SteamCMD: installing and updating Steam game servers

Most dedicated servers for Steam games are downloaded and updated with SteamCMD, the command-line version of Steam. You do not need an account for almost any of them: you log in anonymously.

Windows

1. Download steamcmd.zip from Valve's developer site (https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip) and extract it to C:\steamcmd.
2. Run it once (C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe): it updates itself and ends at Steam>. Type quit.

To install a server (example: Rust):

C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\servers\rust +login anonymous +app_update 258550 validate +quit

Linux (Ubuntu / Debian)

Better with a dedicated user than with root:

apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 curl
adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" steam
su - steam
mkdir ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | tar zxvf -
./steamcmd.sh +quit

To install a server:

~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir ~/servers/rust +login anonymous +app_update 258550 validate +quit

Order matters: +force_install_dir always before +login.

Each game's ID

Updating

When the game gets an update, stop the server and run the same install command: it only downloads what changed. validate also checks for damaged files; you can drop it to go faster on routine updates.

Common errors

• "Missing configuration" or "No subscription": the App ID is wrong, or that server needs an account that owns the game (instead of anonymous).
• The download stops: run the command again; it resumes where it left off.
• Out of space: check the disk first; some servers are large (CS2 is around 60 GB).