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To configure a Killing Floor 2 dedicated server, install the server files separately with SteamCMD, launch the platform-appropriate server executable, edit the configuration under KFGame/Config, and make the active game and query ports reachable through both your router and firewall. The usual defaults are UDP 7777 for game traffic, UDP 27015 for query or master-list traffic, TCP 8080 for WebAdmin, and UDP 20560 for Steam traffic.
What you need before installing
A dedicated server is a separate installation. It does not turn your ordinary player installation into a server and should not share a directory with the files you use to play. Keeping a dedicated-server directory makes updates, backups, and rollbacks safer.
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Hardware and operating-system prerequisites
- A Windows or Linux computer that can remain online while players connect.
- Administrator access to install SteamCMD, create firewall rules, and run a server process or service.
- A stable private address for the server on your local network, or a fixed address assigned by your cloud provider.
- Router access if the server is behind a residential gateway.
- Enough disk space for the dedicated-server distribution, updates, logs, and backups. The available documentation does not establish a universal CPU, memory, or bandwidth figure, so size the machine according to your player count and test under your expected load.
Choose where the server will run
Running at home gives you direct control over files and network settings, but you must maintain port forwarding, firewall rules, power, and an always-on connection. A cloud virtual machine provides a public address and security-group controls, while managed game-server hosting removes most operating-system and network administration. The technical configuration is similar, but managed hosting normally exposes it through a control panel rather than your own shell.
Understand the ports
Use the following values as defaults, not as permanent requirements. A launch option or configuration change can move a service to another port; every router, host-firewall, and cloud-security-group rule must then use the active value.
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| Purpose | Default | Protocol | What must allow it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game and player traffic | 7777 |
UDP | Server host firewall plus router forwarding or cloud firewall |
| Steam query or master-list traffic | 27015 |
UDP | Server host firewall plus router forwarding or cloud firewall |
| WebAdmin | 8080 |
TCP | Only when browser administration is enabled; restrict the source networks |
| Steam traffic | 20560 |
UDP | Allow when your deployment uses the documented default |
The four values above are listed together in a Steam Community Windows guide published in 2016 and updated in 2024. LinuxGSM documents UDP 7777 as the default game port, and Linux hosting documentation confirms the game, query, and WebAdmin roles. Treat the source dates as qualifications: they document common defaults, not a guarantee that every current build or custom launch command uses them.
Install the dedicated files with SteamCMD
Create a dedicated directory
- Choose a directory used only for the server, such as a folder on a data volume rather than your normal game-library folder.
- Install SteamCMD for Windows or Linux using the current Valve distribution instructions.
- Open SteamCMD and sign in with
login anonymouswhen anonymous access is accepted for the dedicated-server depot. - Use the current dedicated-server application identifier and download command from the current Tripwire or Valve documentation. The exact app ID and canonical command were not verified in the available material, so do not copy an app ID from an old forum post without checking it first.
- After the download completes, close SteamCMD and confirm that the server directory contains the
KFGametree and the supplied Windows launcher or Linux server executable.
Keep a clean backup of the newly downloaded directory before making configuration changes. A second backup after each successful update gives you a known-good rollback point if a patch or edit prevents startup.
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Windows installation and launch
On Windows, run the supplied batch or launcher file from the dedicated-server directory after SteamCMD has downloaded the files. If Windows asks for network access, allow the server process on the intended network profile. Do not assume that a successful process launch means that internet players can reach it; routing and firewall checks are separate.
The principal Windows configuration file is KFGameConfigPCServer-KFGame.ini. Preserve the original file, edit a copy, and restart the server after every change. Use a text editor that does not add rich-text formatting or change the file extension.
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Linux installation and launch
On Linux, run SteamCMD from the dedicated directory and start the server with a shell script, a service definition, or a server manager such as LinuxGSM. LinuxGSM identifies KFGame/Config/LinuxServer-KFEngine.ini when documenting the default game port. Current hosting instructions also use KFGame/Config/LinuxServer-KFGame.ini for server settings. Which file receives a particular setting depends on the distribution and launcher you installed, so inspect the files shipped with your build and follow the comments or existing entries.
Run the process under a dedicated, non-root user. Give that user ownership of the server directory and write access only where logs, saves, and updates require it. If you create a system service, configure automatic restart for crashes, but avoid an aggressive restart loop that hides a syntax error in an edited configuration.
Configure the server identity and gameplay
Open the platform-specific files under KFGame/Config and locate the entries for the public server name, short name, message of the day, difficulty, and game mode. The Windows guide documents these categories in PCServer-KFGame.ini; Linux deployments use Linux-named configuration files for the same purpose.
