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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteTo let friends join a Garry’s Mod server hosted on your home network, run the dedicated server on a computer with a stable private IPv4 address, forward its gameplay port (UDP 27015 by default) from your router to that address, allow the same port through the computer’s firewall, and test from outside your home network. Add TCP 27015 only when you need the default RCON service. If your router does not have a true public IPv4 address, ordinary port forwarding may be impossible because of carrier-grade NAT.
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What port does a Garry’s Mod server use?
A standard Source dedicated server uses UDP 27015 for gameplay. Steam lists TCP 27015 as the default SRCDS RCON port. These are separate services: players need the UDP rule, while RCON needs the TCP rule and should not be exposed unless you actually use it.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Purpose | Default port | Protocol | Forward it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player connections and game traffic | 27015 | UDP | Yes, for an internet-accessible server |
| SRCDS RCON administration | 27015 | TCP | Only if RCON is enabled and required |
| Explicit alternate server port | Your chosen value | Usually UDP for gameplay | Use the value shown in the server launch command |
The port number is not enough by itself. A working connection requires all of these pieces to agree:
- The server must be listening on the selected port.
- The router must send internet traffic on that port to the server computer’s private IPv4 address.
- The host operating system’s firewall must allow the same protocol and port.
- Your router’s WAN connection must have a publicly reachable IPv4 address, rather than another private or carrier-grade NAT address.
Before you forward anything
Install the dedicated-server files
Facepunch’s dedicated-server documentation uses SteamCMD app ID 4020 for Garry’s Mod. Install or update that app before configuring the router. A typical SteamCMD update sequence is:
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app_update 4020
app_update 4020 validatevalidate is optional; it asks SteamCMD to verify the installed files. Run it when you suspect a damaged or incomplete installation, not as a substitute for fixing network configuration.
Start the server and identify its listening port
Facepunch documents srcds.exe on Windows and ./srcds_run -game garrysmod on Linux. Start the server with your map and player-limit options, and include an explicit -port if you want a value other than the default. For example:
srcds.exe -game garrysmod +map YOUR_MAP +maxplayers YOUR_LIMIT -port 27015./srcds_run -game garrysmod +map YOUR_MAP +maxplayers YOUR_LIMIT -port 27015Replace the map and limit with the values you intend to use. If you omit -port, confirm which port the server reports while starting rather than assuming that a previous configuration still applies. Any alternate port must be used consistently in the launch command, router rule, firewall rule, and the address your friends enter.
Find the server computer’s private IPv4 address
The forwarding destination is the server PC’s address on your home LAN, not its public internet address. Record the current private IPv4 address and the router’s WAN address before creating rules. A typical private address is in a private IPv4 range; the exact value depends on your router’s LAN configuration.
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Give the server a stable private address
Port forwarding rules target an IP address. If the router later gives the computer a different address through DHCP, the rule can point at the wrong device and your friends will lose access.
Preferred method: DHCP reservation
- Sign in to the router’s administration interface.
- Open the DHCP, LAN, or connected-devices section.
- Locate the server computer and create a DHCP reservation for its network adapter.
- Save the reservation, then renew the computer’s lease or restart networking.
- Verify that the computer received the reserved IPv4 address before making the forwarding rule.
A reservation keeps the address managed by the router while making it predictable for forwarding.
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You can configure an equivalent stable private IPv4 address on the computer, but it must not collide with another device and should normally be outside the router’s automatic DHCP pool. You also need the correct subnet mask, gateway, and DNS settings. If those values are wrong, the server may appear to run locally while losing internet access. For most home networks, a DHCP reservation is less error-prone.
Create the router port-forwarding rule
Router interfaces use different labels, but look for Port Forwarding, Virtual Server, or NAT Forwarding. Google’s router documentation describes the function as sending a connection request received on a specified port to a chosen device.
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- Open the router administration page from a device on the home network.
- Navigate to the port-forwarding or NAT section.
- Create a rule whose destination device is the server computer’s reserved private IPv4 address.
- Set the external (WAN) port to the server’s selected gameplay port, normally 27015.
- Set the internal (LAN) port to the same value unless you have a deliberate one-to-one translation.
- Select UDP for gameplay and save the rule.
- If you deliberately enabled the default RCON service, create a separate TCP 27015 rule. Otherwise, do not add it.
- For an alternate server port, forward that exact port and protocol instead of adding an extra 27015 rule.
| Rule | External port | Internal address | Internal port | Protocol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garry’s Mod gameplay | 27015 (or your chosen port) | Reserved server IPv4 | Same as external port | UDP |
| Optional default RCON | 27015 | Reserved server IPv4 | 27015 | TCP |
Some routers let you select both TCP and UDP in one entry. A combined rule can work, but separate entries make it clear that RCON is not being exposed accidentally.
Allow the port through the host firewall
Router forwarding cannot bypass the firewall on the computer running the server. Permit inbound traffic for the gameplay port and, only when needed, the RCON port.
Windows
In Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security, create an inbound rule for the server executable or for the selected local port. Choose UDP for gameplay on 27015 (or your alternate port). If RCON is enabled, create a separate TCP rule for its port. Apply the rule only to the network profiles you need, and keep the server computer’s profile and exposure under review.
