No, if the client has an empty search key, the master server will respond with any server. If the client sets a search key, the master server will only respond with servers with the same search key. It acts like the normal Steam game browser filters, where you can filter by map name, region or game. If you don't set the filter, you get every single server in the world. To understand it better, you should consider the search key as a filter.
> Servers have a default search key of "" (blank), as do the clients. > Therefore, server search is restricted to servers with blank search > keys, since "" == "". So it does effectively make the server private to > those who know the key. That is until the game starts, which then lets > anyone join any free slots. > > Ronny Schedel wrote: >> If you don't trust me, you just have to read and understand the >> description >> of this variable: >> >> When searching for a dedicated server from lobby, restrict search to only >> dedicated servers having the same sv_search_key. >> >> >> >> >>> With the search key on, our servers are only used by our members. With >>> the >>> search key off, the server will fill with a public lobby pretty much >>> instantly. I'm not sure why it wouldn't work that way for your servers, >>> but >>> that's how it works for us and most other server admins I've talked to. >>> >>> 2009/6/28 Ronny Schedel <i...@ronny-schedel.de> >>> >>> >>>> Everyone can access the servers with a search key set. It is only what >>>> the >>>> name says, a search key. We run 10 server with a search key set, and >>>> the >>>> servers are used from public players also. The search key offers the >>>> lobby >>>> leader to only search servers with this search key set, the servers >>>> remains >>>> still public and open to everyone. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> If you have a search key set, then a lobby can only access it if they >>>>> >>>> know >>>> >>>>> the key. Our group has 5 servers that are kept private just by simply >>>>> having >>>>> the search key enabled on them >>>>> >>>>> 2009/6/28 Ronny Schedel >>>>> <i...@ronny-schedel.de<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=i...@ronny-schedel.de> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> The search key has nothing to do with setting it private, it is just >>>>>> a >>>>>> search key for the lobby leader to find a suitable server. To make a >>>>>> server >>>>>> private there is only the variable sv_steamgroup_exclusive, which >>>>>> does >>>>>> not >>>>>> seem to work now. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> There have been a few people saying that its not working since the >>>>>>> >>>> last >>>> >>>>>>> update. You could always set a sv_search_key to keep it private and >>>>>>> only >>>>>>> your private lobbys can access the server. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 9:08 AM, Никита Булаев [Nikita Bulaev] < >>>>>>> djfireb...@gmail.com<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=djfireb...@gmail.com> >>>>>>> >>>> <https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=djfireb...@gmail.com>> >>>> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>>> After updating my l4d servers my steamgroup exclusive settings are >>>>>>>> no >>>>>>>> longer >>>>>>>> working. After restart my servers immediately filled up with public >>>>>>>> players. >>>>>>>> \what's the problem? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> - Linux Dedicated server >>>>>>>> - version 1.0.1.4 3881 >>>>>>>> sv_steamgroup set to my number >>>>>>>> sv_steamgroup_exclusive 1 >>>>>>>> sv_allow_lobby_connect 0 >>>>>>>> sv_gametypes "coop,versus,survival" >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Nikita >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list >>>>>>>> >>>> archives, >>>> >>>>>>>> please visit: >>>>>>>> http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list >>>>>>> archives, >>>>>>> please visit: >>>>>>> http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list >>>>>> archives, >>>>>> please visit: >>>>>> http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, >>>>> please visit: >>>>> http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux >>>>> >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, >>>> please visit: >>>> http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, >>> please visit: >>> http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux >>> >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, >> please visit: >> http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux >> > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux > _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux
