The Tool Desk
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Godlike.Host offers hosted Squad servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
Do not use old Post Scriptum beta instructions without checking them. App ID 844650 is the old Post Scriptum beta server record, while Squad 44’s production server is listed as 746200. Squad 44 kept the PostScriptum folder name after the game was renamed.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIdentify the correct server package before installing
Squad 44 began as a Squad modification, became a standalone Periscope Games title called Post Scriptum, and was renamed Squad 44 on December 14, 2023 after Offworld Industries acquired it. That history explains why current files and older guides use different names.
| Steam app ID | SteamDB listing | Use for a normal public server? |
|---|---|---|
746200 |
Squad 44 Dedicated Server | Yes. This is the production dedicated-server package. |
844650 |
Post Scriptum – Beta Dedicated Server | No. The record was last updated in 2019 and belongs to the older beta branch. |
844630 |
Squad 44 – Public Testing | No, unless you specifically intend to run the public-testing build. |
403240 |
Squad Dedicated Server | No. This is for the separate main Squad game. |
If a script contains +app_update 844650, replace that package reference with 746200 for a standard Squad 44 server. Changing only the folder name or executable is not enough; SteamCMD must download the correct app.
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Choose a hosting route
| Route | What you control | What you must manage | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows self-hosting | Files, operating-system settings, updates, backups and configuration | SteamCMD, Windows dependencies, firewall rules, uptime and troubleshooting | An administrator who already runs a Windows machine or virtual server |
| Linux with LinuxGSM | Server files, service account, automation and operating-system configuration | Linux administration, script updates, firewalling and service monitoring | Someone comfortable with SSH and command-line maintenance |
| Rented hosting | Usually the game-panel settings and server configuration exposed by the provider | Provider limits, recurring cost, panel-specific controls and support quality | Groups that value a quick deployment and managed uptime |
Self-hosting offers the most direct access to configuration and files, but your connection, power and maintenance schedule determine availability. Rented hosting places the machine in a provider’s datacentre and normally gives you a web control panel. LOW.MS, for example, sells rented Squad 44 servers; that is an alternative deployment route, not a requirement or endorsement.
Windows requirements
The Squad 44 community wiki lists several runtime prerequisites for a Windows server. Install them on the host before troubleshooting the game server itself:
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- DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010).
- Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2013.
- Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015.
- The latest Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable package.
- SteamCMD, installed in a directory with enough free space for the server files and future updates.
Use a dedicated directory such as C:Squad44Server. Avoid placing the server inside a personal Steam library where permissions, automatic game updates or an interactive desktop login can interfere with maintenance. Give the Windows account that runs the service read and write access to the server directory so it can create logs and update files.
Install the dedicated server on Windows
1. Install SteamCMD
Download and extract SteamCMD from Valve’s distribution to a permanent folder, for example C:SteamCMD. Run it once so it creates its own supporting files, then close it. The server does not require the full Steam client.
2. Create a server root
Create C:Squad44Server or another dedicated path. Keep the path short and avoid special characters; this makes batch files and log inspection easier. The directory can be on a separate data volume if you plan to keep several map rotations, logs or backups.
3. Create a SteamCMD download script
Save a text file in the server root, such as install_squad44.txt, with the following commands:
login anonymous
force_install_dir C:Squad44Server
app_update 746200 validate
quitforce_install_dir tells SteamCMD where to place the files. app_update 746200 validate downloads the production dedicated-server app and checks the installed files. If you use a different directory, change that path consistently in both the script and the command that launches SteamCMD.
4. Run the download
Open Command Prompt, change to the SteamCMD directory, and run the script:
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cd /d C:SteamCMD
steamcmd.exe +runscript C:Squad44Serverinstall_squad44.txtWait for SteamCMD to report completion. A failed download can leave a partially populated directory, so run the same command again after correcting connectivity, permissions or disk-space problems. The validate option is useful when an update was interrupted or files were deleted.
5. Confirm the folder layout
After installation, the server root should contain the dedicated-server files and a PostScriptum directory. The community wiki identifies the configuration directory as:
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallC:Squad44ServerPostScriptumServerConfigIf that directory does not exist, first confirm that app 746200 was downloaded and that SteamCMD used the intended install path. Do not create a second, manually renamed configuration tree; the server expects the layout delivered by the package.
6. Install the Windows runtimes
Install the DirectX June 2010 runtime and the Visual C++ packages listed above, then reboot if Windows requests it. Missing runtime libraries commonly appear as an executable that closes immediately or a system error naming a DLL. Installing only the newest C++ package may not satisfy applications built against the 2013 or 2015 toolsets, so install the versions individually.
7. Start the server executable
The downloaded package contains the server executable and its supporting files. Use the current Squad 44 wiki’s server instructions to identify the executable and supported launch parameters for the build you installed. Do not copy launch switches from a guide for the main Squad game; the two products use different Steam apps and their options are not interchangeable.
