Swarm Hosts / Guides

Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2 uses Valve's Source dedicated server. Swarm Hosts installs the server anonymously through SteamCMD and persists the runtime and configuration under /home/steam/tf2.

Quick facts

  • Gameplay and query: assigned UDP port
  • TCP mapping: the same assigned port number
  • Persistent data: /home/steam/tf2
  • Default map: cp_badlands
  • Minimum resources: 2 CPUs and 2 GB RAM

The guided launch form exposes the server name, password, map, maximum players, and LAN mode. Leave Server Actions password blank to generate one automatically, or set 16–128 letters, digits, underscores, or hyphens. Keep this credential private; players use only the optional join password.

Launch

  1. Open Launch and choose Team Fortress 2.
  2. Set the server name, starting map, maximum players, and an optional player password.
  3. Keep LAN mode disabled for an internet-accessible server.
  4. Confirm the requested CPU and memory fit the selected Swarm Host, then launch and wait for the server to report Running. The first launch downloads the server files and can take considerably longer than later starts.

After launch, use Settings → Team Fortress 2 Settings to change managed values. Saving settings restarts or recreates the server and disconnects players.

Server Actions

Use Server Tools → Actions to check status, list players, maps, or bans, send a broadcast, change maps, kick or ban a player, and remove a ban. Choose targets from the current lists; refresh the list if a selection has expired. Swarm Hosts does not accept raw console or RCON input.

Viewing bans, changing maps, and kicking, banning, or unbanning players require Swarm Server admin access. Disruptive actions ask for confirmation.

Mods & Content

SourceMod plugins can execute server code and are managed manually. Back up and stop the server before uploading a compatible framework and plugin set through Files & Backups. Plugin files belong under tf/addons/sourcemod/plugins. Start the server and verify its logs and player connections afterward. Swarm Hosts has no Team Fortress 2 Mods & Content page and does not install the framework, discover plugins, update them, or roll them back automatically.

Connect

When the Swarm Server is running, copy the player hostname or IP and UDP port from its connection details. In Team Fortress 2, open the developer console and use connect host:port, adding the player password when prompted. Share only that player endpoint and keep the Server Actions password private.