How to Configure Your CS 1.6 Server (server.cfg)
A complete walkthrough of CS 1.6's server.cfg — every essential cvar explained, with a ready-to-use template you can drop in and adjust.
Where server.cfg Lives
The file is at cstrike/server.cfg relative to your HLDS install directory. Every time the server starts, this file runs automatically. Think of it as your server's boot config — everything that should always be set goes here.
If the file doesn't exist yet, create it. It's a plain text file.
The Full Template
Here is a solid starting point covering every essential cvar:
hostname "My CS 1.6 Server"
sv_password ""
sv_lan 0
maxplayers 20
mp_timelimit 25
mp_roundtime 2.5
mp_maxrounds 0
mp_friendlyfire 0
mp_autoteambalance 1
mp_limitteams 2
mp_startmoney 800
mp_buytime 0.25
mp_flashlight 1
mp_footsteps 1
sv_cheats 0
sv_consistency 1
log on
mp_logfile 1
mp_logmessages 1
mp_logresolve 0
rcon_password "ChangeThisPassword"
Cvar Breakdown
sv_lan 0 — This is mandatory for a public server. Setting it to 1 hides the server from the internet master server list and only lets LAN clients connect. If players can't find your server in the browser, this is the first thing to check.
mp_timelimit — Minutes per map before it cycles to the next one. Set to 0 for no time limit (map only changes via mp_maxrounds).
mp_roundtime — Minutes per round. 2.5 is standard for competitive play. 3 is more casual.
mp_maxrounds — Number of rounds before the map changes. Set to 0 to ignore round count and use time limit only. Set both mp_timelimit and mp_maxrounds to 0 if you want the map to never change automatically.
mp_startmoney — Starting money per half. Default is 800. Range is 800–16000.
mp_buytime — How long the buy menu is available at round start, in minutes. 0.25 is 15 seconds, which is standard.
mp_limitteams — Maximum player count difference between teams before joining the larger team is blocked. 2 is fair.
mp_autoteambalance — When enabled (1), the server automatically moves a player from the larger team to the smaller one at round end.
sv_consistency — Forces clients to use the server's model and sound files. Players with modified files get kicked. Set to 0 only if you're running a server that explicitly allows custom client content.
mp_logresolve 0 — Prevents the server from doing DNS reverse-lookups on player IP addresses in logs. Keep this off — it adds latency for no useful gain.
rcon_password — Set this to something strong and unique. RCON is unencrypted, so don't reuse a password you use anywhere else.
Applying Changes Without a Restart
If you tweak server.cfg and want the changes to take effect immediately, run this in the server console:
exec server.cfg
Note: some cvars (like maxplayers) require a full restart to take effect.
Per-Map Configs
You can run extra config per map by placing a file named de_dust2.cfg (matching the map name) in cstrike/cfg/. CS 1.6 runs that file automatically when the map loads. Useful for adjusting round rules per map.