Multiplayer / Start new host

Of course you can open your own server for Live for Speed. The possible number of players who can race on your server primarily depends on the upload bandwidth of your internet connection. The integrated Bandwidth calculator will help you to determine how many racers you should allow to connect. Generally there are two different types of server. The first is the standard server which you run on your computer while racing yourself. The second is the so called dedicated server which does not offer ingame graphics and only allows others to connect to your server. For both server types there are various server options which will be described below.

Visibility: This is pretty much the same as in 'Join specific host' but has the additional option 'Hidden'. A hidden server will be logged in on the master server but not visible on the player's server list. Only players that know the exact server name will be able to connect to the server.

Host name: This is the name of your server, which will show up in the server list, or if the server is hidden has to be manually entered by the racers that want to connect.

Host password: Entering a password into this line will change the server from a public into a private server. Only racers knowing the password will be able to connect. Leaving this line empty will allow everyone to connect.

Admin password: Entering an administrator password will allow a remote administration of the Live for Speed server. A racer who connected using the admin password will be allowed to change certain server-settings using a set of chat commands.

IP address: If the server has more than one IP address you can specify which address should be used by the LFS server.

Port: Specifies which port the server should use to connect to the Internet. Usually this can be left at the default value 63392.
ADVICE: If the server connects to the internet through a firewall the TCP and UDP ports which are used by LFS (default: 63392 and 29339) have to be forwarded to the server.

Internet connection: The optimal maximum number of players on your server depends on the upload bandwidth of your Internet connection. Just choose the correct entry from the list.

Maximum upload: If the upload bandwidth of your internet connection does not match one of the entries in the list you could choose from under the option 'Internet connection' you can manually enter the correct value here. The value has to be in kBit/s.

ADVICE: If you only know your upload bandwidth in kByte/s or Mbyte/s you will have to convert it to kBit/s:
1 kByte/s = 8 kBit/s
1 MByte/s = 8 MBit/s

Max guests: This is the maximum number of PCs that will be allowed to connect to your server. This number does not necessarily match the number of racers that will be able to race on your server.

Max (real + AI) in race: This is the maximum number of cars that will be allowed to race on your server. This includes human racers as well as the AI.

Maximum (real + AI) per guest: This is the maximum number of cars every single guest PC might run on your server. This includes human racers as well as the AI.

Maximum (real + AI) on host pc: This is the maximum number of cars you will be able to race on your server.

Smoothness (packets per sec): Every second all the connected PCs receive data packets from the server which inform them about the positions of all the cars on the track. The more packets per second the PCs receive the more fluent the movement of all the other cars will be and thus the simulation will simply be more immersive. This value determines how many packets per second will be sent which hugely depends on the upload bandwidth of your internet connection. You should always try to keep this value as high as possible.

Dedicated host: If you are using a PC to run the server, which does not offer enough 3D performance to properly run LFS in full graphic mode you can choose to run a so called dedicated server which only shows a summary of the connection. You will not be able to directly follow the race but you can still chat with the racers.

Allow vote kick / ban: LFS allows the racers to kick or ban another racer by voting to do so. This has proven to be a good way to prevent people to destroy the races of others on purpose. If this option is set to 'No' only the server administrator will be allowed to kick or ban other racers.

Allow guests to select tracks: If set to 'Yes' this allows the connected to choose the track they want to race on, otherwise only the server administrator will be allowed to choose a different track.