ESF Dedicated Server for Linux

[hleV]

This will guide you through the installation of ESF 1.2.3 Dedicated Server on Linux platform.

1. Install SteamCMD by following the official SteamCMD guide.
   
   
2. Install Half-Life server files via SteamCMD:
   
   • (Optional) Set install directory for easier access, otherwise the installation will be located in Steam/steamapps/half-life:
     
     force_install_dir ./hlds
   • Now install Half-Life files:
     
     app_update 90 -beta beta validate
     Repeat this command multiple times to make sure all files were downloaded and validated.
3. Upload ESF files to the same directory (Steam/hlds if you set custom install directory, otherwise Steam/steamapps/half-life). Inner folder structure should look like this:
   
   
   cstrike
   esf
   valve
   etc.​
   
   
4. Inside esf folder, create a text file named steam_appid.txt and write number 70 in it. Save the file.
   
   
5. Download Metamod-P and set it up as follows:
   
   • Put file metamod.so inside esf/addons/metamod/dlls folder.
     
     
   • Create file config.ini inside esf/addons/metamod folder and write in it the following:
     
     gamedll linuxdlls/hl_i386.so
6. Edit file liblist.gam: Change
   
   gamedll_linux "linuxdlls/hl_i386.so"
   to
   
   gamedll_linux "addons/metamod/dlls/metamod.so"

ESF server should be launchable now:

# Go to HLDS directory
cd ~/Steam/hlds

# Launch server
./hlds_run -game esf -maxplayers 32 +map esf_cell_games

Spoiler: Outdated HLDS method

1. Make a directory where you want your HLDS to be. I've chose root/hlds.
   
   cd /root
   mkdir hlds
   cd /root/hlds
2. Download HLDS Update Tool into HLDS directory.
   
   wget http://storefront.steampowered.com/download/hldsupdatetool.bin
3. Chmod hldsupdatetool.bin file and open it.
   
   chmod +x hldsupdatetool.bin
   ./hldsupdatetool.bin
4. Now you're asked if you want to install HLDS Update Tool. Simply write "yes":
   
   yes
5. HLDS Update Tool has been installed. Now we need to get HLDS files. Launch steam file so it would gather the required info.
   
   ./steam
6. After some time it will tell you that updating is finished and you need to restart the command. That means we now can start downloading HLDS files.
   
   ./steam -command update -game valve -dir .
   Wait till download progress is 100% and it says "HLDS installation up to date" or something similar.
7. Now we need to put ESF files into that installation. Put your esf directory into HLDS installation folder. It should look like this after you finished: root/hlds/esf.
8. Now open esf folder and create a file named steam_appid.txt and write number 70 in it. Then save the file.
9. Now delete dlls folder and then rename folder linuxdlls to dlls. Then open file liblist.gam and replace "linuxdlls" with "dlls" (e.g. from "linuxdlls/hl_i386.so" to "dlls/hl_i386.so", etc.).
10. It should be finished, but once you'll try to launch the server, it'll say that ESF's DLL is outdated. Download hlds_i686 file, which is taken from an older HLDS build with which ESF's engine DLL is compatible. Put it into your HLDS directory (root/hlds) and chmod it.
    
    chmod +x hlds_i686

This is it. But one important note. In server's launch command line you must add "-binary ./hlds_i686". Here's an example:

./hlds_run -binary ./hlds_i686 -game esf -pingboost 2 -secure -master -tickrate 66 -port 27015 +maxplayers 32 +map esf_cell_games_night&

Good luck.

 

[Damaera]

Nice tutorial , but have you actually tried this? I thought that Linux servers didn't work with ESF (at least 1.2.3) without a minor code edit?

 

[hleV]

Nice tutorial , but have you actually tried this? I thought that Linux servers didn't work with ESF (at least 1.2.3) without a minor code edit?

Yes. Explaination is in 9th part.

 

[Deathshot]

Hmm. Glad to see people are still out there working on this stuff.
+1 Karma

 

[Grega]

Shis should be stickied

 

[hleV]

It seems that I have forgotten one thing. Tutorial updated, check part 9.

