How to Host a Garry's Mod Server (2026 Setup Guide)
Garry's Mod hosting is mostly about getting the gamemode and workshop addons right — the 32-bit server binary caps RAM needs lower than you'd expect. Here's how to get a Sandbox, DarkRP or TTT server running cleanly.
Pick your gamemode before you add anything else — Sandbox, DarkRP, TTT, Murder or Prop Hunt. The base game ships with the server either way; the gamemode decides what addons and configuration actually matter from here on.
Don't over-provision RAM. GMod's server binary is 32-bit, so it can't use more than about 4GB however much the machine has — 2GB runs a small TTT or Prop Hunt server, 4GB a community server with a workshop collection. Bigger tiers are about slot count and workshop downloads, not memory.
Build a Steam Workshop collection and point the server at its id in the start arguments. Every addon in the collection downloads before the first map loads — single addons can also be dropped straight into the file manager if you don't want a full collection.
Change the generated RCON password in garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg if you'll be sharing admin access, or just run commands straight from the panel console with the default. Either way, RCON is there from the first boot.
Skip the Steam Game Server Login Token unless you want public browser visibility. Players can connect by IP without one — a free token from steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers just makes the server show up in the in-game browser, and you can add it later from the panel.
Use a cleaner Garry's Mod path
CoalHost gives your Garry's Mod server workshop support, RCON and backups out of the box.
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