How to Make a Garry’s Mod Server Step-by-Step

Are you considering hosting your own GMOD server for your friends? With our brief guide, you can learn how to make a Garry’s Mod server on your PC, macOS, or Linux system. The process is straightforward, and the system requirements are not too demanding.

Garry’s Mod brings additional features as a deserving upgrade to the well-known Half-Life 2, with patches and updates to keep it exciting. While you can get a VPS hosting service, making your own dedicated server offers total control over what you want the gameplay to be.

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We’ve made this guide extensive to cover everything you need to know about setting up a Garry’s Mod dedicated server.

What to Check and Prepare

Network traffic management is crucial to giving your players an optimal gaming experience. It won’t surprise us if a heavily populated GMOD server consumes above 2 TB of bandwidth monthly.

That is why we suggest having a port speed of at least 100 Mbps to manage network traffic effectively.

Put your internet equipment in place while learning how to make a GMOD server. If it means getting new routers, do that. The better your internet connection, the faster downloads will be, and the smoother the gameplay will be for players that connect to your server.

Before implementing the steps in this guide, ensure your device is up to date. Run manual checks for updates if necessary, and install them when they are available. The last thing you need is to run into software bugs when creating and launching your GMOD server.

Set up your local area network. While we will show you how to host a GMOD server for wireless connectivity, you might need the local area network to run some tests.

A simple rule of thumb is that you need better device specifications as you add mods, maps, or add-ons to your server. Check out the next section for the recommended system specifications for optimal operations. Of course, you can always upgrade your setup.

GMOD Server Requirements

These server requirements apply to Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. You can always improve the specifications since you will work with your dedicated server in this guide. Once you learn how to make a Garry’s MOD server, the next step will be monitoring your work.

Performance results when your server is live and hosting players will determine if you need a system upgrade. In the meantime, here are the recommended GMOD server requirements:

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Garry’s Mod Dedicated Server Setup Specifications

SteamCMD is a must for Garry’s Mod server setup. Fortunately, you can get the application on your Windows, Linux, or macOS device. Once installed, you can download the server, configure it, and run it for the players.

Let’s break down the setup specifications for each operating system.

Windows

Follow the steps below to set up your GMOD dedicated server on Windows:

1. Download SteamCMD. The installation package will be a ZIP file.
2. Extract the files and run the steamcmd.exe file. You might have to run it as the system administrator.
3. Wait for the SteamCMD setup to be complete. The setup is complete once it allows you to type in the command line.
4. Type “app_update 4020 validate” and run the command. Note that 4020 is the game ID for Garry’s Mod dedicated servers.
5. Open the following file directory “Steamapps>common>GarrysModDS.
6. Create a file to open the server by creating a new text document. You can call it “Start.txt”
7. Open the “Start.txt.” file and post the following:

“@echo_off

Cls

Echo protecting srcds from crashes…

Echo if you want to close srcds and this script, close the srcds window and type Y depending on your language followed by Enter.

Title srcds.com Watchdog

:srcds

Echo (Xtinex) srcds started

Start /wait srcds.exe +host_workshop_collection +r_hunkalloclightmaps 0 -console – game garrysmod +gamemode sandbox +map gm_flatgrass +maxplayers 32

Echo (Xtinex) WARNING: srcds closed or crashed, restarting

Goto srcds”

1. Save and close the file.
2. Rename the Start.txt file to start.bat. Ensure you have the file name extension checked.
3. Open the Start.bat file and wait until you see “VAC secure mode is activated.” That means your server is officially running.

Once this setup is complete, you will need to add a workshop collection. We’ll get to that subsequently.

Another crucial step after installing the GMOD server is to set up your GSL token and the server’s location. You need the GSLT (Steam Game Server Accounts) for server ranking.

Linux

You’ll need Screen and lib32gcc1 to run SteamCMD if you haven’t installed them already. Screen helps you detach and reattach when running SteamCMD, while lib32gcc1 allows 32-bit libraries to function on 64-bit systems.

