Generate a Counter-Strike 2 server.cfg

CS2's server.cfg is just a sequence of console commands — but a handful of settings will never take effect from it.

Start from a preset

Visual Settings

source Format

Identity

hostname

Server name in the browser. Quote it — this format separates command and value with a space, not an equals sign.

Gameplay

mp_maxrounds

Rounds per map. 0 means unlimited.

mp_timelimit

Minutes per map. 0 disables the time limit.

mp_freezetime

Seconds of buy time at the start of each round.

mp_roundtime

Round length in minutes. Competitive uses 1.92, which is 115 seconds.

mp_maxmoney

Money cap per player.

mp_friendlyfire

Team damage.

sv_alltalk

Lets both teams hear each other on voice.

sv_cheats

Cheat commands. Leave off on anything public.

Players & Access

sv_password

Join password. Blank means public.

Network

sv_setsteamaccount

Game server login token from your Steam account. Without it the server works but never appears in the community browser — this, not your ports, is usually why a reachable server is unlisted.

sv_lan

LAN mode. On, the server will not answer external queries at all.

RCON & Query

rcon_password

Remote console password. Change it, and do not leave the RCON port open to the internet.

server.cfg

rcon_password — This is still the example RCON password. Change it, and keep the RCON port off the public internet.

sv_setsteamaccount — Without a game server login token the server will not appear in the public browser, however your ports are configured.

hostname "My CS2"
sv_password ""
rcon_password "changeme"
sv_setsteamaccount 
mp_maxrounds 24
mp_timelimit 40
mp_freezetime 15
mp_roundtime 1.92
mp_maxmoney 16000
mp_friendlyfire 1
sv_alltalk 0
sv_cheats 0
sv_lan 0

The server.cfg format

Write a command, a space, then its value; no equals signs. Anything with a space in it gets quotes, numbers do not, and true/false become 1 and 0. Typos are dangerous because an unknown command fails silently: the console skips the line and continues.

The mistake that wastes an evening

A few settings are consumed before server.cfg is ever read, so they only work as launch parameters. The map the server starts on is the usual one. The tell is a setting that works typed into the console yet does nothing from the file.

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Visual Settings

server.cfg

The server.cfg format

The mistake that wastes an evening

Rather not run the server yourself?