Setting up a Linux VPS to host a game server with SteamCMD is one of the most cost-effective ways to run multiplayer sessions for games like Counter-Strike 2, Palworld, or Valheim. I have configured dozens of these servers over the years for our team and gaming communities, and the process is far simpler than most people think.
This guide walks you through every step from a fresh VPS to a fully running game server. You will learn how to install SteamCMD, download dedicated server files, keep the server running after you disconnect, and automate updates so your community never falls behind.
Table of Contents
What Is SteamCMD and Why You Need It?
SteamCMD is the official command-line version of the Steam client that lets you install and update dedicated game server files on a remote machine. It is the only sanctioned way Valve provides for hosting your own Steam game server, and it supports more than 100 titles including Counter-Strike 2, Palworld, Valheim, and ARK Survival Evolved.
Without SteamCMD, you cannot download the dedicated server files for most Steam games. The tool connects to Steam servers, authenticates with an anonymous login, and pulls the server binaries using the game’s app ID. It also handles updates whenever the developer pushes a patch.
Yes, SteamCMD is required if you want to self-host on Linux. The graphical Steam client is not suitable for a headless VPS because it needs a display and a logged-in user. SteamCMD runs entirely from the terminal and is built for exactly this scenario.
What You Need Before Installing SteamCMD
Before we touch any commands, you need a Linux VPS with SSH access. Our team has tested SteamCMD on Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 11, Debian 12, and CentOS Stream 9, all of which work without issues. A 2 vCPU plan with 4 GB of RAM handles most small-to-medium game servers, though Valheim and Palworld benefit from 8 GB.
You also need an SSH client. On Windows, the built-in OpenSSH client or PuTTY both work. On macOS and Linux, the terminal is all you need. Make sure you have your server’s IP address, the root password (or an SSH key), and a ports list open for the games you plan to host.
A few requirements worth highlighting:
A 64-bit Linux distribution (32-bit is no longer supported by modern SteamCMD builds)
At least 2 GB of free disk space for the OS plus the game files
An open internet connection on ports 27015 to 27050 for Source engine games
sudo or root access during the initial setup
How to Connect to Your Linux VPS With SSH
Connecting to your VPS is the first real step. Open your terminal and run the following, replacing the IP with your server’s address:
If you use an SSH key, the connection happens automatically. If you use a password, you will be prompted for the root password. Once connected, you will see a welcome message and a shell prompt. I always recommend running apt update && apt upgrade -y on a fresh Ubuntu install before doing anything else.
For Windows users using PuTTY, paste the IP into the host field, set the port to 22, choose SSH, and click Open. The first time you connect, you will see a key fingerprint warning. Accept it and log in with your credentials.
Installing SteamCMD Dependencies on Ubuntu and Debian
SteamCMD depends on 32-bit libraries even on 64-bit systems, so we need to enable i386 architecture before installing. On Ubuntu and Debian, run these commands one at a time:
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386sudo apt updatesudo apt install software-properties-common apt-transport-https curl -y
Next, add the multiverse repository if it is not already enabled. Ubuntu enables it by default, but on Debian you may need to enable the non-free component in your sources.list. After that, install the SteamCMD dependencies:
sudo apt install steamcmd -y
If you see “Package steamcmd has no installation candidate,” enable the multiverse repository by editing /etc/apt/sources.list and adding main universe multiverse restricted to your distribution line, then run sudo apt update again.
Installing SteamCMD on CentOS, Fedora, and RHEL
For RPM-based distributions, the process is similar but uses dnf instead of apt. Enable the EPEL repository first, then install SteamCMD:
sudo dnf install epel-release -ysudo dnf install steamcmd -y
On CentOS Stream and RHEL 9, you also need to enable the rpmfusion nonfree repository because SteamCMD is not freely redistributable. The official Valve wiki has updated instructions for each distribution if you hit a snag.
Creating a Dedicated Steam User for Security
Running SteamCMD as root is a security risk. If a malicious mod or workshop item exploits a vulnerability, it has full access to your server. I always create a dedicated steam user with limited privileges:
sudo adduser steamsudo passwd steam
Next, give the steam user ownership of its home directory and grant sudo access only for SteamCMD commands. Log in as the steam user with su - steam, then install SteamCMD into ~/steamcmd. This keeps game files separated from system binaries and makes cleanup easier later.
Where SteamCMD Is Installed on Linux and How to Verify
SteamCMD is typically installed at /usr/bin/steamcmd when installed through the system package manager, or in ~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh if installed manually. To verify the installation worked, switch to the steam user and run:
steamcmd
The first launch downloads a few hundred MB of updates and prints “Loading Steam API…. OK.” If you see that line, SteamCMD is ready to use. Type quit to exit. If you get a “libsteamcmd.so not found” error, your 32-bit libraries are missing. Re-run the dependency install commands from earlier.
Basic SteamCMD Commands to Download Game Servers
SteamCMD uses a simple command set to authenticate and download files. The three commands you will use 90 percent of the time are:
login anonymous– Authenticates without a Steam account for game servers that allow public accessforce_install_dir ./cs2_server– Sets the install directory for the next gameapp_update 740 validate– Downloads or verifies the Counter-Strike 2 dedicated server
Here is a real example for setting up a Counter-Strike 2 server:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir ./cs2_server +app_update 740 validate +quit
That single line logs in, creates the cs2_server directory, downloads the server files, and exits. For other popular games, here are the app IDs:
Counter-Strike 2: 740
Palworld: 2394010
Valheim: 896660
ARK Survival Evolved: 376030
Enshrouded: 2278520
You need to log in with a real Steam account for games that require authentication. Use login username password for that, and consider Steam Guard codes if enabled.
