ce70cc1256
- Fixed empty caption handling in XML parameter extraction - Generated detailed startup parameters for all games from XML configs - All games now have complete troubleshooting sections - All navigation anchors working properly - 149 games successfully processed with full documentation Co-authored-by: iaretechnician <2749183+iaretechnician@users.noreply.github.com>
430 lines
17 KiB
PHP
430 lines
17 KiB
PHP
<?php
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/**
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* Natural Selection 2 Server Documentation - Comprehensive Guide
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* General game server hosting information (not platform-specific)
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*/
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?>
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<div style="background: #1e3a5f; padding: 20px; border-left: 4px solid #3b82f6; margin: 20px 0; border-radius: 4px;">
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<h3 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0;">📚 Quick Navigation</h3>
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<div style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px;">
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<a href="#quick-info" style="background: #0f172a; padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 4px; color: #a5b4fc; text-decoration: none;">Quick Info</a>
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<a href="#ports" style="background: #0f172a; padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 4px; color: #a5b4fc; text-decoration: none;">🔌 Ports</a>
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<a href="#installation" style="background: #0f172a; padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 4px; color: #a5b4fc; text-decoration: none;">Installation</a>
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<a href="#configuration" style="background: #0f172a; padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 4px; color: #a5b4fc; text-decoration: none;">Configuration</a>
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<a href="#parameters" style="background: #0f172a; padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 4px; color: #a5b4fc; text-decoration: none;">⚙️ Startup Parameters</a>
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<a href="#troubleshooting" style="background: #0f172a; padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 4px; color: #a5b4fc; text-decoration: none;">🔧 Troubleshooting</a>
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<a href="#performance" style="background: #0f172a; padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 4px; color: #a5b4fc; text-decoration: none;">Performance</a>
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<a href="#security" style="background: #0f172a; padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 4px; color: #a5b4fc; text-decoration: none;">Security</a>
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</div>
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</div>
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<h1>Natural Selection 2 Server Hosting Guide</h1>
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<h2>Overview</h2>
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<p>Natural Selection 2 is a multiplayer game server that can be hosted on a VPS or dedicated server. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about hosting a Natural Selection 2 server for your community.</p>
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<h2 id="quick-info">Quick Info</h2>
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<div style="background: #1e3a5f; padding: 20px; border-left: 4px solid #3b82f6; margin: 20px 0; border-radius: 4px;">
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<ul style="color: #e5e7eb; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0;">
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<li><strong style="color: #ffffff;">Default Port:</strong> <code style="background: #0f172a; padding: 2px 6px; border-radius: 3px; color: #a5b4fc;">Varies (see configuration)</code></li>
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<li><strong style="color: #ffffff;">Protocol:</strong> TCP/UDP</li>
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<li><strong style="color: #ffffff;">Minimum RAM:</strong> 1GB</li>
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<li><strong style="color: #ffffff;">Engine:</strong> Various</li>
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<li><strong style="color: #ffffff;">Steam App ID:</strong> <code style="background: #0f172a; padding: 2px 6px; border-radius: 3px; color: #a5b4fc;">4940</code></li>
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<li><strong style="color: #ffffff;">Recommended OS:</strong> Linux (Ubuntu/Debian) or Windows Server</li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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<h2 id="ports">🔌 Network Ports</h2>
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<div style="background: #1e3a5f; padding: 20px; border-left: 4px solid #3b82f6; margin: 20px 0; border-radius: 4px;">
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<h3 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0;">Required Ports</h3>
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<p style="color: #e5e7eb;">The Natural Selection 2 server typically uses a configurable port. Check your server configuration files for the specific port settings.</p>
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<h3 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 20px;">Firewall Configuration</h3>
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<p style="color: #e5e7eb;">Allow server ports through your firewall:</p>
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<pre><code style="color: #a5b4fc;"># UFW (Ubuntu/Debian)
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sudo ufw allow [PORT]/tcp
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sudo ufw allow [PORT]/udp
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sudo ufw reload
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# FirewallD (CentOS/RHEL)
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sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=[PORT]/tcp
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sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=[PORT]/udp
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sudo firewall-cmd --reload
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# Windows Firewall
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netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Natural Selection 2 Server" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=[PORT]
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netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Natural Selection 2 Server" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=[PORT]
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</code></pre>
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<h3 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 20px;">⚠️ Port Security Notes</h3>
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<ul style="color: #fef3c7; line-height: 1.8;">
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<li>Only open ports that are necessary for the game server to function</li>
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<li>Consider using non-standard ports to reduce automated attacks</li>
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<li>If using cloud hosting, configure security groups properly</li>
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<li>Monitor connection attempts and unusual traffic patterns</li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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<h2 id="installation">Installation & Setup</h2>
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<h3>System Requirements</h3>
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<ul>
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<li><strong>OS:</strong> Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+ or Debian 11+ recommended) or Windows Server 2019+</li>
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<li><strong>CPU:</strong> 2+ cores recommended (single-threaded performance important for most game servers)</li>
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<li><strong>RAM:</strong> 1GB minimum (more for larger player counts)</li>
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<li><strong>Storage:</strong> 5GB+ for server files (SSD recommended for better performance)</li>
