You can host an SCP: Secret Laboratory dedicated server on your own x64 Windows or Ubuntu machine, or rent a managed game-server instance. For a first server, use the Steam library’s “Secret Laboratory Dedicated Server” tool on a supported Windows PC. Use SteamCMD when you need repeatable installs and updates; on Linux, run the server under a separate user inside a persistent tmux session. The published baseline is 3 GB of RAM, two CPU cores, and 4 GB of storage for a 25-player server without plugins, but real deployments need headroom for plugins, logs, player growth, and other services.
Godlike.Host offers hosted SCP: Secret Laboratory servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
Decide between self-hosting and a managed server
Self-hosting gives you the files, operating-system access, configuration control, and freedom to run your own moderation and plugin stack. It also makes you responsible for the machine, internet connection, router, firewall, updates, backups, security, and keeping the process online.
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| Decision factor | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront hardware cost | You provide a supported x64 computer, storage, and a reliable network connection. | No server hardware purchase, but you pay the provider’s recurring fee. |
| Operating system | You install and maintain a supported Windows or Linux system. | The provider supplies an image or control panel; verify the exact operating system and game branch. |
| Public reachability | You must control router and firewall settings and have an address that accepts inbound traffic. | The provider normally supplies a public endpoint; confirm whether ports, IPv4, IPv6, or private networking are included. |
| Updates and backups | You schedule SteamCMD updates, back up configurations and plugin data, and test restores. | Some providers automate these tasks, but retention, frequency, and restore access differ. |
| Plugin flexibility | You can manage LabAPI and compatible plugins directly, subject to their licenses and game-version support. | Use only what the host permits and what its panel or file access supports. |
| Administration effort | Highest control and highest responsibility: security, uptime, moderation tools, and recovery are yours. | Less machine maintenance, but you depend on the provider for platform reliability and support. |
Choose self-hosting if you are comfortable with Windows or Linux administration, can change firewall and router settings, have stable broadband, and will perform maintenance. Choose a managed instance if you do not want a public machine at home or cannot guarantee availability and network configuration.
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Check hardware and operating-system requirements
The SCP: Secret Laboratory Tech Support Public Wiki lists a floor of 3 GB of RAM, two CPU cores, and 4 GB of storage for a full 25-player server without plugins. Treat those values as a minimum for that specific scenario, not as a performance guarantee. Plugins, a larger player population, verbose logging, map or configuration changes, and other applications all require additional memory, CPU time, and disk space. Leave free storage for updates, logs, crash dumps, and backups rather than filling the installation volume.
The same guide does not support ARM CPUs. Use an x64 processor and check virtualization or power-saving settings if the machine will also run other services. A wired connection is preferable for a home server because Wi-Fi interruptions can look like server lag or disconnects.
Northwood’s 11 October 2024 “System Requirements and Privacy Policy Update” lists these server operating systems from Update 14.0 onward:
| Platform | Published requirement | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Windows desktop | Windows 10 or Windows 11, version 21H1 or newer, x64 | Keep Windows patched and exclude the server directory from aggressive cleanup tools. |
| Windows Server | Windows Server 2022 or newer | Use a dedicated service account and restrict remote administration. |
| Linux | Ubuntu 22.04 or newer, x64 | The documented Linux path also requires SteamCMD, 32-bit compatibility libraries, a runtime, and a persistent terminal session. |
Requirements can change with future game updates. Before a version-specific deployment, recheck the latest Northwood announcement and the current Tech Support Public Wiki guide.
Prepare the machine and network before installing
Create a dedicated installation and service account
Put the server in its own directory, separate from personal documents and unrelated applications. On Linux, create a separate non-root account for the game process. On Windows, use a standard account where practical and grant only the file permissions needed by the server and its update script. This limits the impact of a compromised plugin or misconfigured remote-administration file.
Reserve a stable local address
If the server runs behind a home router, reserve its local IP address in the router’s DHCP settings or assign a carefully managed static address. A changing local address will eventually invalidate a port-forwarding rule.
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Plan remote administration securely
LocalAdmin and the remote-administration configuration are used to operate the server. Keep administrator passwords, tokens, and Steam identifiers private; do not paste them into public chat, screenshots, issue reports, or a shared configuration repository. Limit remote administration to trusted networks or a VPN when your deployment allows it.
Install the dedicated server on Windows
Beginner route: install the Steam library tool
The Tech Support Public Wiki recommends the Steam library’s Secret Laboratory Dedicated Server tool for a straightforward Windows installation.
- Open the Steam client on the Windows machine that will host the server.
