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Learn how FastDL speeds up game content downloads and reduces server load with your own web server → Find out more
FastDL (Fast Download) is a method for delivering custom content such as maps, sounds, or models through an external web server instead of directly from the game server. This gives players faster downloads and reduces the load on your server.
To use FastDL, you need access to a public HTTP web server. This can be your own web server (e.g. nginx or Apache) on a VPS or any webspace that serves files publicly over HTTP. This guide shows you how to set up FastDL with it.
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You need an active Day of Defeat: Source game server from ZAP-Hosting as well as a web server that is publicly reachable over HTTP, e.g. your own VPS with nginx or Apache or any webspace. You need SFTP or FTP access to upload files to the web server.
On the game server, the files you want to distribute (e.g., .bsp maps, sound files, or models) must already be organized correctly. You must then recreate the same structure on your web server for FastDL to work properly.
Upload your FastDL files via SFTP or FTP (e.g. with FileZilla or WinSCP) to the public web directory of your web server, which for nginx and Apache on Debian/Ubuntu is usually /var/www/html. Our guide Setting Up Nginx and Apache on a Linux Server shows you how to set up nginx or Apache on your VPS, and VPS: Connect via SFTP explains the SFTP connection.
Create a folder called fastdl in the web root directory of your web server. Inside it, create subfolders such as maps, sound, or models, depending on the content you want to deliver. The folder structure must exactly match the one used by your Day of Defeat: Source game server.
Before uploading the files, make sure they are compressed in .bz2 format (bzip2). Most Source-based engines expect files in this format. For example, a map file named custom_map.bsp should be uploaded as custom_map.bsp.bz2.
Compressing files with 7-Zip
To prepare your files for FastDL, you can use tools such as 7-Zip to compress them into .bz2 format. Simply right-click the file, select 7-Zip > Add to archive..., choose bzip2 as the archive format, and confirm.
After uploading the compressed files to the appropriate folders, make sure all folders and files have the correct read permissions so they are publicly accessible. You can adjust the permissions, for example, in your SFTP client or with chmod.
Once everything is uploaded and the permissions are set, your FastDL content will be available at this public URL:
https://[your-domain]/fastdl/
We recommend testing the URL in your browser to make sure the files are accessible.
In the ZAP interface, open the server.cfg file from the game server management area by going to the Configuration page, then add the following lines:
sv_downloadurl "https://[your-domain]/fastdl/"
sv_allowdownload 1
sv_allowupload 0
Make sure the FastDL URL exactly matches the folder structure on your web server. After saving, restart your game server for the settings to take effect.
FastDL can be set up quickly and reliably with your own web server. You can deliver custom content quickly and efficiently, improving the player experience on your Day of Defeat: Source game server.
Our support team is here to help every day if you have any questions or issues—don't hesitate to contact us! 🙂
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