How to set up a Team Fortress 2 server (SourceMod & gamemodes)

Step 1 — Size your plan

• 2 GB — a standard 24-slot server.
• 4 GB — heavy plugins, more slots, or big custom maps.

Step 2 — Deploy

1. Order a TF2 plan and pick it at checkout.
2. Your game panel login arrives by email within minutes; the egg installs the dedicated server via SteamCMD.
3. Set your hostname, starting map and max players in the startup variables and launch.

Step 3 — SourceMod & MetaMod

As with other Source games, community features come from SourceMod on MetaMod. Install both into tf/addons/, drop plugins into addons/sourcemod/plugins/, and add yourself as admin via your SteamID in admins_simple.ini. This unlocks admin menus, votes, custom commands and the big gamemode plugins.

Step 4 — Maps & gamemodes

Upload custom maps to tf/maps/ and set your map cycle. TF2's community thrives on gamemodes beyond stock: MvM, dodgeball, jump, surf, trade, x10 — most are a SourceMod plugin plus the right maps. Configure them via the panel; nothing is locked down.

Step 5 — GSLT, rcon & going live

Public Source servers need a free Game Server Login Token (GSLT) from Valve — add it to your config. Set an rcon_password for live admin, share your connect IP:port, and consider FastDL (an HTTP download host via sv_downloadurl) so custom maps download quickly.