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Team Fortress 2 server administration is built around a small set of vanilla console and RCON commands. Use status to identify players, kickid and banid for moderation, mp_* and sv_* convars for rules, and exec with tf/cfg/server.cfg for repeatable settings. SourceMod adds a separate, optional permission and menu layer; commands beginning with sm_ do not exist on an unmodified server.
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Know which command layer you are using
Before copying a command, identify its authority, scope and dependency. A command entered in the dedicated-server console or through authenticated RCON can change the server for everyone. A command entered in a player’s client console may affect only that player, and some commands are blocked unless cheats are enabled. SourceMod commands require the SourceMod plugin and an account with the relevant permission.
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| Layer | Typical examples | Who it affects | What it requires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla server console/RCON | status, kickid, changelevel, mp_timelimit |
Players and server state | Dedicated-server console or valid RCON credentials |
| Persistent configuration | server.cfg, exec |
Every server start or config load | Files under tf/cfg/ |
| Cheat-controlled practice | noclip, god, mp_forcewin |
Usually the whole server, with player-visible effects | sv_cheats 1; use on private or test servers |
| SourceMod | sm_kick, sm_ban, sm_map |
Depends on the command and target | SourceMod installed and permissions configured |
| Client scripting | bind, alias, toggle |
Usually one player’s client | Client console or config; not automatically server authority |
Set up console access, RCON and server.cfg
Store persistent settings in the right file
Put settings that should survive a restart in tf/cfg/server.cfg. The exec command loads another file from that same configuration directory, so you can keep a general server file and separate files for events or practice sessions. For example, exec competitive.cfg loads tf/cfg/competitive.cfg.
A maintained configuration example dated 26/04/2026 includes these operator settings:
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hostname "My TF2 Server"
rcon_password "replace-with-a-long-unique-secret"
sv_password ""
log on
sv_logbans 1
sv_logecho 1
sv_logfile 1
sv_log_onefile 0Use a long, unique value for rcon_password; do not paste the real secret into a public guide, bug report or shared repository. sv_password is separate: an empty value permits normal public joining, while a non-empty value requires players to enter that join password.
Connect from an authenticated client
From the game client’s console, replace the address and password with your own values:
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rcon_password <password>
rcon statusThe default port shown here is the common example; use the port configured by your server. Once RCON is authenticated, prefix server commands with rcon. When typing directly into the dedicated-server console, omit that prefix:
status
changelevel cp_badlandsIf RCON appears to do nothing, verify that the password in the running server matches the one you entered, that the address includes the correct port, and that a firewall or host control panel is not blocking the RCON connection.
Identify players before you moderate them
Use status as your source of identifiers
Run status before kicking or banning. It lists connected players, their user IDs, names, SteamIDs, ping and IP information. Names can contain spaces, unusual characters or duplicates; the numeric user ID from status is therefore safer for an immediate kick.
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status
kickid <userid> "Reason for removal"kick "name" is available when you have no user ID, but name matching is more ambiguous. Quote names and reasons when they contain spaces.
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Vanilla TF2 provides both SteamID and IP-based bans:
banid <minutes> <steamid>
banip <minutes> <ip>
removeid <steamid>
removeip <ip>
listid
writeid
writeipUse 0 for a permanent duration. A non-zero number is measured in minutes. banid and banip are initially held in memory; writeid and writeip write those lists to the server’s ban files so they survive a restart. Run the matching write command after adding bans. Use removeid or removeip to revoke a ban, then write the list again if you need the change persisted.
SteamID bans are generally the more durable identity-based choice, while IP bans can be useful for a specific network but may affect other users on shared addresses or fail when an address changes. Keep a reason in your own moderation log even though the basic vanilla ban commands do not provide a structured case-management system.
Control maps and stop or restart the server
These commands perform immediate lifecycle operations rather than setting a long-term rule:
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| Command | Effect | Operational note |
|---|---|---|
changelevel <map> |
Changes to the named map immediately | Players are moved as the new map loads |
nextlevel <map> |
Sets the map for the next transition | Does not change the current map immediately |
mp_restartgame <seconds> |
Restarts the current match after the specified delay | Warn players before using it on a live match |
quit |
Stops the server process | Use only when you intend to shut the instance down |
For a planned map change, set nextlevel and let the current round finish. Use changelevel when an immediate move is required, such as recovering from a broken map or beginning an event.
Set match rules with mp_* and sv_* convars
mp_* convars govern match rules; sv_* convars govern server-wide behavior. The following defaults are recorded in the referenced TF2 command guide, but they are version-sensitive. Check the live value on your server with the convar name by itself before relying on a default.
| Convar | Purpose | Recorded default |
|---|---|---|
mp_timelimit <minutes> |
Maximum map time | 30 |
mp_winlimit <round-wins> |
Ends the match after a team reaches the win limit | 0 |
mp_maxrounds <rounds> |
Caps the number of rounds | 0 |
mp_friendlyfire 0|1 |
Controls friendly fire | 0 |
mp_autoteambalance 0|1 |
Automatically balances teams | 1 |
mp_teams_unbalance_limit <players> |
Maximum permitted team-size difference | 1 |
mp_forcecamera 0|1 |
Restricts spectator camera choices | 0 |
mp_disable_respawn_times 0|1 |
Removes normal respawn waits | 0 |
sv_alltalk 0|1 |
Allows voice communication across teams | 0 |
sv_pure 0|1|2 |
Controls file-integrity enforcement | 1 |
sv_gravity <value> |
Sets world gravity | 800 |
Examples of one-shot changes are:
mp_friendlyfire 1
mp_autoteambalance 0
sv_alltalk 1
sv_gravity 400
mp_restartgame 10Place a rule you want on every startup in server.cfg; use a console command for a temporary event setting. Keep disruptive changes such as disabling team balance or changing gravity away from a public match unless players have been told in advance.
Manage bots
TF2’s bot commands are useful for filling a test server, checking a map or practicing without human players:
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tf_bot_add <count> [team] [difficulty]
tf_bot_kick <name|all>
tf_bot_quota <number>
tf_bot_difficulty <0-3>
bot_kill <name|all>The optional team and difficulty arguments let you control how bots are added. Set a quota when you want the server to maintain a target number rather than adding a fixed group once. Use tf_bot_kick all to clear the current bot population before changing the setup.
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Cheat-gated commands belong on private or test servers
sv_cheats 1 enables cheat-protected commands server-wide and makes that state visible to connected players. Reserve it for a password-protected development, training or event server; do not enable it casually on a public match.
sv_cheats 1
noclip
god
buddha
impulse 101
hurtme <amount>
kill
explode
mp_forcewin <team>noclip allows free movement, god prevents damage, and buddha prevents death while still allowing health to be reduced. hurtme, kill and explode are useful for testing damage and respawn behavior. mp_forcewin ends the match for the selected team and is especially disruptive on a live server. Return the server to normal with sv_cheats 0 and, if necessary, restart the match.
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Understand the SourceMod boundary
SourceMod is optional; vanilla TF2 does not provide the sm_ command family. SourceMod adds per-admin permissions and an in-game administration menu, which is useful when several moderators need controlled access without sharing the RCON password.
After SourceMod is installed and permissions are configured, common examples include:
sm_admin
sm_kick <player> [reason]
sm_ban <player> <minutes> [reason]
sm_map <map>
sm_cvar <convar> [value]
sm_gag <player>
sm_mute <player>
sm_vote <question> [options]In chat, prefix a SourceMod command with ! to show its output publicly, or with / to run it silently. In the server console, use the full sm_ name. If the server answers “unknown command,” verify that SourceMod is loaded and that the executing account has permission; installing the game alone does not create these commands.
Use aliases and binds for repeatable operator routines
Several console constructs are scripting tools rather than server-administration systems. They can automate commands, but they do not grant authority that the account does not already have:
bind "e" "voicemenu 0 0"
toggle sv_cheats 0 1
bindtoggle o "sv_cheats 0 1"
incrementvar fov_desired 75 90 1
alias mysetup "mp_friendlyfire 0; mp_autoteambalance 1"bindassigns an action to a key.toggleswitches a convar between listed values.bindtogglecreates a key-bound two-state switch.incrementvarchanges a numeric value within a minimum and maximum.aliasgives a command sequence a reusable name; semicolons separate commands.
An alias executed on a client remains a client-side convenience unless the command inside it is sent to the server through an authorized path. Keep potentially destructive aliases out of shared configs and label any key that can enable cheats or alter match rules.
Troubleshoot the failures operators see most often
“Unknown command”
- For
sm_commands, SourceMod is missing, stopped or not granting permission. - For
noclip,godor similar commands, confirm thatsv_cheats 1is active on the server. - For any command, check whether you entered it in the client console when it requires server authority.
A ban disappears after restart
Run writeid after banid, or writeip after banip. The add command alone keeps the entry in memory only.
The wrong player was kicked
Run status again and use kickid with the current numeric user ID. User IDs can change when players disconnect and reconnect, so do not reuse an old value.
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Put it in tf/cfg/server.cfg, or in another file that is loaded with exec filename. Confirm that the file is in the server’s tf/cfg/ directory and that another startup configuration is not overwriting the value later.
RCON authentication fails
Check the exact rcon_password, the address and port supplied to rcon_address, and network firewall rules. Do not expose the password while troubleshooting; rotate it if it has been shared.
Quick Recap
A safe operating checklist
- Use RCON for routine administration, but keep the password unique and private.
- Run
statusbefore targeting a player, then preferkickidover name matching. - Commit SteamID and IP bans with the corresponding
writeidorwriteip. - Store stable convars in
server.cfg; reserve one-shot commands for temporary changes. - Announce map changes, restarts and disruptive rule changes to players.
- Keep
sv_cheats 0on public servers and use a separate private instance for testing. - Install SourceMod only when you need delegated permissions or its moderation features; do not expect
sm_commands from vanilla TF2. - Check live convar values instead of assuming defaults, because values can vary by game update or existing configuration.
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