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SteamCMD Installation: Steam Game Server Management Tool
SteamCMD installation on Linux, game server download and update, automatic update script, anonymous login and common issues.
Read time: 12 min Game Server Setup
steamcmdsteamgame serverlinuxinstallationupdate
- Author
- REXE Teknoloji Network & Security Team
- Editor
- REXE Teknoloji Technical Editorial
- First published
- Last updated
Introduction
SteamCMD (Steam Console Client) is a command-line Steam client developed by Valve. It is used to download, update, and manage game server files. Dedicated server setup for CS2, Garry's Mod, Rust, ARK, Palworld, and many more games is done through SteamCMD. This guide covers SteamCMD installation on Linux, usage, and automatic update configuration.
System Requirements
| Resource | Minimum |
|---|---|
| OS | Ubuntu 20.04+ / Debian 11+ |
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Disk | 500 MB (SteamCMD) + game server space |
| Architecture | 64-bit (32-bit libraries required) |
Installation Methods
Method 1: APT Installation (Ubuntu/Debian)
hljs bash
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y steamcmd
With APT installation, SteamCMD is installed to /usr/games/steamcmd and you need to accept the license agreement.
Method 2: Manual Installation (Recommended)
Manual installation provides more control:
hljs bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 lib32stdc++6 wget tar
sudo adduser steam --disabled-login --gecos ""
sudo su - steam
mkdir -p ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd
wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
tar -xzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
rm steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
Verify installation:
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh +quit
Manual installation allows you to create separate users for each game server and manage permissions better.
Basic Usage
SteamCMD Command Structure
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh +login <user> +force_install_dir <dir> +app_update <app_id> +quit
Anonymous Login
Most game servers can be downloaded with anonymous login:
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +quit
Account Login
Some game servers require a Steam account:
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh +login username +quit
If Steam Guard is enabled, you'll need to enter a verification code. The token is cached after the first login.
Popular Game Servers and App IDs
| Game | App ID | Anonymous Login |
|---|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 730 | Yes |
| Garry's Mod | 4020 | Yes |
| Rust | 258550 | Yes |
| ARK: Survival Evolved | 376030 | Yes |
| Palworld | 2394010 | Yes |
| Unturned | 1110390 | Yes |
| Terraria (tShock) | 105600 | Yes |
| Team Fortress 2 | 232250 | Yes |
| Valheim | 896660 | Yes |
| Project Zomboid | 380870 | Yes |
| 7 Days to Die | 294420 | Yes |
| Satisfactory | 1690800 | Yes |
| V Rising | 1829350 | Yes |
| Enshrouded | 2278520 | Yes |
Game Server Download Examples
CS2 Server
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh \
+force_install_dir ~/cs2-server \
+login anonymous \
+app_update 730 validate \
+quit
Rust Server
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh \
+force_install_dir ~/rust-server \
+login anonymous \
+app_update 258550 validate \
+quit
Palworld Server
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh \
+force_install_dir ~/palworld-server \
+login anonymous \
+app_update 2394010 validate \
+quit
Automatic Update Script
To automatically update multiple game servers:
hljs bash
nano ~/steamcmd/update_all.sh
hljs bash
#!/bin/bash
STEAMCMD="/home/steam/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh"
LOG_FILE="/home/steam/update.log"
echo "========================================" >> $LOG_FILE
echo "$(date): Update started" >> $LOG_FILE
$STEAMCMD +force_install_dir /home/steam/cs2-server \
+login anonymous +app_update 730 +quit >> $LOG_FILE 2>&1
$STEAMCMD +force_install_dir /home/steam/rust-server \
+login anonymous +app_update 258550 +quit >> $LOG_FILE 2>&1
echo "$(date): Update completed" >> $LOG_FILE
hljs bash
chmod +x ~/steamcmd/update_all.sh
crontab -e
0 4 * * * /home/steam/steamcmd/update_all.sh
SteamCMD Script Files
You can write commands to a script file:
hljs bash
nano ~/steamcmd/cs2_update.txt
@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 1
@NoPromptForPassword 1
login anonymous
force_install_dir /home/steam/cs2-server
app_update 730 validate
quit
Run:
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh +runscript ~/steamcmd/cs2_update.txt
Beta Branch Installation
To install a beta version of a game:
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh \
+force_install_dir ~/game-server \
+login anonymous \
+app_update APP_ID -beta BETA_NAME \
+quit
Workshop Content Download
To download Steam Workshop content:
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh \
+login anonymous \
+workshop_download_item APP_ID WORKSHOP_ID \
+quit
Downloaded files are located at:
~/steamcmd/steamapps/workshop/content/APP_ID/WORKSHOP_ID/
Common Issues and Solutions
32-bit library error
hljs bash
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 lib32stdc++6
Insufficient disk space
hljs bash
df -h
rm -rf ~/steamcmd/steamapps/downloading/*
rm -rf ~/steamcmd/steamapps/temp/*
Download errors
hljs bash
./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir ~/game-server \
+login anonymous \
+app_update APP_ID validate \
+quit
Connection timeout
hljs bash
echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" | sudo tee /etc/resolv.conf
./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +quit
Security Recommendations
- Separate users: Create a separate Linux user for each game server
- Don't use root: Never run SteamCMD as root
- Firewall: Only open necessary ports
- Updates: Update regularly
- Backups: Regularly backup server files
hljs bash
sudo adduser cs2 --disabled-login --gecos ""
sudo adduser rust --disabled-login --gecos ""
sudo adduser ark --disabled-login --gecos ""
Conclusion
SteamCMD is the essential tool for game server management on Linux. With anonymous login, you can easily download most game servers, and with automatic update scripts, keep your servers up to date. REXE VDS powerful infrastructure lets you run SteamCMD-based game servers smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SteamCMD?
SteamCMD is a command-line Steam client developed by Valve. It is used to download and update game server files.
Can I run SteamCMD as root?
No, for security reasons you should never run SteamCMD as root. Create a separate Linux user for each game server.
Which games can be downloaded with anonymous login?
CS2, Garry's Mod, Rust, ARK, Palworld, Unturned, Valheim and most popular game servers can be downloaded with anonymous login.
How do I set up automatic updates?
Add an update script to crontab to run automatic updates at specified intervals.
What does the validate parameter do?
The validate parameter checks the integrity of downloaded files and re-downloads corrupted files. Recommended for initial installation.
How do I clear the SteamCMD cache?
Delete the steamapps/downloading and steamapps/temp folders to clear the cache.
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