Help · Connecting & ports · Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2: connect to and set up your server

Start your CS2 server with a Steam token, connect via the console and set map, game mode, password and RCON.

Here's how to connect to your Counter-Strike 2 server and adjust the most important settings.

Connecting

  1. Open the server page in the client area and click Start.
  2. Wait until the status shows “running”. You can follow the progress in the Console tab.
  3. Copy the address (IP:Port) at the top of the server page.
  4. In CS2, enable the developer console under Settings → Game, open it and enter connect IP:Port.

Important settings

In the Startup variables tab:

  • Servername (SERVER_NAME) – name in the Steam server browser.
  • Server-Passwort (SERVER_PASSWORD) – password for joining.
  • Maximale Spieler (MAX_PLAYERS) – maximum number of players.
  • Karte (SRCDS_MAP) – start map, e.g. de_dust2 or de_mirage.
  • Spielmodus (game_mode) (GAME_MODE) and Spieltyp (game_type) (GAME_TYPE) – together they set the mode, e.g. Competitive 1/0, Wingman 2/0, Casual 0/0.
  • Steam-Gameserver-Login-Token (GSLT) (STEAM_GSLT) – required so that the server is listed publicly.
  • VAC aktivieren (VAC_ENABLED) and Automatische Updates (AUTO_UPDATE).

Changes in the Startup variables tab take effect on the next restart.

Good to know

  • The Steam token (GSLT) is required and entered when ordering; you can change it later under Startup variables. How to get one is explained in Counter-Strike 2: create a Steam token (GSLT).
  • The portal generates the RCON password automatically. It is shown once at the top of the server page – please make a note of it. To change it: RCON-Passwort (RCON_PASSWORD). For external RCON tools, set RCON aktivieren (RCON_ENABLED) to 1.
  • The first start takes longer because the server files (several dozen GB) are downloaded.
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