This guide covers admin setup, Source engine RCON commands, player management, map commands, SourceMod/MetaMod plugin support, and troubleshooting for your Open Fortress dedicated server. Open Fortress is a free TF2 mod with new gamemodes and content, built on the Source engine. For initial setup, configuration, and connection instructions, see Open Fortress Server Setup Guide.
1. Admin Setup (RCON Password)
Open Fortress uses the Source engine's RCON system for administration. Set the password in open_fortress/cfg/server.cfg:
rcon_password "YourStrongPassword"Authenticate in-game via console (~):
rcon_password YourStrongPassword
rcon <command>You can also send commands directly through the GPanel Console tab without RCON authentication.
2. Source Engine RCON Commands
Player Management
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
rcon status | List players with user IDs, Steam IDs, IPs, and ping. |
rcon kick <userid> | Kick a player by user ID. |
rcon kick "<playername>" | Kick by display name. |
rcon banid <minutes> <userid> | Ban by user ID. 0 = permanent. |
rcon banip <minutes> <ip> | Ban an IP address. |
rcon removeid <steamid> | Remove a Steam ID ban. |
rcon removeip <ip> | Remove an IP ban. |
rcon writeid | Save ban list to banned_user.cfg. |
rcon writeip | Save IP bans to banned_ip.cfg. |
rcon writeid and rcon writeip after banning. Without saving, bans are lost on restart.
Map Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
rcon changelevel <mapname> | Change map, keeping players connected. |
rcon map <mapname> | Load map from scratch, disconnecting all players. |
rcon maps * | List all available maps. |
rcon mp_timelimit <min> | Change map time limit. |
rcon mp_fraglimit <frags> | Change frag limit. |
rcon mp_restartgame 1 | Restart current round, resetting scores. |
Server Management
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
rcon hostname "Name" | Change server name. |
rcon sv_password "pass" | Set or change join password. |
rcon sv_alltalk <0/1> | Toggle cross-team voice chat. |
rcon say "message" | Send server-wide chat message. |
rcon exec <filename> | Execute a config file. |
rcon quit | Shut down the server. |
3. SourceMod and MetaMod
For advanced admin features, install MetaMod:Source and SourceMod.
Installation
- Stop your server from GPanel.
- Download MetaMod:Source from sourcemm.net and upload to
open_fortress/via SFTP. - Download SourceMod from sourcemod.net and upload to
open_fortress/. - Start the server and verify with
meta versionandsm versionin the console.
Adding SourceMod Admins
Edit open_fortress/addons/sourcemod/configs/admins_simple.ini:
"STEAM_0:1:12345678" "99:z" // Full admin accessUse sm_admin in chat or console to open the in-game admin menu.
4. Custom Maps
- Download the custom map
.bspfile. - Upload to
open_fortress/maps/via SFTP (see How to Upload Files via SFTP). - Add the map name to
open_fortress/cfg/mapcycle.txt. - Test with
rcon changelevel mapname.
5. Troubleshooting
Server Crashes on Startup
- Check the GPanel console for error messages.
- Verify the start map exists in
open_fortress/maps/. - If using SourceMod/MetaMod, remove addon directories temporarily to test.
- Ensure all required game files were downloaded properly (TF2 assets and Open Fortress files).
Players Cannot Connect
- Verify the server is running in GPanel.
- Check the correct IP and port from the Network tab.
- Ensure players have Open Fortress installed via the same method (Beans launcher).
Missing Textures or Assets
- Open Fortress relies on TF2 assets. Ensure the
tf2/directory was properly downloaded during installation. - If textures are missing, try a reinstall from the GPanel Settings tab.
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Need Help?
If you run into issues with your Open Fortress server that are not covered here, open a support ticket and include your server IP, a description of the problem, and any relevant error messages from the GPanel console.
