Shooter · Lightweight
Host a Counter-Strike Source Server
Host Counter-Strike: Source on your own Windows 10/11 or Linux computer. Swarm Hosts gives you a browser control panel to start, stop, monitor, and back up your server.
- Server Actions
- Guided settings
- Backups
Available in Early Access
Hardware and runtime
What Counter-Strike: Source needs
Minimum requirements are a starting point. World size, player count, content, and game settings can require more resources.
- CPU
- 1+ cores
- Memory
- 1 GiB minimum
- Player traffic
- TCP and UDP
- Backup coverage
- 1 saved data location
- Persistent data: /home/steam/css
- Network: one published port number on both TCP and UDP
- First start: installs the dedicated server before the readiness check can pass
- Public access: use the assigned host or relay address and published port
Technical overview
Counter-Strike: Source uses a shared TCP/UDP game port and stores persistent server files under /home/steam/css. Swarm Hosts waits for a Source-query response before marking the Swarm Server ready.
Launch workflow
From host to running server
After launch, open Settings → Counter-Strike: Source Settings to change the managed values. Saving settings recreates or restarts the server, so connected players will be disconnected.
- Choose Counter-Strike: Source.
- Set the server name, starting map, player limit, and a unique join password, or clear the join password if the server should be open to everyone.
- Set a private RCON password if you want to use Server Actions.
- Review bot quota, bot difficulty, team-play, starting-money, LAN, and tickrate settings.
- Launch and allow up to 15 minutes for a first-time install on a slower host.
Networking
How players connect
Players can join through the in-game server browser or client console:
The TCP and UDP mappings must use the same published port number. Share the endpoint shown by Swarm Hosts, not the container's default port.
Managed shared relay when the game, host, and current relay path support it.
Server Actions
Manage your Counter-Strike: Source server
Available tools depend on the game, server status, and your permissions. The game guide explains any setup needed for Server Actions.
Server status
Read the current map and player summary.
List players
List connected players and their server user IDs.
List installed maps
List maps installed in the server data directory.
Broadcast message
Send a server-authored chat message.
Set bot quota
Set the number of bots maintained by the server.
Set bot difficulty
Change the difficulty used for newly managed bots.
Restart round
Restart the current round after a short delay.
Change map
Change immediately to an installed map.
Kick player
Disconnect a player using the numeric user ID from List players.
Mods & Content status
Mods and custom content
Track mods in one place and apply them manually through the game-specific workflow.
MetaMod:Source and SourceMod are manually managed under the persistent cstrike/addons tree. Create a backup, stop the Swarm Server, upload a compatible plugin set through Files & Backups, then start and validate the server. Automatic plugin discovery and dependency resolution are not currently available.
Know before launch
Before you launch
- Host on Windows 10/11 or Linux with Docker Desktop in Linux-container mode on Windows, or Docker Engine or rootful Podman on Linux.
- Managed shared relay when the game, host, and current relay path support it.
Windows 10/11 + Linux
Ready to host Counter-Strike: Source?
Connect the Windows or Linux computer you already own, then follow the game-specific launch path.