Insurgency: Sandstorm Dedicated Server: Game.ini & Admin Commands
Data Verified: May 2026Complete Insurgency: Sandstorm dedicated server admin reference. Configure Game.ini, MapCycle.txt, Mods.txt, RCON admin commands, GSLT login token, and hardware sizing.
Commands & configuration database
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
GameServerName | Sandstorm Server | Public server name in the community browser. | |
ServerPassword | (empty) | Password required to join. Leave blank for public. | |
ServerRconPassword | (empty) | Password used to authenticate RCON sessions. | |
MaxPlayers | 28 | Concurrent player cap (mode-dependent; PvP modes cap 16-28). | |
MapCycle | MapCycle.txt | Path to the map rotation list. | |
GameMode | Checkpoint | Active mode: Checkpoint, Push, Firefight, Skirmish, Survival, Frontline, Domination, Hardcore. | |
AllowMapVoting | True | Allows players to vote for the next map post-round. | |
MapVotingMinimumPlayers | 4 | Minimum connected players required for vote to trigger. | |
bKillFeed | True | Shows the kill feed (disable for Hardcore servers). | |
bAllowFriendlyFire | True | Enables friendly-fire damage. | |
FriendlyFireDamageScale | 1.0 | Multiplier for damage applied via friendly fire. | |
MutatorList | (empty) | Comma-separated server-side mutators (e.g. CompetitiveCheckpoint, HardcoreCheckpoint). | |
-GSLTToken=<token> | (CLI flag) | Steam GSLT for AppID 581320. Required for public listing. | |
-Mods | (CLI flag) | Enables Mod.io mod loading from Mods.txt. |
Showing 14 of 14 configuration parameters.
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
admin login <password> | N/A | Authenticates the calling player as admin in-game. | |
admin kick <player> | N/A | Disconnects the named player. | |
admin ban <player> <minutes> <reason> | N/A | Bans the named player for the specified duration. | |
admin changemap <map> <mode> | N/A | Immediately switches to the named map and game mode. | |
admin restartround | N/A | Restarts the current round. | |
admin endgame | N/A | Ends the current match and advances the map cycle. | |
admin say <message> | N/A | Server-wide on-screen broadcast. | |
admin listplayers | N/A | Lists connected players with Steam IDs. | |
admin maps | N/A | Lists maps available in the current rotation. |
Showing 9 of 9 admin console commands.
Recommended hosting providers
Vetted hosts with one-click Insurgency: Sandstorm installs. Links are affiliate placeholders and marked rel="sponsored".
High-clock Sandstorm plans with one-click GSLT/Mod.io setup and INI editor.
Visit GTXGaming →DDoS-protected dedicated boxes in low-latency regions for competitive scrims.
Visit Host Havoc →Managed Sandstorm hosting with auto-updates and web-based MapCycle editor.
Visit Nitrado →Hardware specifications
Sizing guidance for self-hosting a Insurgency: Sandstorm dedicated server.
| Tier | Specification | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Scrim / Comp (8-16 players) | 4 GB RAM / 2-core 4.0 GHz+ CPU | Push/Firefight scrims. Tick is hit-reg sensitive, clock matters. |
| Standard PvP (16-24 players) | 6 GB RAM / 4-core 4.5 GHz+ CPU | Public Push or Skirmish with active player counts. |
| Checkpoint Co-op (28 players + bots) | 8 GB RAM / 6-core 4.5 GHz+ Dedicated Node | PvE Checkpoint with full bot counts; UE4 AI cost dominates. |
Default file locations
Default installation paths for Insurgency: Sandstorm dedicated servers installed via SteamCMD.
Windows
C:\sandstormserver\Insurgency\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\Linux
/home/steam/sandstorm/Insurgency/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/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 | 27102 |
| Query Port | UDP | 27131 |
| RCON / Telnet | TCP | 27015 |
Frequently asked questions
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