VintagePC
GodModePC
VF4-S (Server Operator)
Forum Operator
Minecraft Operator
Global Moderator
Staff Member
Both a heads up for everyone and some prep for when this does go live. I don't know whether it will entail having to rebuild the servers or not (depends on how much of a headache it is to convert or rebuild), but in either case there may be a bit of TF2 server downtime when it comes time to do this switch.
The orangebox engine games (Team Fortress 2, Counter Strike:Source, Day of Defeat:Source, HL2eathmatch) are being upgraded to SteamPipe. Steam's new-and-improved content delivery system. SteamPipe is currently used by most games on Steam.
This change will impact server operators in at least two significant ways:
* You will use steamcmd instead of the HLDSUpdateTool to install/update the server.
* The conversion will entail significant changes to the way the files appear in the local filesystem on the server and client. The client no longer uses GCF files. Instead, most assets are packed up into VPK, and those VPKs are the same on the server and the client. The server no longer uses 1000's of loose files.
We're using the TF beta to test these changes and identify the bugs, and give everybody a chance to make sure their favorite mod or plugin will work in the new system.
Everybody is encouraged to download the TF beta!
We've prepared an FAQ that discusses the details of the change and answers the questions we anticipate:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7388-QPFN-2491
Please report gameserver related bugs in this mailing list.
Client bugs can be reported through this mailing list, or in the TF beta forum.
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=1038
Thanks for your help, and happy testing!
(And remember, playtime in the beta counts towards item drops in the release game.)
- Fletch