For a current Garry’s Mod dedicated server, install the server files with SteamCMD (App ID 4020), launch the platform-specific executable with a map, gamemode and player limit, and attach a unique Steam Game Server Login Token (GSLT) created for base-game App ID 4000. Add Workshop content with a public or unlisted collection, or—on server version 2026.09.22 and newer—through cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt. Windows and Linux dedicated servers are documented officially; macOS dedicated servers are no longer shipped.
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What you need before installing
A Garry’s Mod server is a separate dedicated-server installation, not the copy of the game used to play. You provide a Windows or Linux host, keep its operating system and server files maintained, and make the host reachable to players. The official documentation does not publish a current CPU, RAM, bandwidth, player-capacity or hosting-price table, so there is no evidence-based hardware number that applies to every community. Start with a modest player limit, watch the server under real load, and increase it only when your host and connection remain stable.
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- A SteamCMD installation and enough storage for the server, maps and addons.
- A Windows or Linux machine you can administer. Facepunch’s current dedicated-server documentation does not ship a macOS server build.
- Command-line access (especially on Linux), permission to create files and directories, and a way to maintain the host.
- A separate GSLT for each server instance.
- A plan for distributing custom maps and addon files to clients.
Facepunch permits community servers under its Community Server and Hosting Guidelines. A server can be delisted from the browser or face other sanctions if it breaches those rules, so read the policy before advertising a server as a community project. Do not describe it as an official Facepunch server.
Self-hosting or managed hosting?
The software procedure is the same in principle, but the operational responsibility differs. A managed host may perform some of the work below, while self-hosting gives you direct control over the files and configuration. Compare the options against your own requirements rather than assuming a provider includes a particular feature.
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| Decision factor | Self-hosted machine | Managed game server |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system and updates | You install patches, SteamCMD updates, scripts and recovery tools. | The provider normally maintains the underlying system; verify what it actually updates. |
| Files, addons and configuration | Full access to server files, launch parameters, logs and custom scripts. | Access depends on the control panel and plan; check whether Workshop, FastDL and custom files are supported. |
| Network reachability and uptime | You are responsible for the network path, firewall, power and outages. | The provider supplies the network and facility; confirm its uptime policy and region. |
| Cost at your desired player count | Uses equipment, electricity and an existing connection, but you carry maintenance costs. | A recurring fee buys infrastructure and administration; compare the exact player limit and storage included. |
| Support and backups | You create backups, monitor logs and diagnose failures. | Ask what support, snapshots and restore procedures are included rather than assuming they are. |
The official setup pages do not verify prices or endorse a particular provider. If you choose managed hosting, confirm current Garry’s Mod support, location, limits, backup terms and access to the files before paying.
Install the dedicated server on Windows
Facepunch’s Windows procedure uses SteamCMD and an anonymous login. The commands below install App ID 4020, which is the Garry’s Mod dedicated server.
- Download and extract SteamCMD from Valve’s official distribution for Windows.
- Open a command prompt in the SteamCMD directory and start
steamcmd.exe. - Log in anonymously with
login anonymous. - Choose an installation directory if needed with
force_install_dir C:pathtogmodds. Facepunch warns that this option can cause update problems in some situations; if an update fails, remove the option and retry, or install into a different directory. - Install or update the server and validate files with
app_update 4020 validate. - Exit SteamCMD with
quitafter it reports completion.
Keep the installation directory separate from personal game files. That makes upgrades, backups and a second instance easier to manage. The complete Windows instructions and current branch details are in Facepunch’s dedicated-server guide.
Start a Windows server
From the directory containing the server executable, a minimal documented launch is:
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srcds.exe +maxplayers 20 -console +gamemode sandbox +map gm_construct +sv_setsteamaccount <your token>Replace the token placeholder with the GSLT you create in the next section. The example starts 20 player slots in the sandbox gamemode on gm_construct; choose values appropriate for your community. Keep -console if you want a visible console window for administration and logs.
