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Install AMX Mod X inside your Counter-Strike 1.6 server’s cstrike directory, with Metamod loading first. The reliable sequence is: install a platform-matching Metamod binary, point liblist.gam to it, install the AMX Mod X base files, register AMX Mod X in Metamod’s plugins.ini, restart the server, and verify it with meta list.
This guide covers dedicated Windows and Linux servers, AMD64 Linux, automatic installation, and FTP-only hosting. It also explains the directory layout and the checks that solve most “AMXX is not loaded” problems.
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What AMX Mod X needs in a CS 1.6 server
AMX Mod X is a server-side plugin framework. It does not install into the Counter-Strike client and it does not replace the game server executable. Counter-Strike loads Metamod, and Metamod then loads AMX Mod X as one of its plugins. That dependency determines the installation order:
- Counter-Strike starts from the
cstrikemod directory. - Metamod is loaded through the game DLL setting in
liblist.gam. - AMX Mod X is registered in Metamod’s
plugins.ini.
If Metamod is not loaded, AMX Mod X cannot load, even when every AMX Mod X file is present.
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Use the correct mod directory
Work inside the server’s Counter-Strike mod folder, normally named cstrike. On a dedicated Windows server it is below the HLServer installation. On Linux it is below the HLDS installation. The final paths in this guide are relative to that folder:
cstrike/addons/metamod/dlls
cstrike/addons/metamod/plugins.ini
cstrike/addons/amxmodx/A common mistake is extracting the archive one level too high, creating a second nested cstrike directory, or placing files beside the real mod folder. Before changing anything, open the directory that already contains the server’s Counter-Strike files and confirm that it is the active cstrike folder.
Match binaries to the operating system
Windows uses DLL files. Linux uses shared-object (.so) binaries. On Linux, use the AMD64 package and binary when the server runs on AMD64; otherwise use the package intended for the server’s architecture. Never copy Windows DLLs to Linux or Linux .so files to Windows.
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Choose an installation method
| Method | Access needed | Automation | Best use | Configuration behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual installation | Local files plus shell, console, or file access | None; you create paths and edit files | Maximum visibility and control | You decide exactly what is added to liblist.gam and plugins.ini |
| Automatic installer | Local server access or a supported remote FTP location | Detects installations and configures files | Fast setup or repeated deployments | Appends to an existing plugins.ini rather than erasing it and preserves configuration during upgrades |
| FTP upload | FTP credentials and a local computer | Prepare locally, then upload | Game-hosting panels that do not provide shell access | Depends on the uploaded directory tree; the server still needs the same Metamod and AMX Mod X entries |
The official automatic tool can detect Steam listen servers, Steam dedicated servers, other HLDS installations, and remote FTP locations. If you use it, select the actual Counter-Strike installation and restart the server after it finishes.
Manual installation on a dedicated server
Download platform-matching Metamod and AMX Mod X packages before starting. Keep a backup of liblist.gam and any existing addons/metamod/plugins.ini; an existing server may already have other Metamod plugins registered.
1. Create the Metamod directories
Inside cstrike, create:
addons/metamod/dllsThe complete path is therefore cstrike/addons/metamod/dlls. Do not create this under the server’s parent directory or under a different game mod.
2. Copy the Metamod binary
Extract the Metamod package and place its operating-system-specific binary in cstrike/addons/metamod/dlls. Windows requires the DLL supplied for Windows. Linux requires the supplied Linux .so binary, with the AMD64 variant where applicable. Leave the filename exactly as supplied unless the package documentation tells you otherwise.
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3. Point liblist.gam to Metamod
Open cstrike/liblist.gam in a plain-text editor. Change the game DLL entry so Counter-Strike starts Metamod instead of loading the original game DLL directly.
On Windows, the entry uses the Metamod DLL and escaped backslashes:
gamedll "addons\metamod\dlls\metamod.dll"On Linux, use the corresponding gamedll_linux directive and the Linux Metamod binary path. The path uses forward slashes, and the filename must match the binary you copied. On AMD64 Linux, select the AMD64 binary rather than the i386 build.
Preserve the rest of liblist.gam. A typo in the directive, an incorrect slash style, or a path that does not match the uploaded binary prevents the server from starting Metamod.
