Tutorial For HTTP Fast Download Half-Life 2 Deathmatch.
I hope this tutorial will help many. I almost eneded up looking like the a bathtub barbie from pulling all of my hair out. There is not much information on the internet for Deathmatch. If you are a new game server host this is a must. This is a concise step by step guide to help a new game server host speed up gamers download of custom sounds and maps. I will assume that you have basic knowledge of file transfering and zipping of data.
What you need: 1.) Web Host- Go with a Linux package. Linux will recognise the needed map files. Bsp, ain and res files. I use 1&1.
2.) Web Site/Page- You will need lots of room. This is where your transfereed file will live. Your players will access these at there own bandwidth.
3.) FTP Account- This stands for file transfer protocol. You will use this to transfer large amounts of data to your web site/page. I use Wise.FTP 5.
4.) Bzip- You will use this to compress files. Get this at www.bzip.org/downloads.html
5.) WinZip- This is so you can copy, move and zip files from your game server. www.filesforfree.com/winzip.htm
Once you have these items in place you are ready-How to put them all in place. On your website set up a page where your players will automaticlly download from. Such as, halflifedm, or hl2dl. In your server configuration you will direct the server to get files here.
Download bzip and save to desktop. Create a folder titled bzip. Don't worry your players will automatically decompress the files. Rename the downloaded program to, bzip.exe. [ If you have know extensions hidden selected in file menu. Rename it bzip2] [If you have know extensions shown rename it bzip.exe] Place the program in the bzip folder. You will use it later.
WinZip - Bzip: WinZip will be used to zip maps and all of the files of the particular map you want to run. Go to maps in the game server. Select a map such as (example) dm_democracy. This map has three parts. Bsp, res and in graphs the ain file. Zip all three. Extract to desktop. You should see all three of the files on desktop. Create a folder on desktop and call it, "maps". Place the files of the maps in the "maps" folder. Open the bzip folder and drag the program into the maps folder. Drag the bsp file over the bzip program. You should see a, "open file-security warning". The name of the program to bzip should say, "bzip2.exe. If you see bzip2.exe.exe you need to rename the program to "bzip2". Choose to run the program. You should see a dos screen for awhile. When it is gone the compression process is complete. If you did it correctly your file name should now be dm_democracy.bsp.b2z. You will need to do this to all of map files for that map. You may want to do this to sounds as well. I named my folders, "maps" and "sounds". It is easier for FTP transfer. Remove the bzip program from the maps folder and place it back in the bzip folder on desktop.
Using WinZip copy the materials, models, and sounds folder from your game server. All of there contents must be included. On your Website/page create folders under the page for fast http. Example would be - http://www.joeblow.com/halflifedm/ In that folder of halflifedm you will create the folder, "maps". Transfer the materials,models, and sounds file over to the webpage using your FTP account. If you have sounds in your admin_plugin it will not be compressed. I transfer everything and removed the admin sounds manually so I had more control. This way I can compress my sound files. The layout should look like this.
Your Website. www.joeblow.com
|
halflifedm (page)
|
maps (added file)
|
materials (copy from game server)
|_decals
|
models (copy from game server)
|_humans
|_player
|_weapons
|
Sounds (copy from game server)
|_admin_plugin (your sounds)
|_actions
|_sounds (copy from game server)
|_common
|_quake
|_vehicles
|_weapons
Now you are ready to add your maps and sounds. Transfer the maps and custom sounds after you have bziped them using your FTP account. Do Not create individual folders for each map. Meaning don't create a folder under, "maps" of dm_deocracy. Or a folder in sounds, admin_plugin {folder} evillaf. This will not work. You are simply going to move all of the parts of the maps, bsp, ain or res file directly to maps folder. You will do this with sounds as well place in folder sounds, admin_plugin. When you open these in website you should just see all of the files in there. This should look just like your game server. You are creating a mirror image of your game server here.
You're map cycle and map list should match what is on the page in website. Same for sound list and downloads. You are almost there. Once you have everything you want on your page publish. Now you are going to configure your sever to use the web page for fast downloads.
Go to server configuration. Under the sv_download enter your website/page where your files are. Example: leave the slash after halflifededm http://www.joeblow.com/halflifedm/ Set the sv_download to"1"
Restart server. You will want to update information.
Good luck, hope this was helpful.
JuJu