Set up your own server for The Front

System requirements

Operating system: Windows 10/11, Server 2016/2019/2022 & 64-bit
CPU: Quad Core Processor
RAM: 8GB
Hard drive space: 4GB

1. SteamCMD

First, download SteamCMD: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD#Downloading_SteamCMD
Extract the ZIP into a directory of your choice, e.g. C:\SteamCMD.
Tip: It is best to unpack SteamCMD into a directory you have created yourself,
otherwise Windows could restrict the functionality of the tool.

2. Download Server

Now create a new text file in the same directory in which the SteamCMD.exe is located and rename it, e.g. update_server.bat.
Now right-click on the file you have just created and click on Edit.
Now insert the following content:

@echo off
start "" steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir "C:\Path\to\Server\Directory" +app_update 2612550 validate +quit

Adjust the path as desired. If you want SteamCMD to choose the directory automatically, remove this option:
+force_install_dir "C:\Path\to\Server\Directory"
You will then find the server in the following directory:
\SteamCMD\steamapps\common\The Front Dedicated Server
Save the file and execute it.
If you have done everything correctly, the server will now be downloaded.

3. Start Server

Go to the server directory and create another text file.
Rename this to e.g. start_server.bat.
Open the file for editing. Insert the following content:

start "" "C:\Path\to\Server\Directory\ProjectWar\Binaries\Win64\TheFrontServer.exe" ProjectWar ProjectWar_Start ?Listen?MaxPlayers=8 -server -game -QueueThreshold=8 -ServerName="Your server name" -ServerAdminAccounts=STEAM64ID;STEAM64ID;STEAM64ID -log log=log.log -locallogtimes -EnableParallelCharacterMovementTickFunction -EnableParallelCharacterTickFunction -UseDynamicPhysicsScene -OutIPAddress=YOUR_PUBLIC_IP -ServerID=ANY_IDEA -port=PORT -BeaconPort=PORT+1 -QueryPort=PORT+2 -Game.PhysicsVehicle=false -ansimalloc -Game.MaxFrameRate=35 -ShutDownServicePort=PORT+3

Adjust the following values:

• MaxPlayers=8 : Replace 8 with the number of players that you want to have on your server
• -ServerName="Your server name" : Enter the name you want your server to have here
• -ServerAdminAccounts=STEAM64ID;STEAM64ID;STEAM64ID : Replace Steam64ID with the IDs of the players who should be admin on the server
• -OutIPAddress=YOUR_PUBLIC_IP : The IP address your server should use
• -port=PORT -BeaconPort=PORT+1 -QueryPort=PORT+2 -ShutDownServicePort=PORT+3 : Replace PORT with the port you want your server to use, e.g. 7777. Then adjust the other values according to the specifications, e.g. -BeaconPort=7778.

Save your changes and execute the file.
The server should now start correctly.

4. Configure Server

Create the following folder in the server directory: TheFrontManager.
Now create the following file in this directory: ServerConfig_.ini.
Make sure that both the folder and the file are named correctly, otherwise the config file will not be loaded.
Example of a ServerConfig_.ini:

[BaseServerConfig]
IsCanMail=1.000000
ServerName="Your server name, remove if the name was set on the command line"
ServerPassword=
ServerTitle="A short description of your server"
PlayerAddExpRate=1

5. Port Forwarding

Make sure that TheFrontServer.exe is enabled in the Windows Firewall.
The settings for the Windows Firewall can be accessed as follows:
Right-click on the shield icon in the taskbar -> Show security dashboard .
Then Firewall & network protection -> Allow app access through firewall .

You may need to manually enable the server ports in your router.
Read the instructions for your router to find out how to do this.