HOW TO CREATE A COUNTER STRIKE 1.6 SERVER Part 4: Run Your Server

There are two different way to run your Counter-Strike server. By using GUI of HLDS or in console mode. Both option has its advantages as well as disadvantages.

A. Run server using HLDS GUI:

Advantages:

1.      This is the easiest way to start a Counter-Strike server.

2.      Very easy to manage your CVARs of server, Change maps, kick/ban players etc.

3.      Graphical statistics for players, CPU usage, ping and FPS.

Disadvantages:

1.      It consumes more CPU and RAM.

2.      This process cannot be used in Service mode or in Windows Start-up.

3.      In this process we cannot use parameters

Process:

Go to your HLDS folder (which you have downloaded using SteamCMD). There you will find hlds.exe file. Double click on it. A window will appear. You have to select Counter-Strike as game, give a server name as you wish, select a map, select Internet or LAN network, select maximum player no, type UDP port no (default port No is 27015), type a RCON password, click on Secure (Valve Anti-Cheat) check box if you wish a VAC secured server. You can also put you server name, maximum player no & RCON password in server.cfg file which I already discussed. Now click on Start Server to start your server.

B. Run server in console:

Advantages:

1.      This process consumes less RAM and CPU.

2.      This process can be used in Service mode and loaded on Windows Start-up.

Disadvantages:

1.      This is a difficult process to use for beginners.

Now I want to discuss about some command lines parameters in details.

Parameters	Details
-console	Specifies to HLDS to run in console mode.
+exec <name of config file>	Specifies the configuration file which will run at
-game <game name>	Specifies which HLDS game (mod) to run (for eg. game cstrike)
-ip <ipaddress>	Specifies the IP address on which server will start at very beginning of server.
+port <port no>	Which port to use
-sport <port>	Specifies the VAC2 port the server should use.
+hostname “SERVERNAME”	Specifies the name of the server. Replace “SERVERNAME” by your server’s name.
+map <map name>	Specifies which map to start.
+maxplayers <player no>	Specifies maximum player slots in the server.
-autoupdate	Specifies HLDS to update itself.
-insecure	Disables Valve Anti Cheat technology
-pingboost <1/2/3>	Selects between optimized HLDS network code stack. Set this on 2 usually reduces latency toward 1ms without loss of activity input packets.

Process:

Go to hlds folder. Right click on hlds.exe and select Create shortcut. Now right click on shortcut and select properties. Go to the shortcut tab and you will find Target. In target field go to the end of the target path now write your command lines. As an example -console -game cstrike -port 27015 +maxplayers 32 +exec server.cfg +map cs_office -autoupdate . Click on Apply after modification of target path. Now double click on shortcut your server will run in console mode. Now you server is ready to play but only steam player can join your server as it's a protocol 48 server. In next blog I will show you how to make a server protocol 47 + protocol 48. If we do so steam + non-steam both type players will be able to join your server. Please stay tuned. Thank you.