Hosting Your Own Server: Difference between revisions

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If you're tired of our [[Official Servers|official servers]], you're always free to <b>host your own server</b> and add any content you desire (as long as our server supports it, of course). This article will guide you through the steps you need to take in order to create and host your own MWO server for you and your friends to play on.
As of now, we do not support community servers.
 
<h1>Prerequisites</h1>
<ul>
<li>A PC running Windows or Linux</li>
<li>A router capable of port forwarding to make sure other people can access your server</li>
<li>A basic understanding of JSON configs</li>
</ul>
 
<h1>Downloading the Server</h1>
<ul>
<li>[https://content-api.plak.mp/plak/content/clients/mwo-server-package-windows-x86.zip Windows (x86)]</li>
<li>[https://content-api.plak.mp/plak/content/clients/mwo-server-package-windows-x64.zip Windows (x64)]</li>
</ul>
Once you've downloaded the server archive, unpack it somewhere and move on to the <b>Running the Server</b> section.
 
<h1>Running the Server</h1>
<ul>
<li>
You can double-click the <b>mwo-server</b> executable to do the trick or run it through the console using <code>./mwo-server</code> in the server directory.
</li>
<li>
You can pass <code>--config-path=[YOUR CONFIG FILE PATH]</code> and/or <code>--log-path=[YOUR LOG FILE PATH]</code> as command-line arguments to <b>mwo-server</b> in order to make the server use different config and/or log files.
</li>
</ul>
Once you've launched the server, you should see its console logs in their entirety. In a freshly launched server, the latest line of the logs will include your server's port. <b>You must FORWARD THAT PORT</b> AND <b>that port + 1</b> if you want your server to accept non-local connections. (In simpler words: if you see <b>1551</b>, forward <b>1551 AND 1552</b>!)
<br>
At this point, you should be able to join the server via adding <code>127.0.0.1</code> in the MWO Launcher, using your account from official MWO servers. Check out the <b>Customizing the Server</b> section to learn how to change your server's name, ports, settings, timecycles, accounts, mods and much more!
 
[[File:ServerConsoleScreenshot.png|300px|thumb|right|If you did everything right, you should see something similar once you launch the server. Note the port!]]
 
<h1>Customizing the Server</h1>
Now that you have an MWO server running, it's time to change it to better suit your needs. After all, it's literally just named <b>An MWO Server</b> at this point: who wouldn't want to change that?!
 
<h3>Server Config</h3>
In order to change your server's settings, you should look no further than the <code>core-server.json</code> file. It contains all of the customization settings that you can (and probably should) change. (Look into the [[Server Configuration Summary]] for a near-complete explanation of the file's contents)
<br>
The server config file is written in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSON JSON], and the server executable will expect it to be <b>valid</b> JSON. The rest of this article assumes you're at least somewhat acquainted with JSON: if not, you really should learn more about it!
 
<h3>Changing the server's Name, Description and Port</h3>
<h4>Name & Description</h4>
Right at the top of the config file are the <code>serverName</code> and <code>serverDescription</code> fields. You may change them to anything you like: the changes to the config file will only take effect once you restart the server though, so keep that in mind.
<h4>Ports</h4>
A bit lower is the <code>gamePort</code> field: it defines the main network port of the server. If you plan on running more than one MWO server on your machine, consider changing it to keep it unique for every server instance. Set to 1551 by default, you may change it to any value you like. <i>(You WILL have to also change the <code>apiPort</code> field in the <code>webApi</code> section to a port higher by 1 than the game port in order to keep the server working properly!)</i>
 
<h3>Making your server private</h3>
You can lock your server behind a server-wide password. To enable it, set the <code>auth.enabled</code> field to <code>false</code> and the <code>multiplayer.passwordProtected</code> field to <code>true</code> in the server config, then head to [https://emn178.github.io/online-tools/sha256.html SHA256 Online] and generate a hash for your server password. Once you're done, copy&paste the password hash into the <code>multiplayer.serverPassword</code> field and restart the server. From that point onwards, anyone trying to join your server will be asked to provide the password you entered. <i>(NOTE: enabling a global server password will turn off accounts, and you will be able to join using any username at all!)</i>
 
<h3>Becoming Admin</h3>
<h4>Using RCON</h4>
You can temporarily grant yourself server-wide admin permissions via RCON. To enable it, set the <code>multiplayer.rconEnabled</code> field to <code>true</code> in the server config, then head to [https://emn178.github.io/online-tools/sha256.html SHA256 Online] and generate a hash for your RCON password. Once you're done, copy&paste the password hash into the <code>multiplayer.rconPassword</code> field and restart the server. Now, you can use the <code>/rclogin [password]</code> in-game command to gain admin access for the remainder of your session.
<br>
<b>Make sure to come up with a strong password and never tell it to anyone!</b>
<h4>Using GPAuth</h4>
Check [[GPAuth Summary]] for info regarding setting up GPAuth.
 
