How to Host a Team Fortress 2 Server

No port forwarding, no SRCDS command line to fight with. Here's exactly how to get a Team Fortress 2 server running for your community with Norto's Knights, start to finish.

1. Create your account

Register an account first - you'll need one to check out, and you'll need to verify your email before your first order will go through. It's worth doing this step before you start picking a plan.

2. Choose a plan sized for your server

TF2 is light on resources - a standard community server runs comfortably on 1 GB. If you're running SourceTV, custom maps, and plugins on a full 24-32 player server, step up to closer to 2 GB. Check the full Team Fortress 2 requirements and browse plans and pricing, then click Order Now on the plan you want.

3. Configure your server at checkout

On the checkout page you'll confirm your plan, pick Team Fortress 2 from the game dropdown, and name your server (2-50 characters - you can change it later). If the plan you picked falls short of TF2's recommended specs, a warning shows up right there before you pay, so there are no surprises. Review the order summary, then click Proceed to Payment.

4. Pay securely via Stripe

You'll be taken to Stripe's checkout to complete your subscription - billed monthly in AUD, cancel anytime. We never see or store your card details.

5. We prepare your server

After payment you'll land on an order confirmation page - your server is being prepared by our team, and we'll email you connection details once it's ready. You can watch the status update in real time from My Servers in your dashboard: Paid -> Provisioning -> Active.

6. Connect once it's live

Once your server shows Active, its address appears in My Servers as an IP and port. Open the developer console in TF2 and run connect ip:port using that address, or add it as a favorite in the in-game server browser. From the same dashboard row you'll also find a link to the management panel for restarts, map changes, and plugin installs.