How to Set Up Your Game Server to Stream to PBBans Hub

PBBans Hub lets a PunkBuster-enabled game server stream its ban data to PBBans and other anti-cheat sites at the same time, with live banning, live banlist updates, and live ban removals. Setup is done through your PBBans account: apply for streaming, run the Automated Hub Setup, then confirm the server appears in the Check Streaming Server tool. PBBans states the process usually takes 15 minutes or less from application to a streaming server.

What streaming to PBBans Hub actually does

Once your server is connected, PBBans describes the Hub as a multi-stream and live-banning system. In practice that means:

• Multi-streaming — your server sends its data to PBBans and other anti-cheat sites at the same time, rather than to one destination only.
• Live banning — bans are applied while the server is running.
• Live banlist updates — the ban list your server uses is refreshed without a restart.
• Live ban removals — bans that are lifted stop applying to your server.

PBBans frames the wider benefit as collective: the more servers that stream, the harder it is for cheaters to find servers they can join.

Before you start

You need:

• A PunkBuster-enabled game server that you administer.
• A PBBans account — streaming is applied for from inside account management, so you must be able to log in.
• Your server's IP address and port, since the verification tool checks a specific address such as 69.168.58.45:17567.

Step 1: Apply for streaming

Log in to your PBBans account and go to the Streaming Application area. This is where a server is submitted for streaming. Complete the application for the server you want to connect.

Step 2: Run the Automated Hub Setup

PBBans provides an Automated Hub Setup for configuring the server side. Follow it for the server you applied with. This is the step that prepares the server to stream to the Hub, including the multi-streaming behavior described above.

PBBans points new admins to its Beginners Guide as the starting walkthrough; the Automated Hub Setup is the configuration path it offers alongside that guide.

Step 3: Verify the server is streaming

Use the Check Streaming Server tool on the PBBans site. Enter your server's IP and port in the format shown in the example, for example 69.168.58.45:17567.

Expected result: the tool reports the server as streaming. If it does not, the server is not yet connected and you should revisit Step 2.

You can also check a player's GUID separately with the Check GUID tool, which accepts 8 or 32 characters.

Step 4: Confirm bans are flowing

After streaming is live, the site's public data gives you a way to sanity-check that the pipeline is working:

• The Latest 25 Bans list shows recent bans with the game and detection type (for example BF4 | PBSS or BF4 | EB 81697).
• The Master Ban Index (MBI) holds the shared ban records.
• Hub Live statistics show current activity, including streaming servers and players.

PBBans notes its statistics update every 5 minutes, so a short delay before your server's activity appears is expected.

Reference: PBBans Hub figures

These are the site's published statistics at the time of the source page:

Common setup failures

• Server does not appear in Check Streaming Server. The most likely cause is that the Automated Hub Setup was not completed or was applied to the wrong server. Re-run it for the exact server you applied with.
• Wrong address checked. The verification tool needs the server's IP and port, not just the IP. Use the IP:port format.
• Checking too soon. Statistics refresh every 5 minutes, so allow a short window before concluding the stream failed.
• Not logged in. Streaming application and account management require an active PBBans login.

Related tools on the same site

Beyond streaming setup, PBBans exposes several indexes and tools from its menu: Master Ban Index, Master Config Index, Master League Index, Master Player Index, and Master Stream Index, plus Downloads, Cheat Submission, and a ban appeal route for players who are globally banned.