Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Your Own CS:GO Server on Linux VPS

Are you a fan of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and want to create your own server? Running a CS:GO server on a Linux Virtual Private Server (VPS) can provide you with complete control over the game settings, allowing you to customize the gaming experience. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of setting up your own CS:GO server on a Linux VPS.

Step 1: Set up a Linux VPS

To set up a Linux VPS, you need to choose a hosting provider that offers VPS services. There are many options available, such as Linode, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and more. Once you have chosen a provider, create an account and follow their instructions to create a new Linux VPS instance. You can choose any Linux distribution you prefer, but for this guide, we will be using Ubuntu 20.04.

Step 2: Connect to your VPS

Once you have created your VPS, you need to connect to it via SSH. To do this, you can use a terminal application like PuTTY if you are on a Windows machine, or use the built-in Terminal application if you are on a Mac or Linux machine. To connect to your VPS, you will need its IP address and the login credentials provided by your hosting provider.

Step 3: Update and upgrade your server

Once you are connected to your VPS, you need to update and upgrade your server’s software packages. This can be done by running the following commands in your terminal:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

This will update the package list and upgrade the installed packages to the latest version.

Step 4: Install the required dependencies

To run a CS:GO server, you need to install some required dependencies. These can be installed by running the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt-get install lib32gcc1 lib32stdc++6 libcurl4-gnutls-dev:i386

Step 5: Download and install the CS:GO server files

Now that you have installed the required dependencies, you need to download and install the CS:GO server files. This can be done by running the following commands in your terminal:

mkdir ~/csgo-server
cd ~/csgo-server
wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
tar zxvf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

This will create a new directory called ‘csgo-server’, download the SteamCMD installer, and extract it to the ‘csgo-server’ directory.

Step 6: Install the CS:GO server

Once you have downloaded the SteamCMD installer, you need to install the CS:GO server files. This can be done by running the following commands in your terminal:

./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +force_install_dir ./csgo-server +app_update 740 validate +quit

This will install the CS:GO server files to the ‘csgo-server’ directory.

Step 7: Configure the server settings

Now that you have installed the CS:GO server files, you need to configure the server settings. This can be done by creating a new configuration file called ‘server.cfg’ in the ‘csgo-server/csgo/cfg/’ directory. You can use any text editor you prefer to create this file. Here is an example configuration file:

// Server name
hostname "My CS:GO Server"

// RCON password
rcon_password "mypassword"

// Server password
sv_password ""

// Maximum players
sv_maxplayers 16

// Map rotation
mapgroup mg_active

// Set the starting map
map de_dust2

// Enable friendly fire
mp_friendlyfire 1

// Enable voice communication
sv_voiceenable 1

// Set the maximum round time
mp_roundtime 5

// Set the bomb timer
mp_c4timer 45

// Set the money at the start of the round
mp_startmoney 800

// Set the maximum amount of money
mp_maxmoney 16000

// Set the freeze time at the start of the round
mp_freezetime 6

// Enable the buy time at the start of the round
mp_buytime 15

// Enable the team balance
mp_autoteambalance 1

// Enable the respawn time
mp_respawnwavetime 10

// Enable the kill reward
mp_deathdropmoney 1

// Set the number of rounds to win
mp_maxrounds 30

// Set the halftime duration
mp_halftime_duration 15

// Set the overtime duration
mp_overtime_enable 1
mp_overtime_maxrounds 6
mp_overtime_startmoney 10000
mp_overtime_halftime_duration 10

Save the configuration file and exit your text editor.

Step 8: Start the CS:GO server

Once you have configured the server settings, you can start the CS:GO server by running the following command in your terminal:

cd ~/csgo-server
./srcds_run -game csgo -console -usercon +game_type 0 +game_mode 1 +mapgroup mg_active +map de_dust2

This will start the CS:GO server with the settings you have configured.

Step 9: Install and configure Sourcemod and Metamod

Sourcemod and Metamod are plugins for the CS:GO server that provide additional features and functionality. Here’s how to install and configure them:

1. Install Metamod by running the following commands:

cd ~/csgo-server/csgo/addons/
wget https://mms.alliedmods.net/mmsdrop/1.10/mmsource-1.10.7-git971-linux.tar.gz
tar -xzvf mmsource-1.10.7-git971-linux.tar.gz

2. Install Sourcemod by running the following commands:

cd ~/csgo-server/csgo/addons/
wget https://sm.alliedmods.net/smdrop/1.10/sourcemod-1.10.0-git6508-linux.tar.gz
tar -xzvf sourcemod-1.10.0-git6508-linux.tar.gz

3. Edit the server.cfg file and add the following lines:

sm_cvar sv_rcon_banpenalty 0
sm_cvar sv_rcon_maxfailures 5
sm_cvar sv_rcon_minfailures 5
sm_cvar sv_rcon_minfailuretime 30
sm_cvar sv_rcon_log 1
sm_cvar sv_rcon_whitelist_address “your_public_ip”
sm_cvar sv_rcon_whitelist_address “127.0.0.1”
sm_cvar sv_rcon_whitelist_address “your_internal_ip”
sm_cvar sv_rcon_password “your_password”
sm_cvar sv_cheats 0
sm_cvar mp_roundtime 1.75
sm_cvar mp_restartgame 0
sm_cvar sv_minrate 15000
sm_cvar sv_maxrate 25000
sm_cvar sv_minupdaterate 64
sm_cvar sv_maxupdaterate 128
sm_cvar sv_client_min_interp_ratio 1
sm_cvar sv_client_max_interp_ratio 2
sm_cvar sv_client_predict 1
sm_cvar sv_client_interpolate 1
sm_cvar sv_client_cmdrate_difference 1
sm_cvar sv_lan 0
sm_cvar mp_friendlyfire 0
sm_cvar mp_autoteambalance 1
sm_cvar mp_ct_default_secondary ""
sm_cvar mp_t_default_secondary ""
sm_cvar mp_ct_default_primary ""
sm_cvar mp_t_default_primary ""
sm_cvar mp_buytime 0.25
sm_cvar mp_buy_anywhere 1
sm_cvar mp_free_armor 0
sm_cvar mp_respawnwavetime 0
sm_cvar mp_do_warmup_period 0
sm_cvar mp_warmuptime 0
sm_cvar mp_fadetoblack 0
sm_cvar sv_downloadurl “http://yourdomain.com/csgo/”
sm_cvar sv_allowdownload 1
sm_cvar sv_allowupload 1
sm_cvar tv_enable 1
sm_cvar tv_autorecord 0
sm_cvar tv_delaymapchange 0
sm_cvar tv_maxclients 10
sm_cvar tv_maxrate 128000
sm_cvar tv_timeout 60
sm_cvar tv_delay 30

4. Start the CS:GO server by running the following command:

./srcds_run -game csgo -console -usercon +game_type 0 +game_mode 1 +mapgroup mg_active +map de_dust2 -tickrate 128 +sv_lan 0 +net_public_adr YOUR_SERVER_IP_ADDRESS

Step 10: Connect to your server

Now that your CS:GO server is running, you can connect to it using the CS:GO game client. Open the game, open the console with the ~ key, and type in the following command: