How can I setup a dedicated LAN server with no Internet connection?

A bit of background and equipment being used:

• several laptops (all the same type);
• a Router;
• ethernet cables and wifi;
• no Internet.

What I have managed so far with the same setup: Unreal 2004 - multiple players, NO INTERNET, wifi and ethernet connections to the router. This works great.

Now trying this same setup with Team Fortress 2:

Today I spent a few hours trying to run TF2 using the same methodology but failed. Main laptop is running Steam offline. I start TF2 and create a new server. Then on second laptop using wifi and running Steam offline, I try to find my server and the game - but cannot find it.

There has been a lot of other things I have tried, but I don't want to list them because maybe I missed something. Any help would be appreciated.

NOTE: I cannot connect to the network at work, which is why there is no Internet. That cannot be changed.

Solution 1:

I was able to setup and connect to a LAN game that did not show up in the server browser's LAN tab. The key was to enter the connection command directly into the developer console.

1. Find the local IP address on the server machine and write that down.

2. Start your host TF2 server.

3. On the client machines, enable the dev console in TF2:

   Options> Keyboard> Advanced> [✔]Enable Developer Console
   

4. Press ` (the backtick\~ key unless it's mapped to something else) to open the dev console and enter:

   connect <IP Address>:27015
   

   Replace <IP Address> with the server IP from step one.

5. Press [Enter] or click the "Submit" button and you should be connected.