- In your library, enable the tools or software view if necessary, then locate Secret Laboratory Dedicated Server.
- Install the tool to a volume with room for the server, updates, logs, and backups.
- Launch it once. Complete the initial configuration with LocalAdmin and record the directory where the executable and configuration files were created.
- Stop the server cleanly, make a first backup of the configuration directory, and decide how you will start it after a reboot.
This method is convenient for one machine and occasional manual updates. It does not remove the need to configure Windows Firewall, router reachability, backups, or moderation.
Repeatable route: SteamCMD
SteamCMD is useful for scripted installations, headless machines, and repeatable maintenance. The dedicated-server AppID is 996560, and the public-branch update command is app_update 996560 validate.
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force_install_dir "C:Users{USER}DocumentsSCPSL-Server"
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app_update 996560 validateWhen the command finishes, verify that the server executable, LocalAdmin, and configuration folders exist in the chosen directory. Run the executable once, complete initial configuration, and stop it before editing files.
Automate an update batch file
For a maintenance shortcut, the guide documents this one-line command:
steamcmd +force_install_dir "C:Users{USER}DocumentsSCPSL-Server" +login anonymous +app_update 996560 validate +quitSave it in a batch file outside the server’s configuration directory, test it interactively, and schedule it only after you have a backup and a maintenance window. A scheduled update should not terminate an active match without warning; announce restarts and allow players to finish or reconnect.
Install the dedicated server on Linux
The documented Linux procedure targets Ubuntu/Debian-style systems and combines SteamCMD with 32-bit compatibility libraries, a runtime, a separate service user, and tmux. Package names and installation commands can differ between distributions, so use your distribution’s current package instructions for those prerequisites.
- Update the operating system and create a dedicated, non-root account for the SCP:SL service.
- Install SteamCMD and the required 32-bit compatibility libraries and runtime for the server build.
- Use SteamCMD to download AppID
996560into a directory owned by the service account. - Change into the directory that contains the server executable. The guide’s example is
~/steamcmd/scpsl. - Start a persistent terminal session with
tmux, then launch LocalAdmin from that same directory:
tmux new -s scpsl
cd ~/steamcmd/scpsl
./LocalAdminThe working directory is significant: LocalAdmin searches for SCPSL.exe beside itself. Starting it from another directory can produce a missing-file or failed-launch error even when the download is complete.
Operate the Linux session
Detach from tmux without stopping the server using the standard detach key sequence configured by your terminal environment, then reconnect to the named session when you need to view logs or issue commands. Stop the process gracefully before updating files. For automatic boot, add a service wrapper only after you have tested the manual launch and confirmed that the service account, working directory, and environment are identical.
Complete first-launch configuration
On the first run, let LocalAdmin create its configuration files, then stop the server and edit a copy rather than experimenting with the only live configuration. Set the server name, player limit, role or permission settings, and any gameplay options exposed by the current build. Keep a dated change log so you can identify which setting caused a regression.
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- Use a clear server name that states the rules or region without impersonating an official Northwood server.
- Set a player limit your CPU, memory, and network can sustain; the 25-player baseline is not a promise that every machine can scale beyond it.
- Configure operator access through LocalAdmin and the remote-administration settings, then test access from an authorized account.
- Remove test credentials before inviting public players.
- Back up the working configuration before adding plugins or changing several variables at once.
Make the server reachable without weakening security
A public server needs a reachable address and firewall and router rules appropriate to the deployment. The exact game port and network layout vary by installation and provider, so verify the current configuration guide or your host’s documentation instead of copying an old port number from an unrelated tutorial.
- Allow the server executable through the host operating system’s firewall on the network profile you actually use.
- If the machine is behind a router, forward the configured game and administration traffic to the reserved local IP address. Apply only the protocols and ports the current guide requires.
- Check whether your internet service uses carrier-grade NAT, which can prevent inbound connections even when local forwarding is correct.
- Test from a different network, such as a phone hotspot or a friend’s connection; testing only from inside the same LAN can give a false positive.
- Record the public address, server name, and maintenance contact in a private operations note, not in a file containing administrator credentials.
Expose remote administration only as broadly as necessary. A firewall rule that permits the whole internet is convenient but increases attack surface. Prefer a VPN, an allowlist, or another restricted path when available, and rotate credentials if they are ever disclosed.
Update, back up, and recover the server
Use the documented update command
For the public branch, SteamCMD uses app_update 996560 validate. Stop the running server cleanly, run the update during a maintenance window, and inspect the output for download or validation errors before restarting.