Linux
Use the firewall manager configured on the distribution and allow the selected UDP gameplay port. Add the TCP RCON port only when required. The command and syntax differ between firewall managers, so verify the active firewall and its rules rather than opening every port. The important match is protocol plus port: allowing TCP does not allow UDP gameplay.
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Keep RCON restricted
RCON is an administrative interface, not a requirement for players to connect. Use a strong password, restrict permitted source addresses where your setup allows it, and disable RCON when you do not need remote administration. Do not expose unrelated services as a workaround for a server that is not reachable.
Test the server from outside your home network
Testing from the same Wi-Fi does not prove that internet players can connect. Many routers lack NAT loopback (also called hairpin NAT), so a public-address test from inside the LAN can fail even when the forwarding rule is correct.
- Leave the dedicated server running and confirm it is listening on the configured port.
- Give a friend the public IPv4 address and port, or use an external port-checking service while the server is running.
- Have the friend connect from a different internet connection, such as mobile data or their own home network.
- If the connection succeeds externally, the router, firewall, and public address are functioning for that port.
- If it fails, work through the troubleshooting order below instead of adding random rules.
Use the public IPv4 address shown by your internet connection, not the server’s private LAN address. If your public address changes, friends will need the new value unless you use a separate address-management service.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot in the order that isolates the fault
The server works on the LAN but not remotely
- Check that the server is listening on the port you actually selected.
- Confirm the router rule uses UDP for gameplay; a TCP-only rule will not carry normal game traffic.
- Verify that the destination IPv4 address is still assigned to the server computer.
- Check the host firewall for an inbound rule matching the same UDP port.
- Retest from a genuinely external connection, because a local public-address test may be blocked by missing NAT loopback.
The router shows a private WAN address
Compare the router’s WAN/Internet IPv4 address with the public IPv4 address reported by a service outside your network. If the router WAN address is private, falls in 100.64.0.0/10 (100.64.0.0 through 100.127.255.255), or differs from the public address, another NAT layer is probably present.
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Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) lets an ISP share public IPv4 space among customers. Because the customer does not control the upstream translation, a home router cannot create the unsolicited inbound mapping required for a public game server. Ask the ISP whether a real public IPv4 address is available. If it is not, use a hosting or relay arrangement that accepts inbound connections on your behalf instead of repeatedly changing the local rule.
Two routers are installed
Multiple routers create double NAT. Identify which device has the public WAN address and which device provides the server’s LAN address. Where supported, put the ISP gateway into bridge mode so one router performs NAT. Otherwise, forward the gameplay port from the outer gateway to the inner router’s WAN address, then create a second rule on the inner router to the server’s private IPv4. Repeat the same protocol and port at both layers, and verify each device’s WAN and LAN addresses before changing firewall settings.
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- Check whether the server computer received a new private IPv4 address; recreate the DHCP reservation if necessary.
- Check whether your public IPv4 address changed since the last successful session.
- Confirm that the dedicated server is still running and listening on the configured port.
- Look for competing port-forward rules or another program using the same port.
- Verify that the router did not disable the rule after a firmware update or configuration restore.
The server is visible but a connection fails during join
Visibility and successful gameplay traffic still depend on the UDP rule and host firewall. Recheck the destination address and protocol, then test with the server’s direct public address and port from outside the LAN. Do not add TCP rules unless the service in question actually uses TCP.
Home hosting versus another deployment
Port forwarding is attractive because you control the files and can install the mods you want, but it depends on a reachable home connection and leaves a service exposed from your network. If CGNAT, unreliable upload bandwidth, or double NAT prevents a stable setup, a rented server or relay can remove the inbound-connection requirement. The trade-offs are operational rather than a single universal price.
| Consideration | Hosting at home | Rented server or relay |
|---|---|---|
| Inbound ports | Requires a public IPv4 address, router forwarding, and firewall rules | Usually handled by the provider or relay; useful behind CGNAT |
| Recurring cost | No server-rental charge, but uses your existing connection and electricity | Recurring charge; the applicable amount depends on the provider and plan |
| Mods and files | Direct control of server files and configuration | Control depends on the service’s access and policies |
| Bandwidth and latency | Limited by your home’s upload capacity, ISP routing, and local congestion | Depends on the facility or relay location and its network capacity |
| Maintenance and exposure | You patch the server, secure RCON, and expose an entry point from your home network | The provider handles some infrastructure, while you still maintain the game server and account security |
Choose home hosting when you can obtain a public IPv4 address and are comfortable maintaining the firewall and server. Choose an external option when the ISP uses CGNAT, the home upload connection is unsuitable, or keeping game traffic away from the home network is more important than local control.
Quick Recap
Final pre-launch checklist
- SteamCMD installed or updated Garry’s Mod dedicated-server app ID 4020.
- The server starts with the intended map, player limit, and explicit port if one was chosen.
- The server computer has a DHCP reservation or another stable private IPv4 address.
- The router forwards the gameplay port to that address using UDP.
- TCP is forwarded only when the default RCON service is intentionally enabled.
- The host firewall allows the matching protocol and port.
- The router WAN address is publicly reachable and is not private or in 100.64.0.0/10.
- Any second router is configured at both NAT layers, or the outer gateway is bridged.
- An external player has tested the public address while the server is running.
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