How to host Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 allows you to host free dedicated servers using Valve's SteamCMD. You only pay for your VPS hosting, not per-player server fees.

Server Requirements

• VPS Specs: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, 4+ CPU cores, 8GB RAM, 80GB+ disk
• Network: Public IPv4 address
• Account: Steam account (for GSLT token)
• Time: 60-90 minutes to complete

Step 1: Update System & Create Steam User

Update packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo reboot

Wait for reboot, then create a dedicated user (never run as root):

sudo adduser steam
sudo usermod -aG sudo steam
su - steam

Step 2: Configure Firewall Ports

CS2 uses multiple ports for different functions:

sudo ufw allow 27015/udp comment 'CS2 Game'
sudo ufw allow 27015/tcp comment 'RCON'
sudo ufw allow 27005/udp comment 'Client'
sudo ufw allow 27020/udp comment 'SourceTV'
sudo ufw allow 27036/tcp comment 'Remote Play'
sudo ufw allow 3478/udp comment 'NAT'
sudo ufw allow 4379:4380/udp comment 'Matchmaking'
sudo ufw allow 22/tcp comment 'SSH'
sudo ufw enable

Verify:

sudo ufw status

Step 3: Install Dependencies

Install required libraries:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 libstdc++:i386 libcurl4-gnutls-dev:i386

Step 4: Install SteamCMD

Download and extract SteamCMD:

mkdir ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd
wget -q https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

Step 5: Download CS2 Server Files

Download the Counter-Strike 2 dedicated server (~30GB, 10-15 minutes):

cd ~/steamcmd
./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +app_update 740 validate +quit

Files install to ~/steamcmd/cs2-ds/

Step 6: Get Your GSLT Token

To appear in the server browser, you need a Game Server Login Token:

1. Go to Steam Community > Manage CS:GO Servers
2. Create a new server (requires phone verification on your Steam account)
3. Copy the token - you'll need it to start the server

Step 7: Prepare Server Configuration

Create a config directory:

mkdir -p ~/cs2-server/csgo/cfg
cd ~/cs2-server

Create ~/cs2-server/csgo/cfg/server.cfg:

nano ~/cs2-server/csgo/cfg/server.cfg

Add basic settings:

hostname "Your Server Name"
mp_maxmoney 16000
mp_startmoney 2400
mp_roundtime 1.92
mp_freezetime 15
game_type 1
game_mode 0
rcon_password "your_rcon_password"

Step 8: Start the Server

Create a screen session:

screen -S CS2Server

Start the server (replace YOUR_IP and YOUR_GSLT):

cd ~/steamcmd/cs2-ds/game
./bin/linuxsteamrt64/cs2 -dedicated -ip YOUR_IP -port 27015 \
  +map de_mirage +sv_setsteamaccount YOUR_GSLT

Detach: Ctrl+A D

Connecting to Your Server

In Counter-Strike 2:

1. Click "Play" "Offline with Bots"
2. Browse servers or use console: connect YOUR_IP:27015

Server Management

Reconnect:

screen -r CS2Server

Common commands:

• status - List players
• changelevel de_dust2 - Change map
• say Hello! - Broadcast message
• quit - Shut down server

Monitor performance:

top

Press Q to exit.

Optimization Tips

• CPU-intensive: CS2 uses significant CPU; monitor with top
• 8GB RAM minimum: For stable 32-player servers
• Check bandwidth: Adjust server rates if maxing out
• Backup configs: Keep a copy of your cfg directory

Troubleshooting

Need Help?

For CS2 server setup assistance, please open a support ticket through your billing panel.