Once you’ve installed SteamCMD, follow the steps below for Garry’s Mod server setup on your Linux device:

1. Go to the home directory (Cd) and download the script “wget http://pastebin.com/raw/CRmMbJQA -O ./update_GMOD.sh”
2. Run the following command to give the script “execute” rights, “chmod +x ./update_GMOD.sh”
3. Convert the script from dos format to unix with the command “dos2unix ./update_GMOD.sh”
4. Update the script if you installed SteamCMD from the repository. Enter the command “nano update_GMOD.sh”
5. Change line 25 from “./bin/steamcmd.sh –“ to “/usr/games/steamcmd”
6. The new line will look like this “/usr/games/steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir “$HOME/$DIR” +app_update $APP_ID validate +quit”
7. Save and quit nano
8. Update the server with this command “./update_GMOD.sh”

Once that is complete, you can add content by editing the line “Add any additional servers here.” Just modify the script by updating it with the new content. If you have no more content to add, you can start the server with this command:

“~/server_1/srcds_run -game garrysmod +maxplayers 12 +map gm_flatgrass +sv_setsteamaccount <your token>”

MacOS

Here are the steps to setup GMOD server on your macOS:

1. Download and install SteamCMD
2. Login anonymously
3. Use the following to create the file directory “force_install_dir <…/my_garrysmod_server>”
4. Type “app_update 4020”
5. Type “app_update 4020 validate”
6. Click the srcds.exe file to set up the server

How to Host a GMOD Server

One way to skip the learning curve in the previous section is to use a VPS hosting service for your GMOD server. These services have proprietary GMOD servers you can purchase. Some allow you to make changes to your taste, while others do all the heavy lifting for you.

Learning how to host a GMOD server for friends can benefit you in the long run. Besides friends, you can expand the capacity to accommodate other players. With that said, here are your options when hosting a GMOD server:

Dedicated Server Hosting

However, we must warn you that it is skill-intensive. The hardware and software tweaks to manage the GMOD server fall into your hands.

You must be tech-savvy to opt for dedicated server hosting. That extends to installing add-ons from your collection. Learning how to make a Garry’s Mod server is one half of the journey. The other half is learning how to optimize the game with mods, custom maps, add-ons, etc.

With the GMOD server requiring little processing power and system configurations, you don’t need to worry about getting top-spec devices.

Managed VPS Hosting

Like in other games, you can purchase a virtual private server for GMOD.

It is a prudent choice if you are less tech-savvy or do not have the time to manage the server.

This setup is more affordable than dedicated server hosting. However, it takes the server’s control away from you. You might still be able to make changes, but that will come through the hosting service.

The hosting service can expand or scale the server if you want to. For example, you can scale it to accommodate up to 32 players if you start with 8 players.

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Unmanaged VPS hosting

This setup is similar to managed VPS hosting in that you still purchase the virtual private server. However, the setup and server management fall into your hands. 

Because the setup and server management fall into your hands, you must be tech-savvy to use this setup. That means you need to know how to run updates, configure parameters, and maintain the server.

Unmanaged VPS hosting is still scalable. However, it simply goes beyond paying for the hosting service. You need expertise to know what is going on.

Choosing the Right Garry’s Mod Server Hosting

A simple question that will help you is, do you want to learn how to make a Garry’s Mod server, or would you rather purchase one? Before deciding which one, it’s best to consider the following:

• Your technical expertise in running game servers
• Your technical expertise in coding and writing scripts
• How much control do you want over the server?
• How much do you want to spend on the server?

Let’s compare the three options in the table below:

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Configuring Your Server

Your GMOD server will come with default settings and parameters until you configure it. Configuration allows you to effect several changes, including the hostname, password, maximum number of players, enabling cheat mode, etc.

You can use Notepad++ to edit the server configuration file. Follow the steps below to add admins to your server:

1. Open the start.bat file you created to run the server (use a text editor).
2. Enter your Steam username for “superadmin.”
3. Enter your Steam user ID.
4. You can start a new line and use the same format to add other admins.
5. Save and exit.

Once that is out of the way, you can open your configuration file by following these steps:

1. Go to your server’s file directory (the same folder as the start.bat file) and open the garrysmod folder.
2. Open the cfg folder
3. Open server.cfg file with text editor.
4. Get a sample of the server.cfg file for Garry’s Mod and paste it into the text editor. You can refer to the resource at the end of this guide to get a sample configuration file.
5. Edit the parameters to your taste.
6. Save and exit.

Installing SteamCMD

Follow the instructions below, depending on your device:

For Windows

1. Download the SteamCMD Windows installation file.
2. Create a folder for the application.
3. Extract the zip files into this folder.
4. Place steamcmd.exe in the install folder and run the file.

For Linux

The instructions below refer to the manual SteamCMD installation on Linux devices. Installations from repositories have a different approach. We’ll provide a resource to guide you subsequently.

