Setting up an SCP: Secret Laboratory server

SCP: Secret Laboratory servers are free to run and very customisable. Your SCP: Secret Laboratory server is created with the game installed. This guide covers the config files, remote admin, plugins, getting listed and getting players in.

How much RAM does an SCP:SL server need?

• 2 GB: a small private server for friends.
• 4 GB: our recommended size for a community server.
• 6 to 8 GB: busy public servers with plugins.

1. Where the config files live

SCP:SL creates its config files the first time the server starts, in a folder named after your server's port. You will find it under .config/SCP Secret Laboratory/config in the server's files. The two you will use most are config_gameplay.txt and config_remoteadmin.txt.

Stop the server before editing. The files use YAML, where indentation and spacing matter, so keep the layout exactly as it is and only change values.

2. config_gameplay.txt

• server_name: your server's name in the list. It supports colour tags.
• max_players: how many players can join.
• player_list_title: the title at the top of the in-game player list.
• contact_email: an address Northwood can reach you on about your server.

The file has many more options, from round rules to team balance, each with a comment explaining what it does.

3. Remote admin

The remote admin panel lets staff manage players, teams and rounds from inside the game. Roles and the people in them are set in config_remoteadmin.txt. Under Members, add each staff member's SteamID64 followed by @steam, then a colon and their role, such as owner, admin or moderator. In game, staff open the panel with the M key.

4. Getting your server listed

To appear in the public server list, an SCP:SL server has to be verified by Northwood Studios, the game's developer. Set your server up first, make sure it follows Northwood's rules for servers, then follow the verification steps in Northwood's official server documentation. Players can still connect with your server's address while you wait.

5. Plugins

Plugins add new roles, items, events and admin tools. They run on a plugin framework, such as Northwood's own plugin API or the community-made EXILED. Install the framework first, following its instructions, then add plugins made for it. Game updates can break plugins until their developers catch up, so take a backup before updating anything.

Inviting players

Once verified, players can find your server by searching for its name in the server list. Before that, or for a private server, they can connect directly with your server's IP and port, shown at the top of our game panel.

Troubleshooting

• Config changes not applying: check you edited the folder that matches your server's port, with the server stopped.
• Server will not start after an edit: check the YAML layout. A missing space after a colon is a common cause.
• Remote admin not working: check each SteamID64 ends in @steam and the role name matches one in the file.
• Plugins not loading after an update: look for updated versions of your plugin framework and plugins.

Still stuck? Ask us on live chat or Discord.