Garry’s Mod’s server.cfg is the persistent configuration file for a dedicated server. It normally lives at garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg and contains one console-variable setting per line, such as hostname "My Server Name". Startup arguments are separate: they choose the initial player limit, gamemode, map and Steam authentication token when srcds launches.
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For a working internet server, install or update the dedicated files with SteamCMD, launch srcds with a valid Steam Game Server Login Token (GSLT), and use server.cfg for values that should persist between restarts. The guide below explains the file, the launch command, the important convars, gamemode and map changes, security decisions, hosting choices and a practical troubleshooting order.
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What server.cfg is and where to find it
server.cfg is a plain-text file read by the Garry’s Mod dedicated server from the game’s configuration directory. The normal path is:
garrysmod/cfg/server.cfgThe path is relative to the directory containing your Garry’s Mod dedicated-server installation. On Windows, that directory also contains srcds.exe; on Linux, it contains the Linux server executable. A hosting control panel may hide the same path behind a file manager, but the filename and relative location remain garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg.
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Use the exact filename
Windows can hide known file extensions. Confirm that the file is really named server.cfg, not server.cfg.txt. Keep one active file in garrysmod/cfg; editing a similarly named file elsewhere will not change the server.
Understand the syntax
Each setting uses a console-variable name followed by its value. Put quotation marks around text containing spaces. Numeric switches normally use 0 for disabled and 1 for enabled. Comments beginning with // make an explanation readable without changing the setting.
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hostname "My GMod Server
d" // incorrect: the quote is not closed
hostname "My GMod Server" // correct
sv_lan 0
sv_password ""
The first line above is intentionally malformed; a missing quote can make later text parse incorrectly. In a real file, use only the correctly quoted form. Save the file as plain text rather than a word-processing document. A UTF-8 text editor is appropriate.
Install and launch the dedicated server
SteamCMD installs and updates the dedicated-server files. Install SteamCMD in a directory you control, select the Garry’s Mod dedicated-server application in its command-line interface, and run the application update operation whenever you need to install or refresh the server files. Let the update finish before editing configuration or launching the server.
Keep the installation organized
- Use a dedicated directory for the server rather than mixing it with a personal Garry’s Mod client installation.
- Place
garrysmod/cfg/server.cfginside that dedicated installation. - Back up the configuration, addon list and any custom content before major updates.
- Run updates while the server is stopped so files are not replaced while
srcdsis using them.
Launch with srcds arguments
The dedicated-server page’s pattern uses srcds.exe with startup arguments similar to:
srcds.exe +maxplayers 20 -console +gamemode sandbox +map gm_construct +sv_setsteamaccount your_gslt_hereReplace your_gslt_here with the GSLT issued for your server. Facepunch documents a GSLT as mandatory for dedicated-server operation. Treat the token as a credential: do not publish it in screenshots, repositories or support posts, and rotate it if it has been exposed.
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server.cfg versus startup parameters
Use the file for persistent convars and the launch command for state that must be selected as the process starts. The following division prevents a common mistake: placing a startup-only choice in the wrong place and assuming it will be honored.
| Task | Typical location | When it takes effect |
|---|---|---|
| Display name | hostname in server.cfg |
When the configuration is executed; restart or reload as appropriate |
| Player join password | sv_password in server.cfg |
When the convar is applied |
| RCON authentication | rcon_password in server.cfg |
When the convar is applied |
| Initial player limit | +maxplayers at launch |
Process startup |
| Initial gamemode | +gamemode at launch |
Process startup and map initialization |
| Initial map | +map at launch |
Process startup |
| Steam authentication | +sv_setsteamaccount at launch |
Process startup; required for a dedicated server |
| Later map change | changelevel map_name in the server console or RCON |
Immediately after the change completes |
A setting can sometimes be supplied both ways, but duplicating values makes troubleshooting harder. Keep the durable policy in server.cfg and keep launch arguments limited to values that must be selected before the first map loads.
