Setting up a CSS Dedicated Server (Windows)
By Dag, on September 16th, 2017Quick note on how to run a CSS server on a Windows server using SteamCMD that took over in 2013 from HLDSUpdateTool which is now entirely deprecated and will not provide updates anymore.
Download SteamCMD from here.
Unzip and run steamcmd.exe which will set up/update a portable steam base and give you a prompt. In my case I want to update/install CS:S Dedicated Server which has the app id of 232330:
Steam> login anonymous Steam> app-update 232330 Steam> quit
My CSS server startup script (placed outside steamcmd dir so it won't be overwritten or deleted):
ECHO Starting CSS Server... ECHO. SET CSSDIR=C:\Users\User\Desktop\SteamCMD\steamcmd\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Source Dedicated Server CD "%CSSDIR%" srcds.exe -steam -console -game cstrike +map cs_office -maxplayers 46
My server.cfg as example:
// server name hostname "Joe's AngryTown" // rcon passsword rcon_password "asd" // server password sv_password "asd" // server cvars mp_friendlyfire 1 mp_footsteps 1 mp_autoteambalance 1 mp_limitteams 1 mp_autokick 0 mp_flashlight 1 mp_tkpunish 0 mp_forcecamera 0 sv_alltalk 1 sv_pausable 0 sv_cheats 0 sv_consistency 1 sv_allowupload 1 sv_allowdownload 1 sv_maxspeed 320 mp_hostagepenalty 0 sv_voiceenable 1 mp_allowspectators 1 mp_timelimit 60 mp_chattime 10 sv_timeout 90 // round specific cvars mp_freezetime 6 mp_roundtime 5 mp_startmoney 16000 mp_c4timer 45 mp_fraglimit 0 mp_maxrounds 0 mp_winlimit 0 mp_playerid 0 mp_spawnprotectiontime 5 // bandwidth rates/settings sv_minrate 0 sv_maxrate 0 decalfrequency 10 sv_maxupdaterate 60 sv_minupdaterate 10 // server logging log off sv_logbans 0 sv_logecho 1 sv_logfile 1 sv_log_onefile 0 // operation sv_lan 0 sv_region 0 // execute ban files exec banned_user.cfg exec banned_ip.cfg // bots bot_prefix "[BadLoosers]" bot_quota 32 bot_quota_mode fill bot_join_after_player 1 bot_difficulty 0 bot_defer_to_human 1 bot_chatter normal bot_auto_vacate 1 bot_join_team "any" // BOT BASED WEAPON USAGE bot_allow_grenades "1" bot_allow_machine_guns "1" bot_allow_pistols "1" bot_allow_rifles "1" bot_allow_rogues "1" bot_allow_shotguns "1" bot_allow_snipers "1" bot_allow_sub_machine_guns "1"
Notes on administering the server:
SETTING UP CONSOLE: Start game with -console and run: bind o "showconsole" Start game, press o and exit. Should be saved in config.cfg now (tested OK after game restart). COMMANDS: Log on as admin: rcon_password <password> List users w/ID and name: rcon status Kick from server: rcon kickid <id> Message Ban from server: rcon banid <minutes> <id> rcon writeid Remove ban from server: rcon listid rcon removeid Change map: rcon changelevel <mapname> Restart round: rcon mp_restartgame 1
Make sure the ban .cfg files mentioned in server.cfg exists if you intend to use them.