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For a quick private game with a few friends, use Garry’s Mod’s built-in listen server with Steam P2P. Start a map from Start New Game, invite friends from Steam, and in most home networks nobody needs to configure port forwarding. Choose a dedicated server when the game must stay available without the host playing, when settings need to be repeatable, or when a group needs centrally managed Workshop content and gamemodes.
The important distinction is that “local server” and “peer-to-peer” are not competing buttons in Garry’s Mod. A local session is normally a listen server—the host’s game client also runs the server—and Steam P2P is the networking path that lets friends connect to that session.
What the two options actually mean
Listen (local) server with Steam P2P
When you choose Start New Game in Garry’s Mod’s main menu, your game client creates a listen server. You are both a player and the host process. Valve’s July 6, 2016 announcement explains that servers created this way can use Steam P2P networking, allowing friends to join through Steam’s friends list.
Steam says the feature works on most networks without special configuration such as port forwarding. That makes it the fastest way to start a private session, but it does not make the session independent of the host: when the host quits or leaves, the listen server ends.
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Dedicated server
A dedicated server is a separate Garry’s Mod server process. It can run on another computer, a rented machine, or a background process on your own system while you play from a separate client. Facepunch’s current documentation installs the dedicated-server application through SteamCMD using app ID 4020, then starts it with parameters for the map, gamemode, player limit and other settings.
Because the server process is separate, it can be restarted or automated and can remain online when no administrator is playing. That independence is the main reason to accept the extra installation, update and network work.
Quick comparison
| Consideration | Listen server + Steam P2P | Dedicated server |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Start a map and invite friends through Steam. | Install and update the server with SteamCMD, then maintain startup settings. |
| Network work | Steam says most networks need no special configuration such as port forwarding. | Firewall and router rules can matter. Steam lists local UDP 27015 for gameplay and local TCP 27015 for default SRCDS RCON. |
| Availability | Runs only while the host’s game session is running. | Runs as a separate process and can be scheduled, restarted or automated. |
| Host workload | The host machine runs the game client and server workload together. | Server work is separated from a player client, although capacity still depends on hardware, addons, map and connection. |
| Configuration | Convenient for temporary games and trusted friends. | Repeatable command-line settings, centralized gamemode and Workshop configuration. |
| Administration | Simple for a small group; detailed administration depends on the host’s game and addons. | Better suited to recurring communities, permissions, logs and scheduled access; exact tools depend on the gamemode and addons. |
Choose a listen server when speed and simplicity matter
A listen server is the right default when you are arranging a short private session, have a small trusted group, and do not need the world to continue while you are away. It avoids installing a second server application and usually avoids router changes.
Starting a private P2P session
- Launch Garry’s Mod and select Start New Game from the main menu.
- Choose the map and gamemode you want to run. Set the available game options before launching.
- Start the session. Your client is now hosting the listen server.
- Use Steam’s friends list to invite friends or have them join you. Valve’s announcement describes this friends-list join/invite flow as the intended way to use the feature.
- Keep the game running for the duration of the session. Leaving the game stops the listen server and disconnects everyone.
Steam P2P removes a common source of friction, but “most networks” is not “every network.” Corporate, school, carrier-grade NAT or heavily restricted networks can still prevent a connection. If a friend cannot join, treat that as a connectivity or content-compatibility problem rather than assuming the feature guarantees universal reachability.
What the host should prepare
- Use the same Garry’s Mod branch and current game updates as the people joining.
- Decide which maps, gamemode and addons the session requires before inviting people.
- Expect the host computer to handle both rendering the game and serving the other players. The impact varies with hardware, map complexity, addon behavior and connection quality.
- Keep the host’s connection stable. A brief interruption affects every player because the host is the server.
Choose a dedicated server for persistence and repeatability
Use a dedicated server if friends expect to find the server at set times, if the host wants to play without also carrying server duties, or if you need the same map, gamemode and Workshop collection every time. It is also the better foundation for a public or semi-public community, where permissions, logs and restart procedures matter.
For a hosted option, Godlike.Host provides Garry’s Mod servers with a Pterodactyl-based game panel, SFTP/FTP access, up to three free backups a day with restore, and 24/7/365 support.
Install the server with SteamCMD
- Install SteamCMD on the machine that will run the server.
- Use SteamCMD to install or update Garry’s Mod’s dedicated-server app, ID 4020. Facepunch identifies 4020 as the current Garry’s Mod dedicated-server application.
- Keep the server files in a dedicated folder so updates, configuration and backups are easy to manage.
- Create a startup command or script that sets the map, gamemode and maximum players. Facepunch documents these as startup parameters; use the current parameter names in its documentation rather than copying an old forum example.
- Choose the server’s location and launch it. A machine geographically close to most players generally reduces network distance, but there is no authoritative universal latency or player-count threshold that applies to every map and addon set.
