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To host an SCP: Secret Laboratory server, install the official “Secret Laboratory Dedicated Server” tool (or download it with SteamCMD), launch it once so the game creates a port-specific configuration folder, then edit config_gameplay.txt. A documented baseline for a full 25-player server without plugins or modifications is 3 GB of RAM, two CPU cores and 4 GB of storage. ARM CPUs are not supported by the same guidance.
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This guide covers Windows and Linux installation, the exact configuration locations, first settings to review, public access, plugin loading, and the recovery steps that solve most startup and visibility problems.
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What you need before installing
Decide whether the server will run on a computer you control or on a managed game-server host. Self-hosting gives you direct access to files, the console and networking, but you must maintain the operating system, firewall, router and backups. A managed host can reduce maintenance, although the available CPU, memory, locations, update controls and administrative tools depend on the provider.
Documented hardware baseline
| Resource | Baseline | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 3 GB RAM | Documented for a full 25-player server without plugins or modifications (Tech Support Public Wiki, 2026). |
| CPU | 2 CPU cores | Same 25-player, unmodified-server qualification. |
| Storage | 4 GB | Baseline installation storage; leave additional room for updates, logs and backups. |
| Processor architecture | x86/x64 required | ARM CPUs are not supported according to the cited setup guidance. |
The baseline is not a performance guarantee for heavily modified servers. Plugins, higher player limits, frequent restarts, logging and other processes consume additional resources. If you increase capacity, monitor memory and CPU rather than assuming the baseline scales automatically.
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Choose an operating system and account
Windows uses the Steam desktop tools and an AppData configuration path. Linux requires a persistent terminal session for reliable operation and uses a per-user configuration path. Whichever system you choose, run the server under an account that can read and write its installation directory and configuration directory. Keep the server files separate from unrelated applications so updates and backups are easier to manage.
Install the dedicated server
Windows: Steam dedicated-server tool
- Open Steam and install the tool named Secret Laboratory Dedicated Server. It is separate from the playable game client.
- Note the installation directory. You will need to identify the folder containing
SCPSL.exewhen starting the server or troubleshooting. - Start the server once. The first run creates the configuration directory for the listening port.
- Stop the process cleanly before editing files. A clean stop prevents an active process from overwriting changes or leaving an incomplete configuration.
Windows or Linux: SteamCMD
SteamCMD is useful on a headless machine or when you want an update command that can be scripted. The documented application ID is 996560, and the public-release installation command is:
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app_update 996560 validateAnonymous Steam login is supported. Run SteamCMD, select or create the directory where the server should live, authenticate anonymously when prompted, and execute the update command. The validate option checks the downloaded files; use it when an installation appears incomplete or a game update may have left damaged files. After installation, locate SCPSL.exe (Windows) and the corresponding server directory on Linux.
Keep the launch directory correct
The server’s working directory matters. Launch the process from the directory that contains SCPSL.exe. On Linux, LocalAdmin searches the current working directory and must run beside SCPSL.exe. Starting it from another directory can make the server fail to find its files or create configuration in an unexpected place.
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Launch a Linux server reliably
A shell that closes can terminate the server. Use a persistent terminal session such as tmux so the process continues after you disconnect from SSH.
- Connect to the Linux machine with the account that will own the server process.
- Start a persistent session, for example with
tmux. - Change directory to the installation folder containing
SCPSL.exe. - Launch
./LocalAdminfrom that directory. It must be besideSCPSL.exe. - Leave the session running when disconnecting, and reattach to it later to inspect output or stop the server.
Running LocalAdmin as a different account changes where the configuration is created, because Linux stores the files under that account’s home directory. Use the same account consistently for installation, launch and editing unless you deliberately change ownership and paths.
Find config_gameplay.txt
The file is inside a directory named for the server’s configured port. Start the server once before looking for it; the initial run creates the per-port folder.
| Platform | Configuration path |
|---|---|
| Windows | AppDataRoamingSCP Secret Laboratoryconfig<port>config_gameplay.txt |
| Linux | .config/SCP Secret Laboratory/config/<port>/config_gameplay.txt for the account running LocalAdmin |
Here, <port> is the directory generated for that server’s listening port. If you edit a file under a different port directory, the running instance will continue using its own file and appear not to have accepted your changes.