 

[Baltzatu]

This isn't working for me. I get this error message:

Auto detecting CPU
Using Pentium II Optimised binary.
Half-life binary './hlds_i686' not executable, exiting
Thu Jan 5 17:16:55 MST 2012: Server Failed

And yes, I did all the steps from 7 as I am using a bought dedicated server of Half Life. And I did replaced hlds_i686 and chmoded it.

Any suggestions?

 

[hleV]

I don't have a Linux server to re-test this with the up-to-date HLDS build, but it worked like a charm at the time I made the guide and also the error you're getting doesn't make sense to me.

Are you completely sure that you performed the

chmod +x hlds_i686

command?

I've tried Googling the "/hlds_i686' not executable, exiting" and it seems there are other several occasions similar to yours, each of them on Pentium II as well.

 

[Baltzatu]

Yes, I'm sure.
And yes, I searched on Google and all the problems were in strange languages to me
And I hope you do realize that the CPU wasn't a Pentium II...
Anyway, the problem, as many more were solved. Sadly, I don't remember which was the cause for this problem.

Thank you hleV for trying to help me!

 

[|klaus]

Hi I know that this is an old thread but i have some issues when i want to run a server with ECX on linux.

When i want to join, the server response: "STEAM validation rejected".
and i'm running with the original half life on steam !

I will try some things... but if you know a way to fix this, plz tell me xd

(sorry for my bad english)

 

[Shadi]

Hi I know that this is an old thread but i have some issues when i want to run a server with ECX on linux.

When i want to join, the server response: "STEAM validation rejected".
and i'm running with the original half life on steam !

I will try some things... but if you know a way to fix this, plz tell me xd

(sorry for my bad english)

Did you follow all steps here including the steam app id? Also is it from a hoster or your home?

 

[hleV]

Try changing the value of sv_lan. If it's not it, then I'm not sure, as I've never tried to run an ECX server on Linux. You could try PMing this guy, as I'm positive he's running his ESFORCES.LT # ECX+AF Arena [24/7] server on Linux.

 

[|klaus]

I reinstall ecx rc2 + ecx rc1 in the server and now the server connects but drop me. in the game console says: "Server is running game ecx. Restart in that game to connect"
And i'm playing with ECX O_O

Did you follow all steps here including the steam app id? Also is it from a hoster or your home?

Yes, i have no problem if i create a normal ESF 1.2.3.

The steamapp_id.txt is in the folder.

In my home, but in a different pc with Ubuntu Server 64bits installed. I control the server via SSH and control the files with SFTP


----


Edit: Problem solved... the folder games was different. that's the "Server is running game ecx. Restart in that game to connect".

Now i can't install metamod, the servers crash with segmentation fault.. i will see what happens...

 

[Shadi]

Edit: Problem solved... the folder games was different. that's the "Server is running game ecx. Restart in that game to connect".

Now i can't install metamod, the servers crash with segmentation fault.. i will see what happens...

I don't remember if it was EVM or ECX it used to crash with.. but incase it's not then try edit your windows line out of your liblist.gam file.. make it look like this instead:

//  Earth Special Forces Game Info file

game "Earth`s Special Forces"

url_info "http://www.esforces.com"

url_dl "http://www.esforces.com/files.php"



version "Beta 1.2.3"

size "125002292"							

svonly "0"

cldll "0"

type "multiplayer_only"

nomodels "1"

//gamedll "dlls\hl.dll"

//gamedll "esf_bot\esf_bot.dll"

//gamedll_linux "dlls/hl_i386.so"
gamedll "addons\metamod\dlls\metamod.dll"
gamedll_linux "addons/metamod/dlls/metamod_i386.so"

Try replace it with that and tell me if it works now (DO KEEP A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL)

 

[|klaus]

Thanks for the help

I reinstall the amxmodx using the installation program via ftp... and put that liblist.gam

sometimes shows me that error, and sometimes starts ok. But now i actually see that the servers shows like normal esf 1.2.3 and not ECX [?] it seems like ecx is not installed

 

[Shadi]

Thanks for the help

I reinstall the amxmodx using the installation program via ftp... and put that liblist.gam

sometimes shows me that error, and sometimes starts ok. But now i actually see that the servers shows like normal esf 1.2.3 and not ECX [?] it seems like ecx is not installed

Shows or is it like 1.2.3?

