Guide to the commands
SRCDS CFG Maker UPDATED A Server Tools amp Plugins Counter Strike Source CS S Modding Tool submitted by ThePythoN. Latest version of Counter Strike. Counter-Strike Play the world's number 1 online action game. Engage in an incredibly realistic brand of terrorist warfare in this wildly popular team-based game.
To make a server.cfg file now click here. (Only if you cannot see the gray config maker on the left side)
Optimized for Orangebox, latest update... 28th July 2012.
Warning: Not all cvars are set to default, most are but you should check each one. If the default is not used you will see 'recommended' (in some cases more than two may be recommended) for cvars that are most common for orangebox servers. This is in case you are not sure and want a quick server.cfg. You should always research each cvar. See below for a guide...
Host Name:<type text> Def = none. The name of your server that shows in the server search
RCON Password:<type text>(Optional) Password for server admin access from the console or HLSW. Leave out if no RCON required.
Server Password:<type text (Optional) > Private = password required. Public = leave the password out.
Server Contact email:<type text (Optional) > Place in the Admin's email. If you want no contact = leave the email address out.
Server Tags:<type text (Optional) > - Server tags. Used to provide extra information to clients when they're browsing for servers. Separate tags with a comma. e.g.: alltalk,startmoney,ZBlock. Don't use a space, but you can place any word you like. Read more here.
Region (Select your region):<sv_region> This console variable is queried by the server browser to determine what part of the world the server is in.
Internet or LAN server:<sv_lan>( def. '0' ) '0' is both Internet and LAN and recommended. When set to '1' it will lock to LAN only.
RCON bans and logs.
RCON failed login Ban time :<sv_rcon_banpenalty> Def ='0' Min '0'. Max infinity. Number of minutes to ban users who fail rcon authentication.
RCON min failed login before Ban :<sv_rcon_minfailures> ( def. '5' ) min. 1 max. 20. Number of times a user can fail rcon authentication in sv_rcon_minfailuretime before being banned.
RCON max failed login before Ban :<sv_rcon_maxfailures> ( def. '10' ) min. 1 max. 20. Max number of times a user can fail rcon authentication before being banned.
Failed RCON login tries track time :<sv_rcon_minfailuretime> ( Recommended. '10' ) min. 1. max infinity. Number of seconds to track failed rcon authentications.
Max RCON Packetsize.:<sv_rcon_maxpacketsize> ( def. '1024' ) min. 0. - The maximum number of bytes to allow in a command packet. This is new at 21 Jul 2012. See here.
Ban IP RCON exceeding the value specified in sv_rcon_maxpacketsiz:<sv_rcon_maxpacketbans> ( def. '1' ) '0' is off. - Ban IPs for sending RCON packets exceeding the value specified in sv_rcon_maxpacketsize. This is new at 21 Jul 2012. See here.
Server bans and logs.
Server Logging :<log> ( Recommended 'on' ) Defines if logs is enabled (on) or disabled (off).
Server Ban Logging :<sv_logbans> ( def. '0' ) '1' is on and recommended. Log server bans in the server logs.
Echo log info in console :<sv_logecho> ( def. '1' ) '1' is on and recommended. Echo log information to the console.
Log server info in log file :<sv_logfile> ( def. '0' ) '1' is on and recommended. Log server information in the log file.
Server Logging to 1 file :<sv_log_onefile> ( def. '0' ) '0' is off and recommended. Log server information to only one file.
Attack Logging :<mp_logdetail> ( def. '0' ) min. 0 max. 3. Logs attacks. Values are: 0=off, 1=enemy, 2=teammate, 3=both
Other commands added by default to this section are ...
// execute ban files
exec banned_user.cfg
exec banned_ip.cfg
writeid
writeip
exec banned_user.cfg
exec banned_ip.cfg
writeid
writeip
Server Downloads and Client files.
Max Download file size:<net_maxfilesize> Def = 16. Max 64. MB size of downloads to the clients for large maps, sounds, textures and models. Use this if you have not got a fast downloads server. Recommend '64' in all cases or you get a missing map/BSP message.
Fast download url:<type text>(Optional)Def= no text. No URL here means you have not got a fast downloads server. Learn more on the fast downloads server here. Basically it is a web server on the net that the client can download files from instead of the game sever.
Make sure the two commands below are set on '1' for a fast download server if you use it.
Server downloads:<sv_allowdownload> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. Allow clients to download files.