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Safe editing workflow
- Stop the server or use its normal administrative shutdown process.
- Copy the existing
config_gameplay.txtto a clearly named backup, such as a dated “known-good” copy. - Edit only the fields you intend to change, preserving the existing field names and value format.
- Save the file in the same per-port directory.
- Start the server and check its output for parse errors or unexpected defaults.
- Test one change at a time when diagnosing a problem. Restore the backup if the server no longer starts or behaves unexpectedly.
Settings to review first
The gameplay configuration contains identity, capacity, networking, moderation, round-flow and restart controls. The exact field names are version-sensitive, so compare your generated file with the current gameplay-settings documentation after updates.
Identity and capacity
server_namecontrols the name shown to players. Use a clear name that describes the community or rules without implying settings the server does not have.max_playerscontrols the capacity. The documented default is 20. Raising it increases resource demand and may require more than the 3 GB/2-core baseline.contact_emailprovides an operator contact address where the server listing or administration workflow uses one.use_reserved_slotscontrols whether reserved capacity is used. Confirm how your permissions or administration setup assigns those slots before enabling it.
Tick rate and performance
server_tickrate controls how often the server simulation updates. The documented default is 60. A higher value can increase CPU work; a lower value changes simulation responsiveness. Test changes with your actual player load rather than treating the setting as a universal quality upgrade.
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Binding and discoverability
server_ipidentifies the server address used for its public identity.ipv4_bind_ipandipv6_bind_ipdetermine which local interfaces accept connections. A bind address that does not exist on the host, or that excludes the interface used by players, prevents connections.- Changing the listening port or bind addresses changes which firewall and router rules must match. Make networking edits before public testing and record the final values.
Public-list identity and bind settings affect discoverability. A server may be running locally while remaining invisible from outside because the process is bound to the wrong interface or the matching network rules are absent.
Friendly fire and round flow
The file includes friendly-fire controls, warhead countdown settings and decontamination behavior. Treat these as gameplay policy: write down the intended rule before editing, make a backup, and test the result with a small group. Countdown and decontamination changes alter the timing players rely on, so announce them to your community.
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Restart controls
Restart settings determine how the server recovers or cycles after a round or failure. Establish a restart policy before enabling automatic behavior. An overly aggressive restart can interrupt an active round, while no restart policy can leave a crashed process offline until someone intervenes.
Configure respawn tickets without breaking balance
Respawn tickets are consumed by Mobile Task Force (MTF) and Chaos Insurgency (CI) spawns. The documented CI probability formula is:
CI_TICKETS / (MTF_TICKETS + CI_TICKETS) * 100%
For example, if the ticket values are 30 for CI and 70 for MTF, the formula yields a 30% CI probability at that calculation point. The ratio, not simply the larger absolute number, determines the relative chance.
The gameplay guidance recommends keeping the ticket system enabled for balance. Disabling the system does not remove the effect of ticket ratios, so turning it off is not a shortcut to predictable spawns. Change ticket values deliberately, document the intended ratio and observe several rounds before making another adjustment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Make the server reachable from outside your network
- Confirm the server starts locally and that you edited the configuration under the correct
<port>directory. - Identify the listening port configured for that instance. Do not copy a rule from another server unless the port and protocol match.
- Create a host-firewall rule that permits the server’s required traffic on that port.
- If the machine is behind a router, create a port-forward rule to the host’s local address and the same listening port.
- Ensure the host’s local address remains stable; a changed address can invalidate the forward.
- Start the server, then test from a network outside the host’s local network. Testing only from the same LAN can produce a false impression that public access works.
Firewall and router rules must match the configured listening port. If the server appears in a local test but not publicly, check those rules before changing gameplay settings. Also verify that ipv4_bind_ip or ipv6_bind_ip is not restricting the process to an interface that external players cannot reach.
