Tutorials > How to configure a Counter Strike server on Ubuntu 18.04

How to configure a Counter Strike server on Ubuntu 18.04

Published on: 19 January 2020

Counter Strike Gaming

Counter Strike: Global Offensive is a first person shooter designed to be multiplayer. There are different game modes, all playable online.

Free to play since December 2018, in this game players may compete against other players both on public or private servers. 

There are many advantages of having your private CS:GO server. One of the main reasons for having a private server is the power to decide who can participate in your games, keeping cheaters away, and most importantly, choosing your own rules. 

In order to install Counter Strike: Global Offensive, first connect to your server via an SSH connection. If you haven’t done so yet, following our guide is recommended to connect securely with the SSH protocol. In case of a local server, go to the next step and open the terminal of your server.

Preliminary operations

Before installing SteamCMD, make sure that lib32gcc1 package is  on the server.

To install this package, type:

$ sudo apt-get install lib32gcc1

Downloading and installing SteamCMD

Now everything is ready to install SteamCMD.   However, it is not recommended to do so as a root user since if a problem arises, it could interfere with the entire system. 

To proceed, just create a new dedicated user. 

To do so, type:

$ sudo useradd -m steam

Then switch to the new user by typing: 

$ su - steam

To have an installation path, create a new directory by writing:

$ mkdir ~ / Steam && cd ~ / Steam

 As a result, all the files will be installed in the new directory ~ / Steam

Now download the latest version of SteamCMD from the Valve server:

$ wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

The file you have  just downloaded is a package .tar that you will need to unpack before running.

To unzip the file write:

$ tar xf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

You can now run SteamCMD by typing:

./steamcmd.sh

If  everything was done correctly,   the steam prompt will be displayed The steam prompt can be recognized thanks to the word:

Steam>

that will always be there  no matter what you type .

Downloading the server

Once entered the Steam prompt,  log in. 

The user ID and password  required here are the same as your steam account.

To do so, write:

$ login <UserID> <password>

where you  are required to replace the UserID and password with those of your steam account.

To  dedicate a folder for the installation of the CS: GO server, write:

$ force_install_dir ./cs_go/

 After doing so, you can finally download and install the CS: GO server by writing:

$ app_update 740 validate

This command contains the number 740,  an appID for the dedicated Counter-Strike server: Global Offensive.

The process may take a few minutes. 

Once the process is completed, create a game server account.

To do so,  enter the following address: https://steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers

Two fields are present below: 

In the first field  enter the appID, which in this case is 730.

The second field is for inserting a note that is only visible to you.

Click Create to generate a key for starting the server.

Once all the steps are done, it’s time to start the dedicated Server.

Starting the server

To start up the server there is a specific command for each desired game mode.

First, l enter in the directory cs_go, then type the command corresponding to the mode chosen. 

Remember to add the key you received from the Steam game server management after + sv_setsteamaccount.

Classic Casual

$ ./srcds_run -game csgo -console -usercon + game_type 0 + game_mode 0 + mapgroup mg_active + map de_dust2 + sv_setsteamaccount THISGSLTHERE -net_port_try

Classic Competitive

$ ./srcds_run -game csgo -console -usercon + game_type 0 + game_mode 1 + mapgroup mg_active + map de_dust2 + sv_setsteamaccount THISGSLTHERE -net_port_try

Deathmatch

$ ./srcds_run -game csgo -console -usercon + game_type 1 + game_mode 2 + mapgroup mg_allclassic + map de_dust + sv_setsteamaccount THISGSLTHERE -net_port_try

To customize your gaming experience, refer to the official Valve Wiki on CS: GO 

To do so,  enter the address: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Counter-Strike:_Global_Offensive_Dedicated_Servers which has everything you could ever need.