masterservers

[ElijonNikoliqi]

Hello,
I’m trying to get my HLDS server listed on more masterservers.
Right now I’m only listed on about 10 masterservers, but I would like to add a full list of additional masterservers that I want my server to appear on.
I’ve tried using in server.cfg, and I have also tested the plugin. When I inspect the outgoing packets with tcpdump, I can see that HLDS is sending the correct heartbeat packet (UDP length 85) to the masterservers where I am listed.
However, the other masterservers in my list only receive a 1‑byte UDP packet (length 1), and I never get listed on those.
My question is:
Is it still possible in 2026 to make HLDS send the proper Valve heartbeat (UDP length 85) to all masterservers I add, or is HLDS limited to only sending full heartbeats to a small set of compatible masterservers?
Any clarification on how HLDS handles masterserver heartbeats today would be greatly appreciated.

[0Ky]

Duplicate of #3971.

[ElijonNikoliqi]

its not a duplicate or repost, im trying to launch clean hlds server. what are u talking about. my question is related to hlds and that older post was non-steam. i didt know that i will not get help with that. so please let me get my help.

[SamVanheer]

Which master servers are you referring to? Is your server not showing up in the Steam server browser?

The game registers servers by communicating with Steam. If your server isn't showing up there it's a problem with Steam. If the master servers you're referring to aren't Valve's then this isn't a problem. Valve doesn't support anything other than Steam.

[0Ky]

I’m trying to get my HLDS server listed on more masterservers.
Right now I’m only listed on about 10 masterservers, but I would like to add a full list of additional masterservers that I want my server to appear on.

Based on the OP, it looks like the server is already listed on some 3rd party master servers (in addition to Valve's) and @ElijonNikoliqi wants to list the server to more master servers, but some of those master servers (not controlled by Valve) are refusing to list the server for reasons outside the server's control. That is what this issue and the previous one are about. I assume there's nothing that can be done to resolve it. It most likely requires registering with or contacting the operators of those master servers. AFAIK, the master server list is effectively hardcoded now, so I'm not even sure how additional master servers could be added at all.

[SamVanheer]

As i said Steam is responsible for master server communication. All the engine does is tell Steam whether or not to enable that:
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/api/ISteamGameServer#EnableHeartbeats

It's not hard-coded so much as there isn't any master server communication code in the engine at all. It's all delegated to Steam (as is player Steam ID authentication and other stuff).

If a server is using other master servers then the server operator is probably using a custom engine or is hooking into the engine to add more master server functionality through external code.

Valve has nothing to do with any of that.

[ElijonNikoliqi]

How is possible I have seen servers with 200+ masterservers registered in their database. And @0Ky which server are u talking about. I just put the server in websites and they track me. What are u talking about I don’t understand

[SamVanheer]

Maybe you should explain what you mean by masterserver because that doesn't sound right.

[ElijonNikoliqi]

If u don’t know what a masterserver is then u should google it. It’s very simple. If u host a cs 1.6 server without adding it in masterservers then u gonna get 0/32 server all the time. Back in the days I remember it was quite easy to add a masterserver with setmaster add command but now is only setmaster enable/disable command and it is it so if anyone know how to add more masters in server please let me know

[ElijonNikoliqi]

Replying to #3973 (comment)

refering to your last comment. u need some understanding if u want i can teach u guys how to enable more masters in your server even if it is hardcoded

[0Ky]

@SamVanheer In the client, there are references to half-life.east.won.net within the LoadMasterAddresses() function, as well as logic for reading master server files such as valvecomm.lst and possibly steamcomm.lst. These files are still included in the latest public branch, even though they are no longer used, since it's handled by Steam as you've mentioned. The code also included handling for the -comm launch option, which had allowed a custom master server file to be specified at launch. I've read that you were able to add master servers by modifying MasterServers.vdf and MasterServer2.vdf files, which were copied over to Steam\config. I'm not sure whether this approach is also outdated.

@ElijonNikoliqi There's currently no official way to add your server to any master servers other than Valve's. The issue you're having doesn't even relate to HLDS to begin with. Some 3rd party master servers require you to register with them and usually have prerequisites that must be met before allowing servers to be added to their list. If this isn't an issue with Valve master server, then there's nothing you can do besides reaching out to the 3rd party master server operator directly.

[ElijonNikoliqi]

How u know what I have been doing this days @0Ky ?

[ElijonNikoliqi]

I hope u didn’t do any shit behind your pc cause you don’t have my permission to do it

[ElijonNikoliqi]

Hi again, sorry for the hassle, but I’m stressed and looking up laws and regulations regarding whether it’s even legal to change files on my own server and VPS. I’m sorry to say this, but I feel like @0Ky knows exactly what’s going on inside my server. I can see that some files are clearly inside my VPS that weren't there before, so I’m wondering how they could have ended up there in the first place. I’m going to investigate and see what has happened.

[0Ky]

@ElijonNikoliqi This is getting off-topic. I honestly have no idea what you're going on about. I can't obviously read your mind and figure out the IP address and credentials to your VPS.