The exact capacity you will obtain cannot be reduced to a guaranteed number of players or frames per second. Hardware, operating-system load, map scripts, physics activity, Workshop addons and network conditions all change the result. Test the actual map and addon collection on the machine you intend to use.
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Keep the process available
A dedicated server can run without a player connected, so you can schedule operating hours, restart it after a crash or update, and let players connect while the administrator is away. The process may still need monitoring: an automated restart does not fix a broken addon, a missing map or a configuration error.
Network and port considerations
Why P2P usually needs less router work
Steam’s July 2016 announcement says that, on most networks, friends can connect to a listen server without special network configuration such as port forwarding. That is the practical advantage of trying P2P first when you cannot or do not want to change a router.
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If a friend cannot join, first verify that the host is still in the session and that both players are using compatible game and addon content. Then try joining from the Steam friends list again. A restrictive network can still block P2P even though no port-forwarding rule is required in the normal case.
Ports for a dedicated or directly reachable server
Steam’s current support guidance lists UDP local port 27015 for gameplay traffic and TCP local port 27015 for the default SRCDS RCON service. These are local defaults, not a promise that every installation uses an identical arrangement. Confirm the current Steam guidance and your own startup settings before creating firewall or router rules.
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Allow only the services you intend to expose. If RCON is not needed, do not open it simply because the port exists. A public server also needs an operating-system firewall rule and, when the machine is behind a router, an appropriate forwarding rule. Steamworks P2P uses separate UDP ranges, so those dedicated-server port instructions should not be copied to a P2P listen session.
Workshop addons and repeatable content
Listen sessions
A listen server is convenient for experimenting with addons, but every participant must be able to obtain and load compatible content. Missing maps, conflicting scripts or different addon versions can prevent a friend from joining or can produce a session that behaves differently for each player. Agree on the collection and gamemode before starting rather than troubleshooting after everyone has connected.
Dedicated-server collections
Facepunch documents the startup switch +host_workshop_collection <collectionID> for downloading and mounting a Workshop collection when the dedicated server starts. A collection gives the server one central definition of the content it expects, which is easier to reproduce than asking each administrator to install addons manually.
The Facepunch Workshop documentation also describes a configuration-file method introduced in version 2026.09.22. If you use that method, follow the current documentation for its file format and placement rather than relying on older guides.
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Facepunch documents that automatic updates can be disabled. That can be useful when you need a known, frozen content set, but it creates an operational obligation: after a map or addon changes, clients may no longer be able to join until the server content is updated. Decide whether stability or automatic freshness is more important, then record the choice in your maintenance procedure.
Host load, stability and administration
Listen-server trade-offs
The host’s machine performs two jobs at once. A demanding map, heavy physics scene or poorly behaved addon can affect the host’s frame rate and the server’s responsiveness at the same time. Other players also depend on the host’s upload connection and uptime. There is no authoritative benchmark that predicts the effect for every computer, so test the intended setup instead of relying on a fixed player limit.
Dedicated-server trade-offs
Separating the process from the player client makes administration and troubleshooting cleaner, but it does not remove resource limits. A dedicated process still needs CPU time, memory, disk space and network capacity, and addons can consume disproportionate resources. Centralized configuration, logs and restart scripts become valuable as the group grows.
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Requirements and planning checklist
Before choosing, write down how the group actually plays. A listen session needs one person willing to launch the game and remain connected for the whole event. It is a poor fit for a world that people should visit while that person is asleep or offline. A dedicated process needs a machine that can remain powered and reachable, plus someone responsible for updates, configuration and recovery.
- Group size and trust: A small, trusted group favors the quick invite model. A larger or changing community benefits from defined administration and repeatable settings.
- Schedule: Occasional sessions favor listen hosting. Scheduled evenings, persistent builds or drop-in play favor a dedicated process.
- Content: A few experimental addons are easy to test in a listen game. A recurring collection should be written down and mounted centrally on a dedicated server.
- Network control: If you cannot edit a router, try Steam P2P. If a dedicated server must be reachable from outside its local network, plan firewall and forwarding work using current Steam guidance.
- Testing: Test the exact map, gamemode and addon set. There is no reliable universal player-count, bandwidth, latency or frames-per-second number that substitutes for this test.
Common failure points and how to isolate them
When a friend cannot join a listen session, check the simple conditions first: the host must still be in the game, both players should be updated, and the selected map and addons must be compatible. Re-send the Steam invite or have the friend join from the friends list. If only one network has trouble, that points toward a local restriction rather than a universal Garry’s Mod limit.
For a dedicated server, separate startup, content and reachability problems. First confirm that SteamCMD installed or updated app 4020 and that the process starts with the intended map and gamemode. Next confirm that the Workshop collection identifier is correct and that required maps and addons are present. Finally check the operating-system firewall, router forwarding and the port values actually used by the startup configuration. Do not assume that an old guide’s port or command line matches the current installation.
A server that starts but feels unstable may be overloaded by the chosen map, physics activity or an addon. Remove or test addons one at a time, compare the same content on the listen host and dedicated process, and keep notes of changes. This produces a repeatable diagnosis instead of changing several variables at once.