8. Test locally before inviting players
Start the server with its intended configuration, watch the console or log for a clean initialization, and confirm that the expected map rotation and message of the day load. Test from a separate game installation or ask another player to search for the server. A successful process start only proves that Windows launched the executable; it does not prove that the server is reachable from the internet.
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Use the Windows configuration files
Squad 44 stores its principal server settings in PostScriptumServerConfig. The wiki names these files:
| File | Purpose at a high level | Safe handling practice |
|---|---|---|
Server.cfg |
Core server settings supplied by the game server configuration. | Back up the original before editing and preserve the syntax used by the shipped file. |
Admins.cfg |
Administrator identity and permission entries. | Restrict write access and keep a private backup because it contains privileged identifiers. |
MapRotation.cfg |
The sequence of maps or layers offered by the server. | Change one entry at a time and test a short rotation before publishing a long schedule. |
Rcon.cfg |
Remote-console settings. | Use a strong secret, limit access at the network boundary and never post the file publicly. |
Motd.cfg |
The message of the day shown to players. | Keep text readable and check that special characters do not break the file format. |
Stop the server before editing these files, make a dated copy, then restart and inspect the log. If a change prevents startup, restore the last known-good copy instead of deleting configuration files at random. The exact keys and accepted values can change with a game update; use the current Squad 44 wiki’s Server Configuration documentation for the authoritative syntax.
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Host on Linux with LinuxGSM
LinuxGSM is a third-party management tool, not an official Squad 44 utility. Its LinuxGSM script identifies the Squad 44 server as pstbsserver, while the generated instance in the installation command is named psserver.
1. Create a dedicated Linux account
Run the server as an unprivileged account rather than as root. On a typical distribution, an administrator can create a user and home directory with the distribution’s user-management tools, then grant that account ownership of the installation directory. Exact commands differ between Debian-based, Red Hat-based and other systems, so follow your distribution’s account-management convention.
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2. Download and run the LinuxGSM bootstrap script
Log in as the dedicated account, move to its home directory and run:
curl -Lo linuxgsm.sh https://linuxgsm.sh && chmod +x linuxgsm.sh && bash linuxgsm.sh psserverThis downloads the LinuxGSM bootstrap file, marks it executable and generates the psserver instance script. Review the script output for missing packages or permission errors before continuing.
3. Install the game server
Run:
./psserver installLinuxGSM performs the installation tasks for the generated instance. Allow it to finish, then use the commands shown by the script to start, stop, inspect and update the service. Keeping the instance under the dedicated user’s home directory makes ownership and log permissions predictable.
4. Add service supervision
For a persistent server, configure your Linux service manager or the supervision method recommended by your distribution and LinuxGSM. Arrange for a controlled restart after a machine reboot, but avoid an aggressive crash loop: repeated failed starts usually indicate a missing library, an invalid configuration file or an incomplete SteamCMD download. Monitor disk usage because logs and updates grow over time.
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The game still uses its shipped configuration layout, including the PostScriptum naming. Locate the generated server root, identify its ServerConfig directory and edit files only after stopping the instance. Use Linux file permissions to keep Rcon.cfg and administrator data private. LinuxGSM simplifies process management; it does not remove the need to understand the game’s own configuration syntax.
Network ports and launch options: verify, do not guess
No cited current source establishes a definitive Squad 44 port set or a complete list of launch options. That means a guide that publishes a fixed set of numbers without identifying the game build and source may leave your server unreachable or expose the wrong service.
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Before opening a firewall or forwarding a router, consult the current Squad 44 wiki’s Server Configuration page and copy the ports and protocol labels exactly as documented there. Apply the same values in three places: the host firewall, any router or cloud security group, and the server’s own configuration or launch command. Open only the protocols and ports the current documentation requires.
Do not copy port instructions written for the main Squad dedicated server. Main Squad uses app ID 403240; its network behavior and launch parameters cannot be assumed to apply to Squad 44. After applying the documented rules, test from outside your home network, because a local connection can succeed even when internet traffic is blocked by a router, carrier-grade NAT or cloud firewall.
Rented hosting as an alternative
A rented provider supplies a preconfigured machine in a datacentre and exposes controls through a web panel. The provider normally handles the operating-system image, physical uptime and basic installation workflow, while you choose the game build, map rotation and administrative settings that the panel permits.
What renting solves
- No need to keep a home PC powered continuously.
- Datacentre bandwidth and a public address are usually included in the service.
- Updates, reinstalls and start or stop actions can be available as panel buttons.
- Support staff may handle host-level failures that would otherwise require Linux or Windows administration.
What renting does not solve
- A panel may hide files or launch options you need for a custom setup.
