To setup a dedicated Nuclear Dawn server you will need:

SteamCMD or Steam.

This is the recommended and easiest way to install and keep the server updated.

Setting up a Nuclear Dawn (SRCDS) server with the SteamCMD client is very simple. First you need to download the installer from Steam or here[www.interwavestudios.com]. Make sure you install this in a separate directory from other Source or HLDS games!

Then create a new folder which will eventually hold the game files. For instance “C:\nucleardawn\”

Next open notepad and enter the following:


After this simply type: The above should all be on a single line.

Be sure to:


Save the file into the same directory you extracted SteamCMD to before, and be sure to save it with a .bat extension. Double click the batch file and SteamCMD should pop up and update itself, and then begin pulling the files from the Steam servers. Once this is complete the SteamCMD window will disappear, and at that point you should be able to continue configuring your server. For future updates, simply stop your game server, run the .bat file again and it should fetch any required updates for you.

Now you have your base installation. You just need to configure it. Open Notepad and create a file called server.cfg and put it in the C:\nucleardawn\cfg folder. (Remember NOT to save it as a "txt" file)

Heres a base server.cfg file:


Optional:

To start the ND dedicated server you can use this command:


This will start the server with the basic commands, for 32 players with the map downtown. Ofcourse you can always add other commands like +ip you.ip.number.xxx to set the server to a specific ip.

There is a handy tool for Windows servers called ServerChecker that will allow you to start a process of SRCDS (Nuclear Dawn Source server) and monitors it and auto-restarts if it goes down.

More information about ServerChecker can be found here[www.dumbclan.co.uk].

You may download the latest version of ServerChecker v3.04 from here[www.interwavestudios.com].

If you are using Window Vista or Newer (that includes Windows Server 2008 and beyond) you may need this third party 3.04 version. available here[www.dumbclan.co.uk].

VAC

Valve Anti-Cheat will automatically detect and ban many users that are using programs used for playing unfairly on server (examples being speed hacking, aimbot use and in some extreme cases, usage of sv_cheats related commands such as noclip). VAC is enabled by default on all servers and requires the administrator to expressly disable it by adding the -insecure line to the launch options Server Settings

Outside of VAC securing a server, the first line of defense against cheating is the server variable (console command) sv_pure. This variable controls where a client gets its information and acts as a means to restrict what kind of content and files can be modified/substituted on the player's side. This can be easily exploited by players if not configured properly. Its optional (but not vital) to set this variable to 1 or 2 if you don't want to allow any form of cheating on your servers. By default sv_pure is set to 0 which restricts nothing. Possible values are 0, 1, and 2 which are explained below.

sv_pure = 0 allows the client to specify the location of ANY game file. A client can potentially use modified files to gain an unfair advantage by doing things such as replacing enemy player models with ones that use bright colored skins, make walls invisible, add beacons onto buildings, or just about anything else you can think of. VAC doesn't protect against these kinds of exploits because they don't modify the game process itself. Its up to the server to decide what its clients can do.

sv_pure =1 restricts where the client can get information from based on a white list (list of allowed content). The default white list is still set to allow custom player models as well as any potential exploits such as bright skins.

sv_pure = 2 forces the client to ignore ALL user content, and instead forces them to use the information supplied by Steam. While this is the most secure, sv_pure 2 will prevent the use all custom skins/models and even custom sprays.

Many servers typically run sv_pure with a value of 1 together with a modified white list either to allow directories of content that are difficult or impossible to cheat with, or remove the ability for players to supply their own models.

SourceMod Anti-Cheat

SourceMod Anti-Cheat (formerly known as Kigen Anti-Cheat) is a plugin based system comprised of different modules to help protect your gameserver against common threats, hacks, scripts, exploits, commands, cvars, or cheats currently being used today to cause your servers harm.

It protects your gameserver from most if not all of the common problems you would see on any gameserver and takes actions against those who cause the problems.

You can get it over here[forums.alliedmods.net].