How to Install Garry’s Mod Server on Windows Server

Tutorial on how to Install Garry’s Mod Server on Windows Server. Garry’s Mod (GMod) is a sandbox game with no set objectives, giving players the freedom to build, experiment with physics, and play either solo or online. If you’ve ever wanted to host your own server instead of joining someone else’s, it’s easier than you might think.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the exact steps to set up a Garry’s Mod Dedicated Server on Windows Server 2012 using SteamCMD, configuring your server.cfg, forwarding the right ports, and getting the server running smoothly so you and your friends can jump in.

Prerequisites:

• SteamCMD.
• Ability to port forward.
• A steam account to create collections.

Installing SteamCMD

The easiest way to get the latest Garry’s Mod Dedicated Server files is through SteamCMD. Here’s how to set it up for your Windows Server hosting needs:

1. Download SteamCMD from the official link.

2. Create a new folder anywhere you like (for example C:\steamcmd\) and extract the contents of the ZIP file into that folder.

That’s all you need. SteamCMD is now ready to use for installing your GMod server.

Downloading Garry’s Mod Dedicated Server

Time to pull the actual server files with SteamCMD to complete the installation of Garry’s Mod Server on Windows Server:

Launch SteamCMD from the folder where you extracted it earlier.

Open SteamCMD and log in anonymously with:

login anonymous

Next, tell SteamCMD where to put the server files. You can use any path you like for example:

force_install_dir C:\gmod_server\

Download Garry’s Mod server:

app_update 4020

When it finishes, run a quick check to make sure everything’s good:

app_update 4020 validate

All done? Just type:

quit

Now your server files are ready after you install Garry’s Mod Server on Windows Server.

Configure settings

You can change the server settings from within the configuration file specified below. Installing Garry’s Mod Server on Windows Server allows you to customize parameters such as hostname, password and tickrate, and more.

Because Garry’s Mod has extensive customization capabilities, it is recommended that you have an automated settings maker.

Customize your Garry’s Mod server

1. Open the server folder and select the cfg option.

2. Then find server.cfg and open it via Notepad.

3. Change the settings according to the example below:

Example: Select your hostname and Turn on content download with the following command:

hostname "Garry's Mod Server"  sv_allowdownload 1

Create a start-up batch file

1. Open the folder where the server files are located. Create a new text file and add the following content:

@echo off  cls  :srcds  echo (%time%) srcds started.  start /wait srcds.exe -console -game garrysmod +map gm_flatgrass +maxplayers 32  echo (%time%) WARNING: Srcds closed. Restarting server.  goto srcds

2. Save the file as a batch file in the main directory of the server folder.

3. To begin the server, execute the batch file you have created in the primary directory of your Garry’s Mod server.

Port Forwarding

1. To open a port on Windows, please refer to this article.

2. Open the ports listed below to ensure external connections to the server:

 27015 UDP

 27015 TCP

Addons and Content

Garry’s Mod has a steam workshop filled with many useful tools, allowing you to create complex and effective servers. There are two methods for installing plugins on the server called advanced and manual.

In the following, we will explain each of these two methods:

1) Advanced method

a) Create the workshop collection.

b) Open the Steam Workshop and navigate to the Garry’s Mod section.

c) Subscribe to the addons that you want on your server.

d) Create a collection containing all of the addons that you have selected.

e) Publish the collection.

f) Open the link below with your Steam account.

APIKEY

ff6600ff9900;”>g) Create an API key and choose steamidfinder.com as the API domain.

Adding the Collection to the Server

Go to the batch file you made earlier (the one in your main server folder).

Look for the line that starts with:

start /wait srcds.exe ...

and just stick this right after it:

+host_workshop_collection WORKSHOP_URL_ID -authkey API_KEY

Change WORKSHOP_URL_ID to the numbers from your workshop collection link, and put your Steam API_KEY in place of API_KEY.

So your batch file will end up looking something like this:

@echo off

cls

:srcds

start /wait srcds.exe -console -game garrysmod +map gm_flatgrass +maxplayers 32 +host_workshop_collection 123456789 -authkey 12345678901234567890

echo (%time%) WARNING: Srcds closed. Restarting server.

goto srcds

From now on, whenever you run that file, the server grabs the addons from your collection automatically.

2) Manual Method

Go to your server’s main directory. If there isn’t already an addons folder, create one. It’s a crucial step when setting up a Garry’s Mod Server on Windows Server.

Drop any addon files into this folder; they’ll be automatically loaded the next time you start your Garry’s Mod server.

Update the server

When Valve pushes an update, your server won’t pick it up automatically. You’ll need to run a quick SteamCMD command. Here’s all you really do when you update Garry’s Mod Server on Windows Server:

Launch SteamCMD and log in.

Point it to your Garry’s Mod install folder:

force_install_dir C:\my_example_directory\

Run the update check:

app_update 4020 validate

Conclusion

So, your Garry’s Mod server is ready on Windows Server 2012. From here, it’s really up to you. Throw in some addons, try a few maps, invite friends, and just mess around after you install Garry’s Mod Server on Windows Server. That’s the fun of GMod: you make the rules.

Got questions or ran into something weird? Drop a comment, or head over to the Ask page on Eldernode; chances are someone’s already figured it out.