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Godlike.Host offers hosted Garry's Mod servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
To host a Garry’s Mod server in 2026, install the dedicated server with SteamCMD (App ID 4020), launch the platform-specific executable with a map, gamemode and player limit, and attach a unique Steam Game Server Login Token (GSLT) created for Garry’s Mod’s base-game App ID 4000. Add Workshop content through a public or unlisted collection, or—on server version 2026.09.22 and newer—through cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt.
Windows and Linux dedicated servers are documented by Facepunch. macOS dedicated servers are no longer shipped. The steps below cover installation, identity, Workshop and custom-file delivery, maintenance, troubleshooting, and the practical choice between running the host yourself and using managed infrastructure.
What you need before installing
A dedicated Garry’s Mod server is a separate server process, not the same as opening a single-player or listen-server session from the game client. You provide a computer or virtual machine, an operating system, network access and ongoing administration. SteamCMD downloads and updates the server files; the server executable then loads the game, map, gamemode and addons.
- A Windows or Linux host that you can administer.
- SteamCMD installed on that host.
- Enough storage for the base server and the maps, gamemodes and addons you choose. Facepunch’s current setup material does not publish a universal CPU, memory, bandwidth or player-capacity recommendation, so size the host from your actual addon set and player load rather than an invented minimum.
- A separate GSLT for every server instance you operate.
- A plan for backups, updates, firewall and network reachability.
Community hosting is permitted under Facepunch’s policy, provided the server follows its guidelines. Facepunch states: “We’re fine with people making their own community servers for our Games (‘Servers’).” Violations can result in browser delisting or other sanctions; a community server should not be described as official unless Facepunch has granted that status. Read the Community Server and Hosting Guidelines before opening the server publicly.
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Install the dedicated server with SteamCMD
SteamCMD installs the Garry’s Mod dedicated server under App ID 4020. The command differs slightly by operating system, but the update operation is the same: authenticate anonymously, select an install directory if needed, download the app and validate the files.
Windows installation
- Install SteamCMD from Valve’s distribution for your Windows host and open a command prompt in the SteamCMD directory.
- Log in anonymously:
login anonymous. - Choose an install directory with
force_install_dirif you want the server outside SteamCMD’s default location. - Download or update Garry’s Mod:
app_update 4020 validate. - Exit SteamCMD with
quit.
Facepunch warns that force_install_dir can cause update problems in some situations. If an update fails, remove that option for the next attempt or reinstall into a different folder. The official Windows instructions are in Downloading and Hosting a Dedicated Server.
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Facepunch’s Linux example places the server in a directory named gmodds one level above the current SteamCMD location:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir ../gmodds +app_update 4020 validate +quitRun the process under a dedicated, non-root user rather than an account used for unrelated services. The Linux guide also discusses wrapper scripts and starting the server again after a reboot. See Linux Dedicated Server Hosting for the platform-specific arrangement.
macOS status and beta branches
Facepunch’s current dedicated-server documentation says macOS dedicated servers are no longer shipped. Do not plan a normal macOS deployment from the current package. The documentation also describes installing a beta branch by adding -beta to the SteamCMD update command. Development branches may be unstable, and branch names and platform support can change, so verify the current branch instructions before selecting one.
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Launch a first server
Start with a simple command that proves the installation works before adding a large addon collection. Facepunch’s Windows example is:
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srcds.exe +maxplayers 20 -console +gamemode sandbox +map gm_construct +sv_setsteamaccount <your token>The equivalent Linux executable is srcds_run. The Linux guide’s basic example is:
./srcds_run -game garrysmod +maxplayers 32 +map gm_constructThese examples use different player limits; choose a starting value appropriate to your host and intended session, then measure stability as you add content. The official material does not promise that either number is a universal capacity.
Understand the launch parameters
+maxplayerssets the starting player limit.+gamemodeselects the gamemode folder. Use the folder name, not a display name or a Workshop item title.+mapselects the map filename without the.bspextension, such asgm_construct.-consolekeeps the Windows process in console mode, which is useful for administration and logs.+sv_setsteamaccountassociates the process with its GSLT.
Map and gamemode files can come from the normal server directories or from Workshop addons. Folder and filename spelling matters: a correctly downloaded file will still fail to load if the launch argument does not match its actual folder or map filename.
