r/csgo•7 mo. ago

Host tour own LAN Server on CSGO

Well, I’ll explain how I did it.

Obviously this is a first guide; ideally a hero without a cape would create a more automated mod, but this works.

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Step-by-Step Tutorial

Requirements

• Host PC (server) and player PCs on the same LAN network

• Steam installed on the clients

• 20–30 GB free on the host

• Recommended: fixed IP for the host (DHCP reservation or static IP)

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Install CS:GO on your PC from Steam

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Download and install SteamCMD (Host PC)

2.1 Download SteamCMD

Official Valve link:

🔗 https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD#Downloading\_SteamCMD

Download the Windows file (steamcmd.zip).

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2.2 Install SteamCMD

Create folder:
C:\steamcmd
Extract steamcmd.zip inside that folder
Run steamcmd.exe once and wait for it to update

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Download the CS:GO Legacy server (APPID 740)

3.1 Create server folder

Example:

C:\csgo_server

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3.2 Download the server with SteamCMD

Open steamcmd.exe and run:

force_install_dir C:\csgo_server

app_update 740 validate

quit

🔗 Official CS:GO Dedicated Server documentation:

https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Counter-Strike:\_Global\_Offensive\_Dedicated\_Servers

When finished, the server will be installed at:

C:\csgo_server

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Create server configuration (server.cfg)

Path:

C:\csgo_server\csgo\cfg\server.cfg

Recommended content (pure LAN):

hostname "CSGO Legacy - LAN"

rcon_password "lanadmin"

sv_password ""

sv_lan 1

sv_cheats 0

sv_pausable 0

mp_autoteambalance 1

mp_limitteams 1

mp_maxrounds 30

mp_roundtime 1.92

mp_freezetime 15

mp_startmoney 800

sv_tickrate 128

⚠️ Do not add cl_* commands (they are client commands).

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Create startup script (start.bat)

In the server root folder (C:\csgo_server) create:

start.bat

Content:

srcds.exe -game csgo -console -usercon -tickrate 128 -port 27015 -nomaster -maxplayers_override 10 +sv_lan 1 +game_type 0 +game_mode 1 +map de_dust2

Why these parameters

• -nomaster: prevents “Your server is out of date” errors

• sv_lan 1: forces LAN mode

• -tickrate 128: real 128 tick server

• -maxplayers_override: correct method (maxplayers is deprecated)

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Configure Windows Firewall (host)

Open Windows Security
Firewall & network protection
Allow an app through firewall
Allow srcds.exe on Private networks

Alternative:

At first launch Windows will ask → allow on private network.

🔗 Microsoft Firewall documentation:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/network-security/windows-firewall/

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Start the server

Run:

C:\csgo_server\start.bat

Wait for de_dust2 to load
Confirm the master loop error does not appear (fixed by -nomaster)

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Connect from clients (LAN)

On each client PC:

Open CS:GO Legacy
Enable console:

Settings → Game → Enable Developer Console

Open console (~) and run:

connect HOST_IP:27015

Example:

connect 192.168.0.10:27015

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Get the host IP

On the host:

Open CMD
Run:

ipconfig

Look for:

IPv4 Address . . . : 192.168.0.10

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Final checklist (replicable)

• Steam clients in csgo_legacy

• SteamCMD downloaded from Valve

• Server installed with APPID 740

• sv_lan 1

• -nomaster

• Firewall allows srcds.exe

• Connection via connect IP:27015

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Update the server (if needed)

Close the server and run in SteamCMD:

force_install_dir C:\csgo_server

app_update 740 validate

quit

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Installing MetaMod + SourceMod + Server Administration (CS:GO Legacy LAN)

Objective

Add mods, admin commands, and full server control using your user (SteamID), keeping the server 100% LAN, stable, and plugin-compatible.

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Basic concepts (correct order)

In CS:GO Legacy (Source 1), mods load in this order:

MetaMod:Source (plugin loader)
SourceMod (administration framework)
Plugins (knife, warmup, ready, etc.)

⚠️ The order is mandatory.

Without MetaMod → SourceMod will not work.

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Install MetaMod:Source

2.1 Download MetaMod:Source

Official link (Valve Developer Wiki):

🔗 https://www.sourcemm.net/downloads.php

Choose:

• Game: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

• OS: Windows

• Download the stable version

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2.2 Install MetaMod

Open the downloaded .zip
Copy all contents into:

C:\csgo_server\csgo\

Final structure should be:

C:\csgo_server\csgo\addons\metamod\

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2.3 Verify MetaMod

Start the server (start.bat) and in the server console run:

meta version

If it returns a version → MetaMod is correctly installed.

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Install SourceMod

3.1 Download SourceMod

Official link:

🔗 https://www.sourcemod.net/downloads.php

Choose:

• Game: CS:GO

• OS: Windows

• Download the stable version

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3.2 Install SourceMod

Open the downloaded .zip
Copy all contents into:

C:\csgo_server\csgo\

Final structure should be:

C:\csgo_server\csgo\addons\sourcemod\

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3.3 Verify SourceMod

With the server running, execute in the console:

sm version

If it returns the version → SourceMod is working.

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Basic SourceMod configuration

4.1 Important files

SourceMod is configured from:

C:\csgo_server\csgo\addons\sourcemod\configs\

Key files:

• admins_simple.ini → admins

• admin_groups.cfg → groups

• core.cfg → general configuration

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Become FULL ADMIN of the server

5.1 Get your SteamID

From the server console:

status

Find your user and copy something like:

STEAM_1:0:12345678

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5.2 Add your SteamID as root

Edit the file:

C:\csgo_server\csgo\addons\sourcemod\configs\admins_simple.ini

Add at the end:

"STEAM_1:0:12345678" "99:z"

Meaning:

• 99 → maximum level

• z → root access (all flags)

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5.3 Apply changes

In the server console:

sm_reloadadmins

Or restart the server.

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Verify admin permissions

From the in-game chat or client console:

!admin

If the menu opens → you are correctly set as admin.

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Basic admin commands

Some key commands:

!kick

!ban

!slay

!map

!restart

!cvar

!who

From console:

sm_kick

sm_ban

sm_map

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Minimum security (even for LAN)

Recommended:

• Do not enable sv_cheats 1

• Change rcon_password

• Do not share the admin SteamID

• Keep sv_lan 1

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Default plugins (already included)

SourceMod already includes:

• Admin Menu

• Player Commands

• Votes

• Fun Commands

No extra installation is needed to manage the server.

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Common problems and solutions

A) Unknown command meta

MetaMod was not copied correctly.

Verify path:

csgo/addons/metamod/

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B) Unknown command sm_version

SourceMod is not loading.

Check:

• MetaMod loaded first

• Complete folder addons/sourcemod/

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C) I don’t have permissions

• SteamID copied incorrectly

• Forgot to run sm_reloadadmins

• You joined before adding the admin (reconnect)

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Final state after this tutorial

✔ MetaMod installed

✔ SourceMod installed

✔ Full administration via SteamID

✔ Functional admin menu

✔ Stable LAN server

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Well, that’s the tutorial.

Good luck!

Posted Mar 4, 2026, 12:04 PM UTC