Team Fortress 2
Map rotation, custom content, SourceMod and the Steam login token.
Everything in Your panel applies. These are the TF2 specifics.
Startup parameters
- Hostname — the name in the server browser
- Map — which map the server starts on
- Max Players
- Server Password — leave empty for a public server
- RCON Password — for external admin tools
- GSLT — a Steam Game Server Login Token
The token is required for a public community server. Without it the server runs but will not list properly.
Map rotation and custom maps
The rotation lives in the server's configuration files, edited in the file manager. Custom maps go into the maps folder over SFTP.
If you run custom maps, set up a fast download address so players fetch them quickly over HTTP instead of the slow in-game transfer. Both the in-game transfer setting and the download address live in your server config.
Plugins
Community servers typically add MetaMod and SourceMod. From there, plugins are files you drop into the right folder and configure — that is how most custom modes, votes and admin tools work.
Admin powers are usually granted through SourceMod's admin list rather than a panel setting.
Memory
Plans start at 2 GB, which is enough for a small private server. Go higher for a busy public server, a long rotation of large custom maps, or a stack of plugins on top of the base game.
Updates
When TF2 updates, server files update on restart, so a scheduled restart normally keeps you in step with the client. Plugins are separate and occasionally need their own update after a game patch — that is the usual reason a server that worked yesterday throws errors today.