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To add an administrator to a Team Fortress 2 dedicated server, install MetaMod:Source and SourceMod, obtain the player’s SteamID, then add that identity and the required permission flags to tf/addons/sourcemod/configs/admins_simple.ini. The basic entry is "STEAM_0:1:16" "z"; replace the example SteamID, and use a smaller flag set instead of z unless the person needs complete control.
After saving the file, reload SourceMod’s admin data or restart/reconnect as appropriate for your installation. Test one command the new administrator should have and one command they should not have. This catches identity, syntax, permission, and reload errors before the account is trusted with live moderation.
What you need before editing an admin file
SourceMod supplies the permission system and administrative commands. MetaMod:Source loads SourceMod into a Source dedicated server, so both components must be functioning before an admin entry can work. Adding a SteamID to a file on a server without a working SourceMod installation has no effect.
- Access to the server’s files, either locally or through the host’s file manager or SFTP.
- A working MetaMod:Source and SourceMod installation.
- The server’s
tfgame directory. - The SteamID of each person you want to authorize.
- A decision about what that person should be allowed to do.
- A way to reload SourceMod’s admin data, reconnect, or restart the server.
Do not edit a similarly named configuration in the server root or in another game directory. The file used by a normal TF2 installation is inside the TF2 directory under addons/sourcemod/configs.
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Choose the right administration file
SourceMod provides two practical configuration styles. The simple file is quickest for a small server; the structured file is easier to maintain when you have roles, groups, passwords, and immunity rules.
| Approach | File | Best for | What an entry can express | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple entries | tf/addons/sourcemod/configs/admins_simple.ini |
One owner or a small moderation team | Identity, permission flags or a group reference, and an optional password | Fast to edit, but repeated flags become difficult to audit as staff grows |
| Structured records | tf/addons/sourcemod/configs/admins.cfg |
Several staff levels or a larger community | Authentication method, identity, password, groups, flags, and immunity | More verbose and easier to break with a misplaced brace or quote |
Use one style consistently. A small server can begin with admins_simple.ini and move to admins.cfg when staff roles need to be represented explicitly. The permission model is the same; the file format and maintenance burden differ.
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Find the administrator’s SteamID
Steam authentication is normally the safest identity method because it follows the player’s account instead of a display name or a potentially changing IP address. SourceMod accepts SteamID2 values such as STEAM_0:1:123456 and SteamID3 values such as [U:1:246913].
Get an ID while the player is connected
- Have the player join the server.
- Open the server console or an authorized console interface.
- Run
status. - Locate the player in the output and copy the SteamID exactly, including its prefix, colon, brackets, and digits.
Keep the ID as text. Do not remove punctuation, convert it by hand, or substitute the person’s current nickname. A one-character error creates an entry that never matches the connecting account.
Check the identity before granting access
Compare the copied ID with the player’s account through a trusted channel before assigning privileges. If you maintain several servers, record the account owner and the date it was verified in your private staff documentation. Never publish SteamIDs together with passwords or other sensitive administration details.
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Add a first administrator with admins_simple.ini
Make a backup of the existing file before editing it. Preserve the file’s quotation marks and use one complete entry per line. The simple format accepts an identity, a permission string or group reference, and, when needed, a password.
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"STEAM_0:1:16" "z"STEAM_0:1:16 is only the template’s example. Replace it with the real SteamID. The z flag is SourceMod’s root flag: it grants all available permissions. Reserve it for a trusted owner or technical administrator, because a typo in a root entry gives the wrong account complete control.
Least-privilege moderator entry
"STEAM_0:1:123456" "bce"The example bce combination represents generic access, kick access, and unban-related access in the standard flag set. Choose only the capabilities required by the role. A helper who only needs to communicate with players should not receive the same access as a person who can ban, change maps, alter server variables, or execute remote-console commands.
Optional password field
The complete simple-file form has three quoted settings:
"identity" "permissions" "password"For Steam authentication, the identity is usually sufficient and the password field can be omitted. If you use a password, treat it as a credential: do not paste it into public chat, shared documentation, or a script repository. A password does not repair an incorrect SteamID or an incorrectly formatted line.