Identity settings
- Server name: Use a recognizable name that tells players whether the server is private, public, testing, or modded.
- Short name: Keep it brief enough for browser and administration views.
- MOTD: State rules, scheduled restarts, administrator contact instructions, and any password requirement.
Avoid placing passwords or private contact data in a public MOTD. Save the file, close the editor, and restart the server so the process rereads the values.
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Difficulty and game mode
Set difficulty and game mode using the values supported by the configuration file supplied with your build. The Windows guide provides examples of the accepted difficulty entries; copy the spelling and capitalization already used in that file rather than inventing a value. If a setting is ignored, check that it is in the active platform file and that a launch parameter or map rotation is not overriding it.
Set router forwarding and host firewalls
Assign a stable private address
- Reserve a DHCP lease for the server computer in the router, or configure a static private address outside the router’s automatic pool.
- Record the address and verify it does not change after a reboot.
- Forward each required port from the internet-facing interface to that address, preserving the protocol: UDP 7777, UDP 27015, TCP 8080 only if WebAdmin is enabled, and UDP 20560 when used by your installation.
Forwarding to a changing address is a common reason a server works one day and disappears after a reboot. Do not forward ports to the router’s own management address.
Allow the same ports locally
Create inbound rules in Windows Defender Firewall, ufw, nftables, or the equivalent host firewall for the ports and protocols the server actually listens on. A cloud virtual machine also needs matching security-group or network-acl rules. An operating-system rule cannot compensate for missing router forwarding, and a router rule cannot compensate for a blocked host firewall.
Open TCP 8080 only when you need browser administration. If WebAdmin is disabled, leave that port closed. Never expose an administrative interface merely because the game server itself is public.
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- Six player co-op or solo play- A multitude of varied playable characters await for players to choose from.
- Terrifying Zeds - New enemies and fan favourites from the original game.
- Unique Blend Of Weaponry - From modern militaristic assault rifles, brutal improvised makeshift weapons, classic historical guns, and off the wall "Mad Scientist".
- Expanded Perk System - Perks from the original game have been reimagined with more added to the fold.
Enable and secure WebAdmin
WebAdmin is optional. Enable it in the server configuration, set a strong administrator password, and restart the process. Browse to the server’s address on TCP 8080 from a trusted network to confirm that the interface responds.
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- Prefer a firewall rule that permits TCP 8080 only from your home, office, VPN, or other administrator addresses.
- If you must administer remotely, use a VPN or an SSH tunnel rather than exposing the interface to every internet address.
- Do not reuse the game password or a personal account password.
- Remove the forwarding rule when WebAdmin is not needed.
- Review logs for repeated login attempts and change the password immediately if it may have been disclosed.
The documented setup guides identify TCP 8080 as the common WebAdmin port; changing it requires matching the configuration and every firewall rule.
Start, update, and supervise the process
First startup
- Stop any previous test instance so that two processes do not compete for the same ports.
- Launch the Windows batch file or Linux executable from the dedicated directory.
- Watch the console and log for the map, game mode, bound address, and listening ports.
- Confirm that the process remains running after initialization instead of exiting with a configuration or permission error.
Use the server’s supplied launcher rather than double-clicking an unrelated executable. If a launcher accepts command-line options, record them in your service or script so a reboot starts the same configuration every time.
Routine updates
Stop the server cleanly before updating with SteamCMD. Back up the configuration and any server-specific files, apply the update, then compare the new configuration files with your backup. Packages can add new options or replace defaults; blindly restoring an old file may omit settings required by the new build.
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- Includes Killing Floor 2 fan favorite Mrs. Foster Playable Character DLC for free as part of the physical release (in-box)
- Mow down hordes of Zed using a vast arsenal of weapons in Killing Floor 2, or get up close and personal using PlayStation VR in Killing Floor Incursion
- Team up with up to 6 players in online co op, go head to head in 12 player PVP in Killing Floor 2, or watch your friend's back in VR in Killing Floor Incursion's 2 player co op
- Enemies use deadly artificial intelligence to coordinate attacks against you, increasing the difficulty and fear factor; Updated content released every season
- Playstation VR required to play Killing Floor Incursion
Uptime and recovery
For a home server, configure the operating system not to sleep and consider an automatic startup task after reboot. On Linux, a service manager can start the process at boot and restart it after a crash. Keep restart logs so you can distinguish a genuine crash from a loop caused by a bad setting. Managed hosting is preferable when you cannot provide reliable power, connectivity, or maintenance.
