experimental single map home server

[G_Sajer]

Forgive me if these questions seem ignorant, but server admin is new territory for me.

I've built a dedicated home server. It's purpose is to perform as an experimental single map server for ro2. 16 slots will probably be the max. My broadband is such (20 mb/s) that it will probably handle this. We'll see. So far I have all the update tools installed, and the game
tools were successfully downloaded and installed in their own directory.
So far, so good.

I'm going to be running this through my router. I have the ability and understanding to reconfig my router if required. The current server addressing setup is default to dynamic for the moment.

Here's the dumb questions:

I'm assuming a static address for the server is desireable? I can do that,
on the server, but what if any changes might be needed in the router to make the server appear to the public and behave as any other?

Does steam have to be installed and running on the server for any reason?

I'll be running the game and hopefully testing the map from my regular computer, not the server.

[Major_Day]

Start the server,it should be visible on the lan,look in the game browser,and if its there in the unranked section you need to do nothing.
You don't need Steam at all.

[G_Sajer]

Originally Posted by Major_Day

Start the server,it should be visible on the lan,look in the game browser,and if its there in the unranked section you need to do nothing.
You don't need Steam at all.

Ok. Good. That answers that. I went ahead and configured the server for a static Ip. I set the two critical game ports for forwarding through the router and server firewall.

Do these ports have to be set for incoming as well as outgoing?

[G_Sajer]

Let's see, I may have this figured out. The router port forwarding seems to default to both directions. The Server firewall, however, is set for incoming from the wan only. I did some detailed research which suggests that in a normal server operation, the server looks for incoming requests on those ports, but replies to the ip of the sender of origin going back. I don't want to let any more into or out of that firewall than what is required. A firewall setting, as opposed to router, may not even be neccessary, but no one seems to want to talk about this stuff in detail. It's like you have to be born with it hard-coded. Sheesh.

[Major_Day]

Don't try and cross your bridges before you come to them,they may not even exist,if the server is visible in the browser then you have no problems.
If its not visible, then you have to worry about configuring server firewalls/ports etc.

[G_Sajer]

Good point. I should be in a position to test it sometime Wed. Hopefully, problems will be minimal.

[G_Sajer]

The server is now visible on the unranked list.
I was able to log in to the administrator tools and set that up.
I can access the server from my lan.

However, all attempts to connect to the server over the internet on my regular machine fail. After a long passage of time The attempt results in a connection lost message. Looks like it's timing out...?

The .ini files ARE set for internet connection.

[G_Sajer]

Oops.

Problem resolved. Looks like a firewall issue on the server.
All seems well.