You can run an SCP: Secret Laboratory dedicated server without paying for server software or a hosting subscription. Install the free dedicated-server tool through Steam or SteamCMD (application ID 996560) on a supported Windows or Linux computer, then provide the hardware, electricity, internet connection, router access, updates and moderation yourself. The official baseline for a full 25-player vanilla server is 3 GB of RAM, two CPU cores and 4 GB of storage, so the software is free even though operating a reachable server still has practical costs.
Prefer not to run the server on your own PC? Godlike.Host offers hosted SCP: Secret Laboratory servers with free DDoS protection and up to three free backups a day.
What “free server” actually means
The SCP: Secret Laboratory dedicated server is distributed at no software cost. You do not need to buy a separate server license, and SteamCMD supports an anonymous login for downloading it. “Free” describes the server files, not every part of keeping a server online.
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- Software: free through Steam’s Tools library or SteamCMD application ID
996560. - Computer: you supply a machine that stays on while people play.
- Connectivity: your internet service and router must accept player connections if the server is public or friends are joining from outside your home.
- Operations: you handle updates, backups, firewall settings, crashes, moderation and abuse reports.
- Electricity and bandwidth: these remain your responsibility when self-hosting.
A free self-hosted server is therefore realistic for a small community with an existing PC or virtual machine. It is not an unlimited, permanently free hosted service supplied by the game’s developer.
Check the computer and operating system first
The current SCP: Secret Laboratory Tech Support Public Wiki lists this minimum for a full 25-player vanilla server:
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| Resource | Server baseline | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 3 GB RAM | Official minimum for the 25-player vanilla configuration |
| Processor | 2 CPU cores | Official minimum; no independent capacity benchmark is established here |
| Storage | 4 GB | Official minimum for the dedicated server installation |
| Players | 25 | The configuration to which the published baseline applies |
These figures are a floor, not a promise that every plugin combination, map condition or background process will perform identically. Leave operating-system headroom, especially if the same machine runs other services. No verified bandwidth, uptime or player-capacity benchmark is available, so do not treat the table as a guarantee for a larger modded community.
Supported Windows editions
Current stated support includes Windows 10 or Windows 11 version 21H1 or newer, plus Windows Server 2022 or newer. Keep Windows updated and install the 64-bit edition appropriate to your hardware. A computer below the supported operating-system versions may still start in some circumstances, but it is outside the published support range.
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Supported Linux environment
The current support list includes 64-bit Ubuntu 22.04 or newer. The Linux instructions also describe using a supported Debian environment, SteamCMD, the runtime libraries listed in that guide and a process manager such as tmux. Linux package names and distribution support can change, so follow the version-specific Linux section of the SCP: Secret Laboratory server guide when installing dependencies rather than copying an old command from a forum.
Do players need the same computer?
No. The dedicated server is separate from the game client. Steam Support lists 4 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage for the client; those figures describe the player’s game installation, not the server minimum above. Every player still needs a legitimate, up-to-date game installation that can connect to your server.
Install the dedicated server on Windows
Option 1: Install through Steam
- Open Steam and switch to the View menu.
- Enable the Tools view so dedicated-server utilities appear in your library.
- Find Secret Laboratory Dedicated Server and choose Install.
- Pick a drive with at least the published 4 GB server space plus room for updates, logs and backups.
- After installation, open the server’s installation folder and start the dedicated-server program.
The first launch creates the files needed for administration and asks LocalAdmin setup questions in the console. Complete those prompts and store the generated administrator details securely; they are more important than the public server name because they control remote administration.
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Option 2: Install with SteamCMD
SteamCMD is useful on a headless machine or when you want a repeatable update process.
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- Create an empty installation directory for the SCP: Secret Laboratory server.
- Start SteamCMD and set that directory as the install location using SteamCMD’s normal installation-path command.
- Log in anonymously with
login anonymous. - Download and validate the server with
app_update 996560 validate. - Exit SteamCMD after the command reports completion, then launch the dedicated-server executable from the installation directory.
The anonymous login is supported for this application, so you do not need to expose your personal Steam password on a shared machine. Run the update command again whenever you intentionally update the server, and review the release notes or server guide if a game update changes configuration behavior.
Install and run it on Linux
- Use a supported 64-bit Ubuntu or Debian environment and apply the distribution’s security updates.
- Install SteamCMD and every runtime library named by the current SCP: Secret Laboratory Linux guide.
- Create a dedicated, non-root account and an installation directory owned by that account.
- Use SteamCMD with
login anonymous, set the installation directory, and runapp_update 996560 validate. - Start the server inside
tmuxor another process manager so it remains running after you disconnect from SSH. - Reconnect to the session to read console output, stop the process cleanly before updates and inspect logs when troubleshooting.
Do not paste package commands from an old distribution tutorial without checking the current guide: dependency names and supported releases change. Keep the server account separate from root, restrict SSH access, and allow only the network traffic required by the server and your administration method.
Complete first launch and basic configuration
Answer the LocalAdmin prompts
On first launch, the server asks questions that create LocalAdmin access. Complete every prompt before inviting players. Use a long, unique password and keep it in a password manager. Do not post it in a Discord channel, stream overlay or public configuration file.
Set the identity players see
Choose a clear server name, a player limit that your machine can actually support and rules that explain acceptable behavior. If the server is public, include the information required by Northwood’s community-server policy, including a way for players to contact the operator. Avoid claiming official affiliation unless you have it.
