How to install Counter-Strike: Global Offensive CSGO on Ubuntu 22.04 Server

Introduction:

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is one of the most popular first-person shooters globally, known for its competitive gameplay and dedicated community. If you’re a CS:GO enthusiast and want to host your own server on an Ubuntu 22.04 server, this article will guide you through the process. By the end, you’ll have your CS:GO server up and running, ready for friends and players to join.

Step 1: Prerequisites

Before you begin hosting a CS:GO server, ensure you have the following:

1. An Ubuntu 22.04 server with root or sudo access.
2. A stable internet connection with port forwarding configured if you want players to connect from outside your local network.
3. SteamCMD, a command-line tool for managing Steam game servers, installed on your Ubuntu server. You can install it using the following commands:

   sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install lib32gcc1 steamcmd

Step 2: Create a Dedicated User

It’s a best practice to create a dedicated user to run your CS:GO server. Replace ‘csgo’ with your desired username:

sudo adduser csgo

Step 3: Log In as the Dedicated User

Switch to the dedicated user:

su - csgo

Step 4: Install and Update CS:GO Server

Run SteamCMD to install the CS:GO server files and keep them up-to-date:

steamcmd

Inside the SteamCMD console, run the following commands:

login anonymous
force_install_dir ~/csgo-server
app_update 740 validate
quit

This will install the CS:GO server in the ~/csgo-server directory.

Step 5: Configure Your CS:GO Server

Navigate to your CS:GO server configuration directory:

cd ~/csgo-server/csgo

Create a file named server.cfg using a text editor to configure your server settings. Customize it according to your preferences:

nano server.cfg

Example server.cfg content:

hostname "My CS:GO Server"
rcon_password "your_rcon_password"
sv_password "your_server_password"
mp_maxplayers 16

Step 6: Start Your CS:GO Server

Start your CS:GO server with the following command:

./srcds_run -game csgo -console -usercon +game_type 0 +game_mode 1 +mapgroup mg_active +map de_dust2

Replace de_dust2 with your preferred map. The server will start, and you’ll see logs in the console.

Step 7: Connecting to Your Server

To connect to your CS:GO server, open CS:GO, open the console (by pressing the tilde key ~), and enter:

connect your_server_ip:27015

Replace your_server_ip with your server’s public IP address or domain name.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully hosted a CS:GO server on your Ubuntu 22.04 server. Players can now connect to your server and enjoy competitive gameplay. Make sure to keep your server updated and consider configuring additional settings, such as server plugins and mods, to enhance the gaming experience for your players.