Community servers can be found in our Discord[discord.gg], Gametracker[github.com] or in-game browser (look for maps beginning with bm_).

If you want to play just with your friends, you have to host a private server. Please understand, that in order to make your local server accessible over the net, you have to either port forward or use a tool that will expose your server. Renting a server from a game server provider is also a possibility. This is not covered in this guide!

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For this example we will download the Black mesa dedicated server which can be found in Steam library under tools.

After the server has finished installing, open it in file explorer.
[Right click on Black Mesa Dedicated Server > Properties > Installed Files > Browse]

1) Download build 1.11-1155 of Metamod:Source.
Direct Link:
Windows[mms.alliedmods.net]
Linux[mms.alliedmods.net]

2) Download build 1.12-7163 of Sourcemod.
Direct Link:
Windows[sm.alliedmods.net]
Linux[sm.alliedmods.net]

3) Download SourceCoop[github.com]

4) Extract all downloaded archives under "Black Mesa Dedicated Server\bms"

Booting up
Don't start the server in GUI mode through Steam, it is outdated and has issues, like not showing up in the server browser.
Rather, let's use a .bat script to run our server in console mode. The following script starts a 10 player server on the first campaign map, running on port 27016.

@echo off
cls
echo Protecting srcds from crashes...
echo If you want to close srcds and this script, close the srcds window and type Y depending on your language followed by Enter.
title srcds.com Watchdog
:srcds
echo (%time%) srcds started.
start /wait srcds.exe /high -console -game bms -secure -ip 0.0.0.0 -port 27016 +maxplayers 10 +mp_teamplay 1 +exec server.cfg +map bm_c0a0a
echo (%time%) WARNING: srcds closed or crashed, restarting.
goto srcds

5) Copy & paste the above in Notepad. Save it as srcds.bat in the dedicated server folder where srcds.exe is. In the save dialog, under filename, select Save as type: All files (*.*).
6) Double click srcds.bat to start the server.

Verify your install
7) After starting the server type

• sm plugins list

You should see SourceCoop plugins in the output without any errors, like this.
Otherwise the installation is most likely incorrect.

Q: How to host over the net?
A: By default your server will probably be limited to LAN.
You can either:

• Look for port-forwarding tutorials for your router and open ports 27015-27030 (The steps will be the same for every Source game).
  
• Use a tool, like https://playit.gg/

Q: I can't launch the game while the server is running.
A: a) Simply launch the game first.
A: b) Another workaround is to run Steam in admin mode.
A: c) Advanced users can also launch bms.exe directly using parameters -multirun -steam
This issue needs to be fixed by BM developers.

Q: How to configure the server?🌟
A: You can enter commands directly in the server console or permanently add them in ...\bms\cfg\server.cfg
(one command per line, commands added here will overwrite any preceding when new map loads)

Q: How to edit the sever name?
A: Edit hostname in server.cfg＊

Q: How to set the password?
A: Use the sv_password yourpass command＊. Players using the new UI will need to type password yourpass in their ingame console before connecting.

Q: How to increase the map timer?
A: Edit mp_timelimit in server.cfg＊ To disable it completely, set mp_timelimit 0

Q: How to set the difficulty?
A: By default, difficulty is set to increase by 2 per player. To set it manually, use the commands＊ sourcecoop_difficulty_auto -1, then sourcecoop_difficulty x where x is a number from 0 to infinity.

Q: How to save progress?
A: You have to manually choose the map (see below), but you can save & load player state with sc_save and sc_load.

Q: How to change maps?
A: Use sm_map mapname or changelevel mapname commands. Check this guide for complete map list.
Alternatively, all players can start a map vote by typing /changemap or using the ingame SourceCoop menu.

Q: I'm getting 'your map differs' error when connecting to a server.
A: It can mean 2 things, either you're in different branch of the game than the server or have a mod installed that replaces stock maps (like OAR Uncut).

Q: I'm getting 'unexpected authentication protocol 1675212' error when connecting to a server.
A: Did you install SourceMod into your game client? If so, disable/remove it.

Q: We're connected via virtual network software, everything else works, but can't see each other's server in the browser.
A: Try manualy connecting with console command connect <IP>:<PORT>

Q: I've port forwarded but the other side still can't connect.

• You can verify port forwarding on https://canyouseeme.org/ while the server is running.
  
• The server console prints a line starting with "Network:", does it match with the port you've forwarded?
  
• There's sometimes an issue of srcds using a wrong network adapter when you have multiple. Quickest solution is to disable unused ones in windows.
  
• Is UDP also forwarded?
  
• Is srcds.exe allowed in your firewall?
  
• Try having the other side connect with console command connect <IP>:<PORT>

Q: I found a bug.
A: There's quite a few. Check if it's under issues on the github, otherwise add a new issue.

Q: I want to help.
A: Please check out our github.

Q: Is this compatible with Blue Shift?
A: Not yet.