Server uploads:<sv_allowupload> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. Allow clients to upload their custom decals to the server.
File consistency check:<sv_consistency> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. - Whether the server enforces file consistency for critical files, for custom skins, sounds and maps.
Pure server settings:<sv_pure> Def = '0' is off. -This further enforces standard files to be used by the client and if '2' is used most custom files are ignored and the server will enforce standard files only. Most HUD files are exempt. sv_pure 1 will require more effort, you have to use a whitelist and choose the files you want to allow or disallow. Read more about that here, also here. It is complicated and most servers will use sv_pure 2 out of convenience but it will block any custom skin. sv_pure 2 also blocks a lot of exploit skins.
Pure Server violation kick clients:<sv_pure_kick_clients> Def = '0' is off. - If set to 1, the server will kick clients with mismatching files. Otherwise if set tp '0' (Recommend), it will only issue a warning message to the client.
Pure Server violation message:<sv_pure_trace> Def = '0' is off. - If set to 1, the server will print a message whenever a client is verifying a CRC for a file.
Bandwidth Rates
Note (a disclaimer of sorts): Values marked 'Popular' are for a loose guide only. You should see your game server provider for more information as these settings depend on slot amounts, hardware and data center speed! Example page on what a game server provider will say is here.
So where to go and learn? Ask other admins at the SRCDS forums. I have tried to give the most popular choices...up to you in the end!
I took a survey July 2012 for most of these to see what people are using, the results are here. Basically the servers surveyed were mostly 16-32 slot servers so the choices I have were most popular among the admins/game server providers. Just use the advanced search to see for yourself after playing on a good server.
Note:the default rate for clients on CSS is now 30000, up from 9999. Make sure your server can deal with this.
Max Rate :<sv_maxrate> Def = '0' Max bandwidth rate allowed on server, 0 = unlimited. Note: top 3 Popular choice's are '100000', '25000' and '0'.
sv_maxrate 50000 - (Recommended public servers) Consider '100000' (good server-high slots) or '25000' (poor server-low slots) if not sure .
Min Rate :<sv_minrate> Def = '0' Min bandwidth rate allowed on server, 0 = unlimited.
sv_minrate 7500 - (Recommended public servers) Note: Popular choice's are '20000', '2500' and '0'
Max update rate to clients :<sv_maxupdaterate> Def = '66' Maximum updates per second that the server will allow.
sv_maxupdaterate 66 (def) - (Recommended public servers) Popular choice's are '66', '60' and '100'
Min update rate to clients :<sv_minupdaterate> Def = '10' Minimum updates per second that the server will allow.
sv_minupdaterate 20 - (Recommended public servers)Popular choice's are '30', '66' and '10'
Max command packets from clients :<sv_maxcmdrate> Def = '66' (If sv_mincmdrate is > 0), this sets the maximum value for cl_cmdrate.
sv_maxcmdrate 66 (def) - (Recommended public servers) Popular choice's are '66', '67' and '100'
Min command packets from clients :<sv_mincmdrate> Def = '10' This sets the minimum value for cl_cmdrate. 0 = unlimited.
sv_mincmdrate 30 - (Recommended public servers)Popular choice's are '30', '66' and '10'
Note: also see the sv_competitive_minspec command in the CSS specific Gameplay and server settings section, there are limits to client netcode commands to suit high level competitive play not mentioned in this section: cl_interp_ratio and cl_interp are limited along with other cvars if the sv_competitive_minspec command is enabled.
Basic Server Cvars
Friendly Fire:<mp_friendlyfire> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. Select if you want to turn on friendly fire.
All Talk:<sv_alltalk> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Players on both sides can hear all other players, no team restrictions.
Chat time:<mp_chattime> ( def. '10' ) Time in seconds players can chat after the game is over
Use Steam Voice :<sv_use_steam_voice> ( def. '1' ) - Servers can toggle between the old codec and the new codec with the convar 'sv_use_steam_voice', which defaults to 1. See here for release info'.
Allow Voice From File:<sv_allow_voice_from_file> ( def. '1' ) recommended is '0' OFF. - Allow or disallow clients from using voice_inputfromfile on this server. (recommended because this helps stops mic spam).
Voice Enable:<sv_voiceenable> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. - enable speech in-game
Allow spectators:<mp_allowspectators> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. - Toggles whether the server allows spectator mode or not
Game Time:<mp_timelimit> Def = '25' (Minutes). - game time per map in minutes
Decal Frequency:<decalfrequency> ( def. '10' ) Time in seconds that players are allowed to spray their decal again.
