This guide covers administration for your Holdfast: Nations at War dedicated server, including setting up admins, using RCON, executing commands, managing map rotations, configuring competitive settings, and troubleshooting common issues.

Admin Setup

Holdfast uses a Steam ID-based admin system. You need to add player Steam IDs to the admin list before they can use admin commands in-game.

Adding Admins via admins.txt

1. Stop your server from GPanel.
2. Open the File Manager or connect via SFTP.
3. Locate or create admins.txt in the server root directory.
4. Add one Steam64 ID per line:

# Holdfast Admin List
# One Steam64 ID per line
76561198012345678
76561198087654321
76561198011223344

5. Save the file and start your server.

Admin via serverconfig.txt

Alternatively, you can define admins directly in holdfastnaw-dedicated/configs/serverconfig_default.txt:

# Admin Steam IDs in server config
server_admin_steam_id_add 76561198012345678
server_admin_steam_id_add 76561198087654321

RCON Access

RCON (Remote Console) allows you to execute server commands without being connected as a player. Configure RCON in your holdfastnaw-dedicated/configs/serverconfig_default.txt:

# Enable RCON
server_rcon_enabled true

# RCON password (use a strong, unique password)
server_rcon_password "YourSecureRconPassword"

# RCON port (default is game port + 5)
server_rcon_port 20105

To connect via RCON, you can use any Source RCON-compatible client. Enter your server IP, RCON port, and password to establish a connection.

In-Game Admin Commands

Admins can execute commands in-game by pressing the designated console key (usually ` or ~) and typing the command. The following table lists the most commonly used admin commands:

Player Management

Map and Game Control

Class and Spawn Management

Server Configuration for Competitive Play

If you are hosting events, line battles, or competitive matches, the following settings help create a structured environment:

# Competitive settings
server_friendly_fire true
server_auto_balance_teams false
server_enforce_team_balance false
server_allow_spectators true

# Disable certain classes for line battles
server_class_limit_artillery 0
server_class_limit_cavalry 0

# Longer round times for organized events
server_round_time_seconds 1800

# Disable respawning (one life per round)
server_respawn_enabled false
server_respawn_time_seconds 0

Map Rotation Management

You can manage the map rotation dynamically using admin commands or by editing the configuration file.

Runtime Map Rotation Commands

# View current map rotation
maplist

# Add a map to the rotation
addmap "Grasslands" 0

# Remove a map from the rotation
removemap "Grasslands" 0

# Clear the entire rotation
clearrotation

Troubleshooting

Server Not Appearing in Browser

• Ensure the server has been running for at least 2-3 minutes after startup. It takes time to register with the Steam master server list.
• Verify the server_steam_query_port is correctly configured and matches your GPanel allocation.
• Check that your server is not set to LAN-only mode.
• Confirm the server started successfully by reviewing the console output in GPanel for any error messages.

Server Crashes

• Check the server logs in the server_log/ directory for error details.
• Ensure your holdfastnaw-dedicated/configs/serverconfig_default.txt does not contain syntax errors. A single misplaced character can prevent the server from starting.
• Verify that map names in your rotation are spelled correctly and refer to valid maps.
• If crashes persist after a game update, try reinstalling the server via GPanel's Reinstall option (back up your configs first).

Player Desync Issues

• Desync is more common with high player counts. If you experience frequent desync, consider reducing server_max_players.
• Ensure your server's tick rate is set appropriately for your player count.
• Players with very high latency (200+ ms) are more likely to experience desync. You can set a max ping limit:

# Kick players with ping above this threshold (ms)
server_max_ping 300

Players Cannot Connect

• Verify the server is running and fully started in GPanel.
• If using a password, ensure connecting players are entering it correctly.
• Check that the server is not full (server_max_players limit reached).
• If players are connecting via direct IP, ensure they are using the correct IP and game port (not the query port).

Related Articles

• Holdfast Nations at War Server Setup Guide
• How to Find Your Server IP and Port
• How to Upload Files via SFTP
• Getting Started with Your New Server

If you need further assistance with server administration, please open a support ticket and our team will help you out.