1. How to create a Dedicated Server

Windows Installation

Ensure you meet the requirements

TheMinimum following specifications are the minimum requirements for a single unmodified SCP server with a maximum of 25 players:

Usethat the server is full at a currently25-player supportedcap, 64-bitwith x86no versionplugins/modifications.

Operating system: Windows 8.1 or 10. Windows 11 is not officially supported, but should work without issue. Please note that is compatible with the current SCP Dedicated Server build. ARM processors and Windows on ARMCPUs are not supported.

and

Important:cannot Thesebe values applyused to thehost SCPSCP:SL server itself and are not the total requirements of the machine. Windows, SteamCMD, updates, logs, antivirus software, plugins, backups, and other background services require additional resources.

The 2-core/vCPU requirement only describes the minimum amount of CPU resources. Actual Server Performance can vary significantly depending on CPU performance, virtualization, shared CPU resources, and how consistently processor time is available to the server. A higher advertised vCPU count does not necessarily mean better or more stable TPS.

For more information about TPS&Server performance and troubleshooting, see TPS Performance & Diagnostics.servers.

Installing Prerequisites

You'll need these files listed below in order to install the server and run it without issues.

• SteamCMD - Download

• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 - Download

• Visual C++ Redistributable 2015 - Download

Method 1 - Steam Dedicated Server tool (recommended)

Method 2- Using SteamCMD

force_install_dir "C:\Users\{USER}\Documents\SCPSL-Server"

login anonymous

app_update 996560 validate

app_update 996560 -beta <beta-name> validate

app_update 996560 -beta <beta-name> -betapassword <password> validate

steamcmd +force_install_dir "C:\Users\{USER}\Documents\SCPSL-Server" +login anonymous +app_update 996560 validate +quit

Linux Installation (Ubuntu & Debian)

Ensure You Meet the Requirements

Minimum Specs: 3 GB RAM, 2 Core CPU, 4 GB Storage. Please note that the minimum specs assume that the server is full at a 25-player cap, with no plugins/modifications.

Ubuntu: Running at least Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (““Resolute Raccoon”Raccoon”)

Debian: Running at least Debian 13 (“Trixie”“Trixie”)

Please note that ARM CPUs are not supported, and cannot be used to host SCP:SL servers.

Installing Prerequisites

With any user that has sudo access, run the following commands to install and update the necessary packages:

sudo apt update
sudo echo "deb http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian trixie main non-free" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/non-free.list
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install lib32gcc-s1 steamcmd tmux libicu76

Installing .NET 4.8

wget https://packages.microsoft.com/config/debian/13/packages-microsoft-prod.deb -O packages-microsoft-prod.deb
sudo dpkg -i packages-microsoft-prod.deb
rm packages-microsoft-prod.deb
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y dotnet-runtime-9.0

For further instructions or instructions for other distributions, please check this website.

Creating a User to Run SCP:SL

Again, with a sudo-permitted user, run the following commands to make a new user named "scpsl-server":

sudo useradd -m scpsl-server
sudo passwd scpsl

IMPORTANT! Ensure that you memorize the password you set for the "scpsl-server" user, as you’you’ll need it to log in whenever you start your servers.

Then, log into the "scpsl-server" user we just created. Run the following commands to do so:

sudo -u scpsl-server -s
cd ~

Prepare Path and Create Directories

Now, with the logged-in "scpsl-server" user, set the required path parameters for SteamCMD and make the directories for our server to be installed to.

nano ~/.bashrc

Use your arrow keys to scroll to the end of this file. On a new line, add the following:

export PATH="/usr/games:$PATH"

Then save & exit nano with Ctrl + X →→ Y →→ Enter

source ~/.bashrc
mkdir ~/steamcmd
mkdir ~/steamcmd/scpsl

Installing the SCP:SL Dedicated Server Tool

Next, install the SCP:SL Dedicated Server tool. First, initialize SteamCMD by running the following command:

steamcmd

You will need to wait for SteamCMD to run its initial install steps. After this is finished, log in and download the dedicated server tool with the following commands.

force_install_dir /home/scpsl-user/server/steamcmd/scpsl
login anonymous

Then

app_update 996560 validate

You have now installed SCP:SL. Now, you can quit SteamCMD by running the following command:

quit

Run Your SCP:SL Server

Finally, you can now run your SCP:SL server. To ensure your server stays open after closing your SSH session, use a tool like TMUX. Click HERE to view the TMUX cheat sheet for helpful commands and keybinds. TMUX should already be installed, provided you installed all of the packages earlier in the tutorial.

Open a new window with the command:

tmux new -s scpsl

In the new TMUX session you created, start your server with the commands:

cd ~/steamcmd/scpsl
./LocalAdmin

Please note, your server launch script should always run LocalAdmin where it is located alongside SCPSL.exe, LocalAdmin searches for it within the current working directory. So have it change to the directory first, then launch LocalAdmin.

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