Install the dedicated server on Linux
Facepunch’s Linux guide uses SteamCMD, the srcds_run launcher and a dedicated operating-system user. A command-line environment is assumed.
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- Install SteamCMD using the method appropriate for your Linux distribution.
- Run the documented installation command, adjusting the parent directory if necessary:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir ../gmodds +app_update 4020 validate +quit. - Change into the installed server directory and make sure the launcher can run.
- Create or use a dedicated, non-root user for the server process. This limits the damage from a compromised addon or misconfiguration.
- Launch the server with the Linux executable, for example:
./srcds_run -game garrysmod +maxplayers 32 +map gm_construct.
The Linux example uses 32 slots and does not include a gamemode or token; add those parameters for your own server. The guide also covers wrapper scripts and starting the process again after a reboot. Read the current instructions at Facepunch’s Linux Dedicated Server Hosting page before writing a service or startup script, because distribution-specific paths and permissions vary.
Set the launch parameters correctly
Launch parameters establish the initial game state. Folder and file names are significant: use the gamemode’s folder name, and use a map filename without its .bsp extension.
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| Parameter | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
+maxplayers |
Sets the starting player-slot limit. | +maxplayers 20 |
+gamemode |
Selects the gamemode folder. | +gamemode sandbox |
+map |
Loads a map by filename without .bsp. |
+map gm_construct |
-console |
Keeps a console interface available on the Windows example. | -console |
+sv_setsteamaccount |
Associates the instance with its Steam Game Server Login Token. | +sv_setsteamaccount YOUR_TOKEN |
+host_workshop_collection |
Loads a Workshop collection at startup. | +host_workshop_collection COLLECTION_ID |
Maps and gamemodes can come from the normal server directories or from Workshop addons. If a launch reports that a map or mode cannot be found, check spelling, capitalization, directory placement and whether the addon was actually mounted before changing unrelated settings.
Create and protect a Steam Game Server Login Token
Facepunch says a server should use a GSLT to avoid a severe server-list ranking penalty. Create the token for Garry’s Mod’s base-game App ID 4000, not the dedicated-server installer ID 4020. Each running server needs its own unique token.
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- Create a token against App ID
4000and label it so you can identify the instance later. - Copy the token once and pass it to the executable as
+sv_setsteamaccount YOURLOGINTOKENHERE. - Store it in a protected script or secret-management method rather than publishing it in a forum post, repository or ordinary configuration shared with staff.
Use a different token for every server, including test and production instances. A password change on the associated Steam account invalidates active tokens, so be prepared to create replacements and restart affected servers if that happens.
Add Workshop maps and addons
Option 1: Load a Workshop collection
Create a Steam Workshop collection containing the maps and addons, then add its numeric ID to the launch command:
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+host_workshop_collection COLLECTION_IDThe collection must be public or unlisted; a private collection cannot be fetched by the dedicated server. Nested collections are supported. At startup, the server checks the collection and mounts its contents. Add the collection parameter alongside your normal map, gamemode and GSLT parameters.
Option 2: List IDs in srcds_workshop_ids.txt
Server version 2026.09.22 and newer support a manually created file at:
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garrysmod/cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txtPlace the relevant Workshop IDs in that file according to the format in the current Workshop for Dedicated Servers documentation. This method is useful when you want the server’s content list managed as a file rather than through one collection. Verify the installed server version before relying on it; older builds do not provide this feature.
Choose an update policy
Workshop automatic updating is enabled by default in the documented behavior. You can set host_workshop_autoupdate 0 to pin content while you test changes, but Facepunch warns that stale maps or addons can prevent players from joining. If you disable updates, establish your own review and update schedule, test the new content on a separate instance, and then update the production files deliberately. Leaving automatic updates enabled reduces manual work but allows an addon author’s change to arrive at startup without your prior approval.
Deliver custom files to players
Installing an addon on the server does not automatically guarantee that every client has the required models, materials, sounds or maps. Choose a delivery path and confirm it from a clean client.
