Downloading and Hosting a Dedicated Server

<cat>Play.Hosting</cat>
<title>Downloading and Hosting a Dedicated Server</title>
# Windows

## SteamCMD

Dedicated servers are now downloaded using SteamCMD. This is a command line version of Steam.

You can download it [from this page](https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD).

The first time you run it it will update and you will be left at a STEAM> console. You will want to log in. You can log into an anonymous account by typing:


```
login anonymous
```


## Installing & Updating Garry's Mod Dedicated Server

If you want to specify a download folder then before you update enter this command:

<note>This is known to cause problems when updating your server to a newer version. If your server fails to update, try not using the `force_install_dir` feature, or try reinstalling your server into another folder. You can also try entering `force_install_dir ` **before** logging into Steam via `login` command.</note>


```
force_install_dir c:\my_garrysmod_server\
```


You can then install or update the Garry's Mod Dedicated Server by using the command:

```
app_update 4020
```


It will slowly download or update.

If you wish to verify your server, enter this instead of the above:

```
app_update 4020 validate
```


Once it's done you can type quit at the console to exit or just close the SteamCMD window.

## Automated

You probably don't want to do that every time you want to install/update a server. Don't worry - it supports command lines too.


```
steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir c:\my_garrysmod_server\ +app_update 4020 validate +quit
```

## Running the server

After downloading and installing the server files you can now run the dedicated sever.
You can either just run `srcds.exe` directly or use its command line interface like so:

```
srcds.exe +maxplayers 20 -console +gamemode sandbox +map gm_construct +sv_setsteamaccount <your token>
```

# After initial installation

After installing your server you should set up your GSL Token and the server's location.

### GSLT
Please see <page>Steam Game Server Accounts</page> (GSLT) for help with `sv_setsteamaccount`. **This is mandatory.** Your server's ranking will be penalized if you do not do this.

### Server operator rules

Please make sure your server conforms to <page>Server Operator Rules</page>.

### Location flag
Next you should set your server's location. This is done via the `sv_location` console variable. The convar should directly correspond to a flag icon stored in the `materials/flags16/` folder, without the `.png` extension. The maximum length is currently set to 5 characters.
The flag icon filenames follow the `ISO 3166-1 alpha-2` country codes. (http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/flags/)

For example `sv_location gb` will display the Great Britain flag, `sv_location us` will display the USA flag, etc.
European Union has a special case: `sv_location eu`

### Steam Workshop
Optionally you can add `+host_workshop_collection <collectionID>` to your command line to automatically install workshop addons onto your dedicated server.
Please see <page>Workshop for Dedicated Servers</page> for help with workshop for dedicated servers.

### Setting startup gamemode

The active gamemode is set via the `gamemode` <page>ConVar</page>. As a command line parameter it can be applied as such: `+gamemode sandbox`, where `sandbox` is the name of the gamemode folder as it appears in `garrysmod/gamemodes/` or in the `gamemodes/` folder of any addon, including workshop addons. If you do know know the folder name of a workshop addon, it is very likely this information is provided in the addons' description. If not, you can ask the addon author.

The active gamemode can be changed at any time with the `gamemode` convar and then changing the map (see below).

### Setting the startup map.

Setting startup maps works identically to setting startup gamemode, but using the `map` concommand. As a command line parameter it would look like so: `+map gm_construct`, where `gm_construct` is name of the map file without the `.bsp` extension, inside the `garrysmod/maps/` folder, or inside the `maps/` folder of any addon. Same rule applies to workshop addons - check the addons workshop page description for map file name.

To gracefully change the active map to a different map (or to simply reload the map), you can use the `changelevel` command, like so: `changelevel gm_flatgrass`.

### Peer to Peer

Dedicated server can function in peer-to-peer mode. It can be turned on via the `-p2p` command line parameter. On startup the server will tell you how players can connect to such a server manually.

# Linux

Main article: <page>Linux Dedicated Server Hosting</page>

## Installation

Install SteamCMD as per the recommendations from the [Valve Developer Wiki](https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD#Linux).

Then install the GMod dedicated server in a similar manner to Windows:


```
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir ../gmodds +app_update 4020 validate +quit
```


The server is now available in ~/gmodds/.


```
cd ~/gmodds/
./srcds_run -game garrysmod +maxplayers 32 +map gm_construct
```


## Troubleshooting

If you get the error message

```
./steamcmd.sh: line 29: /home/$USER/Steam/linux32/steamcmd: No such file or directory
```

You are most likely running 64 a bit system and missing 32 bit libraries. 

If the output of this command is x86_64, you are running a 64 bit system and need 32 bit libraries.

```
uname -m
```

See this article on the valve wiki.    
[32-bit libraries on 64-bit Linux systems](https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD#32-bit_libraries_on_64-bit_Linux_systems)

# macOS

macOS dedicated servers are no longer shipped.


# The Experimental Branches

To update your server to the development branch, you'll have to launch your SteamCMD and enter these commands **manually**:


```
login anonymous
app_update 4020 -beta dev validate
quit
```


For the pre-release branch:

```
login anonymous
app_update 4020 -beta prerelease validate
quit
```

For the x64 branch:

```
login anonymous
app_update 4020 -beta x86-64 validate
quit
```

To revert back to stable branch:

```
login anonymous
app_update 4020 -beta public validate
quit
```


The development branch is updated regularly.

Downloading and Hosting a Dedicated Server

Account Management

Special Pages

Wiki List

Garry's Mod Wiki