Host a Squad Dedicated Server
The complete guide to setting up, configuring, and managing your own Squad server. From zero to 100 players in under 15 minutes.
What is Squad?
Squad is a 50v50 tactical FPS by Offworld Industries that emphasizes teamwork, communication, and realistic military simulation. With up to 100 players per server, combined arms warfare, and active modding support, it's one of the most demanding — and rewarding — games to host.
100 Players
Large-scale 50v50 battles with squad leaders, fireteams, and a commander role.
Combined Arms
Infantry, armor, helicopters, logistics vehicles, and deployable structures.
Realistic Combat
Ballistics simulation, vehicle physics, suppression, and positional VoIP.
Multiple Factions
US Army, British Army, Russian Ground Forces, MEA, and more via mods.
Mod Support
Steam Workshop integration for custom factions, maps, and total conversions.
RCON Control
Full remote console access for live server management and admin tools.
Hardware Requirements
Squad is resource-intensive. Here's what you need for a smooth experience.
Standard (40-50 Players)
High Performance (80-100 Players)
With GameCP, you don't need to worry about this
GameCP manages resource allocation automatically via Docker containers. Our templates are pre-tuned with 4 CPU cores, 6 GB RAM, and 35 GB SSD storage — optimized for Squad right out of the box.
Setup in 5 Steps
With GameCP, you skip the manual SteamCMD installation, port forwarding, and systemd configuration. Here's the modern way.
Create a GameCP Account
Sign up for free at gamecp.com. No credit card required. Your dashboard is ready in seconds.
GameCP gives you a full control panel with Docker containerization, RCON, file management, and automatic updates — all built in.
Connect Your Hardware
Add your Linux server, VPS, or dedicated machine as a "Node" in GameCP. One-line install.
GameCP installs Docker, configures networking, and optimizes your server automatically. Supports Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, and most major Linux distributions.
Deploy the Squad Template
Select "Squad" from the template library. GameCP downloads the server files via SteamCMD automatically.
The Squad template pre-configures ports (7787, 27165, 15000, 21114), sets up the Steam library paths, and ensures the binary is executable. ~30 GB download.
Configure Your Server
Set your server name, max players, team balance rules, and password through the visual config editor.
GameCP uses a rules-based config strategy that preserves your manual edits to Server.cfg, Admins.cfg, and other files. Changes take effect on next server restart.
Start Playing
Hit start and share your server IP. Your Squad server appears in the public server browser automatically.
GameCP monitors your server health, detects when Squad finishes loading (via console trigger detection), and provides live RCON console access from your browser.
The Manual Way vs. GameCP
Manual Setup
- ✗ Install SteamCMD manually
- ✗ Configure 7+ firewall ports
- ✗ Write systemd service files
- ✗ SSH into server to edit configs
- ✗ Manual mod downloads via SteamCMD
- ✗ 30-60 minutes if experienced
With GameCP
- One-click SteamCMD install
- Ports auto-configured by template
- Docker container with auto-restart
- Visual config editor in browser
- Paste Workshop IDs, done
- Under 15 minutes total
Admin Commands
Squad admin commands can be run in-game (press ~) or via RCON through GameCP's built-in console.
RCON via GameCP
GameCP includes a built-in RCON console that connects to your Squad server automatically via Source RCON protocol on port 21114. No need for external tools like BattleMetrics or mcrcon — just open the console tab in your dashboard and start typing commands.
Mods & Workshop
Squad supports Steam Workshop mods for custom factions, maps, and total conversions. GameCP makes mod management painless.
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
Adds the full Canadian faction with unique vehicles, weapons, and equipment.
Middle Eastern Escalation
New Middle Eastern factions with asymmetric warfare, new maps, and vehicles.
French Foreign Legion
French military forces with unique equipment and tactical gameplay focus.
Steel Division
WWII total conversion with historical factions and completely different gameplay.
Installing Mods with GameCP
Just paste your Steam Workshop mod IDs into the "Workshop Mods" field in GameCP's environment settings. On reinstall, GameCP automatically downloads and places them in SquadGame/Plugins/Mods/. No manual SteamCMD or file management required.
FAQ & Troubleshooting
Common questions and solutions for Squad server hosting.
Free Server Tools
Use our free tools to configure your Squad server. No account required.
Ready to Deploy Your Squad Server?
Skip the manual setup. GameCP automates your Squad server deployment — no config files, no command line, free tier available.