How To Install A Counter-Strike Source Server On Ubuntu

Updated on February 26, 2016
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In this tutorial we will be covering the process of installing and running a CS:S Game server.

##Prerequisites

  • A Vultr Instance with 2 GB of RAM and running Ubuntu.

##Getting Started

  1. Update the packages: sudo apt-get update -y && sudo apt-get upgrade -y.
  2. Install these additional libraries: sudo apt-get install lib32gcc1 libc6-i386.
  3. Add a new user for running the game server: sudo adduser steam (For security purposes).
  4. Login to the new user that we created: su steam.

##Downloading SteamCMD SteamCMD is a free tool created by Valve and used to download Game Server files easily.

  1. As you are logged as the steam user, make sure you’re in /home/steam.
  2. Create a directory for SteamCMD: mkdir SteamCMD.
  3. Navigate to the newly created directory and download the SteamCMD archive: cd steamCMD && wget http://media.steampowered.com/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz.
  4. Extract the archive:tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz.

##Running SteamCMD Now we get to the exciting bit, downloading the actual files that make the game server operate.

  1. Run SteamCMD: ./steamcmd.sh.
  2. Login to Steam servers anonymously: login anonymous.
  3. Set the install directory: force_install_dir ./css/.
  4. Download the game files: app_update 232330 validate (This may take a while).
  5. Quit the SteamCMD console: quit.

##Running the CS:S server

  1. Navigate to the CS:S Installation Directory: cd css
  2. Execute this command to run the server: ./srcds_run -console -game cstrike -maxplayers 20 - port 27015 +map de_dust2.

##Conclusion Your CS:S server should be up and running! To connect to it use the IP on your Vultr instance.

For an advanced configuration guide refer to the CS:S section on the SteamCMD Wiki. Enjoy!

This concludes our tutorial. Thank you for reading.