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Install and update the Garry’s Mod Dedicated Server with SteamCMD (app ID 4020), put the Murder gamemode and every map or addon you need in a public or unlisted Steam Workshop collection, then start the server with +gamemode murder, +map (without .bsp), and +host_workshop_collection. Counter-Strike: Source must be owned, installed, and available to the server and its players; missing CSS content is the usual cause of pink textures, missing models, or maps that will not load.
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What the Murder gamemode is and what you need
Murder is a deception gamemode for Garry’s Mod. One player is the murderer, who hunts the bystanders. Bystanders search for clues and use limited weapons and information to identify and stop the murderer before the round ends. A working server therefore needs more than the base Garry’s Mod files: it needs the Murder gamemode, compatible maps, any additional addons you intend to run, and the Counter-Strike: Source content on which the gamemode depends.
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Required components
- Garry’s Mod Dedicated Server: install it with SteamCMD app ID
4020. - Murder content: deliver it through a Workshop collection for a normal live server, or deploy the repository files manually for development and tightly controlled installations.
- A map: the map must exist on the server or be included in the collection. The startup value is the map filename without
.bsp. - Counter-Strike: Source: the upstream Murder project requires that you own and have the game installed. The server and clients need access to its mounted content.
- Steam Game Server Login Token (GSLT): use a valid token in the startup command. The dedicated-server guidance identifies the token as mandatory for normal server operation and ranking.
Workshop listing and supported maps
The Workshop listing identifies Murder as a gamemode by Mechanical Mind. Its item ID is 187073946. The listing names, among others, cs_office, de_chateau, cs_italy, clue, mu_nightmare_church, de_prodigy, dm_lockdown, housewithgardenv2, and de_forest as supported maps. Workshop contents can be withdrawn or changed, so check the listing when selecting a map rather than assuming every listed item remains available forever.
Install or update the dedicated server with SteamCMD
SteamCMD installs the server files and keeps them current. Run the command from the directory where SteamCMD is installed, choosing a separate directory for the Garry’s Mod server files.
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Linux and other shell-based installations
- Install SteamCMD using the package or archive method appropriate for your operating system.
- Choose the destination directory. The example below places the server in a sibling directory named
gmodds. - Run SteamCMD anonymously and validate the files while updating:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir ../gmodds +app_update 4020 validate +quit+app_update 4020 downloads or updates the Garry’s Mod Dedicated Server. The validate argument compares local files with Steam’s manifest and replaces files that are missing or corrupt. Validation can take longer than a normal update, so it is especially useful after an interrupted download or when the server behaves as though files are absent.
Windows
Use the Windows executable and a Windows-formatted destination path. The command has the same Steam app ID and validation behavior:
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When to run the update again
- Run the same command after a Garry’s Mod server update or when Steam reports a new dedicated-server build.
- Run it with
validatewhen a file is reported missing, a map refuses to load despite being installed, or a previous update was interrupted. - Stop the running server before updating its files. Start it again only after SteamCMD exits successfully.
Build the Workshop collection that the server will download
For a normal server, Workshop delivery is simpler than copying gamemode and map files by hand. Create a Steam Workshop collection and add the Murder gamemode, the maps you plan to rotate, and any addons required by those maps. Set the collection to Public or Unlisted. A private collection cannot be installed by the dedicated server.
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Collection checklist
- Create the collection in Steam Workshop.
- Add the Murder gamemode item (ID
187073946). - Add every map that may be selected by the server. For example, add
clueif the startup command will use+map clue. - Add any other Murder-compatible addons the server requires.
- Publish the collection as public or unlisted and copy its numeric collection ID.
The collection ID is not the same as the ID of an individual item. Copy the number from the collection page itself and use that number after +host_workshop_collection.
Why the collection is the normal operational path
Facepunch’s dedicated-server documentation states that dedicated servers can install addons directly from Workshop collections, provided the startup parameters include the collection. The server downloads and mounts the collection during startup, which keeps the files in one managed list and advertises the content to connecting clients.
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Use the gamemode folder name, murder, not the Workshop item title. Use a map name without its .bsp extension. Replace the placeholders in this Windows-style example with your collection ID and a valid GSLT:
srcds.exe -console +maxplayers 16 +host_workshop_collection <COLLECTION_ID> +gamemode murder +map clue +sv_setsteamaccount <GSLT>Linux startup
On Linux, launch the same server with srcds_run and specify the Garry’s Mod game directory:
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srcds_run -game garrysmod +maxplayers 16 +host_workshop_collection <COLLECTION_ID> +gamemode murder +map clue +sv_setsteamaccount <GSLT>What each argument does
| Argument | Purpose | What to change |
|---|---|---|
-console |
Runs the server with a console window or console-oriented process. | Keep it for a straightforward dedicated-server launch. |
+maxplayers 16 |
Sets the advertised maximum player count for this launch. | Use the capacity you actually intend to support; the example is not a required player count. |
+host_workshop_collection |
Tells the server which Workshop collection to download and mount. | Replace <COLLECTION_ID> with the numeric ID of your public or unlisted collection. |
+gamemode murder |
Selects the gamemode folder named murder. |
Do not substitute the display title or the numeric Workshop item ID. |
+map clue |
Loads the initial map. | Replace clue with a map present on the server or in the collection; omit .bsp. |
+sv_setsteamaccount |
Associates the server with a Steam Game Server Login Token. | Replace <GSLT> with your valid token and keep it private. |
Changing the first map
If you want to begin on another supported map, change only the map value. For example, +map mu_nightmare_church loads that filename. Do not write +map mu_nightmare_church.bsp; the dedicated-server parameter expects the name without the extension.
