Squad dedicated-server configuration files live in SquadGame/ServerConfig/ (for example, C:serverssquad_serverSquadGameServerConfig on Windows). Server.cfg controls global behavior, Admins.cfg maps Steam identifiers to permission groups, and the level, layer, and voting files determine what players can play next. Edit one setting or entry per line, preserve the expected syntax, and restart or otherwise reload the server as required by your hosting setup.
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The most important distinction is between a level and a layer: a level is the map or environment, while a layer is a specific ruleset and match setup on that map. Once that distinction is clear, choosing a predictable rotation, a randomized list, or an end-of-round vote becomes straightforward.
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The official Squad documentation places dedicated-server files in SquadGame/ServerConfig/. A documented Windows example is C:serverssquad_serverSquadGameServerConfig. A hosted installation may use a different root directory, but the relative folder and filenames are the same. If a file is missing, start the server once so it can generate its standard configuration files, then inspect the generated folder rather than creating a differently named copy.
These are the files most operators use:
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
Server.cfg |
General server identity, visibility, capacity, browser tags, rotation mode, voting switches, and team-change behavior. |
Admins.cfg |
Permission groups and the Steam identifiers assigned to those groups. |
LevelRotation.cfg |
Map or environment IDs used with level-list rotation modes. |
LayerRotation.cfg |
Map-layer IDs used with layer-list rotation modes. |
LayerVoting.cfg |
Normal or full-population candidates shown by layer voting. |
LayerVotingLowPlayers.cfg |
Optional candidates for a low-population server. |
LayerVotingNight.cfg |
Optional candidates for a night-oriented vote. |
VoteConfig.cfg |
Rules for when alternate voting lists are selected. |
Rcon.cfg |
Remote-console address, port, and password. |
ServerMessages.cfg |
Rotating server messages. |
Motd.cfg |
Optional message displayed to joining players. |
Use one setting per line. Keep comments on their own lines, especially in rotation files: the reference documentation warns that inline comments are not supported for rotation lists. Treat a generated sample as a baseline, not a permanent specification. Game updates can add settings or change available maps and layers, so compare your file with a newly generated sample after an update.
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What Server.cfg controls
Server.cfg is the general control file. It normally contains the server name and browser visibility, whether the instance is LAN-only or public, player capacity, reserved slots, public queue limits, tags, rules, rotation behavior, randomization, voting switches, and team-change settings.
Capacity and browser identity
The documented example includes MaxPlayers=100. That is an example value, not a promise that every host, license, or hardware profile should run 100 players. Set capacity to what your licensed slot allowance, CPU, memory, network connection, and provider support can sustain. Reserved slots and the public queue limit should be chosen together: reserving too many places can make a server appear full to ordinary players, while a queue limit that is too high can create a poor joining experience.
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Rotation and voting switches
The rotation mode is selected with MapRotationMode. The documented values include:
| Value | Uses | Player experience |
|---|---|---|
LevelList |
LevelRotation.cfg |
Follows a configured sequence of level IDs. |
LevelList_Randomized |
LevelRotation.cfg |
Uses the level list but randomizes its order. |
LayerList |
LayerRotation.cfg |
Follows a configured sequence of exact layers. |
LayerList_Randomized |
LayerRotation.cfg |
Randomizes the configured layer entries. |
LayerList_Vote |
Layer-voting files and VoteConfig.cfg |
Shows a set of layer alternatives for an end-of-round vote. |
The sample also exposes separate UseVoteLevel and UseVoteLayer switches. Do not describe “voting” as one universal on/off feature: check the selected map-rotation mode and the relevant switch together. A server configured for LayerList, for example, is following an order even if an unrelated vote switch is enabled.
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Adding administrators in Admins.cfg
Admins.cfg is group-based. Define a group and its access levels first, then assign each administrator’s Steam identifier to that group. Access levels are assigned to individual users through their group membership; simply creating a group does not grant anyone access.
