Killing Floor 2 Private Server Setup Guide

This guide walks you through creating a private Killing Floor 2 server so you and your friends can play together without random players joining. You’ll set up a dedicated server on your own PC or a rented machine, configure it to be password-protected or invite-only, and then connect to it from the game. No prior server experience is needed, but you’ll need a copy of Killing Floor 2 and a computer that can run the server alongside the game (or a separate machine).

What You’ll Need

• A Windows PC (the server files work on Linux too, but this guide focuses on Windows for simplicity).
• Killing Floor 2 installed on your PC (the server files are free via SteamCMD, but you need the game to connect).
• SteamCMD – a small command-line tool from Valve that downloads the server files.
• Optional: A second PC or a cloud server if you want the server to run 24/7 without affecting your gaming performance.

Step-by-Step

1. Install SteamCMD – Download SteamCMD from the official Valve developer wiki (search “SteamCMD” on the Valve Developer Community site). Extract the zip to a folder like C:\steamcmd.
2. Download the Killing Floor 2 server files – Open a command prompt (Win+R, type cmd, Enter). Navigate to your SteamCMD folder (cd C:\steamcmd). Run steamcmd.exe. In the SteamCMD prompt, type:

   login anonymous
   force_install_dir C:\KF2Server
   app_update 232130 validate
   exit

   This downloads the server files (app ID 232130) into C:\KF2Server. Wait for it to finish (it can take a while).

3. Find your server config file – After download, go to C:\KF2Server\KFGame\Config. You’ll see several .ini files. The main one is KFGame.ini. Open it with Notepad (right-click → Open with → Notepad).
4. Set a server password (optional but recommended for private) – In KFGame.ini, look for the [Engine.GameInfo] section. Add a line:

   GamePassword=YourSecretPassword

   Replace YourSecretPassword with something you’ll share with friends. Save the file.

5. Set the server name and max players – In the same file, under [Engine.GameReplicationInfo], you’ll see ServerName= and MaxPlayers=. Change them to something like ServerName=My Private Server and MaxPlayers=6 (or your preferred number). Save.
6. Start the server – Go to C:\KF2Server\Binaries\Win64 and double-click KFServer.exe. A console window will open. Wait until you see “GameEngine Initialized” or similar. The server is now running on your local network.
7. Connect from the game – Launch Killing Floor 2 on your PC. Go to the main menu, click on “Play” → “Server Browser”. In the filter, set “Type” to “LAN” (if you’re on the same network) or “Internet” (if you’ve port-forwarded). Your server should appear. Click it, enter the password if you set one, and join.
8. Make it accessible over the internet (optional) – If you want friends outside your local network to join, you need to forward ports on your router: TCP 20560 and UDP 20560 (the default KF2 server port). Also, you may need to allow the server through Windows Firewall. After that, friends can connect via your public IP address (find it by searching “what is my IP” on Google). They’ll need to use the “Join Game” option and enter your IP:20560.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to set a password – Without a password, anyone who finds your server can join. Set GamePassword even if you think it’s private.
• Using the wrong app ID – The server app ID is 232130, not the game’s app ID (232090). Double-check that you typed it correctly.
• Not waiting for the server to fully load – The server takes a minute or two to initialize. If you try to join too soon, it won’t show up.
• Editing the wrong .ini file – There are multiple config files. Make sure you’re editing KFGame.ini, not KFEngine.ini or KFWeb.ini.
• Port forwarding mistakes – If you forward only TCP or only UDP, it may not work. Both are needed.

Tips

• Use a separate machine for the server – Running the server on the same PC you play on can cause lag. A second PC or a cheap cloud server (like a VPS) is better.
• Set a server admin password – In KFGame.ini, under [Engine.AccessControl], add AdminPassword=YourAdminPass. This lets you use admin commands like kicking players.
• Customize game settings – You can change difficulty, wave count, and mutators in the same config file. Look for [KFGame.KFGameInfo] and adjust GameDifficulty (0-3) and WaveCount.
• Back up your config – Before making changes, copy KFGame.ini somewhere safe. If you break something, you can restore it.
• Use a batch file to start the server – Create a .bat file with the command to run the server, so you don’t have to type it every time.

Troubleshooting

• Server doesn’t appear in LAN browser – Check that the server console shows no errors. If it says “Failed to bind to port”, another process is using port 20560. Close other games or apps, or change the port in KFGame.ini (look for Port=20560 under [URL]).
• Friends can’t connect from the internet – Verify your port forwarding is correct. Use an online port checker (like canyouseeme.org) to test if port 20560 is open. If not, re-check your router settings. Also, ensure your firewall allows both TCP and UDP on that port.
• Server crashes on start – This often happens due to missing files or a corrupted config. Delete the C:\KF2Server folder and re-run SteamCMD to redownload. Also, make sure your Windows is up to date and you have the latest Visual C++ Redistributables installed.
• Password not working – Double-check that you added the GamePassword line under the correct section. The line must be exactly GamePassword= with no spaces around the equals sign.
• Server runs but no one can join – If you’re on a LAN, ensure all players are on the same network and can ping each other. If you’re over the internet, check that your public IP hasn’t changed (consider using a dynamic DNS service).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy the server files?

No. The Killing Floor 2 dedicated server files are free via SteamCMD. You only need to own the game to actually play on the server.

Can I run the server on Linux?

Yes, the server files support Linux. The process is similar, but you’ll use the Linux version of SteamCMD and run the server via a shell script instead of an .exe.

How many players can I host?

Killing Floor 2 supports up to 6 players in a standard game, but you can set MaxPlayers higher (up to 12) by editing the config. However, performance may suffer with more players on a typical home connection.

Can I use mods on my private server?

Yes. You can install mods by placing them in the server’s KFGame\BrewedPC\Mods folder and adding a line to KFGame.ini to load them. This is more advanced and requires reading mod-specific instructions.

Why does my server show as “Internet” but friends can’t join?

This usually means your port forwarding isn’t working. Make sure you’ve forwarded both TCP and UDP on port 20560 to your PC’s local IP address. Also, check that your PC’s firewall allows the server executable.

Can I run the server and play on the same PC?

Yes, but you’ll need a decent CPU and RAM. The server uses about 2-4 GB of RAM. If you experience lag, consider lowering the MaxPlayers or running the server on a separate machine.

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