Workshop delivery
Workshop content is uploaded to Steam, added to the collection or ID list, and mounted by the server. Players then receive the Workshop items through the normal Workshop mechanism, subject to their client settings and the item’s availability. Keep the server’s content list authoritative and remove obsolete items rather than leaving clients to guess which files are still required.
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FastDL is a separate path from Workshop. It requires a web server containing the files and an sv_downloadurl address in the Garry’s Mod server configuration. Mark the relevant files for download and keep the web copy synchronized with the server copy. Facepunch notes that FastDL can be slow when many small files are downloaded separately, so package and organize content carefully instead of assuming a web URL solves every download problem. The technical overview is in Facepunch’s Serving Content documentation.
Run more than one server
Multiple instances require isolation, not just another copy of the launch command. Give each instance its own installation or clearly separated configuration and data directories, its own startup script, its own map and gamemode choices, and its own GSLT. Keep Workshop lists separate when the communities need different content. Label logs and backups by instance so a failed update on one server does not silently replace files used by another.
Before adding a second instance, confirm that your host and network can handle both processes. The official guides do not publish a universal capacity formula; measure real behavior rather than selecting a player limit from a generic hardware chart.
Update, back up and restart safely
- Record the current server build, launch command, gamemode, map and Workshop list.
- Back up configuration files, custom content and any scripts before changing the installation.
- Stop the server cleanly, run
app_update 4020 validatethrough SteamCMD, and review the output for errors. - Start the server in a test window or on a test instance first. Check that the selected map loads and that Workshop items mount.
- Connect with a client that does not already have the content cached. This exposes missing downloads that an administrator’s client can hide.
- Promote the tested files to the live instance and retain the previous backup until players have joined successfully.
Do not treat validation as a substitute for backups: it repairs installed files, but it does not restore your custom configuration or undo an incompatible addon update.
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SteamCMD will not update the installation
- Retry without
force_install_dir, because Facepunch documents update problems associated with that option in some cases. - Use a different installation directory and run SteamCMD with permissions that allow it to write files.
- Run
app_update 4020 validateagain and read the final error rather than assuming a partial download is complete.
The server starts but is not listed or ranks poorly
- Confirm that
+sv_setsteamaccountcontains a valid token created for App ID4000. - Make sure the token is unique to this instance and has not been invalidated by a Steam account password change.
- Check that the process is running continuously and that your host’s network path permits incoming players. Facepunch’s setup pages do not promise reachability for a particular home or business network.
A map or gamemode cannot be found
- Use the folder name after
+gamemode, not a display title. - Use the map filename without
.bspafter+map. - Verify that the Workshop collection is public or unlisted, or that the ID file exists at
garrysmod/cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txton a supported server version.
Players join but see missing content or are disconnected
- Check that every required Workshop item is mounted and available to clients.
- If using FastDL, verify the separate web server, the exact
sv_downloadurlvalue and the presence of every downloadable file. - Test from a clean client and review whether automatic Workshop updates changed a dependency at the last restart.
A Workshop update breaks the server
Temporarily pin the content with host_workshop_autoupdate 0, restore the last known-good backup, and test the updated item on a separate instance. Do not leave a production server permanently stale without telling players: Facepunch warns that old maps and content can prevent joins.
Quick Recap
Final pre-launch checklist
- SteamCMD installed App ID
4020and completed validation. - The correct executable is used:
srcds.exeon Windows orsrcds_runon Linux. +maxplayers,+gamemodeand+mapuse values that exist on the server.- A unique GSLT made for App ID
4000is supplied securely. - Workshop collection visibility or the supported ID-file method has been checked.
- Players can obtain every custom map and addon through Workshop or a working FastDL setup.
- Backups, update ownership, restart procedures and log locations are documented for whoever operates the server.
- The server follows the community-server policy.
Official references
- Downloading and Hosting a Dedicated Server
- Linux Dedicated Server Hosting
- Steam Game Server Accounts
- Workshop for Dedicated Servers
- Serving Content
- Community Server and Hosting Guidelines
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