Hunterza430

• Openttd Can't Find Server
• Openttd Server Port Forward
• Openttd Server Portal
• Openttd Server Admin Port

I'm playing with some friends OpenTTD about once a week and currently I'm using a 10$ droplet on DigitalOcean where I'm also hosting some other projects. Soon I will dismiss such projects and I'm wondering where I could host the OpenTTD server considering that.

Update: Check out part two for a more up to date guide.

I recently setup an OpenTTD server and I thought I might document the steps I took to do so.

I choose to use a Digital Ocean (DO) to host my server since I’ve been wanting to try them out for some time. It also helps that their cheapest hosting option is rather cheap - only $5 per month. And since I don’t think OpenTTD will be particularily memory intensive I am fairly certain that the extra 512MB of RAM for the $10 per month DO droplet will be needed.

After creating my $5 per month droplet running Ubuntu 14.04 LTS I followed DO’s handy initial server setup to get my server ready for installing OpenTTD.

Installing OpenTTD

• Where to host an OpenTTD server? I prefer to not host the game on my private network because then it is always messy with the port forwarding and in general my friends would depend on my computer being on to start playing. Sometimes I join a bit later or some friend prefers to start a bit earlier and it's cool to have the game.
• You can either do that through the multiplayer window or by using the following command line syntax: openttd -n IP:port#CompanyID Example: openttd -n 192.168.0.1:3979#1 I mean, if I start a a server, my details appear there but it still states 'Server offline' - even to me and most certainly to my friend as well.

The first step to installing OpenTTD is downloading it:

Then to install OpenTTD and it’s dependencies:

Installing Graphics

Before you can kick off your OpenTTD server you need to install some graphics. If you don’t have your original Transport Tycoon Deluxe CDs handy the bare minimum for this is to download OpenGFX which provides free replacements for the game’s graphics. To install it:

Adding An OpenTTD Service

With OpenTTD installed one of the last steps is to setup an OpenTTD service. Luckily for us, Frodus has kindly created an OpenTTD init script available here.

First we need to download and unzip it:

Then we need to add a symlink of the openttd file to /etc/init.d, update its permissions and add the OpenTTD service to the Ubuntu startup scripts.

Finally rename ~/openttd-init/config.example to config and edit the variables to suitable values.

OpenTTD Configuration

The last step before starting to play is setting up the openttd.cfg file - a list of the available options is on the OpenTTD wiki. A good overview of what options to change is also available on the OpenTTD Coop Wiki.

Openttd Can't Find Server

One setting of great importance is the sever_port (default value 3979) setting. Whatever option you choose, make sure to add a firewall rule. If you are using the default Ubuntu firewall ufw it is as simple as:

iptables configuration is left as an exercise to the reader.

Some of the other settings I like to change are:

• min_active_clients set this to 1 so the game is paused when noone is connected.
• inflation set this to false since after a while money is no object.
• forbid_90_deg set this to false as 90 degree turns are ugly.
• train_acceleration_model set this to realistic otherwise slopes will seriously slow your trains down.
• vehicle_breakdowns breakdowns are annoying so no breakdowns please.
• no_servicing_if_no_breakdowns no servicing when there are no breakdowns.

Joining Your Server

Openttd Server Port Forward

Once you have setup your config it’s finally time to fire up your OpenTTD server:

To join your server in the Multiplayer settings window click the Add Server button and add your server with the port number like so:

Openttd Server Portal

And after joining you should be greeted with your shiny new OpenTTD game. Happy network building!

FS#5793 - Openttd Dedicated server crashes when failing to load a recent savegame

Openttd Server Admin Port