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Choose and expose the listening port
The server configuration determines which port it listens on. Pick an unused port, allow that port through the host firewall and forward the same port and protocol on your router to the computer running the server. A mismatch at any one of those three layers produces the familiar symptom that the server works locally but friends cannot join. The game’s current server guide and generated configuration identify the exact protocol and setting for your build; use those labels rather than guessing.
Configure remote administration carefully
Remote administration is convenient for restarting rounds, changing settings and removing disruptive players, but it enlarges the attack surface. Enable it only when needed, use the LocalAdmin credentials created during first launch, restrict access with the host firewall where possible and never reuse the password for another service.
Make the server reachable by friends
- Confirm that the server process starts without errors and that a player on the same local network can see or join it.
- Allow the selected listening port through Windows Firewall or the Linux firewall on the host.
- In the router, create a port-forwarding rule from the internet-facing interface to the host computer’s local IP address.
- Reserve that local IP in the router or configure a static address so the forwarding rule does not point to a different device later.
- Give friends the public address and port shown by your configuration, not the private address beginning with a local-network range.
- Test from a different network, such as a phone hotspot. A test from inside the same Wi-Fi can succeed because of local routing even when outside players are blocked.
Some internet providers place customers behind carrier-grade NAT, which prevents ordinary inbound forwarding. If outside testing fails despite correct firewall and router settings, ask the provider whether inbound connections are available. Do not buy networking equipment merely to follow this guide; hardware is optional troubleshooting equipment, not a requirement for the free server software.
Public-server rules and community obligations
Northwood’s hosting guidelines, dated June 27, 2025, distinguish a publicly available server from a private session and set expectations for community operation. Recheck the current policy when you launch because rules can change.
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- Visible server rules that players can read before or during play.
- A practical player contact method for reports and questions.
- A valid owner email address.
- Accurate server information and contact details rather than misleading names or claims.
Friends-only play is simpler, but the moment you advertise a server broadly, treat moderation and contact information as part of operating it. Keep records of bans and serious incidents, publish an escalation route, and appoint trusted moderators if you cannot monitor every session.
LabAPI and plugins
LabAPI is bundled with dedicated-server builds and is Northwood’s official server-side plugin framework. It can extend administration and gameplay, but every plugin adds another update and compatibility responsibility. Start with a clean vanilla server, verify that players can connect, then add one plugin at a time. After a game or server update, test each plugin before reopening the server to the public.
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| Factor | Self-hosted server | Managed VPS or game host |
|---|---|---|
| Software fee | No charge for the dedicated-server files | The software may still be free, but the provider charges for the machine or service |
| Hardware and power | You provide and pay for them | Included in the provider’s service price |
| Router setup | Usually required for players outside your network | Often handled through the provider’s network controls |
| Maintenance | You perform updates, backups and recovery | Some tasks are simplified, but you remain responsible for the game configuration and moderation |
| Availability | Depends on your home connection and whether the computer stays on | Depends on the provider’s infrastructure and plan; no universal uptime figure is established here |
Self-hosting is the only option that can genuinely avoid a recurring server-rental bill, assuming you already have suitable equipment and an internet connection. A managed service can save time when port forwarding, uptime or administration is impractical, but there is no verified promise of a permanently free hosted server or a current provider price to recommend.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep a free server reliable
Before opening it to players
- Run a clean start and confirm the console reaches its ready state.
- Join locally, then test from an external network.
- Verify that the public name, player limit, rules and contact method are accurate.
- Check that LocalAdmin credentials and remote-administration settings are stored privately.
- Make a backup of configuration and important logs before adding plugins.
During normal operation
- Watch memory, CPU and disk space instead of waiting for a crash.
- Schedule restarts during quiet periods and announce them to players.
- Update the server deliberately, then test vanilla connectivity and plugins.
- Review logs for repeated errors, connection floods or failed administration attempts.
- Keep moderation decisions consistent with the published rules.
When shutting down or moving the server
Use the server’s normal shutdown process so logs and configuration are written cleanly. Copy backups before changing the installation directory, replacing configuration files or migrating to another machine. On Linux, stop the process manager session cleanly; on Windows, avoid terminating the process repeatedly because an abrupt stop can leave incomplete writes.
Troubleshooting common connection failures
The server will not start
Check that the operating system is supported, the installation completed with app_update 996560 validate, the machine has free storage and the required runtime components are present. Read the first error in the console rather than the final shutdown message. If a plugin was added recently, remove or disable it and test a vanilla launch.
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It works on the host but not for friends
Test in this order: host firewall, router forwarding, stable local IP, public address and outside-network testing. Confirm that the router forwards the exact configured port and protocol to the correct computer. If all settings match, investigate carrier-grade NAT or an ISP policy that blocks inbound traffic.
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First compare the active player count and plugin set with the official 25-player vanilla baseline. Stop unrelated processes, check CPU and memory pressure, inspect logs and temporarily run without plugins. There is no published independent bandwidth or player-capacity benchmark, so avoid promising a larger capacity until you have measured your own machine under real load.
Players cannot find the server in a listing
Verify that the process is fully started, the public-facing port is reachable from another network and the server name and information are valid. A direct connection can help separate a listing problem from a network problem. If the server is intended to be public, review Northwood’s current information and contact requirements.
Remote administration is unsafe or unavailable
Regenerate credentials if they were exposed, restrict the administration port at the firewall, confirm that the remote setting matches the client you are using and inspect logs for rejected connections. Never publish LocalAdmin credentials while asking for troubleshooting help.
How to decide whether self-hosting is right for you
Choose self-hosting when you already have a supported computer, can leave it running, control the router and are willing to maintain software and moderation. It is the most direct route to a no-rental-cost server for a small group.
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