1. The way to go!

There are actually two ways to set up the CoX-SE-Server. Updating an existing i25p2 Server you got from Ourodev.org with my Updatefiles from Nexusmods (Update instructions can also be found there) or using the SE1-Self-Installer (link also on Nexusmods) to get it up and running in one go.

My Recommendation: Using the SE1-Self-Installer to set up a VM running Windows 10.
Why a VM? You can freeze your VM, deactivating updates and disconnect it from the internet, this way it always stays the same. No Update will "kill" your settings and if you get a new PC, you can just take it with you instead of setting it up all over again.

Regardless of running it in a VM or directly on your system the process is the same:
Unzip the whole Package into a new created (empty) folder (i recommend CoX) and run the "Setup-SE-Server.bat" and follow the instructions. If a DB-popup appears, just hit "Ok". At this point no connection is needed. That is pretty much all ;-)

You'll find a full tutorial Video, including setting up a VM, very soon right here.

2. What the Self-Installer does.

During installation a script is called that will install the following components (setup.ps1)

• SQL Local DB and command line tools
• ODBC v13 and v17
• VS C++ Runtimes (2015 - 2019)
  
  It will also setup some things:
  
  
• SQL databases for CoX
• SE-Server-Config
• Firewall rules (TCP 11228 and UDP 18717-18917)
• Shortcuts to Start/Stop/Config the Server

3. What to do after the Installation.

In your folder you will now find the created shortcuts.

• Configure_Your_Server
  Config the IP address for your server, by default this is set for local play (127.0.0.1). You can change this to LAN- or Internet-Adresses


• Account_Tool
  Here you can create your accounts and manage characters. !!! This will only work after you have started the server at least once !!!


• Startup_Server
  This starts the Server, depending on your system, it may take a while. By default only those maps are loaded that has an active player in it, so getting to a new Zone for the first time in a session will have a slight delay.


• Stop_Server
  Shuts down the server.


• Client
  Launches the Game.

4. Playing from a different PC than the Server.

The Client folder and shortcut can just be copied to another system, just make sure the IP in the shortcut matches your servers.
Example: CityofHeroes.exe -patchdir SEi1 -noversioncheck -auth 192.168.1.1 -console -renderthread 1

5. IT DOESN'T WORK!!

You don't get a DB-Connection? Windows, especially Win11, can be a bit picky copying files via script. So if you can't connect to the DB and only get a login box, this almost always happen because Windows did not create the AuthDB.dsn file needed. Luckily for you, you will find one in the Setupfiles under /Setup/SQLInstall/DBSchemas. Copy that to your Documents folder and reboot. All should be well now.