Project Vapor Frontlines

Host

Run a Frontlines server

Anyone can host a server and have it appear in the game's server browser. You need a machine, the dedicated server build and a server token. This page covers all three.

1. Ask for a server token

A token is what lets your servers list themselves with the master server. It belongs to you as a host: one token covers every server you run. Use the form on this page. An admin reviews each request and sends the token to the contact you give. Keep it private.

2. Get the dedicated server

The server is its own build, VaporFrontlinesServer, for Windows. During development it is handed out with your token; once Frontlines is on Steam it will be a free tool download there.

3. Ports

On Steam, players reach your server through Steam's relay, so no inbound game ports are needed and your address is never published. The machine needs outbound UDP to Steam.

Started with -nosteam (LAN and testing), open two UDP ports per server instead: the game port and the next one up for the ping beacon, 7777 and 7778 by default.

4. Start it

VaporFrontlinesServer.exe L_GrandGulf?MaxPlayers=100 -port=7777 ^
  -ServerName="Your community | EU #1" ^
  -MasterUrl=<master server address> -MasterToken=vfms_... ^
  -Region=eu-west -log
  • -MasterUrl is the master server's address, sent with your token.
  • -Region is free text such as eu-west or us-east, shown in the browser.
  • -ServerPassword=<text> makes the server private: listed as passworded, joined only with it.
  • -SteamServerToken=<GSLT> keeps one Steam identity across restarts, so favourites keep working.

About a minute after it starts, the server shows on the server list and underDeploy > Internet for every player on the same build. Its log saysReporting to the master server as <id>.

5. More than one server

The server manager runs on your machine and looks after several servers at once: it starts and stops instances on their own ports, restarts ones that crash or hang, scales with demand and has a web dashboard. Registered with the master, it also lets Play now start a server on your machine when players need one. It comes with the dedicated server.

If it does not show up

  • The token. The log says the master doesn't accept this server when the token is wrong or revoked.
  • The build. Players only see servers on their own build. Update the server when the game updates.
  • The network. On Steam, outbound UDP must be allowed. With -nosteam, both UDP ports must be open.

Ranked servers

On a Ranked server, players bring their own kit and vehicles, and what they earn and lose is kept. Only official servers and licensed hosts are ranked, because a ranked server reports deaths, vehicles and experience to the central backend and has to be trusted to do it honestly. Every other server is unranked: players are issued kit and nothing is kept.

To apply, tick Ask for ranked on the form and tell us about your community: how long it has run, where your servers are, and who administers them. Ranked hosts agree to run unmodified servers and to have their match reports audited.