- You still need to understand Squad 44’s configuration files and administrator permissions.
- Recurring charges continue while the server is reserved, even during periods of low activity.
- Provider-specific backups, mod support and update timing vary; confirm them before committing.
Ask a provider which Squad 44 app or branch it installs, whether you receive the current ServerConfig files, how RCON credentials are protected, and whether you can export your configuration. These questions prevent a panel from silently deploying an obsolete Post Scriptum beta package.
Keep the server updated and recoverable
Schedule controlled updates
Stop the server before updating. On Windows, rerun the SteamCMD script containing app_update 746200 validate. On Linux, use the update command exposed by the LinuxGSM instance. Announce maintenance to players, keep a copy of the configuration directory, then start the server and verify the log before reopening access.
Back up the right files
Back up Server.cfg, Admins.cfg, MapRotation.cfg, Rcon.cfg and Motd.cfg, along with any provider or operating-system service files you created. Store at least one copy outside the server machine. Do not include RCON secrets in a public repository or paste them into support tickets.
Record changes
Keep a short change log with the date, game build, configuration edits and outcome of the restart. When a patch changes behavior, the record lets you identify whether the problem began with the game files, a map rotation edit, a firewall change or a runtime update.
Troubleshoot the common failure modes
SteamCMD downloads the wrong branch
Check the app ID in every script and panel field. The production package is 746200; 844650 is the old beta record. Delete or isolate the incorrect installation, then run a clean download into the intended server root. Do not mix files from the beta and production directories.
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The executable closes immediately on Windows
Confirm the DirectX June 2010 runtime and all three Visual C++ requirements are installed. Check that the process account can write to the server directory and inspect the Windows event log or server log for the missing component. Re-run SteamCMD validation after fixing permissions or disk errors.
The server starts but configuration changes do nothing
Verify that you edited the active server root’s PostScriptumServerConfig directory, stopped the process before saving, and used the syntax supported by the current build. A second SteamCMD installation or a rented panel can create a different root than the one you opened in File Explorer.
Players cannot connect from the internet
Confirm the current Squad 44 port requirements in the wiki, then compare the server configuration, host firewall, router forwarding or cloud security group. Test from a network that is not the host’s own LAN. If the host is behind carrier-grade NAT, ordinary router forwarding may not provide a reachable public endpoint; a rented server or a provider that supplies a public address may be necessary.
A LinuxGSM installation fails
Read the command output for a missing package, unsupported distribution, permission problem or failed SteamCMD step. Ensure the dedicated account owns the LinuxGSM files and has sufficient disk space. Because LinuxGSM is third-party, check its current script documentation and issue tracker for tool-specific errors, while checking the Squad 44 wiki for game-specific configuration problems.
Older instructions mention Post Scriptum
The name is expected in the directory structure because Squad 44 was renamed from Post Scriptum. The name alone does not indicate that you installed the wrong game. Use the Steam app ID and the installed files to identify the package; use 844650 only if you deliberately need the historical beta branch.
Mods, administration and testing
The Squad 44 wiki has a separate Server Mods page, but mod installation steps depend on the current mod system and are not interchangeable with instructions for the main Squad game. Read that page for the exact version and file requirements before adding third-party content. Keep a working, unmodded backup so you can distinguish a game update problem from a mod problem.
Add administrators through the supported format in Admins.cfg, protect RCON credentials, and test each permission level with a non-owner account. Build a small initial map rotation, invite a few testers, and observe map changes, reconnects and server restarts before advertising the address widely. A short controlled test catches malformed configuration earlier than a full public event.
Practical decision checklist
- Choose Windows when you prefer graphical administration or already maintain a Windows host.
- Choose LinuxGSM when you want scriptable installation and service management and are comfortable with SSH.
- Choose rented hosting when consistent datacentre uptime matters more than unrestricted operating-system access.
- Use app ID
746200for the normal production server. - Install the Windows runtimes before diagnosing game-server crashes.
- Back up the five files in
PostScriptumServerConfigbefore changing them. - Verify current ports and launch options in the Squad 44 wiki instead of copying main Squad values.
- Keep beta app
844650, public-testing app844630and main Squad app403240separate from the production installation.
What a successful first deployment looks like
A finished deployment has one clearly identified server root, a complete download of app 746200, the required Windows runtimes or a working LinuxGSM installation, and a readable log showing that the process initialized. The active ServerConfig files load without syntax errors, administrators can authenticate using the method documented for the current build, and an external player can discover and join the server through the ports specified by the current Squad 44 documentation.
From that point, reliability comes from routine maintenance rather than more launch flags: update during a scheduled window, preserve configuration backups, monitor storage and process health, and recheck the wiki after major game updates. The Post Scriptum folder name is historical; the app ID, branch and current configuration documentation are the controls that determine whether you are running the right server.
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