Tutorial: Installation & Configuration of ArmA3 Dedicated Server
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 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
Open the spoiler for more info TICKETS RAISED that need your Vote
SELECTING DEVELOPMENT OR STABLE BUILD Open the spoiler for more info
PORT FORWARDING (ArmA3) (Firewalls) Open the spoiler for more info BATTLEYE CONFIGURATION Open the spoiler for more info
LOCATION OF FILES (When setting parameters) Open the spoiler for more info
SERVER ADMIN COMMANDS Open the spoiler for more info
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 Open the spoiler for more info
RE-LOCATING MPmIssions (For example to a dropbox)
Open the spoiler for more info BANDWIDTH OPTIMISATION Open the spoiler for more info
TROUBLE SHOOTING Open the spoiler for more info
EXAMPLE FILES
Arma3_Steam_Updater.cmd CONFIG_Vanilla.cfg ****.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 Arma3.cfg ADVANCED CONFIGURATION -Profiles Open the spoiler for more info AUTO SERVER RESTART .BAT File
Open the spoiler for more info Firedeamon
Open the spoiler for more info ADDONS & MODS
BASIC EXPLANATION
Open the spoiler for more info WHITE-LISTING / BLACK-LISTING (How does it work)
Open the spoiler for more info ADDON SIGNING Open the spoiler for more info INSTALLATION
Open the spoiler for more info MISCELLANEOUS
Open the spoiler for more info DOWNLOADING & ADDON MANAGEMENT
Open the spoiler for more info CHANGELOG
Open the spoiler for more info
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
Open the spoiler for more info TICKETS RAISED that need your Vote
SELECTING DEVELOPMENT OR STABLE BUILD Open the spoiler for more info
PORT FORWARDING (ArmA3) (Firewalls) Open the spoiler for more info BATTLEYE CONFIGURATION Open the spoiler for more info
LOCATION OF FILES (When setting parameters) Open the spoiler for more info
SERVER ADMIN COMMANDS Open the spoiler for more info
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 Open the spoiler for more info
RE-LOCATING MPmIssions (For example to a dropbox)
Open the spoiler for more info BANDWIDTH OPTIMISATION Open the spoiler for more info
TROUBLE SHOOTING Open the spoiler for more info
EXAMPLE FILES
Arma3_Steam_Updater.cmd CONFIG_Vanilla.cfg ****.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 Arma3.cfg ADVANCED CONFIGURATION -Profiles Open the spoiler for more info AUTO SERVER RESTART .BAT File
Open the spoiler for more info Firedeamon
Open the spoiler for more info ADDONS & MODS
BASIC EXPLANATION
Open the spoiler for more info WHITE-LISTING / BLACK-LISTING (How does it work)
Open the spoiler for more info ADDON SIGNING Open the spoiler for more info INSTALLATION
Open the spoiler for more info MISCELLANEOUS
Open the spoiler for more info DOWNLOADING & ADDON MANAGEMENT
Open the spoiler for more info CHANGELOG
Open the spoiler for more info
