Summary:

Benefit:

• No peer-to-peer downloading/uploading.  
• Fast download and still official install of the game AA2.  
• Install the game multiple times from one download!
• And it's free, the only cost is your bandwidth.

Requirements

You may already have the deploy client installed, that's ok you can skip requirement 1.  Your most interested in doing requirement 2, this will allow you to download the full version of AA2 without waiting on the peer-to-peer process or AA auth connectivity.  It's just a simple file download.  Before starting your install, confirm you pass requirement 3 also, good luck.

Requirement 1

Download the deploy client from one of the following and make sure it's installed, but not running.  We need to have the deploy client installed for later steps.

Requirement 2

America's Army 2.8.5 Install files image (~2.1 GB), download the single required image file.

Requirement 3 - WinXP Users

We'll be using the Application Data folder during the install steps, make sure this is visible as it's a hidden folder.

• In a File Explorer Window, Go To
• Tools > Folder Options > View > Files and Folders
• Find the option in the list called..

"Hidden Files and Folders"

• Change the option so you can see them, make it

"Show Hidden Files and Folders"

Install Process

1 Copy / Move the "aa.2.8.5.0.full.fmap" file to one of the following, or a similar path for your Deploy Client.

WinXP Users

• C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AA2DeployClient\dcds\

Win7 Users:

• C:\Users\All Users\AA2DeployClient\dcds" 

2 Start up the AA2 Deploy Client.

3 Click the "Install" button, your download in the above shot should now be an Install button, this will unpack and install the full image file, and may get a few extra files from AA, only small so don't worry. 

4 Start America's Army 2 and Enjoy!

Tips

• Make a shortcut so you don't need to launch the AA Deploy Client.  Find where your AA2 is installed "C:\Program Files (x86)\USArmy\America's Army 2\" in the folder "System" right click the ArmyOps.exe and select "Create Short Cut" move this new short cut file to your desktop.
• In the above Install Steps, at step if you copy the fmap rather than move it you can back it up for next time, thus only needing the AA Deploy Client installed, then follow the install steps.

Conclusion

You should now have America's Army 2.8.5 installed and running in under 30 mins.  (Internet connection speeds may vary your download time.)

Feedback

 Do you need to register? It's Free!

The following post provides instructions for running a local serve-and-play instance of America's Army and is intended for people who wish to test new maps without having to find a server online.

The usual method of running a map offline is to open a command window (using the ~ key) in the AA game and typing:
 

That does work but some maps do not behave the way their makers intended. For example, this AA forum thread shows some problems caused when you play EFA_Bodyguard's "SF Summit Assault" map in offline mode...

http://forum.americasarmy.com/viewtopic.php?t=282007&page=2

If your computer is up to the challenge, you can use the following steps to run a AA server on your PC and then join it via the LAN tab. I tried each method and can confirm that running a local serve-and-play instance will resolve the issues detailed in the AA forum thread referenced above.

Just for the record, I'm running a Q6700 Quad Core processor with 3.25 Gb of RAM along with an NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT video card. I've not experienced any major performance problems running in serve-and-play mode, but your mileage may vary.

For the purposes of this tutorial, I'm going to use the current beta version of EFA_Bodyguard's excellent "SF Summit Assault" map in my examples. You may change the instructions to use a different map if you like.

Also, most people's America's Army installations are located under the "C:Program FilesAmerica's Army" folder. So when I refer to, say, the AAMaps folder I'm really referring to the "C:Program FilesAmerica's ArmyMaps" folder or the equivalent.

*** TWO IMPORTANT NOTES! ***

• First, always make backup copies of files before editing them!
• 
  Second, I'm not liable for any problems you experience after following the instructions below. Use at your own risk!

/*****************************************************************/

Okay, let's get started...

1.) Open your favorite text editor (Notepad works just fine) and add this line:
 

2.) Save the file with the name "RunServer_local.bat" and place it in your "AASystem" folder.

3.) Create a backup copy of your SERVER.INI file from your "AASystem" folder and rename it "SERVER.INI.BACKUP".

4.) Use your favorite text editor to open your SERVER.INI (not the backup!) and edit each of the sections shown below. For example, find the "Engine.AccessControl" section and edit the value of the "AdminPassword" line. Do that for each of the following sections...
 

5.) Save the updated "SERVER.INI" file.

That's pretty much of the configuration all you need to get started!

To run the map, you just double-click on the "RunServer_local.bat" file you created in steps 1-2. If all is working correctly, you'll see a command window open and a whole bunch of information will scroll by as the server loads and starts the map.

While the server is loading, go ahead and start the AA game, if you haven't already done so. I prefer to log in and go to the AA Browser the same as if I was connecting to an externally-hosted server. In the AA Browser, go to the LAN tab...once your server has loaded the map, it will appear here. Personally, I prefer to add my game ID in the "LAN Player Name" field at the bottom of the screen.

You should be able to connect to your local server using the LAN tab in the AA Browser and the result should be indistinguishable from connecting to an externally-hosted server.

Once you're done with the game and you want to close down the server, just bring up the command window that shows the server information. Then use CTRL+C (hold down the CTRL key and press the C key) and you'll see the following prompt...
 

Press "y" and press ENTER. The command window will disappear.

/*****************************************************************/
HOW TO CHANGE THE MAP: If you want to run a different map, just use your favorite text editor t open the "RunServer_local.bat" file created in steps 1-2 and update it with the correct map file name...
 

/*****************************************************************/
TROUBLESHOOTING:

• You launch the "RunServer_local.bat" file you created in steps 1-2 but it disappears after a few seconds...chances are you don't have the correct file name for your map. Make sure that the appropriate map file exists in your "AAMaps" folder.
• 
  The game is slow/choppy....this might be due to your system itself. Try closing unused applications and processes. For example, I prefer to disable Punkbuster on my local server since I am the only one using it. To disable Punkbuster on the server (not the client!), edit the pbsvgame.cfg file in the "AASystempb" folder (create a backup copy first!) and use "sv_punkbuster 0". To enable Punkbuster on the server (not the client!), use "sv_punkbuster 1". If pbsvgame.cfg has not yet been created, you can just create it with notepad and just put in this one line: "sv_punkbuster 0" (without the quotes) to disable PB on your server.

Hope this helps!