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Northwood Studios’ official repository describes LabAPI verbatim as “The LabAPI project is SCP: Secret Laboratory’s official server-side plugin loader and framework.” Dedicated-server builds include a compiled LabAPI.dll, so a vanilla installation does not require a separate framework installation.
Practical plugin workflow
- Confirm the game-server version and read the current LabAPI documentation for that version.
- Back up the working server directory and configuration before adding an extension.
- Install only plugins that explicitly support your server version and operating system.
- Place files exactly where the plugin documentation specifies; do not rename assemblies or mix files from different releases.
- Start the server and inspect the console for load errors before allowing players to join.
- Add one plugin at a time. If the server fails, remove the last addition or restore the known-good backup.
Plugin compatibility is version-sensitive. A plugin that worked before a game update may need a new build, and adding several extensions at once makes it difficult to identify the cause of a crash or degraded performance.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
The documented requirements establish what a self-hosted machine needs, but they do not verify a current provider, plan or price. Use the following decision framework when comparing categories rather than assuming every managed service offers the same controls.
| Decision factor | Self-hosted machine | Managed game-server service |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Hardware, electricity or an existing server; no universal monthly figure | Provider-specific recurring price; not established here |
| CPU and RAM headroom | You choose the machine and can upgrade it | Limited by the selected plan and host node |
| Geographic location and latency | Determined by your machine or data center | Depends on the provider’s available regions |
| Backups | You must create and verify them | May be included, limited or extra; confirm retention and download access |
| Console and Remote Admin access | Direct access to the process and files | Depends on the service panel and permissions |
| Plugin support | Install and troubleshoot compatible extensions yourself | May be restricted by the panel or provider policy |
| Update control | You choose when SteamCMD or the platform updates files | Provider may update automatically or on a schedule |
| DDoS and network protection | You arrange network protection separately | Protection varies by provider and plan; verify what is actually covered |
Choose self-hosting when file-level control and custom maintenance matter more than convenience. Choose managed hosting when you prefer an existing control panel and network infrastructure, after confirming that it supports your required player count, plugins, administrative access and backup policy.
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The server will not start
- Launch from the directory containing
SCPSL.exe. - On Linux, run
./LocalAdminbesideSCPSL.exe, not from a parent or unrelated directory. - Use SteamCMD with
app_update 996560 validateto verify missing or damaged files. - Check that the account can read and write the installation and configuration directories.
- Restore the last known-good configuration if the failure began after an edit.
Changes appear to do nothing
- Confirm that the edited file is under the active server’s
<port>directory. - Make sure the server was stopped before editing and restarted afterward.
- Check spelling and value format against the current generated file; field names and defaults can change after game updates.
- Verify that another configuration file or launch account is not being used.
Players cannot see or join the public server
- Confirm the process is running and listening on the configured port.
- Match host-firewall and router-forwarding rules to that port.
- Check
server_ip,ipv4_bind_ipandipv6_bind_ipfor an address that exists on the host and is reachable by the intended players. - Test from outside the local network.
Performance drops after increasing capacity or adding plugins
- Compare the new player limit with the 3 GB RAM/two-core baseline, which applies only to an unmodified 25-player server.
- Return
server_tickrateto its documented default of 60 if a change increased CPU pressure. - Disable the newest plugin and retest before removing unrelated settings.
- Keep a record of player count, plugin changes and configuration edits so you can identify the first change associated with the slowdown.
Maintenance routine
- Keep a dated, known-good copy of
config_gameplay.txtand any plugin files. - Before a game update, record the current version, player limit, tick rate, bind addresses and ticket settings.
- Update the dedicated-server files through Steam or SteamCMD, then compare the generated configuration with your backup instead of blindly replacing new fields.
- Recheck field names, defaults and plugin compatibility after every update; the documented values are version-sensitive.
- After maintenance, perform a local startup test, an external connectivity test and a short gameplay test before announcing the server as ready.
With the correct launch directory, a port-specific configuration, matched network rules and conservative version-aware edits, you can run a stable vanilla server first and then add gameplay changes or plugins one at a time.
Quick Recap
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