4. Create or preserve Metamod’s plugin list
Create cstrike/addons/metamod/plugins.ini if it does not exist. If it already contains entries, keep them and add AMX Mod X on a new line. Do not replace the file wholesale unless you have confirmed that no other Metamod plugins are needed.
5. Extract the AMX Mod X base package
Extract the AMX Mod X base package into the cstrike destination, not into cstrike/addons and not into the server’s parent directory. A correct extraction creates cstrike/addons/amxmodx and its supporting directories, including:
dllsfor the AMX Mod X Metamod binarymodulesfor AMX Mod X modulespluginsfor plugin binariesscriptingfor source and build-related filesconfigsfor configuration fileslogsand other supporting data directories
After extraction, verify that the AMX Mod X binary is under cstrike/addons/amxmodx/dlls, not under an extra nested directory such as cstrike/cstrike/addons/amxmodx.
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6. Register AMX Mod X in plugins.ini
Add the platform-specific AMX Mod X line to cstrike/addons/metamod/plugins.ini.
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For Windows, use:
win32 addons\amxmodx\dlls\amxmodx_mm.dllFor Linux, use the Linux entry supplied with the package. A standard i386 path is:
linux addons/amxmodx/dlls/amxmodx_mm_i386.soFor AMD64 Linux, use the AMD64 AMX Mod X filename and path from the AMD64 package. Do not substitute the i386 filename. Keep the line on one physical line and use the slash convention required by the platform.
7. Add the Counter-Strike or Condition-Zero package if needed
If you want the optional Counter-Strike/Condition-Zero addon package, extract it into the same cstrike destination. It is designed to merge with the AMX Mod X tree. Check the resulting directories after extraction so that the addon files have merged into addons/amxmodx rather than creating a duplicate top-level folder.
8. Restart and verify the load
Start or restart the server completely. In the server console, run:
meta listAMX Mod X should appear as a loaded Metamod plugin. The official installation check is to load the server and type meta list to see whether it is loaded. Do this check before changing gameplay settings or troubleshooting individual plugins; it separates an installation problem from a later configuration problem.
Installing through FTP
FTP-only hosting changes how you transfer files, not the required hierarchy. The safest approach is to build the complete tree on your computer first, then upload it.
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Prepare a local “dummy” installation
Create a temporary folder on your hard drive that mirrors the server’s cstrike directory. The official guidance for FTP access is to install AMX Mod X in a “dummy” folder locally before uploading it. This lets you inspect paths and edit text files without risking a live server.
- Create a local
cstrikefolder. - Build
addons/metamod/dllsand place the matching Metamod binary there. - Copy or create
liblist.gamand set the Windows or Linux game-DLL directive for the target server. - Create
addons/metamod/plugins.iniand add the platform-specific AMX Mod X line. - Extract the AMX Mod X base package into the local
cstrikefolder. - Merge the optional Counter-Strike/Condition-Zero addon package if required.
Upload without changing the tree
Connect to the host’s actual Counter-Strike mod directory and upload the contents of your prepared local cstrike older. The remote result must contain both:
cstrike/addons/metamod/...
cstrike/addons/amxmodx/...Some FTP clients ask whether to merge folders or overwrite files. Merge the addons tree. If the host already has a plugins.ini, download it first, add the AMX Mod X line locally, and upload the merged file so existing Metamod entries are not lost.
Restart from the hosting panel and run the check
Use the host’s restart control after all uploads complete. Open the server console, if the panel provides one, and run meta list. If the panel does not expose a console, use its log viewer to confirm that Metamod and AMX Mod X load, then connect to the server and test only after the load is confirmed.
A managed Counter-Strike 1.6 server-hosting plan with FTP access can be practical when you cannot run commands yourself. Confirm that the host permits custom Metamod files, lets you edit liblist.gam, and provides a restart or console function; FTP access alone is not enough if the provider locks those files.
Using the automatic installer
The official automatic tool is useful when you want the installer to locate the game and write the integration files. It can detect Steam listen servers, Steam dedicated servers, other HLDS installations, and remote FTP locations.
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- Choose the platform-specific Metamod and AMX Mod X components.
- Review the destination before accepting the changes; it must be the server’s
cstrikedirectory. - Allow the installer to configure Metamod and add AMX Mod X to
plugins.ini. - If offered, select the Counter-Strike or Condition-Zero addon package.
- Check the generated paths, then restart the server.
- Run
meta listin the server console and confirm that AMX Mod X is listed.
