Counter-Strike 2 Dedicated Server: Admin Commands & server.cfg Guide
Data Verified: May 2026Comprehensive CS2 dedicated server guide. Configure server.cfg, set tick rate, manage GSLT tokens, run competitive/Wingman/DM modes, and size hardware for low-latency 128-tick scrims.
Commands & configuration database
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
hostname | Counter-Strike 2 Server | Public server name shown in the in-game browser. | |
sv_password | (empty) | Password required to join. Leave empty for public servers. | |
rcon_password | (empty) | Password used to authenticate remote console. | |
sv_setsteamaccount | (empty) | GSLT token required for public-listed servers (AppID 730). | |
game_type / game_mode | 0 / 1 | Defines the mode: 0/0 = Casual, 0/1 = Competitive, 1/2 = Wingman, 1/0 = Arms Race. | |
mp_maxrounds | 24 | Maximum rounds played per half/match. | |
mp_roundtime | 1.92 | Round length in minutes. | |
mp_freezetime | 20 | Freeze time at the start of each round, in seconds. | |
mp_friendlyfire | 1 | Enables friendly fire. | |
sv_cheats | 0 | Enables developer cheat commands (sv_showimpacts, noclip, etc). | |
mp_warmup_pausetimer | 0 | Holds warmup indefinitely when set to 1, used for scrim ready-up. | |
sv_pure | 1 | Forces clients to use server file consistency checks. | |
mp_autoteambalance | 1 | Auto-balances team sizes between rounds. |
Showing 13 of 13 configuration parameters.
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
status | N/A | Lists all connected players with SteamIDs, ping and userid. | |
kick <name> | N/A | Kicks the named player from the server. | |
kickid <userid> | N/A | Kicks the player by their session userid from `status`. | |
banid <minutes> <steamid> | N/A | Bans a player by SteamID (0 = permanent). | |
writeid | N/A | Writes the SteamID banlist to `banned_user.cfg`. | |
changelevel <map> | N/A | Changes to a new map immediately (no reload). | |
map <map> | N/A | Loads the named map and restarts the server logic. | |
mp_restartgame <s> | N/A | Restarts the round/match after the given delay in seconds. | |
exec <cfg> | N/A | Executes a config file from `game/csgo/cfg/` (e.g. `exec esl5on5.cfg`). | |
say <message> | N/A | Broadcasts a chat message from the server console. |
Showing 10 of 10 admin console commands.
Recommended hosting providers
Vetted hosts with one-click Counter-Strike 2 installs. Links are affiliate placeholders and marked rel="sponsored".
Low-latency CS2 plans across NA/EU/SEA edge nodes with one-click 128-tick presets.
Visit GameServerKings →One-click CS2 installs with GSLT integration, web-based config editor, and Workshop map management.
Visit Nitrado →Competitive-tuned plans with prebuilt ESL/Faceit configs and easy CounterStrikeSharp installs.
Visit GTXGaming →Hardware specifications
Sizing guidance for self-hosting a Counter-Strike 2 dedicated server.
| Tier | Specification | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Pug / 5v5 | 2 GB RAM / 2-core 4.5 GHz+ CPU / 1 Gbps | Competitive 10-slot servers. Clock and network latency matter more than RAM. |
| Community (16-32 slots) | 4 GB RAM / 4-core 4.5 GHz+ CPU / 1 Gbps | Casual/DM/Surf servers with workshop maps and CSSharp plugins. |
| High-Tick LAN/Scrim | 8 GB RAM / 4-core 5.0 GHz+ Dedicated Node | Pro scrim use where subtick consistency and zero noisy-neighbor variance is required. |
Default file locations
Default installation paths for Counter-Strike 2 dedicated servers installed via SteamCMD.
Windows
C:\srcds\game\csgo\cfg\Linux
/home/steam/cs2/game/csgo/cfg/Pro-Tip: Always stop the server completely before editing configuration files, or the server will overwrite your changes upon restart.
Default ports for port forwarding
Open these on your router and firewall before exposing the server to the internet.
| Service | Protocol | Port |
|---|---|---|
| Game Port | UDP | 27015 |
| Query Port | UDP | 27015 |
| RCON / Telnet | TCP | 27015 |
Frequently asked questions
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Host your own Counter-Strike 2 server
All hosting guides →Step-by-step install and deploy walkthroughs (panels, ports, RAM sizing). Pair these with the command reference above.