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Test on the local network
Join from another computer on the same LAN using the server’s private address. This test isolates game files, configuration, and local firewall problems from internet routing. If the local connection fails, check the process log, active configuration file, listening address, and host firewall before changing the router.
Test from outside the network
Use a phone on cellular data, a remote friend, or another external connection. Search for the server in the browser and attempt a join. Testing from inside the same LAN can produce misleading results because some routers do not support hairpin NAT.
If the server is running but not listed
- Verify that UDP 7777 is the actual game port in the launch output or configuration.
- Verify that UDP 27015 is permitted for query or master-list traffic.
- Check the router’s forwarding destination and confirm that the private address has not changed.
- Check Windows Firewall, Linux firewall rules, or cloud security groups for the correct protocol.
- Confirm that the server is bound to the expected network interface rather than localhost or an obsolete address.
- Check whether an upstream carrier-grade NAT or blocked inbound service prevents unsolicited connections. If so, use a public cloud host, a VPN-based network solution, or managed hosting.
Common failures and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Launcher exits immediately | Missing files, wrong working directory, permissions, or invalid configuration | Run it from the dedicated directory, inspect the log, restore the last known-good configuration, and update the files again if necessary. |
| Local players can join; internet players cannot | Missing forwarding, host firewall, cloud rule, or carrier-grade NAT | Test each layer separately and verify the public route reaches the stable private address. |
| Server process runs but browser listing is absent | Query port blocked or incorrect, master-list traffic unavailable, or interface binding error | Check UDP 27015, the active query setting, and the bound address. |
| WebAdmin page does not load | WebAdmin disabled, TCP 8080 blocked, or a different port configured | Enable it only when required, match the configured port in firewall rules, and test from an allowed source network. |
| Changes have no effect | Wrong platform file edited, duplicate entry, or server not restarted | Edit the active file under KFGame/Config, remove conflicting duplicate entries, save a backup, and restart. |
| Server breaks after an update | Configuration format or defaults changed | Compare the updated files with your backup, reapply only necessary settings, and test locally before reopening public ports. |
Windows versus Linux
| Decision factor | Windows | Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | SteamCMD plus the supplied batch or launcher file | SteamCMD plus a shell script, service, or LinuxGSM |
| Primary configuration naming | KFGameConfigPCServer-KFGame.ini |
Linux-named files such as LinuxServer-KFEngine.ini and LinuxServer-KFGame.ini, depending on the distribution |
| Administration style | Graphical desktop tools and Windows services or scheduled tasks | Command line, system services, and automation |
| Best fit | Administrators comfortable with Windows and desktop troubleshooting | Administrators who want lightweight services, scripting, and automated updates |
Neither platform removes the need for correct forwarding and firewall rules. Choose the one you can patch, monitor, and recover confidently.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
| Consideration | Self-hosted computer or cloud VM | Managed game-server host |
|---|---|---|
| Port forwarding | You configure the router or cloud firewall yourself. | The provider normally supplies the public endpoint and network rules. |
| Maintenance | You handle SteamCMD updates, operating-system patches, backups, and recovery. | The control panel or provider handles much of the platform maintenance; verify what remains your responsibility. |
| Uptime | Depends on your power, connection, and monitoring. | Designed for continuous availability, subject to the provider’s service terms. |
| Control | Full access to files, services, firewall, and custom automation. | Convenient controls but potentially fewer system-level options. |
| Cost and location | Uses your existing hardware or a separately billed cloud machine; latency depends on its location. | Monthly pricing, regions, backups, player slots, and WebAdmin availability vary and must be checked with the host. |
Managed hosting is the practical choice when router forwarding is impossible, your connection uses carrier-grade NAT, or you cannot keep a machine online and patched around the clock. Before ordering, confirm the region, backup policy, port controls, access to configuration files, and whether WebAdmin is included.
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Quick Recap
Operational checklist
- Dedicated server directory created and backed up.
- Current SteamCMD application identifier confirmed from official documentation.
- Windows or Linux launcher tested from the correct working directory.
- Active configuration file under
KFGame/Configidentified. - Server name, short name, MOTD, difficulty, and game mode saved.
- Stable private address assigned.
- UDP 7777 and UDP 27015 allowed and forwarded.
- UDP 20560 allowed when required by the installation.
- TCP 8080 opened only for secured WebAdmin access.
- Local-LAN test completed, followed by an external-network test.
- Update, backup, log, and restart procedures documented.
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