Operation: Harsh Doorstop: Automated Server Messages – Keep your players up to date on news, social links, and more!

Learn how to set up recurring messages on your Operation: Harsh Doorstop VPS using Task Scheduler → Find out more now

10 November 20262 min read0 Views0 helpful

Introduction

Automated server messages are an easy way to send important information directly to your players in-game: server rules, event announcements, tips, or reminders about your Discord server, at regular intervals and without an admin needing to be online.

There is no built-in dashboard feature for this on your VPS. You can set up recurring messages either with a game plugin or mod, or with Windows Task Scheduler, which sends a command to the server at regular intervals. Both options work only if the game provides a suitable command or scripting interface. This guide explains how it works for Operation: Harsh Doorstop.

Operation: Harsh Doorstop: Automated Server Messages – Keep your players up to date on news, social links, and more!

How automated messages work

An automated message requires two things: a command that sends a message from the server to all players, and a way to trigger that command at regular intervals. On a VPS, this is handled either by a mod in the game itself or by Windows Task Scheduler, which can, for example, launch an RCON program every 30 minutes to send the message command to the server.

Requirements for Operation: Harsh Doorstop

The Game Server Installer does not set up RCON access or open an RCON port for Operation: Harsh Doorstop. If you want to send messages using Task Scheduler, you must first set up RCON yourself by following the game's documentation. Then allow the RCON port through the Windows Firewall if the program isn't running directly on the VPS. Learn more in Managing Windows Defender Firewall Rules. We recommend allowing access only from your own IP address.

Create an automated message with Task Scheduler

Connect to your VPS using Remote Desktop.
Place an RCON command-line program on the VPS and test that you can use it to send a message command to your server.
Open Windows Task Scheduler and create a new task using Create Basic Task.
Choose a trigger, such as Daily, then go to the task properties and, under Triggers, set it to repeat every 30 minutes.
Choose Start a program as the action and enter the RCON program with the IP address, port, password, and message command as arguments.

Code

[RCON-PROGRAMM] [IP]:[RCON-PORT] [PASSWORT] "[Nachrichtenbefehl] [dein Text]"

The exact format of the arguments depends on the RCON program you're using.

Adjust message intervals

Common use cases include:

Displaying server rules every few minutes
Announcing upcoming events at set times
Reminding players about Discord or website links

You can change the interval at any time in the task properties without restarting the server.

Important notes

Whether and how well automated messages work depends on the commands available in Operation: Harsh Doorstop or in an installed mod. If a mod has its own messaging feature, it's usually easier to use than Task Scheduler. For information on where your server settings are located, see Operation: Harsh Doorstop: Set Up a Server on Your VPS.

Conclusion

With RCON set up manually and Windows Task Scheduler, you can also configure recurring messages on your VPS. If you have questions or need help, our support team is here for you every day! 🙂

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

No. On your VPS, you can set up recurring messages using a game mod or Windows Task Scheduler, which regularly sends a command to the server.

No. The installer does not set up RCON access or open an RCON port. If you need RCON, set it up yourself by following the game's documentation.

In the task properties in Windows Task Scheduler, under Triggers. You don't need to restart the server.

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