Flashlight:<mp_flashlight> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on (Recommend). - Allow flash lights to be used by the clients, on or off.
Footsteps (enable):<mp_footsteps> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. - Enables on or off foot steps. Recommend you leave this ON '1'.
Footsteps (sound):<sv_footsteps> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. - Turns on or off foot steps sounds. Comment: why would you want the foot steps sounds off! Recommend you leave this ON '1'.
Auto Team Balance:<mp_autoteambalance> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. - Force the clients to join the opposite team if the Teams are not balanced.
Kick Team Kill/Idle players:<mp_autokick> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. - Kick idle/team-killing players. Recommend you leave this OFF '0'.
Team Kill Punish:<mp_tkpunish> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. - Will a TK'er be punished in the next round? {0=no, 1=yes} Recommend you leave this OFF '0'.
Limit Team Imbalance:<mp_limitteams> Def '2' Min = 0. Max = 30. - Max # of players 1 team can have over another (0 disables check)
Limit FOV of users using wide-screen:<sv_restrict_aspect_ratio_fov > Def '0' is off. '1' Min. 0. Max. 2. - Limit the effective FOV of players using wide-screen resolutions with aspect ratios wider than 1.85:1. The sv_restrict_aspect_ratio_fov ConVar can be changed to remove the restriction or make the restriction also apply to full-screen players.
Note:a new cvar that was introduced to TF2 DoD:s and now CSS, to control an exploit that is a possible 'wallhack'. The edges of a stretched FOV (Feild Of Vision) seen on some multi-displays like ATI Eyefinity allow the client to see through walls at the last 1/6 of the screen edge. Users can also adjust the FOV in a windowed mode. You can stop this via setting '1' or '2'. Be warned, the multi screen and windowed mode players may not like this and leave the server, when set at 1 or 2 it gives the user a zoomed in FOV.
HealthWarning: FOV changes can result in an epileptic seizure or motion sickness... use '1' or '2' with care! The exploit does not give a huge advantage as you must look 90 degrees and stand hard against the wall to see through. If players are using this they will be spotted very easily. I would prefer to leave it set to '0' and just look for the players using this than empty my server or cause a very serious health incident!
Force first person mode:<mp_forcecamera> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off.- Restricts spectator modes for dead players
Cheats:<sv_cheats> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Allow cheats on server. Obviously... don't turn this on a public server.
Server can be paused:<sv_pausable> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Is the server pausable or not?
Gravity:<sv_gravity> Def =800. - World gravity. Note: the setting 750 is there for surf servers that require it, 800 is best in almost all servers.
Allow Wait Command:<sv_allow_wait_command> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Allow or disallow the wait command on clients connected to this server. Some scripts can be used as a hack. Not many servers have this turned on because of exploits.
Hud Hint Sound:<sv_hudhint_sound> Def = '1' is on, '0' is off. The annoying swish sound assosiated with clicking a game panel, recommended you turn this off and your clients will love you.
Force Automatic Team Joining:<mp_forceautoteam> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Automatically assign players to teams when joining.
Fall Damage (On or Off):<mp_falldamage> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - when mp_falldamage is non-zero players will get hurt when they fall very high. When it's zero there will be no damage by falling. Info' here.
Fade to black (On or Off):<mp_fadetoblack> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Dead players will have their screen faded to black instead of spectating
Movement speed and feel
Acceleration:<sv_accelerate>Caution: there is debate about the 'default' it was '5' now says '10' but quite a few in the community have a different view and think this should be '5'. I made the recommended setting as '5' change if you want. Choices of 10-5 are there.
Friction:<sv_friction> - The players grip on the floor, determining how slippery the floor is, or how gripped the player is to the floors surface. See here. Again there are differences of opinion as the above and this one are linked it seems, I have from (slippery) - 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (grippy), values for you to select. Recommended and default is '4'.
Air Accelerate (Normal and Surf):<sv_airaccelerate> - Def = '10'. This is only here because some servers set this for Surf maps, default of 10 is fine for normal servers.
Water Accelerate (Normal and Surf):<sv_wateraccelerate> - Def = '10'. Like above this is only here because some servers set this for Surf maps default of 10 is fine for normal servers.
