server.cfg is Garry’s Mod’s persistent configuration file. Put it in garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg, use convar value lines such as hostname "My Server Name", and restart the server (or execute the file) after changes. Use startup arguments for the initial player limit, gamemode, map, and Steam Game Server Login Token (GSLT); use server.cfg for values that should persist between launches.
This guide explains the important settings, shows a safe baseline configuration, and separates file settings from launch parameters so you know exactly where each option belongs.
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What server.cfg controls
A dedicated Garry’s Mod server keeps persistent console-variable (ConVar) settings in garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg. The file is plain text. Each active line normally contains a ConVar followed by its value:
hostname "My GMod Server"
sv_lan 0
sv_password ""Use quotation marks around values containing spaces. Lines beginning with // are comments and are ignored, which makes them useful for documenting why a setting is present. Keep the filename exactly server.cfg; names such as server.cfg.txt will not be loaded as the standard file.
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The file is a starting point, not a universal policy. Add a setting only when you understand what it changes and have confirmed that the selected gamemode or addon supports it. Unknown or obsolete ConVars usually indicate a typo, a setting copied from another game, or an addon that is no longer installed.
Find, create, and safely edit the file
Windows dedicated server
- Open the folder containing the dedicated Garry’s Mod installation.
- Open
garrysmod, thencfg. - Create or edit
server.cfgwith a plain-text editor. Do not use a word processor that adds formatting. - Save a backup before making large changes. A dated copy lets you restore a known-good configuration quickly.
- Restart the server, or run
exec server.cfgin the server console, to apply the file without a full reinstall.
If the server is managed by a hosting control panel, the panel may expose a file editor or a separate configuration area. The underlying path is still the Garry’s Mod garrysmod/cfg directory; check the panel’s documentation before editing a generated file that could be overwritten on restart.
A minimal, cautious baseline
hostname "My GMod Server"
sv_password "" // empty string makes the server public
rcon_password "REPLACE_WITH_A_LONG_RANDOM_SECRET"
sv_lan 0
sv_allowupload 0
sv_allowdownload 0Replace the RCON placeholder with a long, unique random secret before starting the server. The values for file transfer are deliberately conservative; change them only after deciding how clients will obtain custom content.
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| ConVar | What it does | Important details |
|---|---|---|
hostname |
Sets the public name shown in server browsers and query tools. | Quote names containing spaces. This affects display and discovery, not the network address. |
sv_password |
Controls the password required to join. | An empty value, "", leaves the server open. Treat a non-empty value as a shared secret and change it if it is exposed. |
rcon_password |
Authenticates remote-console (RCON) commands. | Keep it private, make it unique, and never reuse the player password. Do not publish it in screenshots, repositories, logs, or support posts. |
sv_lan |
Selects LAN-oriented operation rather than normal internet-server behavior. | The maintained template documents 0 for an internet server. Confirm the intended network scope before changing it. |
sv_allowupload |
Controls whether clients may upload files to the server. | Uploads have security and bandwidth implications; leave disabled unless you have a specific, understood use case. |
sv_allowdownload |
Controls server-to-client file downloads. | Disabling it can leave clients without custom content. Enabling it transfers files from the game server and should be planned for bandwidth and security. |
sv_downloadurl |
Provides an optional location where clients can fetch missing files. | Use only with a correctly prepared distribution endpoint. A URL alone does not package or publish your addons. |
Choosing a server name
Set a descriptive name that tells players what they are joining, for example hostname "Builders | Sandbox | EU". Browser and query tools use this value, so avoid misleading mode labels. Changing it in server.cfg makes the name persistent; a launch-time override or console command can temporarily replace it.
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Public versus passworded access
For a public server, use sv_password "". For a private session, set a non-empty value and distribute it through a trusted channel. A password limits entry but does not replace moderation, addon security, or RCON protection. Never use the same string for sv_password and rcon_password.
