Halo: Combat Evolved PC server hosting
Keep classic Halo PC multiplayer alive on a server of your own. Run version 1.0.10 with the original maps and game types for up to 16 players, and add SAPP for admin levels, map votes and Lua scripts.
- Dedicated server haloded.exe on version 1.0.10
- Up to 16 players per server
- Slayer, CTF, King of the Hill, Oddball and Race
- SAPP for admins, map votes and Lua
- Players
- Up to 16 (sv_maxplayers)
- PortSet the server port with -port. The client port, set with -cport, defaults to 2303.
- 2302 UDP
- VersionThe last official patch. It moved the game lobby to a new server after GameSpy shut down in May 2014.
- 1.0.10
- ConfigStart the server with -exec init.txt; sv_name, sv_password and sv_public go in that file.
- init.txt
- Admin tools
- SAPP (community)
- Game types
- Slayer · CTF · KOTH · Oddball · Race
Game types
- Slayer
- CTF
- King of the Hill
- Oddball
- Race
- SAPP
- Lua
Game facts from the community c20 Halo wiki, Halopedia and SAPP guides, checked in October 2026.
- DDoS protection
- 20 game server locations
Halo PC plans are being prepared
Tell us your player count, game types and whether you run SAPP, and our team will reply with the options. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online.
How big should a Halo PC server be?
The Halo PC server is small and capped at 16 players, so a modest server is enough. SAPP and Lua scripts add a little load.
Find your size
| Feature |
Small game
Up to 8 players
|
Recommended Full server
Up to 16 players
|
With scripts
16 players with SAPP and Lua
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory (RAM)Memory for the map, the game type and every connected player. | 1 GB | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods. | 5 GB | 5 GB | 5 GB |
| ScriptsSAPP adds admin commands and runs Lua scripts for custom rules, stats and messages. | None | SAPP commands | SAPP with Lua scripts |
| Typical use | Friends on the classic maps | A full public server | Custom rules, stats and votes |
-
Small game
Up to 8 players
- Memory (RAM)Memory for the map, the game type and every connected player.
- 1 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 1
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 5 GB
- ScriptsSAPP adds admin commands and runs Lua scripts for custom rules, stats and messages.
- None
- Typical use
- Friends on the classic maps
-
Recommended
Full server
Up to 16 players
- Memory (RAM)Memory for the map, the game type and every connected player.
- 1 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 1
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 5 GB
- ScriptsSAPP adds admin commands and runs Lua scripts for custom rules, stats and messages.
- SAPP commands
- Typical use
- A full public server
-
With scripts
16 players with SAPP and Lua
- Memory (RAM)Memory for the map, the game type and every connected player.
- 2 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 5 GB
- ScriptsSAPP adds admin commands and runs Lua scripts for custom rules, stats and messages.
- SAPP with Lua scripts
- Typical use
- Custom rules, stats and votes
There are no official server hardware figures. The dedicated server is a small Windows program that also runs under Wine on Linux; these starting points leave room for SAPP and Lua.
Game types, SAPP and scripts
The stock game types still carry the classic matches; the community SAPP extension adds the admin tools the original server never had.
Stock game types
Slayer, Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Oddball and Race on the original maps, with your own rules for each game type.
init.txt
The server runs the commands in init.txt at start: name, password and whether it is listed publicly.
SAPP
The community server extension adds admin levels, kick and ban commands, map votes and anti-cheat checks. It loads with the load command as the last line of init.txt.
Lua scripts
SAPP runs Lua scripts for custom modes, stats and messages; community script collections are shared on GitHub.
Lobby after GameSpy
Patch 1.0.10 moved the server list away from GameSpy, so players should run 1.0.10 to find and join servers.
Linux with Wine
The Windows server program also runs under Wine on Linux machines.
Set up your Halo PC server
Four steps back to Blood Gulch.
-
Pick a size
Up to 16 players fit on one server; add a little room if you plan SAPP and Lua scripts.
-
Pick a location
Choose the one closest to your players from our 20 game server locations.
-
Write init.txt
Set sv_name, sv_password and sv_public, choose your map cycle and add load as the last line if you use SAPP.
-
Join the server
Players on version 1.0.10 find the server in the lobby or connect with its address and port.
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Frequently asked questions
How many players can join a Halo PC server?
Up to 16. Set sv_maxplayers between 1 and 16; 16 is the default.
Which port does the server use?
2302 over UDP by default, set with -port. The client port, set with -cport, defaults to 2303. Give each server on one address its own port.
Which version do the server and players need?
Version 1.0.10, the last official patch. GameSpy’s lobby service ended on 31 May 2014, and 1.0.10 moved the lobby to a new server, so older versions no longer find servers.
What is SAPP?
SAPP is a community server extension for Halo PC and Custom Edition with admin levels, kick and ban commands, map votes, anti-cheat checks and Lua scripting. It is no longer developed, but it is still widely used and its files are mirrored on GitHub.
How do I set the server name and password?
Put sv_name, sv_password and sv_public in init.txt and start the server with -exec init.txt. sv_public decides whether the server appears in the lobby.
How do I add admins?
With SAPP, use the admin_add command; admins get levels from -1 to 4 that decide which commands they may use. Without SAPP, the server only offers the remote console password sv_rcon_password, which is limited to 8 characters.
Can I run custom maps on Halo PC?
The custom map community is built around Halo: Custom Edition, which has its own server program, haloceded.exe. For custom maps, run a Custom Edition server instead.
Can the server run on Linux?
The dedicated server is a Windows program, and community guides run it on Linux under Wine with a small start script.
Can Mac players join?
The Mac version never received the 1.0.10 lobby patch, so Mac players need a community fix to reach today’s servers.
Ready to drop into Blood Gulch?
Tell us your players, game types and SAPP plans, and we will help you pick the right Halo PC server.