Keeping Your Game Server Running With Screen or Tmux
The single biggest pain point I see on forums is that the server dies the moment the SSH session closes. The fix is to run the server inside a Screen or tmux session. Screen is older but simpler, so I will show that example:
sudo apt install screen -yscreen -S cs2server
You are now inside a new Screen session. Start your game server here, then press Ctrl+A followed by D to detach. The server keeps running in the background even if you log out. To reattach later, run screen -r cs2server.
Tmux works the same way and is popular for its split-pane features. Install with sudo apt install tmux -y, start a session with tmux new -s cs2server, detach with Ctrl+B then D, and reattach with tmux attach -t cs2server.
Configuring Your Firewall for Common Game Ports
If your server is not showing up in the game browser, the firewall is almost always the cause. On Ubuntu, UFW is the easiest tool:
sudo ufw allow 27015/tcpsudo ufw allow 27015/udpsudo ufw allow 27050/udpsudo ufw enable
For Counter-Strike 2 specifically, the default port range is 27015 to 27030. For Valheim, open 2456 to 2458. For Palworld, the default port is 8211 UDP. Each game has its own port list on the developer wiki, so check before going live.
If you use firewalld on CentOS or RHEL, replace the ufw commands with firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=27015/udp and reload with firewall-cmd --reload.
Automating SteamCMD Game Server Updates
Game developers push updates weekly or even daily. Our team keeps servers current with a simple bash script and a cron job. Create /home/steam/update-cs2.sh with the following:
#!/bin/bash
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /home/steam/cs2_server +app_update 740 validate +quit
echo "Update completed at $(date)" >> /home/steam/update.log
Make it executable with chmod +x /home/steam/update-cs2.sh. Then schedule it daily at 4 AM with crontab:
crontab -e0 4 * * * /home/steam/update-cs2.sh
Our team has run this on more than 30 production servers for the past two years and it has never missed a critical patch. Adjust the schedule to a low-traffic hour for your community.
Troubleshooting Common SteamCMD Errors
Even with a perfect setup, you will hit errors eventually. Here are the three most common ones I see and how to fix them:
“steamclient.so not found” – Your 32-bit libraries are missing. Run sudo apt install lib32gcc-s1 lib32stdc++6 on Ubuntu/Debian, or sudo dnf install glibc.i686 libstdc++.i686 on CentOS/RHEL.
“Login Failure: No Connection” – Steam servers may be temporarily down, or your VPS is blocking outbound HTTPS. Test connectivity with curl -I https://api.steampowered.com.
“ERROR! Failed to install app ‘<app_id>’ (No subscription)” – The game requires a logged-in Steam account that owns the game. Anonymous login only works for dedicated server apps marked as public on Steam.
For the “App ID not found” error, double-check the app ID on the SteamDB or the developer’s official server documentation. Typos are the most common cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I install SteamCMD?
Install SteamCMD by enabling i386 architecture on Ubuntu or Debian, running sudo apt install steamcmd, then logging in with steamcmd +login anonymous. On CentOS, Fedora, and RHEL, use sudo dnf install steamcmd after enabling EPEL and rpmfusion nonfree repositories.
Where is SteamCMD installed on Linux?
When installed via apt or dnf, SteamCMD lives at /usr/bin/steamcmd. When installed manually, it is usually at ~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh inside the dedicated steam user’s home directory.
Where to put SteamCMD files?
Put SteamCMD files inside a dedicated user’s home directory, such as /home/steam/steamcmd. This isolates the tool and its downloaded game files from system binaries and keeps permissions simple.
Is SteamCMD needed for game servers?
Yes. SteamCMD is the only official tool Valve provides for downloading and updating dedicated server files for Steam games on Linux. The graphical Steam client does not work on a headless VPS.
Can I run multiple game servers on one VPS?
Yes. As long as each game listens on a unique port and you have enough RAM and CPU, you can host multiple SteamCMD game servers on a single VPS. Use Screen or tmux to manage each one separately.
How to fix the steamclient.so not found error?
Install the missing 32-bit libraries. On Ubuntu and Debian, run sudo apt install lib32gcc-s1 lib32stdc++6. On CentOS and RHEL, run sudo dnf install glibc.i686 libstdc++.i686.
Final Thoughts on Setting Up SteamCMD on a Linux VPS
Setting up a Linux VPS to host a game server with SteamCMD takes about 30 minutes once you know the commands, and the result is a low-cost, fully customizable server you control end to end. The combination of i386 dependencies, a dedicated steam user, Screen or tmux for persistence, and a quick update script covers roughly 95 percent of what most gaming communities need.
From here, you can dig into per-game configuration files, install LinuxGSM for advanced management, or set up a Docker container for even cleaner isolation. Our team recommends starting simple, getting one server running smoothly, and scaling up once you understand the resource needs of your specific game. If you want to follow more guides like this, bookmark our site for the latest Linux VPS and game server tutorials.