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Back up configuration files, permission and remote-administration settings, plugin files, plugin data, and any custom content that is not recreated by SteamCMD. Keep at least one backup away from the server machine. A backup that sits in the same failed disk or is overwritten by the next script is not a recovery plan.
Use a rollback procedure
- Announce maintenance and stop the server.
- Copy the current configuration and plugin data to a dated backup location.
- Run the SteamCMD update and save the console output.
- Start the server without optional plugins if the process fails or players report errors.
- Restore the last known-good configuration or plugin versions, then document the change.
Do not assume that a successful download means every plugin remains compatible. Game updates can change APIs, configuration keys, or behavior.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Add plugins with LabAPI
LabAPI is Northwood’s official server-side plugin loader and framework. Northwood’s LabAPI repository states that all SCP:SL Dedicated Server builds are bundled with a compiled LabAPI.dll, so a normal dedicated-server installation does not require a separate LabAPI download.
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That bundled framework does not make every community plugin official or automatically compatible. Install plugins one at a time, read each project’s license and compatibility notes, and keep a record of the exact plugin version and game build.
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- Test additions on a private or password-protected instance before deploying to a public community server.
- Keep plugin files and their data in the backup set.
- When the game updates, check plugin release notes and remove incompatible plugins before blaming the core server.
- If a manual LabAPI DLL replacement is suggested, be cautious: the repository advises waiting for an official server update when possible because a manually updated DLL can get ahead of the server build.
When a plugin causes crashes, freezes, missing commands, or login problems, stop the server, remove or disable only that plugin, restore its prior data if necessary, and retest on the unmodified build.
Meet public-listing and community expectations
If you want the server to participate in the official community ecosystem, review Northwood’s current community-server guidelines before advertising it. The discoverable official page says verified servers must be publicly available, but the complete current checklist should be confirmed directly because rules and verification requirements can change.
Publish rules that players can read before joining, identify the moderation contact, and state whether plugins alter gameplay. Keep moderation logs proportionate to your needs, protect personal information, and define an appeal process. A technically reachable server can still fail as a community if administrators disappear, rules are unclear, or restarts are unpredictable.
Troubleshoot the problems that stop most first servers
The server starts and immediately exits
- Confirm that the operating system is supported and the CPU is x64 rather than ARM.
- On Linux, verify that the required 32-bit libraries and runtime are installed.
- Launch LocalAdmin from the directory containing
SCPSL.exe; the documented example usescd ~/steamcmd/scpslbefore./LocalAdmin. - Check the console output and temporarily remove newly added plugins.
Players cannot connect from outside the house
- Test from a separate internet connection.
- Confirm the host firewall rule and router forwarding target.
- Check for carrier-grade NAT or a changing public address.
- Verify that the configured port matches the current game and provider documentation rather than an old tutorial.
The server is laggy or crashes under load
- Compare actual memory and CPU use with the 3 GB/two-core baseline; that baseline covers a 25-player, no-plugin scenario only.
- Reduce the player limit or disable plugins to isolate the source.
- Check disk space for logs and update files.
- Do not run unrelated CPU-heavy services on the same machine during a busy session.
An update breaks a plugin
- Stop the server and restore the last known-good plugin set.
- Check the plugin author’s compatibility statement for the new game build.
- Run the server with the bundled LabAPI and no optional plugins to establish a clean baseline.
- Reintroduce plugins one at a time and record the result.
A maintenance routine that scales beyond a test server
- Before opening to players: test a fresh restart, verify remote administration, confirm the public connection, and check that the server name and rules are correct.
- Weekly: review logs, disk space, failed login attempts, player reports, and backup completion.
- Before every update: announce downtime, stop the process, create a dated backup, run SteamCMD validation, and check plugin compatibility.
- After every update: join as a player, test moderation commands, watch resource use, and confirm that the server appears as intended.
- Periodically: restore a backup to a test directory, rotate administrative credentials, patch the operating system, and remove unused firewall rules.
Which hosting approach is right for you?
Run the server yourself when you need full file access, want to experiment with LabAPI, already own a supported x64 machine, and can maintain network and security settings. Rent a managed instance when continuous public availability matters more than operating-system control, or when router access, hardware maintenance, and recovery would be a burden. In either case, the reliable approach is the same: start with the published baseline, leave headroom, protect administration, test reachability from outside your network, back up before updates, and treat plugin compatibility as a separate maintenance task.
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For most first-time administrators, the Windows Steam library tool is the shortest path to a working test server. Once the configuration is stable, SteamCMD scripts, scheduled maintenance, documented backups, and a tested rollback process make the server repeatable. Linux is equally viable when you are comfortable with command-line administration and keep LocalAdmin in the correct working directory.
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