And which error?

And it was home pc right? why use ftp installer?

 

[Grega]

You probably overwrote the ECX pluggin calls when you reinstalled AMXX.

 

[Shadi]

You probably overwrote the ECX pluggin calls when you reinstalled AMXX.

Maybe you should re install everything from scratch... install AMX and overwrite that libist and see how it works.

 

[|klaus]

I reinstall de ECX RC2 and RC1 (with Server things checked, in other words the amxmodx that comes with the ECX for windows) in the esf folder and put the liblist.gam.

The amxmodx initially not work. But i upload the .so files and delete de .dll files and i edit the plugin.ini in metamod folder adding: "linux addons/amxmodx/dlls/amxmodx_mm_i386.so"

and in "amxmodx/modules" I upload the .so files to. (fakemeta_amxx_i386.so, etc...")

And the servers still not work... X_X

server log:

L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: -------- Mapchange to esf_cell_games_night --------
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX] Plugin "ETC/SX.Bodypart.amxx" failed to load: Plugin uses an unknown function (name "addArrows") - check your modules.ini.
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX] Plugin ("CORE/Core.amxx") is setting itself as failed.
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX] Plugin says: << CRITICAL >> Invalid Earth's Special Forces

L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX] Displaying debug trace (plugin "CORE/Core.amxx")
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX] Run time error 1: forced exit
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX]    [0] HooK.core::plugin_precache (line 69)
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: Called dynanative into a paused plugin.
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX] Displaying debug trace (plugin "CORE/Ascend.amxx")
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX] Run time error 10: native error (native "getGameVERSION")
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX]    [0] HooK.core::plugin_init (line 25)
Looking up breakpad interfaces from steamclient
Calling BreakpadMiniDumpSystemInit
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: Called dynanative into a paused plugin.
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX] Displaying debug trace (plugin "CORE/Dragonball.amxx")
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX] Run time error 10: native error (native "getGameMODE")
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX]    [0] .Dragonball.core::server_frame (line 89)

I will do a paralel server and install the last version of amxmodx and try to put the AMXX files of ECX...
I don't know what more i can do.
Greetings.

 

[Shadi]

I reinstall de ECX RC2 and RC1 (with Server things checked, in other words the amxmodx that comes with the ECX for windows) in the esf folder and put the liblist.gam.

The amxmodx initially not work. But i upload the .so files and delete de .dll files and i edit the plugin.ini in metamod folder adding: "linux addons/amxmodx/dlls/amxmodx_mm_i386.so"

and in "amxmodx/modules" I upload the .so files to. (fakemeta_amxx_i386.so, etc...")

And the servers still not work... X_X

server log:

L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: -------- Mapchange to esf_cell_games_night --------
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX] Plugin "ETC/SX.Bodypart.amxx" failed to load: Plugin uses an unknown function (name "addArrows") - check your modules.ini.
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX] Plugin ("CORE/Core.amxx") is setting itself as failed.
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX] Plugin says: << CRITICAL >> Invalid Earth's Special Forces

L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX] Displaying debug trace (plugin "CORE/Core.amxx")
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX] Run time error 1: forced exit
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:27: [AMXX]    [0] HooK.core::plugin_precache (line 69)
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: Called dynanative into a paused plugin.
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX] Displaying debug trace (plugin "CORE/Ascend.amxx")
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX] Run time error 10: native error (native "getGameVERSION")
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX]    [0] HooK.core::plugin_init (line 25)
Looking up breakpad interfaces from steamclient
Calling BreakpadMiniDumpSystemInit
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: Called dynanative into a paused plugin.
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX] Displaying debug trace (plugin "CORE/Dragonball.amxx")
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX] Run time error 10: native error (native "getGameMODE")
L 05/01/2012 - 20:56:28: [AMXX]    [0] .Dragonball.core::server_frame (line 89)

I will do a paralel server and install the last version of amxmodx and try to put the AMXX files of ECX...
I don't know what more i can do.
Greetings.

Did you do step 9 properly like hleV said you should in the thread post? And don't do anything with the liblist.gam yourself.. just take the one I have given you .. unless it gives disturbance with ECX in some way my liblist.gam should work properly

Works on all 4 of my servers.