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Names and IP identities
The identity field can also be a player name. Name-based authentication is fragile because names can change, contain unusual characters, or be imitated. An IP identity is prefixed with !. IP authorization can be useful in a controlled network, but it is generally less dependable for Internet players because addresses may change or be shared. Prefer a SteamID unless you have a specific reason to use another identity.
Understand SourceMod permission flags
Flags are letters that grant individual capabilities. The exact commands exposed by a plugin still depend on that plugin’s requirements, but the standard SourceMod letters are commonly used as follows.
| Flag | Common capability | Use carefully because it can |
|---|---|---|
a |
Reservation | Allow a player to use a reserved slot |
b |
Generic access | Act as a base permission required by some commands |
c |
Kick | Remove players from the server |
d |
Ban | Prevent players from joining for a specified period |
e |
Unban | Remove a ban |
f |
Slay | Kill or otherwise punish a player in-game |
g |
Change map | Interrupt the current match |
h |
ConVar access | Change server variables |
i |
Config access | Execute configuration-related actions |
j |
Chat access | Use administrative chat functions |
k |
Vote access | Start or control administrative votes |
l |
Password access | Use password-related server controls |
m |
Remote-console access | Run powerful server commands |
n |
Cheat access | Use commands marked as cheats |
o–t |
Custom access slots | Grant permissions defined by plugins or local policy |
z |
Root | Grant every permission |
Use a continuous string such as cde, not a comma-separated list. Avoid spaces inside the permission value unless the value is a group reference. If a plugin documents a required custom flag, add that letter deliberately and document why.
Use groups instead of repeating long flag strings
A simple-file entry can refer to a group by putting @ before the group name:
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Groups become especially valuable when your staff has distinct duties. For example, a helper group might have chat and gag-related permissions, a moderator group might add kick and ban access, and an owner group might have root access. Give each group the smallest set of flags that supports its job.
Set immunity for a staff hierarchy
Immunity controls which administrators can target one another. A simple-file permission value can include an immunity number before a colon, followed by the flags:
"STEAM_0:1:123456" "83:abcdefgh"In this example, 83 is the access value and abcdefgh is the permission string. An administrator normally cannot target another administrator with a higher access value. This prevents a junior moderator from kicking or banning a senior administrator accidentally or maliciously.
The sm_immunity_mode setting can change how those comparisons are applied. If immunity behavior does not match your policy, inspect that setting and the relevant SourceMod documentation for the build installed on your server rather than assuming the number alone determines every targeting rule.
Plan immunity before assigning it
- Give owners the highest value.
- Give senior moderators a value above ordinary moderators.
- Give helpers a lower value or no targeting permissions.
- Do not use immunity as a substitute for least privilege; a person with root access remains powerful even if their immunity value is low.
- Test both directions: verify that a lower-level admin cannot target a higher-level admin and that authorized staff can still moderate ordinary players.
When to use admins.cfg
The structured file is a better fit when each administrator needs an explicit authentication method, password, group membership, flags, or immunity value. It stores those properties as records rather than compressing them into a single line.
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"Admins"
{
"Example Owner"
{
"auth" "steam"
"identity" "STEAM_0:1:123456"
"flags" "z"
"immunity" "100"
}
"Example Moderator"
{
"auth" "steam"
"identity" "[U:1:246913]"
"flags" "bce"
"immunity" "50"
}
}Treat this as a layout example and adapt it to the exact syntax accepted by your SourceMod version and existing file. Do not paste a structured record into admins_simple.ini; the two parsers expect different formats. Keep a known-good backup so a missing quote or brace can be removed quickly.
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Save, reload, and verify the change
- Stop editing and save the file in plain text. Keep the original filename and extension.
- Check that the SteamID, quotation marks, flag letters, group name, and immunity value are on the intended line.
