How to fix the error “Connection Failed After 4 Retries”

garrys-modserver-administration

I am trying to make a Gmod server, and believe I have everything set up correctly. I am using SteamCMD. I port forwarded all TDP/UDP between 27000 and 27050. I also port forwarded these ports in my firewall.

However, my server doesn't show up on the list after I start it, and when I type "connect xx.xx.xxx.xxx" it says "Connection failed after 4 retries."

How would one fix this?

Best Answer

Are you running the server on a local machine at your place? In that case, try using internal LAN address to connect to it. If that still fails, the issue is with your computer's firewall, possibly. Try disabling it momentarily and connect to the server again. If that also fails, then the problem is most likely with SteamCMD. Check that you haven't accidentally changed the ports it's supposed to use.

If your server is on a computer with Gmod installed, try connecting to 127.0.0.1. This is the notorious loopback address, and makes the computer connect to itself. If that fails, then the problem is with SteamCMD. Like mentioned above, check that you haven't accidentally changed the ports it's supposed to use.

If all else fails, try using the HLDSUpdateTool instead. Although aging, and about to be phased out, it is still a viable alternative.

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Here are the steps I did to make my L4D2 Source Dedicated server (srcds.exe) show up in Steam Group on my FIOS home internet (discover LAN games is turned off in client, so not a false positive):

On my server firewall I opened all UDP and TCP port access for the program "srcds.exe" for public private and domain, both inbound and outbound.
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The key here is I did not know that you can receive on any port on your WAN IP, but that can go to any OTHER port on your LAN IP. I always thought it was one to one and only ever attempted port forwarding the ports one to one. As soon as I opened the inbound on my WAN source ports to "any", BAM!, my server showed up in Steam Group Servers. I wouldn't have ever known the fact that ports aren't one to one unless I used a tool called "livetcpudpwatch" to monitor ports opening while running my server in DMZ (for testing).

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`srcds.exe -console -game left4dead2 +exec server.cfg +map c1m1_hotel -secure`

I am not a router specialist, so don't complain if your network gets hacked with these settings. My server is dedicated, and has no access to my network outside of serving L4D2, even so I feel these settings are low security risk, because the server and router can only pass traffic on 2 ports, and the only program listening on those ports is srcds.exe. If someone more router savvy wants to confirm my thinking, feel free.

Steam – Day of Defeat Server runs but nobody can join

I changed the starting call by adding the map parameter and it works:

./hlds_run -console -game dod +maxplayers 8 -port 27016 +map dod_avalanche

The output changed:

Auto-restarting the server on crash

Console initialized.
Using breakpad crash handler
Setting breakpad minidump AppID = 30
Forcing breakpad minidump interfaces to load
Looking up breakpad interfaces from steamclient
Calling BreakpadMiniDumpSystemInit
Protocol version 48
Exe version 1.1.2.6/Stdio (dod)
Exe build: 17:45:07 Apr 25 2013 (6027)
STEAM Auth Server
Server IP address 78.47.102.222:27016
scandir failed:/home/hlds/steam/SteamApps/common/Half-Life/./dod/SAVE
[S_API FAIL] SteamAPI_Init() failed; SteamAPI_IsSteamRunning() failed.
Looking up breakpad interfaces from steamclient
Calling BreakpadMiniDumpSystemInit

couldn't exec listip.cfg
couldn't exec banned.cfg
Connection to Steam servers successful.
   VAC secure mode is activated.

The last two lines seem to be the important ones, without that the server seems to not be accessible...

Best Answer

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