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<li><strong>Network:</strong> Stable internet connection with low latency</li>
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</ul>
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<h3>Installation Steps</h3>
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<h4>Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)</h4>
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<pre><code># Update system packages
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sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
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# Create server directory
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mkdir -p ~/gameserver
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cd ~/gameserver
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# Download server files (method varies by game)
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# Check official documentation for download links
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</code></pre>
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<h4>Windows Server</h4>
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<p>Download the server files from the official game website or through Steam (if applicable). Extract to a dedicated folder and run the server executable.</p>
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<h3>Using SteamCMD - RECOMMENDED METHOD</h3>
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<p><strong>This game can be installed via SteamCMD using App ID: 4940</strong></p>
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<h4>Install SteamCMD (Ubuntu/Debian)</h4>
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<pre><code># Update package list
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sudo apt update
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# Enable 32-bit architecture
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sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
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sudo apt update
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# Install SteamCMD
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sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 steamcmd
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</code></pre>
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<h4>Download Server Files</h4>
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<pre><code># Create directory for game server
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mkdir -p ~/gameservers/ns2
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# Run SteamCMD and download
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steamcmd +login anonymous \
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+force_install_dir ~/gameservers/ns2 \
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+app_update 4940 validate \
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+quit
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# Server files are now in ~/gameservers/ns2/
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cd ~/gameservers/ns2
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ls -la
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</code></pre>
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<h4>Windows Installation with SteamCMD</h4>
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<ol>
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<li>Download SteamCMD from: <a href="https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip" target="_blank">https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip</a></li>
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<li>Extract to <code>C:\steamcmd\</code></li>
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<li>Open Command Prompt and run:</li>
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</ol>
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<pre><code>cd C:\steamcmd
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steamcmd.exe +login anonymous ^
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+force_install_dir C:\gameservers\ns2 ^
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+app_update 4940 validate ^
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+quit
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</code></pre>
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<h2 id="configuration">Server Configuration</h2>
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<p>After installation, you'll need to configure your server. Here's where to find the configuration files and what settings you can change.</p>
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<h3>Essential Settings</h3>
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<ul>
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<li><strong>Server Name:</strong> Set a descriptive name for your server</li>
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<li><strong>Max Players:</strong> Configure based on your server's resources</li>
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<li><strong>Password:</strong> Optional password protection for private servers</li>
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<li><strong>Admin/RCON Password:</strong> Set a strong password for remote administration</li>
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<li><strong>Game Mode:</strong> Configure game-specific modes and settings</li>
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</ul>
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<h3>Server Commands</h3>
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<p>Common administrative commands (access via console or RCON):</p>
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<pre><code># Kick player
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kick [player_name]
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# Ban player
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ban [player_name]
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# Change map/level (syntax varies by game)
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changelevel [map_name]
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# Set admin password (if supported)
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setadminpassword [password]
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</code></pre>
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<h2 id="parameters">⚙️ Startup Parameters</h2>
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<h3>Command Line Template</h3>
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<p>The server uses the following command line template:</p>
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<pre><code>%GAME_TYPE% %IP% %PORT% %MAP% %PLAYERS% %HOSTNAME% %HOME_PATH% %BASE_PATH%</code></pre>
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<h3>Available Startup Parameters</h3>
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<p>The following parameters can be configured when starting the server:</p>
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<div style="background: #1e3a5f; padding: 20px; border-left: 4px solid #3b82f6; margin: 20px 0; border-radius: 4px;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; border-bottom: 1px solid #374151;">
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<h4 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0;">
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<code style="background: #0f172a; padding: 4px 8px; border-radius: 3px; color: #a5b4fc;">-name</code>
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<span style="color: #e5e7eb; font-weight: normal; font-size: 0.9em;"> - Server name</span>
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</h4>
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<p style="color: #e5e7eb; margin: 10px 0;">Will override the server name configured in the panel, leave it blank to use the default name.</p>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; border-bottom: 1px solid #374151;">
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<h4 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0;">
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<code style="background: #0f172a; padding: 4px 8px; border-radius: 3px; color: #a5b4fc;">-password</code>
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<span style="color: #e5e7eb; font-weight: normal; font-size: 0.9em;"> - Server Password</span>
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</h4>
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<p style="color: #e5e7eb; margin: 10px 0;">Specifies a password for clients connecting to the server, leave it blank to remove password protection.</p>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; border-bottom: 1px solid #374151;">