<h3>Controlling the Anti-Cheat</h3>
The anti-cheat system may interfere with mods you decide to install and overall limit the gameplay. In order to disable anti-cheat features, set the <code>verification.verifySyncPackets</code> and <code>verification.verifyVehicleAttributes</code> fields to <code>false</code> in the config.
Respectively, you can set both values to <code>true</code> in order to enable anti-cheat (and possibly break all of your mods, since the anti-cheat database is built for Racing resources).
<br>
The anti-cheat is disabled by default so that people aren't confused about their server kicking them out whenever they change something.
 
<h3>Installing Mods</h3>
If you want to spice up the gameplay, feel free to install mods onto your server! All of your mods go into the <code>resources</code> folder in a specific manner:
 
<ul>
<li><b>Car model mods</b> go to <code>resources/game/CARS</code>.</li>
<li><b>VLT modscripts</b> go to <code>resources/scripts</code>.</li>
</ul>
 
Do note that we currently don't support addons, and VLT scripts that are too complex may not work properly.
<br>
For a good start, consider downloading and unpacking the resources used on our official servers:
<ul>
<li><b>[https://content-api.plak.mp/plak/content/clients/mwo-server-official-resources-normal.zip Career/Racing Server Resources (133MB)]</b> - The resources used on MWO Career and MWO Racing. Includes all addon car models.</li>
<li>[https://content-api.plak.mp/plak/content/clients/mwo-server-official-resources-insanity.zip AR-1 Server Resources (147MB)] - The resources used on AR-1. These will make your server hell, so have fun.</li>
</ul>
 
<h1>Controlling your Server</h1>
All of the commands above are admin-only, so make sure to grant yourself the rights before trying them out.
 
<h3>Punishments</h3>
You can kick, ban or mute people using admin commands (provided you gave yourself admin access as mentioned above):
 
<ul>
<li><code>/kick [username] [reason]</code> - Disconnects a player. They can come back right away.</li>
<li><code>/ban [username] [reason]</code> - Permanently bans a player. They can't come back until you unban them. The player doesn't need to be online, and the command also bans all of their alts.</li>
<li><code>/unban [username]</code> - Unbans a previously banned player.</li>
<li><code>/mute [username] [reason]</code> - Mutes a player from the chat. They can't write until you unmute them.</li>
<li><code>/unmute [username]</code> - Unmutes a previously muted player.</li>
</ul>
 
<h3>Player Stuff</h3>
You can perform various actions on players:
 
<ul>
<li><code>/broadcast <message in quotes></code> - Broadcasts a message to all online players.</li>
<li><code>/alts [username]</code> - Shows a player's alt accounts.</li>
<li><code>/tp [username] [target_username]</code> - Teleports the player <code>username</code> to player <code>target_username</code>.</li>
<li><code>/tp [target_username]</code> - Teleports you to player <code>target_username</code>.</li>
<li><code>/tpall [target_username]</code> - Teleports everybody to player <code>target_username</code>.</li>
<li><code>/respawn [username] [vehicle] [mode]</code> - Respawns player <code>username</code>. Vehicles are specified by name of PVehicle node. Mode must be one of <code>default|override|clear</code>.</li>
<li><code>/update-tuning [username] [property] [mode] [value]</code> - Updates current performance tuning for player <code>username</code>.
<ul>
<li><b>Properties:</b> <code>steering, handling, brakes, ride_height, aerodynamics, nos, induction</code></li>
<li><b>Modes:</b> <code>set, add, sub, mul, div, =, +=, -=, *=, /=</code></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
 
<h3>Developer Commands</h3>
You can use these commands to control some inner workings of the server:
 
<ul>
<li><code>/reload-resources</code> - Reloads all server-side mods and scripts.</li>
<li><code>/reload-restrictions</code> - Reloads all server-side restriction configs.</li>
</ul>
 
<h3>World Commands</h3>
You can use these commands to control the game world:
 
<ul>
<li><code>/settime <hours> [minutes]</code> - Sets the world time to the specified value.</li>
<li><code>/tcset <timecycle-name> [transition-time]</code> - Sets the world timecycle to the specified timecycle within the specified transition time (instantly by default).</li>
<li><code>/tclist</code> - Lists all available timecycles.</li>
</ul>
 
<h1>Conclusion</h1>
By the end of this article, you've learned how to set up a working MWO server for you and your friends to play on. Congratulations! To further customize your server, look into the [[Server Configuration Summary]] and try changing some of the values you see there.
 
<h1>See also</h1>
<ul>
<li>[[Server Configuration Summary]]</li>
</ul>

Latest revision as of 23:18, 28 March 2025

As of now, we do not support community servers.