For the manual installation, follow the steps below:

1. Install the dependencies to run SteamCMD. For Ubuntu/Dabian (X86-64) type “sudo apt-get install lib32gcc-s1.” For Enterprise Linux (X86-64), type “yum install glibc.i686 libstdc++.i686”
2. Escalate from root user to steam user with “su – steam.” Otherwise, use “sudo -iu steam”
3. Create a SteamCMD directory with “mkdir ~/Steam && cd ~/Steam”
4. Download and extract SteamCMD for Linux with “curl -sqL “https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz”

For macOS

1. Open Terminal.app and create a new folder for SteamCMD by typing “mkdir ~/Steam && cd ~/Steam”
2. Download SteamCMD by typing the following “curl -O https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_osx.tar.gz”
3. Extract the contents to the directory through this command “tar -xvzf steamcmd_osx.tar.gz”
4. Use “login anonymous” to open SteamCMD

The table below shows a few basic SteamCMD commands to get you started:

Setup Commands

Here are a few setup commands to start your server:

Connecting

After you’ve completed the steps on how to make a Garry’s Mod server, it’s now time to connect and test it. For now, the connection will be through your local area network. We will discuss how to implement port forwarding to allow wireless connections.

Before connecting, ensure you obtain your IP address. Just type “IP address” in Google Chrome or a supported browser, and you should have it.

You might not need to enter the IP address manually. However, the IP address will also be essential to inviting your friends to your multiplayer game.

Follow the steps below to connect to your server:

1. Run your GMOD server
2. Open the Garry’s Mod game.
3. Click “Find multiplayer game.”
4. Click “Local network.”

 Your initial connection may work as planned. A few issues may pop up. The most common ones and how to address them are as follows:

• High ping or failed connection: You may have to reduce the max pings/minute from 5000 to 1000 on your Steam in-game browser server.
• Firewall and security pop-ups: Start by disabling the firewall to see if the server will run. Then, enable your firewall and add the server to the list of exceptions. You might have to restart your system and connect to your server again.

Once you’ve sorted these issues, launch the game and join again. Then, try moving around, having items, and spawning props. These functions should work flawlessly.

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How to Make a GMOD Modded Server

You might hear the terms add-ons and mods used interchangeably with GMOD servers. They both describe custom content that enhances the gameplay. However, mods can significantly change gameplay mechanics and add new features.

We’ll approach this section by discussing how to add add-ons and maps to your GMOD server. For add-ons, here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to Steam Workshop under Garry’s Mod
2. Create a collection and add your preferred add-ons.
3. Subscribe to the add-ons.
4. Once your collection is complete, copy the collection ID from the URL.
5. Open your start-bat file for editing.
6. Paste the collection ID after “host_workshop_collection”
7. Save and exit.
8. Launch the server to download the add-ons.

You can add maps from third-party websites or Steam Workshop. For the latter, do the following:

1. Open Steam Workshop and find your preferred maps.
2. Subscribe to the maps to download them.
3. Open your Steam file directory and go to “workshop>content>4000.”
4. Match the add-on ID to the folders.
5. Open the folder and find the file. Note that this file will not be in the “.bsp” format needed to work as an add-on.
6. Open the bin folder in your GMOD server folder.
7. Drag the add-on to the “gmad.exe” file. The file should change to “.bsp” format.
8. Open the start.bat file and replace the map name with the new one.

Installing from third-party websites requires a bit of work. Once you’ve obtained the “.bsp” file from your download, copy it and paste it into the maps folder of your GMOD server. Then, copy the folders from the downloaded map and paste them into the GMOD server maps folder.

Repeat that process for Garry’s Mod in the Steam directory.

Firewall

Your GMOD server will be set up with the default port number 27015. You can change it, but keep it between 20000 and 40000. Once you have your port number, you need to make it an exception to firewall blockage.

If you are using Windows, follow the steps below:

1. Open your “Firewall & Network Protection” settings
2. Click “Allow an app through firewall.’
3. Browse for Garry’s Mod server and check the private and public checkboxes.
4. Go to your “Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Settings” to create a new rule.
5. Pick “Port” for the rule type and select “TCP/UDP.”
6. Click “specify ports” and enter 27015. If you have any other ports, you can add them here.
7. Name your rule and restart your system.

For Linux, follow the guide below:

1. Type the following command:

“sudo apt update

Sudo apt install UFW”

1. Allow port 27015 for game traffic.
2. Run the command “sudo ufw enable”
3. Check the UFW status with “sudo ufw status”

Ensure you allow SSH access when running the above commands.

Use the steps below for macOS

1. Go to the firewall on your “Security & Privacy” page.
2. Click “Firewall options” and add new applications and servers.
3. Add Garry’s Mod server.
4. Set the server to allow incoming connections
5. Open the Terminal app to allow port 27015.

Port Forwarding

The last major step in learning how to make a Garry’s Mod server is implementing port forwarding for wireless connections. This step will allow your friends and players to connect to your server without being on your local area network.

