Yes you can start the session as a dedicated server on your PC. Then you and your friends can join this session.
Lets talk about the server side of the house first. Then we will move on to client side and finally network side.
Server setup
To launch the server create a copy of the IL-2 COD shortcut and paste it on your desktop. Then right click it and add -server to the URL path.
Alternately if you want just navigate to Launcher.exe and right click and send it to the desk top as a short cut.
Then modify the path in it to add -server.
If you want to password protect your server make it -server -pwd {somepassword}
start your server.
At this point the server is running but no session is active.
You will need to enter all of the values below into the server window. Take the quickway out and copy the text below to a text file. name that file something like serverStart.cmd and save it in your "Documents\1C SoftClub\il-2 sturmovik cliffs of dover" folder.
Once you have the command file in your documents folder in the server command window type
f serverStart.cmd
Quote:
console LOG 1
console LOGTIME 1
difficulty AntropomorphicControl 0
difficulty ComplexEManagement 0
difficulty TorqueGyroEffects 1
difficulty EngineTemperatureEffects 0
difficulty FlutterEffects 1
difficulty WindTurbulence 1
difficulty StallSpins 1
difficulty Vulnerabilty 1
difficulty BlackoutsRedouts 1
difficulty Realisticgunnery 1
difficulty RealisticBombing 1
difficulty LimitedAmmo 0
difficulty LimitedFuel 0
difficulty CockpitAlwaysOn 0
difficulty NoOutsideViews 0
difficulty HeadShake 0
difficulty NoIcons 0
difficulty NoPadlock 0
difficulty Clouds 1
difficulty TakeoffLanding 1
difficulty RealisticLandings 1
difficulty NoMapIcons 0
difficulty NoMinimapPath 0
difficulty NoAutopilot 0
difficulty NoReplacementPlace 0
difficulty NoReplacement 0
difficulty NoSelect 0
difficulty NoReplacementArmy 0
difficulty NoSelectArmy 0
difficulty NoCreate 0 ~
mp_dotrange DOT 20
missLoad missions/Multi/Dogfight/128BoF/128BoFv1_6.mis
timeout 180.00 chat Welcome to Server IL2 Cliffs of Dover Server ALL
timeout 200.00 chat This server is a work in progress. ALL
timeout 1000.00 Ouch that's going to hurt. ALL
battle start
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Don't forget to change the realism settings and the mission. You can eliminate the server chat commands I just left them in so you could see how they work.
From a computer and networking stand point your PC has the Dedicated server running and Binded to network port 27016.
Now stop the server gracefully in the server command window type
Battle stop
exit
You are going to want to name your server and you can not do it with it running.
Navigate to the "\Documents\1C SoftClub\il-2 sturmovik cliffs of dover" folder and find the confs.ini file. Open it with any text editor.
Edit your server settings
Quote:
[NET]
serverName=Dedicated Server
serverDescription=IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover
speed=100000
localPort=27016
maxPlayers=16
serverInfo1=
serverInfo2=
serverInfo3=
serverInfo4=
VAC=1
tryDirectConnect=1
|
FYI locally editing .ini files does not work unless you have turned off steam cloud synchronization.
Right click on your Steam Icon and select Library.
Right click on IL-2 COD and select properties.
Click the update tab. Uncheck Steam Cloud.
Now fire up your server and type
f serverStart.cmd (or what ever file name you named the command file)
The server is ready for you to connect.
Pretty easy and simple so far right.
Client Setup
Now start Cliffs of Dover so you can join the session.
From the Main Menu select Options
Select Network
The default port number should be 27015. You can not use that port or your friends who are going to use it will not be able to connect. Change that port to any port in the 27010 - 27344 range. Those ports are unassigned per IANA and are free to use by anyone. It might be a good idea to stay close to the original numbers. Just make sure you do not use 27015 or 27016.
The local host address should be the IP address of your computer. There should be no need to change it.
Now go back to the main menu.
Selelct Multiplayer
Select Client
You will not see your server on the list because we have not done anything with your network yet.
Select Direct connect
Change the server IP Address to 127.0.0.1. This is the internal loop back IP Address it basically tell the computer to connect to its self.
Leave the port at default.
Click OK and you should connect to your session.
Network Settings
I found this information on line yesterday and I have not tested it but it should be right.
You need to open a few ports router or no one will connect to you.
You also need to set firewall rules on your PC but for right now lets just look at the ports.
Find port forwarding in your router and point the ports with the associated protocol to the IP address of your PC.
When I set up our dedicated server I can tell you when I had only 27015 and 27106 allowed thru the fire wall no one could connect so make sure you open the whole range.
Steam Client
UDP 27000 to 27015 inclusive (Game client traffic)
UDP 27015 to 27030 inclusive (Typically Matchmaking and HLTV)
TCP 27014 to 27050 inclusive (Steam downloads)
UDP 4380 UDP 4380
Dedicated or Listen Servers Dedicated or Listen Servers
TCP 27015 (SRCDS Rcon port)
Steamworks P2P Networking and Steam Voice Chat Steamworks P2P Networking and Steam Voice Chat
UDP 3478 (Outbound)
UDP 4379 (Outbound)
UDP 4380 (Outbound)
To make things simple for your fire wall rules just allow steam and launcher.exe to communicate on all ports UDP and TCP and you will have no issues with the PC.
Hopefully once you do all of this you will see your server on the list of clients. For some reason though the first time it connects it takes hours to show up. There after it does not usually have a problem other than steam logging off the session from time to time.
Keep in mind you can always give your friends your direct IP and they can connect.