RCON security
RCON is administrative access, not a player convenience feature. Choose a long random value, restrict who receives it, and rotate it immediately if it appears in a screenshot, crash report, public repository, or shared log. A leaked RCON secret can allow commands that alter or disrupt the server even when the player join password remains private.
server.cfg versus startup parameters
The two configuration layers solve different problems. server.cfg stores persistent ConVars. Startup arguments select the initial state before the map loads and provide the server’s authentication token.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Persistent server name, passwords, LAN and download policy | garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg |
hostname "My GMod Server" |
Reloaded from the configuration file on each launch. |
| Initial player limit | Startup command | +maxplayers 20 |
Defines the launch-time capacity setting. |
| Initial gamemode | Startup command | +gamemode sandbox |
Selects the mode used for the first map. |
| Initial map | Startup command | +map gm_construct |
Loads the first map after startup. |
| Dedicated-server authentication | Startup command | +sv_setsteamaccount <your token> |
A GSLT is mandatory for dedicated-server operation. |
A launch argument and a file entry can both affect the same ConVar. When diagnosing a conflict, inspect the complete launch command and the console output rather than assuming the file is the only source. Keep the launch line focused on startup state and authentication; keep persistent policy in server.cfg.
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Install and launch a dedicated server
Use SteamCMD to install and update the dedicated Garry’s Mod server. Updates can change game files and addons, so stop the process cleanly before updating and keep a backup of your configuration and important data.
Prepare the required values
- A SteamCMD installation and a dedicated-server directory.
- A Steam Game Server Login Token (GSLT) for the server. Facepunch documents this token as mandatory for dedicated servers.
- Your intended initial gamemode and map.
- A planned player limit and network policy.
- A secure RCON secret stored somewhere players cannot read.
Launch with the initial state
The dedicated-server documentation gives a Windows-style example using srcds.exe:
srcds.exe +maxplayers 20 -console +gamemode sandbox +map gm_construct +sv_setsteamaccount <your token>Replace <your token> with the actual GSLT; do not include the angle brackets. The command starts a 20-slot server in Sandbox on gm_construct, enables console mode, and supplies Steam authentication. Keep the token out of screenshots and public scripts. If you change the launch command later, verify every argument is still present after a hosting-panel update or service migration.
Gamemodes and maps
Sandbox and other gamemodes
Sandbox is Garry’s Mod’s default gamemode. The active mode is set through the gamemode ConVar. You can select it at launch with +gamemode sandbox. Other modes may register their own ConVars and may require a particular map or addon set. Do not copy a block of settings from an unrelated mode: an unsupported ConVar can be ignored, produce an “unknown command” message, or behave differently after an update.
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Gamemode authors can expose settings with metadata such as a display text, help text, type, default value, single-player availability, and replication behavior. Those metadata fields describe the option to the mode’s UI and network layer; they do not make a setting universal. Consult the documentation supplied by the gamemode author for the exact names and accepted values.
Choose the first map
Set the initial map in the launch command, for example +map gm_construct. This determines what loads when the process starts. A map name is not a gamemode: selecting gm_construct does not switch the active mode.
Change a map while the server is running
Use the server console or RCON command:
changelevel gm_flatgrassThe command loads the new map while the process remains online. Ensure the map exists on the server and that required workshop or addon content is available to clients before switching a live population.
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Change gamemode correctly
Changing only the map may leave the current gamemode active. Set the gamemode ConVar, then change the map so the mode initializes for the new level. For example, issue the mode-specific command required by your setup, set gamemode to the desired value, and then run changelevel <map>. Because custom modes differ, use that mode’s documented command or configuration method rather than guessing a secondary ConVar.
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File distribution and custom content
sv_allowupload, sv_allowdownload, and sv_downloadurl determine how clients obtain files they do not already have. They are operational and security controls, not cosmetic tweaks.
- Uploads: Enabling client uploads accepts files from players. Do so only when you understand where files are written and how they are validated.
- Direct downloads: Enabling downloads can help clients receive server content but consumes the game server’s bandwidth and exposes a transfer surface.
- External distribution:
sv_downloadurlcan point clients to a separate, correctly prepared endpoint. The endpoint must contain the expected files and directory structure; setting the variable without publishing matching content will not fix missing assets. - Workshop and addons: Review the addon or Workshop distribution method before changing transfer flags. A mode may expect clients to subscribe or download through a separate mechanism.
If clients report missing models, materials, sounds, or scripts, first identify which addon supplies the file and whether the client has received it. Then review the relevant download policy. Avoid enabling every transfer option as a blanket fix.
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The configuration syntax is the same, but operational responsibility differs. Use the following comparison to choose a deployment model rather than assuming one is universally better.