The installer appends to an existing plugins.ini instead of erasing it and is designed to preserve configuration during upgrades. Still, back up the file before an upgrade so you can restore a known-good configuration if a host panel or file-permission problem interrupts the process.
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Verification checklist after installation
- The server is using the intended
cstrikedirectory. cstrike/addons/metamod/dllscontains a binary for the server’s operating system and architecture.cstrike/liblist.gampoints to Metamod with the correct directive and path.cstrike/addons/amxmodxcontains the base package directories.cstrike/addons/metamod/plugins.inicontains exactly one correct AMX Mod X entry for the platform.- No Windows DLL is being used on Linux, and no Linux
.sofile is being used on Windows. - The server was restarted after the files and configuration were changed.
meta listshows AMX Mod X as loaded.
Only after these checks pass should you continue with AMX Mod X configuration and individual plugin installation. A plugin that fails later is a different issue from AMX Mod X itself not appearing in meta list.
Troubleshooting when AMX Mod X is missing
meta list does not show AMX Mod X
Work from the dependency chain rather than reinstalling everything at random:
- Confirm that Metamod itself is being loaded from
liblist.gam. - Check that the Metamod binary path in
liblist.gamexactly matches the uploaded file. - Check that the AMX Mod X line is in
addons/metamod/plugins.ini, not in a similarly named file elsewhere. - Compare the line’s operating-system prefix and path with the server platform.
- Confirm that the AMX Mod X binary exists under
addons/amxmodx/dlls. - Restart the server after correcting the file; a running process will not normally reread these startup settings.
The server fails to start after editing liblist.gam
Restore the backup and reapply the change carefully. Check quotation marks, backslashes on Windows, forward slashes on Linux, and the exact binary filename. On Linux, also verify that you selected the i386 or AMD64 build appropriate for the server. A path that points to a missing or incompatible binary can prevent the game DLL from loading at all.
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Files appear to be present, but the plugin still will not load
Look for an extra directory level. The expected paths begin directly with the server’s cstrike folder. Incorrect extractions often produce cstrike/cstrike/addons or place addons beside cstrike. Move the directories so that addons/metamod and addons/amxmodx are siblings inside the active mod directory.
FTP upload completed but the hierarchy is wrong
Use the FTP client’s remote path view and expand each directory. You should be able to open addons, then metamod and amxmodx. If the client uploaded an archive instead of its extracted contents, extract it locally and upload the folders and files themselves. Also verify that the upload did not silently skip binaries or text files because of a transfer error.
AMX Mod X works on one machine but not another
Compare the operating system and architecture first. A Windows installation cannot be copied unchanged to Linux, and an i386 Linux binary is not a substitute for an AMD64 build when the package requires the latter. Rebuild the Metamod and AMX Mod X entries for the destination platform instead of copying the old plugins.ini line blindly.
An upgrade removed another Metamod plugin
Restore the previous plugins.ini backup, then merge the AMX Mod X line into it. The automatic installer is intended to append rather than erase existing entries, but manual FTP overwrites and panel tools can still replace a file. Keep one line per required Metamod plugin and remove only entries you have deliberately retired.
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| Situation | Recommended approach | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You have shell or full local file access and want to understand every change | Manual | You control the exact binary, path, and configuration edits. |
| You administer several standard Steam or HLDS installations | Automatic installer | Detection and configuration reduce repetitive path editing. |
| Your host provides FTP but no shell | Local dummy installation followed by FTP upload | You can validate the complete tree before touching the live server. |
| The server already has Metamod plugins | Manual merge or automatic installer with a backup | Preserves existing plugins.ini entries instead of replacing them. |
| You are moving between Windows and Linux | Reinstall with platform-matching packages | DLL and .so binaries are not interchangeable. |
What to do after AMX Mod X loads
Once meta list confirms the plugin, proceed with AMX Mod X configuration using the files installed under cstrike/addons/amxmodx/configs. Add or enable individual plugins only after the framework is visible in Metamod. This order makes diagnosis straightforward: if AMX Mod X is listed but a particular feature fails, inspect that feature’s configuration and plugin files rather than changing liblist.gam again.
For future upgrades, record the server platform, back up liblist.gam and addons/metamod/plugins.ini, install the matching package, and restart before testing. Keeping the two integration files and the complete addons hierarchy intact is the key to a repeatable installation.
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