Stop Speed:<sv_stopspeed> - Def = '100'. - Minimum stopping speed when on ground. Most servers seem to run at 75, there are values from 100-55 to chooses from.
Round specific cvars (Basic VALVe only).
See 'CSS specific Gameplay and server settings',
for CCS specific ones
Round Time (Minutes):<mp_roundtime> ( def. '2.5' ) min. 1 max. 9 - How many minutes each round takes.
TK Spawn Protection Time (Seconds):<mp_spawnprotectiontime> ( def. '5' ) - Kick players who team-kill within this many seconds of a round restart.
Spawn Freeze Time (Seconds):<mp_freezetime> ( def. '6' ) min. 0 max. 60. - How many seconds to keep players frozen when the round starts.
CSS specific Gameplay and server settings
Enable cl_minmodels (On or Off):<sv_allowminmodels> - Def = '1' is on (allow) . '0' is off. - Allow or disallow the use of cl_minmodels on this server.
Hostage Kill Kick Limit:<hostagepenalty> Def = '13'. '0' is disabled- Terrorist are kicked for killing too much hostages if the set limit is exceeded.
Bunny Hop (On or Off):<sv_enablebunnyhopping> - Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Enable bunny hop or not, see here for date introduced.
Force certain client convars competitive play:<sv_competitive_minspec> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Enable to force certain client convars to minimum / maximum values to help prevent competitive advantages:
r_drawdetailprops = 1
r_staticprop_lod = minimum -1 maximum 3
fps_max minimum 59 (0 works too)
cl_detailfade minimum 400
cl_detaildist minimum 1200
cl_interp_ratio = minimum 1 maximum 2
cl_interp = minimum 0 maximum 0.031
r_drawdetailprops = 1
r_staticprop_lod = minimum -1 maximum 3
fps_max minimum 59 (0 works too)
cl_detailfade minimum 400
cl_detaildist minimum 1200
cl_interp_ratio = minimum 1 maximum 2
cl_interp = minimum 0 maximum 0.031
See here for the Steam news release on this command.
Original Counter-Strike Source grenade damage (On or Off):<sv_legacy_grenade_damage> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Enable to replicate grenade damage behavior of the original Counter-Strike Source game. News item here.
Enable Boosting (On or Off):<sv_enableboost> Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Allow boost exploits. News item on this here, and here.
C4 Timer (Seconds):<mp_c4timer> Def = 45. Min 10. max. 90. - how long from when the C4 is armed until it blows.
Start Money:<mp_startmoney> ( def. '800' ) min. 800 max. 16000 - amount of money each player gets when they reset.
Buy Time:<mp_buytime> ( def. '1.5' ) min. 0.25 - How many minutes after round start players can buy items for.
Achievements, Statistics, Freeze Cam, Nemesis and MVP
No MVP Awards:<sv_nomvp> - Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Disable MVP awards. (CSS only) ...Steam news article. 24 June 2010
No Freeze Cam:<sv_disablefreezecam> - Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Turn on/off freezecam on server....Steam news article. 24 June 2010
No Nemesis:<sv_nonemesis> - Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Disable nemesis and revenge. ...Steam news article. 24 June 2010
No Win Panel:<sv_nowinpanel> - Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Turn on/off win panel on server....Steam news article. 24 July 2010
No Achievements:<sv_nostats> - Def = '0' is off, '1' is on. - Disable collecting statistics and awarding achievements.....Steam news article. 24 June 2010
NOTICE ... If you have something to add drop me an email with cvar suggestions!
Note: the file made by this page can be edited by a good text editor.
Please do not use Windows notepad the text will look scrambled.
Download NotePad++ if you edit .cfg files.
NOTE: You can get the latestfull CVAR list in steam games from your game server or local PC anytime you like.
Place... cvarlist log cvarlist.txt ....in console, go to your game directory folder, (dod, tf or cstrike) and open a file called 'cvarlist.txt'
You can also have the file formatted in .csv format that spreadsheet programs, (like MS excel or (free) open Office Calc) can open.
Place 'cvarlist log cvarlist.csv' in console and look in the game folder for the result...dod, tf or cstrike.
Place... cvarlist log cvarlist.txt ....in console, go to your game directory folder, (dod, tf or cstrike) and open a file called 'cvarlist.txt'
You can also have the file formatted in .csv format that spreadsheet programs, (like MS excel or (free) open Office Calc) can open.
Place 'cvarlist log cvarlist.csv' in console and look in the game folder for the result...dod, tf or cstrike.