How to make/convert .BSP files to .BZ2 files for quick HTTP map downloading

[rec]

I thought I'd post this useful info for anyone else setting up a TF2 or CSS server with the intention of enabling HTTP downloads.

Obviously some maps are still huge, but you can actually compress them for the HTTP directory in .bz2 format which the Source engine seems to be happy using.

You'll slice the file size of the maps dramatically, enabling even quicker downloads of big maps...

• First, download BZIP2 executable for your platform.
• When you downloaded the file, save it at the root of your hard disk (C:\) for a more practical use, and rename it as BZIP2.EXE.
• Now, create a directory named BZIP2 in the root of the hard disk
• Copy maps with the .BSP extension to your C:\BZIP2 directory
  you can have 1 to 20 maps in this folder to be made into the bz2 format.
• Open up a command prompt. Click on the Start button >> click Run >> type CMD >> click OK
• Type CD \ >> then type BZIP2 \BZIP2\*.* in the window

The bzip2 will start to compress all maps in the bzip2 folder.

Upload all new files in this folder to your http map folder, but make sure in the actual map directory for the server you keep the original .bsp files.

Easy as that. Enjoy.