Keep multiple servers separate
For two or more servers, give each instance its own install or configuration arrangement, its own launch script and its own GSLT. Separate directories make it easier to assign different gamemodes, maps, Workshop content and update schedules without accidentally changing another server. Never reuse one token across multiple instances.
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Create and protect a Steam Game Server Login Token
A GSLT identifies a dedicated server to Steam. Facepunch says every server should use a token to avoid a severe server-list ranking penalty, and each server needs a unique token. Create the token against Garry’s Mod’s base-game App ID 4000, then pass it at launch with:
+sv_setsteamaccount YOURLOGINTOKENHEREFollow Facepunch’s current instructions in Steam Game Server Accounts when generating the token. Treat it like a credential: do not publish it in screenshots, paste it into public issue reports or commit it to a public configuration repository. A password change invalidates active tokens, so be prepared to create and deploy replacements after changing the account password.
Token checklist
- Use App ID
4000when creating a Garry’s Mod token. - Assign one unique token to each running server.
- Place the token in a protected launch script or service configuration.
- Replace the token if it is exposed or invalidated.
- Restart the server after changing the launch argument.
Add Workshop maps, gamemodes and addons
Workshop content is mounted when the dedicated server starts. You can supply a collection ID on the command line or, on server version 2026.09.22 and newer, list individual Workshop IDs in a configuration file. Facepunch documents both methods in Workshop for Dedicated Servers.
Method 1: a Workshop collection
- Create or select a Workshop collection containing the maps, gamemodes and addons the server needs.
- Make the collection public or unlisted. A private collection cannot be accessed by the dedicated server.
- Add the collection argument to the launch command:
+host_workshop_collection COLLECTION_ID. - Restart the server and watch the startup output for Workshop checks and mounts.
- Join with a clean client to confirm that the map and required assets are available.
Nested collections are supported, so a collection can include other collections when that matches how you organize content. Keep a written record of the collection ID and its intended contents so another administrator can reproduce the deployment.
Method 2: srcds_workshop_ids.txt
On server version 2026.09.22 or newer, create:
garrysmod/cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txtPut the required Workshop IDs in that file according to Facepunch’s documented format, then restart the server. This approach is useful when you want the server’s content list in a file under version control or when a single collection does not reflect your desired grouping. Confirm the running server version before relying on this file; older versions do not provide this configuration path.
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Automatic Workshop updates: convenience versus control
The documented behavior enables automatic Workshop updates by default. An addon author can change a map, script or dependency without you editing the server, which reduces routine maintenance but can also change a live server at startup. To pin content temporarily, set:
host_workshop_autoupdate 0Facepunch warns that disabling updates can leave maps or other content behind and prevent players from joining. If you disable updates, establish your own review and update process: test the new content on a staging instance, schedule the restart, then re-enable or deliberately manage the pinned version.
Deliver custom files to connecting players
Installing an addon on the server does not guarantee that every client has its models, materials, sounds or other required files. Facepunch describes WorkshopDL and FastDL as separate delivery approaches in Serving Content.
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Workshop delivery
Upload the content to the Workshop, include it in the server’s collection or ID file, and make sure clients can receive it through the Workshop path. Client download settings can affect what they receive, so test with a client that has not previously subscribed to the addon. Update the server’s collection when dependencies change.
FastDL delivery
FastDL requires a separate web server that hosts downloadable files and a server setting pointing to it with sv_downloadurl. Mark the relevant files for download and mirror the directory structure expected by the game. Facepunch notes that FastDL can be slow when many small files are downloaded separately, so package and organize content carefully. FastDL is not a replacement for Workshop mounting; it is a different delivery path for files you host yourself.
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Content-delivery checks
- Connect using a client that has never subscribed to the addon.
- Confirm that the map loads and that models, materials and sounds are present.
- Check the client console and server log for missing-file messages.
- Verify that the URL configured by
sv_downloadurlis reachable from outside the host network when using FastDL. - After changing content, restart and test again rather than assuming an existing client cache proves a clean installation.
Operate the server safely
Plan updates
Run SteamCMD’s app_update 4020 validate during a maintenance window, then restart the server and test the configured map, gamemode and Workshop content. Validation can repair missing or changed files, but it does not test whether a newly updated addon is compatible with your configuration.