Administration and maintenance habits
For a recurring dedicated server, keep the startup command, Workshop collection ID, gamemode choice and update policy in one documented place. Record whether automatic updates are enabled or disabled and schedule a maintenance window when that policy requires deliberate updates. Back up configuration and important world data before changing addons or maps.
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When a dedicated server is unnecessary
Dedicated hosting is not automatically better. It adds a separate installation, update routine and troubleshooting surface. If everyone plays together for a short period and nobody needs the server while the host is away, that overhead buys little. Start with a listen server, learn which maps and addons the group actually enjoys, and migrate only when persistence or repeatability becomes a real problem.
Decision rules for common situations
“We want to play right now with a few friends.”
Start a listen server and invite everyone through Steam. It has the shortest path from launching the game to playing and normally avoids router configuration.
“Nobody should have to keep the game open.”
Use a dedicated server. A listen session ends when its host leaves; a dedicated process can stay online independently.
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“The host wants to play without hosting duties.”
Run the dedicated process on another machine or in a separate environment. This removes the need for the player’s client to carry the server workload and lets the server be restarted independently.
“We use a fixed Workshop collection and gamemode every week.”
Use a dedicated server with documented startup parameters and +host_workshop_collection <collectionID>. Centralizing the collection makes the setup repeatable and easier to update deliberately.
“Port forwarding is impossible or undesirable.”
Try Steam P2P first. Steam explicitly designed the listen-server feature to work on most networks without special configuration. If the network blocks it, a dedicated server on a reachable network may be the practical alternative.
“We are opening the server to the public.”
Prefer a dedicated server and plan for firewall rules, update windows, administration, logs and recovery. Do not publish a server until you understand which gameplay and management ports your configuration actually uses.
A practical migration path
You do not have to choose permanently. Begin with a listen server while the group is small. Once the host’s schedule, uptime or addon-management needs become inconvenient, install the dedicated app and reproduce the same map and gamemode in a startup script. Add the Workshop collection switch, test the complete content set with a few players, and only then change the group’s regular join instructions.
That staged approach also exposes problems early. If an addon fails on the listen session, it is better to fix or remove it before making it part of a persistent server. If friends cannot connect through P2P, testing the same content on a dedicated machine separates a network limitation from an addon or map problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use a local server or peer-to-peer in Garry’s Mod?
For a quick private game, use the listen server started with Start New Game and Steam P2P. P2P is the connection method for that listen session, not a separate replacement for it. Choose a dedicated server when you need independent uptime, repeatable configuration or centrally managed content.
How do I play Garry’s Mod with friends without port forwarding?
Start a map from the main menu’s Start New Game, then invite friends through Steam’s friends list. Valve says Steam P2P works on most networks without special configuration such as port forwarding. Restricted school, corporate or carrier-grade networks can still block a connection.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDoes the host need to stay in the game?
Yes, for a listen server. The host’s game client is also the server process, so leaving or quitting ends the session for everyone. A dedicated server can remain online while no player or administrator is connected.
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When do I need a dedicated GMod server?
Use one when players need scheduled or persistent access, when the host should play without also hosting, or when map, gamemode and Workshop settings must be reproduced reliably. It is also the better foundation for a public or semi-public community.
What is the Garry’s Mod dedicated-server app ID?
Facepunch’s current documentation identifies app ID 4020 for the Garry’s Mod dedicated server, installed and updated through SteamCMD.
Which ports should I open for a dedicated server?
Steam’s current support guidance lists local UDP 27015 for gameplay and local TCP 27015 for the default SRCDS RCON service. Treat these as defaults, confirm your startup settings, and expose only the services you actually use. Steamworks P2P uses separate UDP ranges.
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Create or use a Workshop collection and add the startup switch +host_workshop_collection <collectionID>. Facepunch also documents a configuration-file method introduced in version 2026.09.22; follow the current documentation for that method’s format and location.
Can I disable automatic Workshop updates?
Facepunch documents that automatic updates can be disabled. This can preserve a known content set, but stale maps or addons may stop clients from joining after changes. Record the policy and perform deliberate updates when the collection changes.
How many players can either option handle?
There is no authoritative universal player-count, FPS, bandwidth or latency threshold. Results vary with hardware, map scripts, physics, addons, operating-system load and network conditions. Test the exact map and content set on the intended machine.
Is a dedicated server always faster or more stable?
Not automatically. Separating the server process from the player client can make administration cleaner, but capacity still depends on hardware, configuration, addons and connection quality. A demanding map or poorly behaved addon can affect either setup.
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Use a listen server with Steam P2P for the fastest private game with trusted friends and no need for the host to leave. Use a dedicated server when uptime, scheduled access, independent hosting or repeatable Workshop and gamemode configuration justify the extra setup. Start small, test your real map and addon set, and migrate when the group’s needs—not a theoretical player limit—make persistence worthwhile.
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