How to set up a Counter-Strike server (Source / CS2)

Which Counter-Strike?

Counter-Strike dedicated servers are deployed via SteamCMD, and the Source-engine lineage (CS:GO, and its successor CS2) shares the same general hosting model: a dedicated server binary, SourceMod/MetaMod for plugins, and config files you control. We provision CS:GO / Source-engine servers on the panel; if you need a specific build, message [email protected] before ordering and we'll confirm what we can run for you. We'd rather be straight than over-promise a particular client version.

Step 1 — Size your plan

• 2 GB — a small competitive/practice server.
• 4 GB — the sweet spot once you add SourceMod, bots and more slots.

Step 2 — Deploy

1. Order a Counter-Strike plan and pick it at checkout.
2. Your game panel login arrives by email within minutes; the egg pulls the dedicated server via SteamCMD.
3. Set your hostname, map and max players in the startup variables and start the server.

Step 3 — SourceMod & MetaMod

Most community features (admin menus, retakes, surf/bhop timers, warmup, custom commands) come from SourceMod running on top of MetaMod. With full file access you install MetaMod then SourceMod into the game's addons/ folder, then drop plugins into addons/sourcemod/plugins/ and configure them under addons/sourcemod/configs/. Add yourself as admin in admins_simple.ini with your SteamID.

Step 4 — Maps & tickrate

Upload custom maps to the maps/ folder and set your map cycle/rotation in the config. You control the launch parameters, so you can run 64- or 128-tick as you prefer and set your game mode (competitive, casual, deathmatch, surf, etc.).

Step 5 — rcon & going live

Set an rcon_password in your server config and you can administer live from the in-game console or the panel. Share your connect IP:port with players, or add it to a community list. That's it — your server's on.