Essential server.cfg settings
hostname: the public server name
hostname is the name shown to players in server browsers and by query tools. Quote names that contain spaces, punctuation or symbols.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallhostname "My GMod Server"Changing the name does not change the network address. If a new name is not visible, verify that the edited file is in garrysmod/cfg, check the console for parsing errors, and restart or execute the configuration so the new value is loaded.
sv_password: control who can join
sv_password sets the password players must provide when joining. An empty value leaves the server open:
sv_password ""For a private session, replace the empty string with a password and give it only to the intended players. A player password controls entry to the game; it does not protect administrative commands.
rcon_password: protect remote administration
rcon_password authenticates remote-console commands. Use a long, random, unique value that is different from the player password and from every other account credential.
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rcon_password "replace_with_a_long_random_secret"Never put this value in a public repository, a tutorial screenshot, a support ticket or a chat message. If it appears in a log or screenshot, assume it is compromised and replace it immediately. Limiting who can reach the server’s administration interface is part of the security policy; a secret alone is not a substitute for network controls.
sv_lan: choose the network scope
sv_lan 0 is the maintained template’s value for an internet server. LAN mode changes the intended network scope, so confirm whether the server is for a local network or public internet before changing it.
sv_lan 0If players outside the local network cannot see or join an internet server, do not assume this convar is the only cause. Firewall rules, port forwarding, provider networking and the GSLT also matter.
Client file transfer and custom content
sv_allowupload and sv_allowdownload
These convars control aspects of client file transfer. They are operational and security decisions, not cosmetic switches:
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sv_allowdownload 0Disabling transfers can reduce what the server accepts or sends, but it can also leave clients without required files. Enabling transfers can consume bandwidth and expands the set of content-sharing behavior you must monitor. Decide according to the addons and maps you actually run, then test with a clean client.
sv_downloadurl
sv_downloadurl optionally points clients to a prepared distribution endpoint for missing files. It is useful only when that endpoint contains the expected directory structure and can reliably serve the files. A value that points to an incomplete or inaccessible location creates download failures rather than fixing them.
Before enabling any transfer setting, inventory Workshop items, server-side addons and custom maps. Make sure you have permission to distribute the content and that the endpoint does not expose unrelated files.
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Gamemodes and maps
Sandbox is the default
Sandbox is Garry’s Mod’s default gamemode. Other gamemodes can add their own console variables, administration rules and content requirements. Do not copy a block of settings from an unrelated gamemode: an unknown or unsupported convar can be ignored, generate a console warning or interact badly with an addon.
Select the initial mode and map
Choose both at launch:
srcds.exe -console +gamemode sandbox +map gm_construct +maxplayers 20 +sv_setsteamaccount your_gslt_hereThe gamemode value must identify an installed gamemode. The map must exist in the server’s content. If either name is wrong, the console output usually reveals the failure during startup.
Change a map while the server is running
Use the server console or an authenticated remote console:
changelevel gm_flatgrassChanging the map does not by itself install missing content. Clients still need the map, models, materials and other files through Workshop distribution or the transfer method you configured.
Change gamemode safely
Changing gamemode normally requires setting the gamemode value and then changing the map so the new mode initializes:
gamemode sandbox
changelevel gm_flatgrassUse the target gamemode’s documentation for its exact convars. If the mode requires a particular map or addon, satisfy that requirement before switching live players.
A practical starting server.cfg
This minimal file establishes a public internet server with a visible name and no player password. It is a starting point, not a universal production policy.
hostname "My GMod Server"
sv_password "" // empty string keeps the server public
rcon_password "replace_with_a_long_random_secret"
sv_lan 0
sv_allowupload 0
sv_allowdownload 0Add gamemode-specific convars only after confirming that the selected gamemode supports them. Keep comments short and remove credentials before sharing the file. The GSLT is supplied at launch rather than stored in this example.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Gamemode-specific configuration
Gamemode authors can expose settings with metadata such as a text label, help text, type, default value, single-player behavior and replication behavior. Those metadata fields describe how a setting is presented and where it applies; they do not make every convar valid for every mode.
How to identify an unsupported setting
- Read the gamemode’s own documentation and installation notes.
- Start the server with only the required settings.
- Watch the console for “unknown command” or unknown-convar messages.
- Add one mode-specific setting at a time and test a map change.
- Remove settings that belong to a different game, an old addon or a mode you no longer run.
This incremental approach makes it possible to identify whether a failure comes from the base server, the gamemode or an addon.
