# Counter-Strike: Source server: order, connect, settings and admin > Your Counter-Strike: Source server at HyperDC: order fields, what runs automatically, how players connect, the console, files, admin rights and common fixes. Difficulty: Beginner This guide covers the Counter-Strike: Source server you rent from HyperDC. You manage it on its service page in the client area, under **Services › My Services**. There is no separate game panel. For the basics that apply to every game, see [game servers: getting started](/guides/game-servers). ## Order your server Choose a plan for Counter-Strike: Source and fill in the order form. These are the fields it asks for, under the names the form uses: | Field | What to enter | |---|---| | **Location** | Pick the location closest to most of your players. Game servers are offered in 20 locations. | | **Additional Player Slots** | The plan includes 4 players. Add more here, up to 64 in total. CPU, memory and disk grow with the player count. | | **Map** | The map the server starts on. You can change it later in the **Settings** tab. | | **Server Name** | Shown in the game's server browser. 3 to 60 characters: letters, digits, spaces and `- _ . ! ( ) [ ] # : , + ' *`. | | **RCON Password** | Becomes `rcon_password` in the server's `server.cfg`. 8 to 32 characters: letters, digits and `. _ -`, not starting with `-`. | | **Additional RAM (GB), Additional Disk (GB), Additional CPU Cores** | Optional extras on top of the plan. | ## What happens automatically - The game files are installed for you with SteamCMD (Steam app 232330). - The page shows the progress while the server is being set up. You can leave the page: the build carries on, and the controls appear when it is ready. - Ports are assigned to your server and opened for you. - Before every start the panel writes your server name and RCON Password into `cstrike/cfg/server.cfg`, so a change in the **Settings** tab reaches the game at its next start. - CPU, memory and disk follow the number of players you ordered. ## Connect to your server ![The Counter-Strike: Source service page with the banner, the status, the power buttons and the performance cards](https://hyperdc.com/templates/hyperdc/img/docs/counter-strike-source-server/overview.webp "The service page of your game server in the client area.") 1. Open **Services › My Services** and choose your game server. 2. On the **Overview** tab, find the address under **Connect** and press the copy button. 3. Open the console and type connect with the address and port, or add the server to your favourites. ![The Connect box with the server address and its query port, RCON port, up time, player slots and limits](https://hyperdc.com/templates/hyperdc/img/docs/counter-strike-source-server/connect.webp "The Connect box: the address to share with your players.") The panel assigns the ports, so your port can differ from the game's usual 27015: always use the one under **Connect**. The same box lists the **Query port** and **RCON port**. ## Start, stop and update The banner at the top of the service page has the **Start**, **Restart**, **Stop** and **Kill** buttons. **Stop** shuts the game down its own way and saves where the game can; use **Kill** only when the server no longer reacts. **Update** stops the server if it is running, updates the game files with SteamCMD and starts it again. Players and server need the same version, so update after a game patch. If your plan shows a **Reinstall** tab, it installs the game again from scratch. Every server file is deleted and this cannot be undone, so you must type `REINSTALL` to confirm. ## Use the console The **Console** tab shows what the server prints while it runs. Type a command in the **Type a command…** box and press Enter or the send button. Commands are the game's own. ## Change the settings The **Settings** tab lists what you can change for this game, starting with **Server name**, **RCON Password**, **Join password**, **Player slots**, **Map**. The player slots are part of your plan: change them with Upgrade/Downgrade. Press **Save changes**. Saving restarts a running server to apply the changes, and you are asked first. A stopped server stays stopped and uses the new values at its next start. ![The Settings tab with the server name, the password fields and the player slots](https://hyperdc.com/templates/hyperdc/img/docs/counter-strike-source-server/settings.webp "The Settings tab of this game.") ## Edit the game's files The **Files** tab shows the server folder. You can edit text files and save them, upload files of up to 100 MB each, make folders and files, and right-click anything to rename, delete, compress, extract or download it. ![The Files tab with the folders and files of the server](https://hyperdc.com/templates/hyperdc/img/docs/counter-strike-source-server/files.webp "The Files tab, opened at the main folder of the server.") The game's own settings files: - `cstrike/cfg/server.cfg` To change a file by hand: 1. Press **Stop**. Many games rewrite their settings files when they shut down, so an edit made while the server runs can be lost. 2. Open the file in the **Files** tab, change it and save it. 3. Press **Start**. > **Note** > > The panel writes the server name and the password before every start. Change those in the **Settings** tab, not in the file. ## Keep a copy of your world Game servers have no automatic backups, so keep your own copy before big changes. This game has no lasting world: what is worth keeping is the settings files you changed. Right-click them in the **Files** tab and choose **Download**. ## Become an admin There is no built-in admin list. You administer the server through the remote console: open the game console, type `rcon_password `, then send commands as `rcon `. ## Upgrade or switch game Open the service page and choose **Actions › Upgrade/Downgrade** for another plan or game, or **Upgrade/Downgrade Options** for players, RAM, disk and CPU. You pay or receive the prorated difference through the normal upgrade invoice. - **Same game:** your files stay. A running server restarts once to apply the change. - **Another game:** the new game is installed first. Then the old server and all its files are deleted and no copy is kept. The address stays, the ports change, and the server name and password move to the new server. You must tick the confirmation box before checkout, so download your world first. See [upgrade or downgrade a service](/guides/upgrade-or-downgrade-service) for the steps. ## Common problems **Players cannot find the server in the list.** Check that the banner shows the server as running and give the list a few minutes. Where the game allows a direct connection, use the address from the **Overview** tab. **Players are told the versions differ.** Press **Update** to bring the server to the current version, and ask players to update their game. **A change in a settings file is gone after a restart.** Stop the server before you edit the file, because many games rewrite it when they shut down. The server name and password always come from the **Settings** tab. **The server does not start after a change.** Read the last lines in the **Console** tab, then undo the last file or mod you changed. **The server lags at busy times.** Look at the **CPU** and **Memory** cards under **Performance**. If they are full, add **Additional RAM (GB)** or **Additional CPU Cores** with **Upgrade/Downgrade Options**. **The order form refuses the password.** Use 8 to 32 characters: letters, digits and `. _ -`, not starting with `-`. ## Next steps - Basics for every game: [game servers: getting started](/guides/game-servers). - Lower latency for your players: [choose a data center location](/guides/choose-a-data-center-location). ## Frequently asked questions ### What does the order form ask for a Counter-Strike: Source server? Location, Server Name, RCON Password, and the optional extras for players, RAM, disk and CPU. The fields use the names in this guide. ### How do players join my Counter-Strike: Source server? Open the console and type connect with the address and port, or add the server to your favourites. Use the address and port from the Overview tab. ### How do I become an admin on Counter-Strike: Source? There is no built-in admin list. You administer the server through the remote console: open the game console, type `rcon_password `, then send commands as `rcon `. ### Are there automatic backups? No. To keep a copy, compress the folder in the Files tab and download it. --- Source: \ Updated: 2026-10-30