Host a Counter-Strike: Source Dedicated Server

Counter-Strike: Source blends Counter-Strike's award-winning teamplay action with the advanced technology of Source™ technology.

Skip the Setup — Deploy Now or read the full guide below

Requirements Setup Guide Installation

Hardware Requirements

Here's what you need to run a Counter-Strike: Source dedicated server.

Economy

Small server, 2-12 players

CPU1 core

RAM1 GB

Storage5 GB

Standard

Medium server, 12-24 players

CPU1.5 cores

RAM1.5 GB

Storage5 GB

Pro

Large server, 24-32 players

CPU2.5 cores

RAM2.5 GB

Storage5 GB

Start hosting from your own computer

Run a Counter-Strike: Source server on your desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine — GameCP automates Docker setup, resource allocation, and Counter-Strike: Source configuration instantly. Automatic port forwarding means your friends can connect without touching your router. Start local, scale to a VPS when you're ready.

Get Started FreeNo credit card required

Setup in 4 Steps

Skip the manual SteamCMD installation, port forwarding, and systemd configuration. Install on your own computer and start hosting instantly.

Step 01

Create a GameCP Account

GameCP gives you a full control panel with Docker containerization, file management, automatic port forwarding, and automatic updates — all built in.

Step 02

Connect Your Hardware

Install GameCP on your own desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine. One-line install — no SSH expertise needed.

GameCP installs Docker, configures networking, and sets up automatic port forwarding so your friends can connect instantly. Start hosting from your own PC and scale to a VPS later. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Step 03

Deploy Counter-Strike: Source

Select "Counter-Strike: Source" from the template library and hit deploy. GameCP handles SteamCMD (App ID: 232330), ports, startup commands, and all configuration automatically.

Includes pre-configured server.cfg, mapcycle.txt. Uses the steamcmd:debian image. ~5 GB storage.

Step 04

Start Playing

Hit start and share your server address. Automatic port forwarding handles the rest — no router config needed.

GameCP provides live SOURCE console access from your browser. Your friends connect using the address GameCP gives you.

The Manual Way vs. GameCP

Manual Setup

✗ Install SteamCMD manually
✗ Configure 1+ firewall ports and router settings
✗ Write systemd service files
✗ SSH into server to edit configs
✗ Requires a VPS or dedicated server
✗ 30-60 minutes if experienced

With GameCP

One-click SteamCMD install
Automatic port forwarding — no router config
Host from your own PC, VPS, or dedicated server
Docker container with auto-restart
Visual config editor in browser
Under 5 minutes total

Under the Hood

The full manual process to host a Counter-Strike: Source dedicated server on a VPS. Or install GameCP on your own computer and skip all of this.

Step 1

Configure & Prepare

Set your server settings, then install Docker, SteamCMD, and pull the Counter-Strike: Source container image.

Server ConfigurationEdit values to update all commands

Server NameServer name displayed in the server browser

Max PlayersMaximum number of concurrent players

Game Server Login TokenCreate one with App ID `232330` at [Steam GSLT Man...

Server ContactContact info for server administrator shown in ser...

Start MapThe map loaded when the server starts.

FastDL URLURL for FastDL content delivery. Clients download ...

RCON PasswordPassword for remote console (RCON) access.

Server PasswordIf set, players will be required to enter this pas...

Auto UpdateAutomatically update the game server via SteamCMD ...

terminal

# Update system and install Docker
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io
sudo systemctl enable --now docker

# Create game server directory
sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver

# Install SteamCMD
sudo mkdir -p /opt/steamcmd
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | sudo tar zxvf - -C /opt/steamcmd

# Server configuration
export MAX_PLAYERS="20"
export SRCDS_MAP="de_dust2"
export AUTO_UPDATE="1"

# Pull the container image
docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/steamcmd:debian

Step 2

Install Server Files via SteamCMD

Download the Counter-Strike: Source dedicated server using Steam App ID 232330.

terminal

# Download Counter-Strike: Source server files (App ID: 232330)
/opt/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh \
  +force_install_dir /opt/gameserver \
  +login anonymous \
  +app_update 232330 validate \
  +quit

Step 3

Open Firewall Ports

Counter-Strike: Source requires 1 port to be open for game traffic and queries.

terminal

sudo ufw allow 27015/both

27015/BOTH(PORT)

Step 4

Launch the Server

Start the Counter-Strike: Source server using the configuration from Step 1.

Create the startup script

terminal

# Create the startup script
cat > /opt/gameserver/start.sh << 'EOF'
./srcds_run -game cstrike \
-console \
-usercon \
-port 27015 \
+map de_dust2 \
+sv_setsteamaccount \
+ip 0.0.0.0 \
+hostname "" \
-strictportbind \
-norestart \
-tickrate 66
EOF
chmod +x /opt/gameserver/start.sh

Run the container

terminal

docker run -d \
  --name counter-strike-source-server \
  -p 27015:27015/both \
  -e MAX_PLAYERS="20" \
  -e SRCDS_MAP="de_dust2" \
  -e AUTO_UPDATE="1" \
  -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \
  -w /opt/gameserver \
  ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/steamcmd:debian \
  ./start.sh

Alternative startup profiles:

High Tickrate (100) — Competition-grade tickrate. Better hit registration and smoother gameplay. Higher CPU usage.
Low Tickrate (33) — Reduced tickrate for lower-end hardware. Suitable for casual servers or high player counts.

GameCP lets you switch between these profiles with one click.

Or skip all of this

GameCP automates every step above: Docker, SteamCMD, port forwarding, startup, and config. Install on your own PC and deploy a Counter-Strike: Source server in under 5 minutes.

Deploy with GameCP

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Host Counter-Strike: Source from your own computer. Automatic port forwarding. Zero config.

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# Update system and install Docker sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io sudo systemctl enable --now docker # Create game server directory sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver # Install SteamCMD sudo mkdir -p /opt/steamcmd curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | sudo tar zxvf - -C /opt/steamcmd # Server configuration export MAX_PLAYERS="20" export SRCDS_MAP="de_dust2" export AUTO_UPDATE="1" # Pull the container image docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/steamcmd:debian

# Create the startup script cat > /opt/gameserver/start.sh << 'EOF' ./srcds_run -game cstrike \ -console \ -usercon \ -port 27015 \ +map de_dust2 \ +sv_setsteamaccount \ +ip 0.0.0.0 \ +hostname "" \ -strictportbind \ -norestart \ -tickrate 66 EOF chmod +x /opt/gameserver/start.sh

docker run -d \ --name counter-strike-source-server \ -p 27015:27015/both \ -e MAX_PLAYERS="20" \ -e SRCDS_MAP="de_dust2" \ -e AUTO_UPDATE="1" \ -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \ -w /opt/gameserver \ ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/steamcmd:debian \ ./start.sh