Squad Dedicated Server: Admin Commands & Server.cfg Guide
Data Verified: May 2026Definitive Squad dedicated server reference. Configure Server.cfg and Admins.cfg, set MapRotation and licensed/community presets, run via RCON, and size hardware for 100-player tactical milsim.
Commands & configuration database
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
ServerName | Squad Server | Public server name shown in the browser. | |
MaxPlayers | 100 | Maximum concurrent player slots. Hard cap is 100. | |
ServerMessage | (empty) | Message broadcast periodically to all players. | |
ShouldAdvertise | True | Lists the server in the in-game browser. | |
IsLANMatch | False | Restricts the server to LAN when True. | |
PreventTeamChangeIfUnbalanced | True | Blocks team switching that would create imbalance. | |
TKAutoKickEnabled | True | Enables auto-kick of repeated team-killers. | |
AutoTKBanTime | 240 | Minutes a player is banned for after auto-TK trigger. | |
VoteDuration | 30 | Seconds a server vote remains open. | |
AllowTeamChanges | True | Permits manual team switching during the match. | |
MapRotation | Jensens_Range | Comma-separated list of maps and layer names cycled by the server. | |
ChatKickFiltered | True | Auto-kicks players for matching chat filter terms. |
Showing 12 of 12 configuration parameters.
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
AdminBroadcast <message> | N/A | Broadcasts a global server-wide message. | |
AdminEndMatch | N/A | Ends the current match immediately. | |
AdminChangeLayer <layer> | N/A | Switches to a specific map layer right now. | |
AdminSetNextLayer <layer> | N/A | Queues the named layer to load after the current round. | |
AdminKick "<name>" <reason> | N/A | Kicks the named player. | |
AdminBan "<name>" <duration> <reason> | N/A | Bans a player. Duration in minutes, 0 = permanent. | |
AdminListDisconnectedPlayers | N/A | Lists recently disconnected players for ban-by-ID workflow. | |
AdminRestartMatch | N/A | Restarts the current match without changing the layer. | |
AdminListPlayers | N/A | Lists all currently connected players with IDs and squads. |
Showing 9 of 9 admin console commands.
Recommended hosting providers
Vetted hosts with one-click Squad installs. Links are affiliate placeholders and marked rel="sponsored".
Tier-1 low-latency Squad plans across NA/EU/SEA with one-click Licensed-spec hardware.
Visit GameServerKings →OWI-recognised provider with one-click Squad installs and BattleMetrics RCON integration.
Visit Nitrado →Dedicated nodes ideal for 100-slot Licensed servers requiring guaranteed CPU clock.
Visit Host Havoc →Hardware specifications
Sizing guidance for self-hosting a Squad dedicated server.
| Tier | Specification | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Small Community (40-60 slots) | 8 GB RAM / 4-core 4.0 GHz+ CPU / 1 Gbps | Casual community server with light mods. |
| Standard (80-100 slots) | 16 GB RAM / 6-core 4.5 GHz+ CPU / 1 Gbps | Full community server with active player base. |
| Licensed (100 slots) | 24-32 GB RAM / 8-core 5.0 GHz+ Dedicated Node | OWI Licensed-spec; consistent tick rate under 100-player combat scenes is mandatory. |
Default file locations
Default installation paths for Squad dedicated servers installed via SteamCMD.
Windows
C:\SquadServer\SquadGame\ServerConfig\Linux
/home/steam/squadserver/SquadGame/ServerConfig/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 | 7787 |
| Query Port | UDP | 27165 |
| RCON / Telnet | TCP | 21114 |
Frequently asked questions
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