Documented access levels
The documented vocabulary includes:
changemap— change the current map or layer.canseeadminchat— see administrator chat.balance— use team-balancing administration.pause— pause the match.cheat— access cheat-related administrative commands.private— use private-server controls.chat— use administrative chat functions.kick— remove a player from the server.ban— ban a player.config— use configuration-management commands.immune— receive immunity from applicable administrative actions.manageserver— manage server-level operations.cameraman— use camera or observer administration.featuretest— access feature-test functions.forceteamchange— force a player to change teams.reserve— use reserved-slot administration.demos— use demo-recording or demo-management functions.debug— access debugging functions.teamchange— change team assignments.
The game documents what each level permits; staffing policy remains the operator’s responsibility. Apply least privilege: a conduct moderator may need chat, kick, and ban, while a rotation manager may need changemap and config. Avoid handing every volunteer powerful levels such as cheat, manageserver, or debug unless that role genuinely requires them.
Safe procedure for adding a user
- Stop the server or use the provider’s supported maintenance procedure so the file is not overwritten while you edit it.
- Open
Admins.cfgin a plain-text editor and locate or create the group definition. - Put only the required access levels in that group, following the syntax already present in the generated file.
- Add the administrator’s exact Steam identifier to the group’s user assignments.
- Save a backup of the working file, start the server, and test one harmless permission before granting broader access.
- If the user cannot run a command, verify the identifier, group spelling, access-level spelling, and whether the host requires a restart or configuration reload.
Keep a private record of who has each group. Remove identifiers when staff leave, and review high-impact permissions periodically.
Levels, layers, and rotation files
A level is the map or environment identifier. A layer combines that environment with gameplay elements such as game mode, flags, and other match setup. Players may see a friendly display name, but rotation files require the server’s internal IDs.
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LevelRotation.cfg
Use LevelRotation.cfg with MapRotationMode=LevelList or MapRotationMode=LevelList_Randomized. Each line is a level ID. Documented examples include AlBasrah, Anvil, Belaya, Chora, Fallujah, Gorodok, Narva, Skorpo, Sumari, and Yehorivka. These examples are not a guaranteed current catalog: maps and IDs can change between releases. Verify the IDs against the installed server’s generated files or the current official documentation before publishing a copy-paste rotation.
LayerRotation.cfg
Use LayerRotation.cfg with LayerList or LayerList_Randomized. Each line must contain an exact layer ID, not merely a map name. This approach gives precise control over mode, flags, and match setup, which is useful when you want to avoid unsuitable layers for a server’s population or ruleset.
Choosing a rotation mode
| Goal | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Simple, predictable map sequence | LevelList |
Less control over the exact game mode and layer. |
| Map variety without a fixed order | LevelList_Randomized |
Players cannot predict the next map. |
| Exact mode and layer control | LayerList |
Requires maintaining valid layer IDs. |
| Exact layers with a shuffled order | LayerList_Randomized |
Still requires updates when layer IDs change. |
| Player choice at round end | LayerList_Vote |
Outcome is less predictable and depends on the candidate lists. |
How to set a map or layer rotation
- Back up the entire
SquadGame/ServerConfig/directory. - Decide whether you need level-only control or exact layer control.
- Set
MapRotationModeinServer.cfgto the matching value. - Open the corresponding rotation file:
LevelRotation.cfgfor level-list modes orLayerRotation.cfgfor layer-list modes. - Enter one verified internal ID per line. Do not append inline comments to those entries.
- Save the file using the same plain-text format and filename generated by the server.
- Restart the server, or perform the provider’s documented configuration reload.
- Watch the startup log and complete one round transition. An empty list, misspelled ID, or incompatible mode usually appears as a load error or causes the server to skip an entry.
When a map update adds or removes content, check both the rotation file and any layer-voting files. A valid level ID does not guarantee that every layer previously associated with it still exists.
Enabling layer voting
To enable end-of-round layer voting, set MapRotationMode=LayerList_Vote in Server.cfg. Then maintain the voting candidate files. LayerVoting.cfg is the normal or full-population list; LayerVotingLowPlayers.cfg can provide alternatives for a small server; and LayerVotingNight.cfg can provide a night list. VoteConfig.cfg controls when those alternatives are selected.
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Layer-voting setup
- Back up the current configuration.
- Change the map mode to
LayerList_Vote. - Put one valid layer ID per line in
LayerVoting.cfg. - Populate the low-player and night files only if you want those conditions to use different candidates.
- Review
VoteConfig.cfgso its conditions match your population and schedule. - Check the related
UseVoteLevelandUseVoteLayerswitches inServer.cfg; they are separate controls. - Restart or reload, then finish a round with enough players to confirm that the vote screen appears and that every candidate loads.
LayerList follows a configured order; LayerList_Vote presents alternatives for a vote. A vote file containing invalid or unavailable layers can produce fewer choices than expected, so validate every entry after game updates.
RCON, messages, and shared administration files
Rcon.cfg defines the remote-console bind address, port, and password. In the documented example, leaving the password empty keeps RCON disabled. If you enable it, use a strong unique password, restrict network access to trusted administrators, and avoid exposing the RCON port unnecessarily.
ServerMessages.cfg rotates messages such as rules or schedule notices. Motd.cfg is an optional message shown when players join. Remote-admin and ban-host files can support shared lists across multiple servers, which is useful when one moderation decision must apply to an entire cluster.
Hosting and operational requirements
Operating a public server is more than editing text files. Offworld Industries’ licensing application asks for the provider, server IP, languages, available administrators, player slots, operating system, CPU, memory, disk, network speed, location, and UTC availability of administrators. Use those fields as a planning checklist:
- Confirm that the provider supports the required Squad server build and configuration-file access.
- Match licensed player slots to the capacity you advertise; the documented configuration example uses 100 players, while the official store describes Squad as featuring 100-player battles.
- Record CPU, memory, disk, and network capacity before selecting a rotation or population target.
- Provide reliable admin coverage across the time zones your server serves.
- Document your server location, supported languages, and escalation contact.
- Keep backups of configuration, ban lists, and known-good rotation files outside the host panel.
Troubleshooting common configuration failures
The server ignores my rotation
Check that MapRotationMode matches the file you edited. LevelList modes read LevelRotation.cfg; LayerList modes read LayerRotation.cfg; voting mode reads the layer-voting files. Confirm the filename, capitalization, one-entry-per-line format, and that the server was restarted or reloaded.
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The entry may be a display name instead of an internal ID, may have changed in a newer release, or may be a layer no longer installed. Compare it with IDs generated by the current server and remove obsolete entries.
The vote screen does not appear
Verify MapRotationMode=LayerList_Vote, inspect UseVoteLevel and UseVoteLayer, and check that the candidate file contains valid layer IDs. Review VoteConfig.cfg for a condition that selects a different list or suppresses alternatives at the current population.
An administrator has no permissions
Recheck the Steam identifier, group name, and exact access-level spelling in Admins.cfg. Make sure the user assignment is inside the intended group and restart or reload the configuration after saving.
RCON connections fail
Confirm that the RCON password is not empty, the address and port match the client, and the host firewall allows trusted-source access. If the password is intentionally empty, RCON is disabled in the documented configuration behavior.
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Quick Recap
Update-safe maintenance checklist
- Back up
SquadGame/ServerConfig/before every game or server update. - Compare the updated generated samples with your customized files.
- Revalidate every level and layer ID in rotation and voting lists.
- Test one administrator account and one moderation command.
- Confirm capacity, queue, reserved-slot, and browser settings after updates.
- Run a complete round transition and, if enabled, a layer vote.
- Keep a dated change log so a failed update can be rolled back quickly.
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