Verify that Workshop content and client downloads worked
Watch the console during the first startup instead of assuming that a successful process launch means the gamemode is ready. The server should download and mount the collection, find the murder gamemode, and load the selected map.
Console messages to look for
- When a Workshop gamemode is available to clients, the console may print
Making workshop gamemode available for client download. - Maps in the collection are likewise advertised so clients can obtain them when they connect.
- The selected map should load using the bare filename supplied after
+map.
Connect with a client that owns the required content and confirm that the server enters a Murder round rather than the default sandbox or another gamemode. If the client is prompted to download content, let the Workshop download complete before judging the installation.
Fix missing maps, textures, and models
Pink-and-black textures, error models, or a map that fails immediately are usually dependency or delivery problems rather than a defect in the round logic. Work through these checks in order.
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1. Confirm Counter-Strike: Source
The Murder repository README and its Workshop description both state that Counter-Strike: Source is required and must be owned and installed. Verify the game on the server machine and on every client that will play. The server must be able to mount the game’s content; a client that does not have it can still see missing textures or models even when the server itself is configured correctly.
2. Confirm that the collection is reachable
Make sure the collection is public or unlisted, not private. Check that the numeric collection ID in the startup command is the collection’s ID, not 187073946 (the gamemode item ID). Restart the server after correcting the parameter so the Workshop download is attempted again.
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Check the exact filename in the collection and use that filename without .bsp. A spelling difference, an unavailable Workshop item, or a map that was never added to the collection can produce a map-not-found error even though the gamemode itself is installed.
4. Check the gamemode folder value
The startup value must be +gamemode murder. Using the Workshop title, a display name, or a path such as gamemodes/murder in the command does not select the mode. The folder name is the value recognized by the dedicated server.
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5. Validate the base server files
Stop the server and rerun SteamCMD with app_update 4020 validate. Validation repairs the Garry’s Mod Dedicated Server installation, but it does not replace a missing Counter-Strike: Source installation or a map that is absent from your collection.
Workshop updates versus manual Murder files
There are two legitimate deployment approaches. Workshop is the practical choice for most public or private game servers; manual files are useful when you need source-level control or are developing a change.
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| Deployment choice | Operational simplicity | Update behavior | Content control | Client requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop collection | Add items to one collection and provide +host_workshop_collection at startup. |
Workshop content updates on restart by default. | Managed distribution; versions follow the Workshop items you selected. | Clients still need the correct gamemode, map, and Counter-Strike: Source content. |
| Manual repository/source deployment | Copy and maintain the files yourself. | You decide when files change and must distribute the changes yourself. | The repository includes the gamemodes/murder path, giving you source-level control. |
Clients still need the correct gamemode, map, and Counter-Strike: Source content. |
Controlling automatic Workshop updates
By default, Workshop content updates when the server restarts. Setting host_workshop_autoupdate 0 disables that automatic behavior. This can be useful when you deliberately pin a known set of files, but it also leaves old maps or addons in place. If you disable updates, schedule a manual review and restart whenever you intentionally accept a newer Workshop version.
When manual deployment is appropriate
The repository’s gamemodes/murder directory is a source path for development or controlled deployment. Use it when you are editing or testing the gamemode itself and need to inspect exact files. For an ordinary server whose goal is simply to run the published mode and maps, a Workshop collection avoids manually copying every dependency and makes client distribution predictable.
Common startup failures and their remedies
| Symptom | Likely cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| The server starts in sandbox or another mode. | The gamemode argument is missing or uses the wrong value. | Use +gamemode murder; the value is the folder name. |
| “Map not found” or an immediate map change failure. | The map is not installed, not in the collection, unavailable, or specified with the wrong spelling or extension. | Add the map to the public/unlisted collection and use its exact filename without .bsp. |
| The Murder mode is not downloaded for clients. | The collection parameter is absent, the collection is private, or the ID is incorrect. | Set +host_workshop_collection to the collection’s numeric ID, publish it as public or unlisted, and restart. |
| Pink textures or error models. | Counter-Strike: Source is not owned, installed, or mounted on the server or client. | Install and verify the required CSS content on both sides, then reconnect. |
| A Workshop change never appears. | The server has not restarted, or automatic updates were disabled with host_workshop_autoupdate 0. |
Restart after the item updates and remove that setting if you want automatic Workshop updates. |
| Files seem corrupt after an interrupted server update. | The dedicated-server installation is incomplete. | Stop the server and run SteamCMD with +app_update 4020 validate. |
| The server cannot operate normally or rank as expected. | No valid Steam Game Server Login Token was supplied. | Add +sv_setsteamaccount <GSLT> with a valid token and keep the token confidential. |
A repeatable installation checklist
- SteamCMD has installed or updated app ID
4020successfully. - The Workshop collection is public or unlisted.
- The collection contains the Murder gamemode, the selected map, and required addons.
- The startup command includes
+host_workshop_collection,+gamemode murder, and a map value without.bsp. - A valid GSLT is supplied with
+sv_setsteamaccount. - The console shows Workshop gamemode/client-download activity during startup.
- Counter-Strike: Source is owned, installed, and available to the server and clients.
- The first client can join, download advertised content, load the map, and enter a Murder round.
Version and availability notes
The Workshop listing records the Murder item as posted on October 18, 2013 and updated on December 19, 2023. Those dates describe the listing metadata at the time recorded and may change if Steam revises the page. Workshop availability, map support, and addon contents can also change, so treat the collection and its item pages as the current source of what can be downloaded when you perform the installation.
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