How to set up a Counter-Strike 2 server

Your own Counter-Strike 2 server lets you run scrims, practice, community nights or casual games your way. Your CS2 server is created with the game installed. This guide covers the Steam token you need, game modes and maps, server.cfg, Workshop maps and plugins.

How much RAM does a CS2 server need?

• 2 GB: a small private server for scrims or practice.
• 4 GB: our recommended size for a community server.
• 6 to 8 GB: busy servers, Workshop maps and plugin-heavy setups.

1. Get a Game Server Login Token

CS2 servers need a free Game Server Login Token (GSLT) from Steam to show in the community server browser.

1. 1Sign in at steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers. Your Steam account must not be a limited account.
2. 2Enter 730, which is Counter-Strike 2's app ID, and a memo such as your server's name, then create the token.
3. 3Copy the token and paste it into the token setting in the Startup tab of our game panel.
4. 4Keep it private. If it leaks, delete it on the same page and make a new one.

2. Game mode and map

CS2 picks its mode from two startup settings, game type and game mode, which you set in the Startup tab:

• Casual: game type 0, game mode 0.
• Competitive: game type 0, game mode 1.
• Wingman: game type 0, game mode 2.
• Deathmatch: game type 1, game mode 2.

Set the starting map in the Startup tab too, for example de_dust2 or de_mirage. To change map while the server is running, type changelevel followed by the map name into the console.

3. server.cfg

For settings that apply every time the server starts, edit game/csgo/cfg/server.cfg in the file manager. If the file is not there, create it. Useful lines include:

• hostname, followed by your server's name in quote marks: the name in the server browser.
• sv_password: a password players need to join. Leave it empty for a public server.
• rcon_password: lets you run server commands remotely. Make it long and keep it private.
• mp_maxrounds and mp_roundtime: match length and round time.
• bot_quota: how many bots fill the server. Use bot_kick in the console to remove them.

4. Workshop maps

To run a map from the Steam Workshop, use host_workshop_map followed by the map's ID, which is the number at the end of its Workshop page address. To serve a whole collection, use host_workshop_collection with the collection's ID. You can type either into the console or add it to your startup settings. Players download the map when they join.

5. Plugins and admins

CS2 has no built-in admin system beyond the console and RCON. Most communities add one with Metamod:Source and CounterStrikeSharp, which load plugins for admin menus, bans, retakes, practice modes and more. They are community projects rather than part of the game, so a CS2 update can break them for a while until their developers catch up. Take a backup before installing them and follow each plugin's instructions.

Inviting players

Players can find your server in the community server browser, or join through the developer console. They need to turn the console on in CS2's game settings first, then open it and type connect followed by your server's IP and port, shown at the top of our game panel. If you set a password, they type password followed by it before connecting.

Troubleshooting

• Server not in the browser: check your token is set correctly and has not been deleted.
• Settings reset after a map change: put them in server.cfg rather than typing them into the console.
• Plugins stopped working after an update: look for new versions of Metamod:Source and CounterStrikeSharp, then restart.
• Wrong map or mode: check the map, game type and game mode in the Startup tab.

Still stuck? Ask us on live chat or Discord.