We will give you general instructions on how to do this. However, the process is router dependent. Some routers provide the option in their mobile apps.

Here’s how you can approach port forwarding on your router:

1. Enter your router’s IP address in any supported browser on your PC.
2. Open your router’s settings and find “port forwarding.”
3. Create a new rule to add your GMOD server and the port number.
4. Use TCP/UDP as the protocol.
5. Input 27015 as the internal port. Add other ports you may have created.
6. Enter your system’s IP address.
7. Create and save the rule.

Some routers may require turning off “UPnP” to keep the port open. Once you are done, you can use the Port Checker website tool to check if the port is open. Ensure your GMOD server is running before starting the check.

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Server Improvements

We recommend monitoring and improving your server as time goes on, especially if your system has minimal specifications. You can boost your GPU drivers, extend the RAM, and tune other areas. Most importantly, watch out for lags or glitches during gameplay.

Things you can adjust include the tick rate, buttons, thrusters, emitters, etc. You can do this in the configuration file.

Make the adjustments and monitor the system’s performance. Keep tweaking until you have optimal performance for your friends and players.

Server Security

You can add yourself as a super admin and others as regular admins. That will ensure you alone have absolute control over the server. While doing that, set an equally strong password to protect your account.

You can always change the passwords if you feel the server is compromised. Otherwise, delete it and create another one.

Backup and Restore Procedures

How to Create Regular Backups: Essential Steps

A VPS hosting service should have the tools to create backups for your GMOD server. If you are using a dedicated server, then that task falls on you. The manual process involves copying your server files to a backup folder periodically.

If that sounds too demanding, you can create a script and use the Task Scheduler to run the backups automatically.

How to Restore the Server from a Backup

To restore your backup, simply find the file, copy it, and paste it into the server files. Then, restart your server to revert to your backup.

Again, VPS hosting services will have tools ready to restore your saved backup. Contact VPS customer support if you need assistance.

Useful Tools and Resources for Gamers

Adding maps and add-ons will improve the gameplay. However, you still need a way for players to engage with each other and communicate with you. Adding resources and tutorials can boost engagement as well.

A few tools and resources you can add include the following:

• A Discord channel: This platform can bring your players together to share information, learn about the latest updates, and keep up with you.
• Email: Put this up to allow your players to message you for support.
• Server monitoring tools: VPS hosting services will have these tools. If you are running a dedicated server, you will need third-party plugins.
• Backup solutions: Use cloud backups if possible.
• Anti-cheat software integration: Be careful with this one because some add-ons might need the cheat option to be on.

Community Management

Tips for Managing a Player Community

• Use your Discord channel and email to create a feedback system between you and your players.
• Drop updates on new add-ons, maps, and tutorials if necessary.
• Interact on your channels to keep the players engaged.
• Use moderation bots, but endeavor to address player concerns individually.

Setting Up and Enforcing Server Rules

• Begin by documenting what you want.
• Add the rules or modify them in the server configuration and settings files.
• Enforce the rules with plugins.

Handling Player Reports and Disputes

Take time out to respond to player complaints and queries. You can use bots to provide quick responses, but the final resolution should come from you. That ensures the human element is always there, a move that makes players feel more welcome.

You can appoint moderators for your Discord channel. These volunteers or paid workers can handle disputes and give appropriate resolutions.

Advanced Configuration

Setting Up Multiple Servers on the Same Machine

The first thing to do is to ensure each server runs on a different port. You can use single increments to change the ports.

Download the servers and set them up in different directories. Then, customize the settings and configurations for each server.

Use a batch script to open each server. Once set up, allocate the ports and implement port forwarding for all of them. Then, test your servers by connecting through your LAN and wirelessly.

Using Server Management Tools for Advanced Configurations

WindowsGSM is an ideal tool to manage multiple game servers on one device. You can source other tools from third parties. VPS hosting services will have tools to help you with these advanced configurations.

Final Word

Learning how to make a Garry’s Mod server might sound challenging. However, the process becomes simple once you start doing it. Follow our guides carefully, and you should have your server running in no time.

Besides hosting your friends, you can host other players on your server and make an income. If one is inadequate, go ahead and create multiple servers with different add-ons and maps.

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Next Steps: What Now?

• Understand What Is a Dedicated Server in Gaming
• Explore the Best Garry’s Mod Server Hosting Providers
• Check out the Top 5 Best Gaming Server Hosting Brands
• Get the Latest Game Server Hosting Coupons & Promo Codes

Further Reading – Useful Resources

• https://www.yourdevtools.com/gmod/servercfg
• https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD#macOS