Use scripts and service management
A startup script should contain the executable, game arguments, GSLT and Workshop configuration. On Linux, use a dedicated user and a service or supervisor that can restart the process after a crash or reboot. Keep secrets outside world-readable files. On Windows, use a protected script or service account and retain the console log for troubleshooting.
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Back up configuration files, launch scripts, custom gamemodes, FastDL content and any server-side data your gamemode creates. The SteamCMD installation itself can be recreated, but rebuilding a carefully curated collection, configuration and custom content takes longer than restoring them.
Monitor reachability and join behavior
A server can be running locally yet unreachable to players because of host firewall rules, router configuration or upstream network restrictions. Test from a network outside the host’s local network. If players can see the server but fail to join, inspect Workshop mounting, map names, missing assets and stale content before changing unrelated settings.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
The official setup pages do not publish provider prices or endorse a hosting company. The meaningful decision is who performs the operational work and what control you require.
| Decision area | Self-hosted server | Managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Operating-system and server updates | You install SteamCMD updates, apply operating-system maintenance and schedule restarts. | The provider may handle some host maintenance; confirm exactly which updates and restarts are included. |
| Files, addons and configuration | Full control over install directories, scripts, gamemodes, Workshop files and FastDL. | Control depends on the provider’s panel, file access and terms. |
| Network reachability and uptime | You arrange firewall, routing, upstream connectivity and recovery. | The provider supplies its network and facility; verify geography, uptime commitments and mitigation options. |
| Cost | You pay for the host, electricity or infrastructure you select and maintain. | You pay a recurring service price that varies by player target, location and included features. |
| Support and backups | You create backups, logs and recovery procedures. | Check whether support, snapshots and restore assistance are included or extra. |
Choose self-hosting when you need direct file access, custom automation or complete control and can maintain the system. Choose managed infrastructure when reducing operating-system and network administration is worth the recurring cost and any panel limitations. Confirm current Garry’s Mod support, region, plan limits, terms and backup policy before buying; the official setup documentation does not establish those details for any particular provider.
Quick Recap
Troubleshoot the failures that matter most
SteamCMD will not update the server
- Run
app_update 4020 validateagain. - If you used
force_install_dir, remove it and retry, because Facepunch documents update problems associated with that option in some cases. - If the installation remains inconsistent, reinstall into another directory and validate the new copy.
The server starts but is missing from the list
- Confirm that the process includes a valid GSLT created for App ID
4000. - Check that the token belongs only to this server and has not been invalidated by an account password change.
- Review firewall, router and upstream network reachability from an external connection.
- Read the startup log for an executable or configuration error before changing player or Workshop settings.
The selected gamemode or map does not load
- Use the gamemode’s exact folder name after
+gamemode. - Use the map filename without
.bspafter+map. - Confirm that the Workshop item mounted successfully and that the map is available in the expected directory.
- Test the base
sandboxgamemode andgm_constructmap to separate installation problems from addon problems.
Players cannot join after a Workshop change
- Check whether automatic updates changed the map or a dependency at startup.
- If you set
host_workshop_autoupdate 0, update the server deliberately so it is not behind the collection. - Verify that the collection is public or unlisted, or that the server version supports and correctly reads
cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt. - Test with a client that has not cached the previous files.
Players join but see missing models or textures
- Confirm the addon is included for server use, not merely installed on the host.
- Choose Workshop delivery or configure FastDL with a separate web server and
sv_downloadurl. - Check file paths, download flags and the client’s download settings.
- Inspect logs for individual missing files; a server-side addon installation alone is not proof that clients received every asset.
A practical first-day checklist
- Install SteamCMD and download App ID
4020. - Launch the clean server with a known map and gamemode.
- Create a unique GSLT for App ID
4000and add+sv_setsteamaccount. - Test external reachability before installing addons.
- Add a small Workshop collection or a supported ID file.
- Decide whether Workshop updates should remain automatic or be reviewed and pinned.
- Test a fresh client for map, gamemode and asset downloads.
- Record the launch command, collection or ID list, update procedure and backup location.
- Apply the community-server guidelines and keep the token private.
Official references
- Downloading and Hosting a Dedicated Server
- Linux Dedicated Server Hosting
- Steam Game Server Accounts
- Workshop for Dedicated Servers
- Serving Content
- Community Server and Hosting Guidelines
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