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<h4 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0;">
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<code style="background: #0f172a; padding: 4px 8px; border-radius: 3px; color: #a5b4fc;">-mods</code>
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<span style="color: #e5e7eb; font-weight: normal; font-size: 0.9em;"> - Mods</span>
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</h4>
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<p style="color: #e5e7eb; margin: 10px 0;">This should be a list of space separated mod ids that are active on this server, leave it blank for no mods.</p>
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</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; border-bottom: 1px solid #374151;">
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<h4 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0;">
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<code style="background: #0f172a; padding: 4px 8px; border-radius: 3px; color: #a5b4fc;">-insecure</code>
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<span style="color: #e5e7eb; font-weight: normal; font-size: 0.9em;"> - Disable Valve Anti-Cheat</span>
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</h4>
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<p style="color: #e5e7eb; margin: 10px 0;">Will start the server without Valve Anti-Cheat technology.</p>
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</div>
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</div>
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<h3>Creating a Start Script</h3>
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<p><strong>Linux (start.sh):</strong></p>
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<pre><code>#!/bin/bash
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cd /path/to/server
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./server_executable [parameters] 2>&1 | tee server.log
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</code></pre>
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<pre><code>chmod +x start.sh
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./start.sh
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</code></pre>
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<p><strong>Windows (start.bat):</strong></p>
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<pre><code>@echo off
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cd /d "%~dp0"
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server_executable.exe [parameters]
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pause
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</code></pre>
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<h3>Running as a Service</h3>
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<p><strong>Linux (systemd):</strong></p>
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<pre><code># Create service file: /etc/systemd/system/gameserver.service
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[Unit]
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Description=Natural Selection 2 Server
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After=network.target
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[Service]
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Type=simple
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User=gameserver
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WorkingDirectory=/home/gameserver/server
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ExecStart=/home/gameserver/server/start.sh
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Restart=on-failure
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RestartSec=10
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[Install]
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WantedBy=multi-user.target
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</code></pre>
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<pre><code># Enable and start service
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sudo systemctl daemon-reload
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sudo systemctl enable gameserver
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sudo systemctl start gameserver
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sudo systemctl status gameserver
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</code></pre>
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<h2 id="troubleshooting">🔧 Troubleshooting</h2>
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<h3>Server Won't Start</h3>
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<h4>Check Server Logs</h4>
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<pre><code># View recent log entries
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tail -f server.log
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# Or check system logs
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journalctl -u gameserver -f
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</code></pre>
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<h4>Port Already in Use</h4>
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<pre><code># Find what's using the port
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sudo lsof -i :[PORT]
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sudo netstat -tulpn | grep [PORT]
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# Kill the process or change server port
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</code></pre>
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<h4>Missing Dependencies</h4>
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<p>Ensure all required dependencies are installed. Check the error messages for missing libraries or packages.</p>
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<h3>Connection Issues</h3>
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<h4>Can't Connect to Server</h4>
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<ol>
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<li><strong>Verify server is running:</strong> <code>ps aux | grep server</code></li>
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<li><strong>Check port is listening:</strong> <code>netstat -an | grep [PORT]</code></li>
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<li><strong>Verify firewall rules</strong> (see Ports section above)</li>
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<li><strong>Check server IP:</strong> Use external IP, not localhost</li>
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<li><strong>Router/NAT:</strong> Ensure port forwarding is configured</li>
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</ol>
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<h4>High Latency/Lag</h4>
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<ul>
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<li>Check server resource usage (CPU, RAM, disk I/O)</li>
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<li>Verify network bandwidth is adequate</li>
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<li>Consider server location relative to players</li>
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<li>Check for background processes consuming resources</li>
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</ul>
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<h3>Performance Issues</h3>
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<h4>Server Lag</h4>
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<ol>
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<li><strong>Monitor resources:</strong> Use <code>htop</code> or <code>top</code></li>
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<li><strong>Check disk I/O:</strong> Use <code>iotop</code></li>
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<li><strong>Review server logs</strong> for errors or warnings</li>
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<li><strong>Reduce player count</strong> or increase server resources</li>
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<li><strong>Optimize configuration</strong> based on server capacity</li>
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</ol>
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<h4>Memory Leaks</h4>
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<pre><code># Monitor memory usage
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free -h
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top -p $(pgrep -f server)
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# Restart server regularly via cron if needed
