from
  • Restart the server
  • Start up your client Arma3 (Running the same branch as the server, (eg Stable or DEV) and you should then be able to see your server in the server browser (Filters are available to reduce the server list)
  • Login to your server using the password you defined in CONFIG_Vanilla.cfg by typing "/" to open the chat window and then type (#login ADMINPASSWORD followed by enter
  • Once logged in you will be presented with a mission list, select one of the missions to start the game
  • Prove the stability of your server by running BIS missions initially before you start adding user made content
    • You should now have successfully installed and be running a stable "Vanilla" (Default) server
  • You can then set up Battleye, The ArmA3 anti cheat system  (See the Battleye Configuration section below)

 



                                                   *** SUPPORTING INFORMATION ***

 

 

USEFUL LINKS, TOOLS & ADDONS
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TICKETS RAISED that need your Vote

 

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SELECTING DEVELOPMENT OR STABLE BUILD

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PORT FORWARDING (ArmA3) (Firewalls)

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BATTLEYE CONFIGURATION

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LOCATION OF FILES (When setting parameters)

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SERVER ADMIN COMMANDS

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RUNNING DEDICATED SERVER & CLIENT ON SAME MACHINE
If you have followed these instructions, the only known issue, is to make sure you start the server up before you start the steam client
Failing to do this causes steam port issues and your client wont be able to connect to the server


RUNNING MULTIPLE SERVERS ON SAME MACHINE

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RE-LOCATING MPmIssions (For example to a dropbox)
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BANDWIDTH OPTIMISATION

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TROUBLE SHOOTING

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EXAMPLE FILES

Arma3_Steam_Updater.cmd

 

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CONFIG_Vanilla.cfg

 

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****.Arma3Profile

Important to note, the defaul;t B.I classes, Regular, veteran cannot be edited, so if you want to run an edited version, then edit the custom class and run that

The following config is set to do just that

 

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Arma3.cfg

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ADVANCED CONFIGURATION

 

-Profiles

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AUTO SERVER RESTART .BAT File
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Firedeamon
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ADDONS & MODS


BASIC EXPLANATION
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WHITE-LISTING / BLACK-LISTING (How does it work)
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ADDON SIGNING

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INSTALLATION
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MISCELLANEOUS
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DOWNLOADING & ADDON MANAGEMENT
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CHANGELOG


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  • Like 5
  • Thanks 1

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Is dedicated available for linux yet?

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This works well. Just a note for those wondering this does run headless so you won't have an issue if you don't have a monitor and proper gpu in your server.

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First off, thank you very much for OP!

I have set this up remotely on my server but just wondering about how to do mission selection or difficulty config? I am not at home so cannot connect with client to test/admin it and I can see people just connecting then disconnecting so I guess it is currently without a mission. There is no RPT file I can see either.

Also, is RCON an option? I cannot see any battleye folder.

EDIT: OK it looks like some more savvy users have connected long enough to start a mission and it is now getting more connections. Still wondering about RCON and/or server console logging.

Edited by redshirt_ensign

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for some reason it is not picking up the config file but its starting it as a server this is my target line (it also did this on arma 2 and i had to use tophes for it to work right)

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arma 3\arma3.exe" -server -config=A3test.cfg

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  Zeasatice said:
for some reason it is not picking up the config file but its starting it as a server this is my target line (it also did this on arma 2 and i had to use tophes for it to work right)

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arma 3\arma3.exe" -server -config=A3test.cfg

That is strange, right now the only things I can think to check would be that your .cfg file has been placed into the root of your

Arma 3 folder and that you didnt accidentally save the file as 'yourarma3config'.cfg.txt

I know it might seem silly but a slip of the mouse has caused me to do this before.

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  cuel said:
Is dedicated available for linux yet?

You're a funny guy.

We don't even really have a dedicated server binary for windows yet, linux is far off methinks.

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Hey guys, just a quick question. Are you required to create a new steam account, and purchase another copy of the the A3 alpha for your dedicated server? Or can you just use your own steam account on the server?

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  Terox said:

  1. Then set your Steam account on the server to OFFLINE Mode
  2. Then start up your shortcut
  3. Start up your client steam version of A3 and you should then be able to see and join your server and play on it

]

Got it all cept this part. So your saying put Steam in OFFLINE Mode (unsure of how to do this) and then launch server..? Correct? Then place Steam back online and launch Client game? Need a little light shed here please..

P.S: Im assuming I can launch Dedi from same PC I play with like Arma2

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  froggyluv said:
Got it all cept this part. So your saying put Steam in OFFLINE Mode (unsure of how to do this) and then launch server..? Correct? Then place Steam back online and launch Client game? Need a little light shed here please..

P.S: Im assuming I can launch Dedi from same PC I play with like Arma2

No, this relates to using the same key/steam account to run a server instance (on a separate server) with Steam in Offline mode, while using the same Steam account on your local PC to connect to said server. There is no dedicated server binaries at the moment, so running a local server and client will most likely be impossible at the time being.

Kudos to the OP, set a server up in a few minutes with the provided instructions!

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  Clawhammer said:
Do i really have to Login with my Steam Account on the Server?

At the moment the arma3.exe requires a account with ArmA 3 to start, so use your own account in offline mode or buy a second copy.

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its because this is NOT a server, its a dodgy workaround to trick your own client/account into running as a Server. So no doubt the Steam Pre-Requisite checks are still being applied.

There is no Server Binary yet, and with any luck they will just use the Steam CMD tool to deliver the server when its ready. This will negate the need to run Steam on the remote server at all.

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If you mean starting a 2nd server under the same pc, steam seems to block a second (or more) instance of arma3.exe running under a account.

I think there is no workaround to running 2 or more servers on single pc without using virtual servers. Maybe something could be done with running another steam instance in another windows account.

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Works fine Terox! Thank you very much Sir ! :)

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To those whom are complaining about DirectX, Steam/ARMA 3 upon install, installs DirectX Redist in the game directory. You can load this upon start up with the following switch -mod=DirectX

Also, to the owner of this thread, Steam Offline mode only works 100% when you SAVE your login details.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

Edited by Inch

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I know it's super old but we are running Windows Server 2003 and even after updating and using -mod=DirectX I still get this:

Untitled.jpg

Thanks in advance for any help

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  BigRed said:
I know it's super old but we are running Windows Server 2003 and even after updating and using -mod=DirectX I still get this:

http://www.dragon-knights.info/images/misc/Untitled.jpg

Thanks in advance for any help

Try installing this.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=8109

But to be blunt Windows Server 2003 is a tad pre-dated.

Edited by Inch

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we also have a Windows 2003 Server RC2.

Have done everything as it says in the first post

But the exe will not start. Does the game necessarily directix 11 for Arma 3?

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hm, I can't find where to actually log in with the admin password, can't see the normal buttons.

halp?

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