- Use the admin-data reload command supplied by your SourceMod installation. Many installations expose
sm_reloadadmins, but command availability and behavior can vary by build and configuration. - If you cannot confirm a reload command, restart the server or have the administrator disconnect and reconnect after the server has loaded the edited data.
- Have the administrator join with the account that owns the recorded SteamID.
- Run a harmless command that the assigned flags should allow.
- Attempt a command that the role should not allow, preferably in a controlled test situation, and confirm it is rejected.
Do not consider an administrator active merely because the file saved successfully. Authentication, permission resolution, command registration, and immunity all need to be checked in the running server.
Troubleshoot an admin who cannot use commands
The player is not recognized
- Run
statusagain and compare the live SteamID character by character with the file. - Make sure you used the account that owns the recorded ID, not a family member’s account or a different Steam login.
- Check that the entry is in the TF2 directory, not another Source game’s
addonsfolder. - Confirm that SourceMod and MetaMod:Source loaded successfully before troubleshooting the admin line.
The file was ignored
- Check the filename and path:
tf/addons/sourcemod/configs/admins_simple.inifor the simple format. - Look for smart quotes, missing quotes, extra characters, or an accidental comment marker.
- Ensure the file was saved to the server, not only to a local download.
- Reload the admin data or restart the server after the final edit.
- Inspect the SourceMod error log for parse errors and correct the first reported syntax problem before changing unrelated entries.
The admin has too much or too little access
- Check for an unintended
zflag or a group that adds more permissions than expected. - Check whether permissions are inherited from both a direct entry and a group.
- Confirm that the plugin’s command requires the flag you assigned; custom plugins may use custom slots.
- Review immunity separately from permissions. Immunity affects targeting between admins, not whether a person is authenticated.
One admin can target another unexpectedly
Compare their immunity values, then review sm_immunity_mode. Also check whether one account receives a second entry with a different value. Test with ordinary players and with each staff level so the hierarchy is understood before a live incident.
Security and maintenance practices
Prefer account identity over name or IP
Names are mutable and IP addresses can change. SteamID authentication reduces accidental reassignment when a player changes their nickname or network. Remove old entries when staff leaves instead of relying on a name change or an expired address.
Reserve root access
z is convenient for the owner who maintains the server, but it also bypasses the discipline of role-based permissions. Use specific flags for moderators, helpers, event staff, and map managers. Review every root entry after staff changes.
Back up before each structural change
Keep dated copies of admins_simple.ini and admins.cfg outside the live configuration directory. A backup lets you restore access after a malformed edit, while a change log explains why a permission was granted and who approved it.
Test after plugin changes
Installing or removing an administrative plugin can alter command requirements or introduce custom flags. Recheck the permissions of each role after such a change, and test on a private or password-protected server when possible.
Simple file or structured file: a practical decision
| Choose this | When it fits | Recommended practice |
|---|---|---|
admins_simple.ini |
You have a few trusted people and straightforward permissions | Use SteamIDs, short flag strings, and comments in your own staff documentation |
| Groups in the simple system | Several people share exactly one role | Define the role once and reference it with @GroupName |
admins.cfg |
You need explicit authentication records, several roles, passwords, or immunity levels | Keep indentation consistent, validate braces and quotes, and back up before reloading |
For a two-person server, the simple format is usually the fastest reliable route. For a community with rotating moderators, several permission tiers, or a documented chain of authority, structured records and groups make reviews safer.
Quick Recap
Recommended setup checklist
- MetaMod:Source and SourceMod are installed and loading.
- The edit is being made in the TF2 server’s
tf/addons/sourcemod/configsdirectory. - The player’s SteamID was copied from
statusor another trusted verification method. - The chosen authentication method is Steam unless a name or IP is deliberately required.
- The permission string contains only the flags needed for the role.
- The
zflag is limited to trusted owners or technical administrators. - Group references begin with
@and match an existing group. - Immunity values reflect the intended staff hierarchy.
- The file was backed up and saved with valid quotes and spelling.
- Admin data was reloaded, or the server and player session were refreshed.
- An allowed command and a deliberately disallowed command were tested.
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