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0 4 * * * /home/gameserver/restart.sh
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</code></pre>
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<h2 id="performance">Performance Optimization</h2>
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<h3>Server Tuning</h3>
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<ul>
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<li><strong>CPU:</strong> Ensure adequate CPU allocation; most game servers are single-threaded</li>
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<li><strong>RAM:</strong> Allocate sufficient memory; monitor usage and adjust as needed</li>
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<li><strong>Disk:</strong> Use SSD storage for better I/O performance</li>
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<li><strong>Network:</strong> Ensure stable, low-latency connection</li>
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</ul>
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<h3>Operating System Optimization</h3>
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<pre><code># Increase file descriptor limits
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echo "* soft nofile 65536" >> /etc/security/limits.conf
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echo "* hard nofile 65536" >> /etc/security/limits.conf
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# Network tuning
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sysctl -w net.core.rmem_max=16777216
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sysctl -w net.core.wmem_max=16777216
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sysctl -w net.ipv4.tcp_rmem="4096 87380 16777216"
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sysctl -w net.ipv4.tcp_wmem="4096 87380 16777216"
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</code></pre>
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<h3>Monitoring</h3>
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<p>Set up monitoring to track server health:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>CPU and memory usage</li>
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<li>Network traffic and latency</li>
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<li>Player count and activity</li>
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<li>Error rates and crash logs</li>
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</ul>
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<h3>Backup Strategy</h3>
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<pre><code>#!/bin/bash
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# backup.sh - Run via cron
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DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
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BACKUP_DIR="/backups/gameserver"
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SERVER_DIR="/home/gameserver/server"
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# Create backup
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tar -czf $BACKUP_DIR/backup_$DATE.tar.gz -C $SERVER_DIR .
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# Keep only last 7 days
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find $BACKUP_DIR -name "backup_*.tar.gz" -mtime +7 -delete
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</code></pre>
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<h2 id="security">Security Best Practices</h2>
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<h3>Firewall Configuration</h3>
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<pre><code># Minimal firewall - only allow necessary ports
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sudo ufw default deny incoming
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sudo ufw default allow outgoing
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sudo ufw allow [SERVER_PORT]/tcp
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sudo ufw allow [SERVER_PORT]/udp
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sudo ufw allow 22/tcp # SSH
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sudo ufw enable
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</code></pre>
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<h3>Strong Passwords</h3>
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<ul>
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<li>Use strong, unique passwords for admin/RCON access</li>
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<li>Never use default passwords</li>
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<li>Change passwords regularly</li>
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<li>Don't share admin credentials unnecessarily</li>
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</ul>
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<h3>Regular Updates</h3>
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<ul>
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<li>Keep server software updated to the latest stable version</li>
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<li>Update operating system and dependencies regularly</li>
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<li>Subscribe to security advisories for your game</li>
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<li>Test updates on a staging server before production deployment</li>
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</ul>
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<h3>Access Control</h3>
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<ul>
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<li>Limit SSH access to specific IPs if possible</li>
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<li>Use SSH keys instead of passwords</li>
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<li>Disable root login via SSH</li>
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<li>Implement fail2ban or similar intrusion prevention</li>
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</ul>
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<h3>DDoS Protection</h3>
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<ul>
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<li>Consider DDoS protection services (Cloudflare, OVH, etc.)</li>
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<li>Implement rate limiting where supported</li>
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<li>Monitor for unusual traffic patterns</li>
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<li>Have an incident response plan</li>
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</ul>
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<h2>Additional Resources</h2>
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<ul>
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<li>Official Natural Selection 2 documentation and forums</li>
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<li>Community wikis and guides</li>
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<li>Game-specific Discord or Reddit communities</li>
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<li>Server hosting provider documentation</li>
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</ul>
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<div style="background: #78350f; padding: 20px; border-left: 4px solid #f59e0b; margin: 20px 0; border-radius: 4px;">
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<h3 style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0;"><i class="fas fa-exclamation-triangle" style="color: #fbbf24; margin-right: 8px;"></i>Important Notes</h3>
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<ul style="color: #fef3c7; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0;">
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<li>Always make backups before making configuration changes</li>
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<li>Keep your server and dependencies updated</li>
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<li>Monitor server resources and player activity</li>
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<li>Follow the game's End User License Agreement (EULA) and Terms of Service</li>
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<li>Join community forums for support and best practices</li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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<p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; color: #666;">
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<em>Last updated: November 2025 | For Natural Selection 2 server hosting</em>
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</p>
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