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| Consideration | Self-hosted dedicated server | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Setup effort | You install SteamCMD, the game files, updates, launch script, and network rules. | The provider usually supplies an install workflow and a control panel, reducing initial setup. |
| Updates | You schedule SteamCMD updates, test addons, and recover from failed changes. | The provider may offer automated updates, but you must understand its restart and backup behavior. |
| Network reliability | You control the machine and port forwarding, but your connection, firewall, and power availability are your responsibility. | The provider supplies its network path; reliability and latency depend on its location and service design. |
| Files and addons | Full access to the installation, launch scripts, logs, and addon layout. | Access depends on the panel and plan; some providers restrict files or restart behavior. |
| Backups | You must define, test, and store backups of configs, addons, and world data. | Check whether backups exist, how often they run, retention, and whether restoration is self-service. |
| Player capacity | Limited by your hardware, uplink, and configuration; no universal capacity number is established here. | Limited by the plan and host hardware; published limits vary and should be verified with the provider. |
| Geographic latency | Depends on where your machine and players are located. | Choose a region near the intended player base and confirm the actual datacenter location. |
| Total monthly cost | Includes hardware, electricity, bandwidth, and your time; no single monthly figure applies. | Usually a recurring plan price plus any storage, bandwidth, or backup charges; compare the complete bill. |
Public and private server decisions
| Factor | Public server | Private server |
|---|---|---|
| Access control | Use sv_password ""; anyone who can discover and reach the server may try to join. |
Use a non-empty sv_password and share it only with the intended group. |
| Discoverability | A meaningful hostname helps players understand the server in browser listings. |
A neutral or group-specific name can reduce accidental joins, but a password remains the real gate. |
| Moderation workload | Expect more screening, rule enforcement, and abuse response. | The smaller audience reduces routine moderation but does not eliminate the need for trusted administrators. |
| RCON exposure | Keep the RCON secret separate from the public join process and rotate it if exposed. | Limit RCON access to the same small administrative group; private player access does not secure a leaked RCON password. |
Troubleshoot a server.cfg that appears not to work
- Confirm the path and filename. Verify the file is exactly
garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg, not a second copy in another installation or a file with a hidden.txtextension. - Check the console for unknown ConVars. Remove typos and settings belonging to another game, an outdated addon, or a different gamemode. Treat each “unknown command” message as a reason to verify the setting’s owner and current name.
- Separate launch arguments from file values. Inspect
+gamemode,+map,+maxplayers, and+sv_setsteamaccountindependently. A wrong launch script can make a correctserver.cfglook ineffective. - Reload deliberately. Restart the server or run
exec server.cfgafter saving. Watch the console for parse errors and confirm that the expected values are printed or observable afterward. - Test name and password from a client. Check the browser name, attempt a permitted join, and verify that a protected server rejects an incorrect password. Do not test with a credential that you use for RCON.
- Rotate exposed credentials. If a password appeared in a log, screenshot, repository, or support post, replace it immediately and restart any service that cached the old value.
- Investigate missing content separately. Review Workshop or addon distribution and the download settings before enabling uploads. A configuration reload cannot create files that were never published to clients.
Configuration checklist before inviting players
- The file is at
garrysmod/cfg/server.cfgand is saved as plain text. hostnameaccurately describes the server.sv_passwordis empty only when you intentionally want public access.rcon_passwordis long, unique, private, and unrelated to the join password.sv_lanmatches the intended LAN or internet scope.- Upload and download settings match a documented content-distribution plan.
- The launch command includes the intended
+maxplayers,+gamemode, and+map. - The required GSLT is present in
+sv_setsteamaccountand has not been published. - Gamemode-specific ConVars come from the selected mode’s documentation, not from an unrelated template.
- You have a backup of the configuration and a tested way to restore it.
What server.cfg cannot do
The file cannot substitute for a valid dedicated-server launch, a GSLT, a working network path, or the content required by a gamemode. It also cannot provide a universal performance guarantee: there is no general benchmark establishing a fixed player capacity, tick-rate improvement, bandwidth saving, or FPS gain from individual server.cfg settings. Treat those outcomes as hardware-, network-, addon-, and workload-dependent rather than promised by a particular line.
