Steam Community :: Guide :: Hosting a Dedicated Server

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Setting up the Server

Running a dedicated server for Synergy allows you to host co-op games with friends or the public, providing a stable environment for extended play sessions. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a dedicated Synergy server on Windows.

1. Preparing the Server

First off, you're going to want to locate the following folder in your Steam directory:

steamapps\common\Synergy

In here you'll find the srcds.exe file which you'll need to create a batch file for (*.bat). Start off with creating a new Text Document and name it something like my_server.txt.

Open the text document, then copy and paste in the following:

srcds.exe -console -game synergy -port 27015 +map d1_trainstation_01 +hostname "My Server Name" +sv_password "myPassword"

Here you can set your server name, which map to start from, and (optionally) set a password.

Once you've changed the settings, rename the *.txt document to *.bat

💡 Tip: Make sure you have file name extensions enabled in your File Explorer settings to be able to change the file type.

2. Starting the Server

To start up the server, run the my_server.bat file.

This should open a console window where you'll see your server starting up. Here you can input various commands as you would in the in-game console. Once it's done starting up, you should be able to find your server in the Server Browser inside Synergy.

If you and your friends are not able to locate the server, it means you may need to open the correct ports on your router for others to be able to connect to it.

Port Forwarding

Port forwarding may or may not be necessary, depending on your router, but it’s an important step to ensure that your server is accessible to other players online. Forwarding the correct ports allows external connections to reach your game server.

How to Forward Ports for Your Server

Open Command Prompt
Go to the Windows search bar, type CMD, and press Enter.
Find Your Default Gateway
In the Command Prompt, type:
ipconfig
Look for the Default Gateway address (e.g., 192.168.1.1). Copy this and paste it into your web browser’s address bar.
Log Into Your Router
Your router’s login page should open. The username and password are often printed on a sticker on the router. If not, check your router's manual or your ISP’s website.
Find Your Router Model
Locate the brand and model number, usually printed on the router.
Forward the Required Port
You need to open port 27015 for both UDP and TCP.

If you’re unsure how to do this, visit https://portforward.com and look up instructions for your specific router model.

Once this is done, your server should be accessible to others.

Still having issues?

💡 Make sure your IP address is set to static
If your IP is dynamic, it may change over time, breaking the port forwarding setup. To prevent this, set a static local IP in your router's DHCP settings or manually assign one in your network settings.

💡 Check your firewall and antivirus settings
Even if your ports are forwarded correctly, Windows Firewall or third-party antivirus software may block incoming connections. Add an exception for srcds.exe in both the firewall and antivirus.

Useful Commands

Here are some commands that may be useful once the server is up and running.

General Management

Command‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Description‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

hostname "name"

Sets the server name

sv_password "password"

Sets a password for the server

changelevel <map>

Changes the current map

restart

Restarts the current map

quit

Shuts down the server

Player Management

Command‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Description‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

status

Shows info about players and their Steam IDs

kick "player_name"

Kicks a player from the server

banid <minutes> "steamID"

Bans a player by Steam ID for a set time (0 for permanent)

removeid "steamID"

Unbans a Steam ID

mp_friendlyfire <0/1>

Enables/disables friendly fire

Admin & Debugging Commands

Command‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Description‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

sv_cheats <0/1>

Enables/disables cheats

noclip

Allows the player to fly and move through walls

god

Enables invincibility for the player

notarget

Prevents NPCs from attacking the player

Performance & Network

Command‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Description‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

sv_lan <0/1>

Switches between LAN (1) and internet (0) mode

sv_timeout <seconds>

Time before the server kicks unresponsive players

Community and Resources

Stay connected and get the most out of your Synergy experience by joining the community and exploring additional resources:

Synergy Discord Channel[discord.gg] – Chat with other players, find friends to play with, and get real-time support from the community.

Synergy Store Page – Read the latest updates and browse the community hub.

Synergy Website[synergymod.net] – Visit the official website for more information about the mod.

Want to host a listen server? Take a look at this guide:

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3407983141