Public, private and managed-server choices
The same convars support different operating models. Decide the access policy before tuning cosmetic settings.
| Decision | Public server | Private server |
|---|---|---|
| Access control | Leave sv_password "" for open entry, then rely on moderation and bans |
Set a non-empty sv_password and distribute it privately |
| Discoverability | Use a clear hostname and expect browser visibility |
Use a recognizable name for invited players; password protection limits entry |
| Moderation workload | Higher: plan staff, rules and abuse response | Lower for a trusted group, but still protect RCON |
| RCON exposure | Keep the credential secret and restrict administrative access | Keep the credential secret even when every player is known |
Self-hosting gives direct control over files, addons and configuration, but you are responsible for SteamCMD updates, backups, firewall rules, port forwarding, uptime and network capacity. Managed hosting reduces setup and often supplies a control panel, but you trade some filesystem and networking control for the provider’s processes and policies.
| Factor | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Setup effort | Install SteamCMD, configure the machine and expose the service yourself | Usually faster initial deployment through a panel |
| Updates | You schedule and verify SteamCMD updates | Provider tools may simplify updates; confirm what is automatic |
| Network reliability | Depends on your connection, firewall and port forwarding | Depends on the provider’s network and chosen location |
| Addon and file control | Full access to local files | Controlled by the panel, permissions and provider limits |
| Backups | You design, test and retain them | Check whether backups exist, how often they run and how restoration works |
| Player capacity | Limited by your hardware and connection; no universal figure applies | Limited by the selected plan and provider policy |
| Geographic latency | Determined by your server’s location and players’ routes | Choose among the provider’s available regions |
| Monthly cost | Uses existing hardware and connectivity but has electricity and maintenance costs | Recurring fee varies by provider, region and allocated resources |
There is no universal player-capacity, bandwidth-saving or performance number that can be attributed to an individual server.cfg switch. Measure your own workload and choose a location close to the intended player base.
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Security and maintenance practices
Separate credentials
- Use a unique RCON secret.
- Do not reuse the player password for RCON.
- Keep the GSLT private and replace it if exposed.
- Remove credentials from screenshots, crash reports and public configuration repositories.
Back up before changes
Stop the server before updates or large addon changes. Back up server.cfg, the addon and Workshop configuration, custom maps and any ban or administrative files your setup relies on. Store at least one copy outside the server machine and periodically verify that the files can actually be restored.
Review distribution settings
When a client lacks content, first identify which file is missing and which addon or map requires it. Review Workshop subscriptions and the download settings before enabling uploads. An incorrectly configured download endpoint can expose files, waste bandwidth or leave players with an incomplete installation.
Troubleshooting in the right order
- Confirm the path. Verify that the file is exactly
garrysmod/cfg/server.cfgin the dedicated-server installation and is saved as plain text. - Check parsing. Look at console output for unknown convars, malformed quotes or commands copied from another game or an outdated addon. Remove unsupported lines and restart.
- Separate launch settings. Verify
+gamemode,+map,+maxplayersand+sv_setsteamaccountin the actual startup command. Do not assume a value inserver.cfgreplaces a missing launch argument. - Test identity and access. From a client, confirm the displayed hostname and whether an empty or non-empty
sv_passwordbehaves as intended. If a credential appeared in a log or screenshot, rotate it before further testing. - Check network scope. Confirm
sv_lan, firewall rules, port forwarding and provider networking match the intended LAN or internet use. - Check content delivery. If clients lack files, review Workshop subscriptions, addon installation and download settings. Do not enable uploads blindly as a workaround.
- Test the mode and map independently. Start with the known default Sandbox mode and a known installed map. Add the intended gamemode, map and mode-specific convars one at a time.
Operational checklist for each restart
- SteamCMD update completed while the server was stopped.
- GSLT is present in the startup command and has not been exposed.
server.cfgexists at the exact path and contains balanced quotes.hostname,sv_password,rcon_passwordandsv_lanmatch the intended access policy.- Initial
gamemode,mapandmaxplayersvalues are present in the launch command. - Gamemode-specific settings come from the mode’s documentation rather than an unrelated template.
- Workshop, addon and download behavior has been tested with a client that does not already have the content.
- A current backup exists before changing files or updating addons.
The reliable pattern is simple: keep persistent convars in garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg, use startup arguments for the initial process state, supply the required GSLT, and validate each gamemode or content-distribution setting against the software that actually runs on your server.
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