Most Counter-Strike 1.6 server problems on PlayNHost come from a setting that is not applied until a restart, a join password or RCON password that does not match, or a plugin that fails to load. Find the message you see below: each entry says why it happens and how to fix it.
Starting
The badge stays on Starting
Why: the panel marks a Counter-Strike 1.6 server Online only when the Console prints Connection to Steam servers successful. Until that line appears, the badge says Starting, even when the map has loaded.
Fix:
- Click the Console tab and read the last lines.
- If a plugin or module error is the last thing printed, undo your last change in Files (for example the line you added to
cstrike/addons/amxmodx/configs/plugins.ini) and click Restart. - If nothing is wrong in the Console, click Restart once. The server logs in to Steam again.
- If it still does not reach Online and the Console has stopped printing new lines, contact support through the website chat or a ticket, and say what the last Console lines are.
See also How to fix a server that will not start.
Joining
Server is full.
Why: all 32 player slots are taken. The cap is fixed in the server's start line on every plan and cannot be raised.
Fix: wait for a slot, or kick a player who is not playing: How to kick, ban and unban players on your Counter-Strike 1.6 server.
Too many connect packets from your ip address
Why: the ReHLDS engine limits how many players from one IP address can be connecting at the same moment (the setting sv_rehlds_maxclients_from_single_ip, 5 by default). Players already in the game do not count. It happens at LAN parties and in shared homes when everyone joins at once.
Fix: join one after another. To allow more, add the line sv_rehlds_maxclients_from_single_ip 10 to cstrike/server.cfg in Files and restart the server.
No password set. Clean your userinfo.
Why: the server has a join password (sv_password in cstrike/server.cfg) and the player connected without one.
Fix: the player types password "the-join-password" in the game console, then connect and the address. See How to set a password on your Counter-Strike 1.6 server. On a wrong password the Console of the server prints the player's address followed by password failed.
You have been banned from this server
Why: the player's SteamID or IP address is on the server's ban list.
Fix: unban them with amx_unban in the Console tab: How to kick, ban and unban players on your Counter-Strike 1.6 server.
Nobody can connect at all
Why: the server is not Online, or the address was typed without its port.
Fix: check the badge, then copy the address again with Join on Overview and type connect with the whole address: How to join your Counter-Strike 1.6 server.
Settings
The value format is invalid.
Why: you typed a Server Hostname with a space, a quote ", a backslash, * or ?. The name goes into the server's start line, so those characters are refused.
Fix: use hyphens instead of spaces, for example My-CS-Server. See How to change your Counter-Strike 1.6 server name.
The value may only contain letters, numbers, and dashes.
Why: an RCON Password or Map with other characters, such as a space, a dot or !. Underscores are accepted too.
Fix: use only letters, digits, - and _. The RCON Password must be 1 to 30 characters.
A setting I changed did nothing
Why: Game Settings apply the next time the server starts. The panel says so after a save: Saved. The server must restart before these take effect.
Fix: click Restart now under that message. The version fields (ReHLDS, AMX Mod X and the others) are different: they are read only when the server is installed, so a restart does not apply them. After you save one, the panel shows a note with Update and reinstall to apply: click it, or use Update and reinstall at the bottom of Game Settings. See How to update your Counter-Strike 1.6 server and its mods.
The name in server.cfg keeps changing back
Why: when cstrike/server.cfg has a line that starts with hostname, the panel rewrites it with the Server Hostname from Settings at every start. It does the same for lines that start with sv_downloadurl, sv_allowdownload and sv_allowupload.
Fix: change the name in Settings, Game Settings, not in the file.
Admins and plugins
Bad rcon_password.
Why: someone used RCON, from the game or a remote admin tool, with a password that does not match the RCON Password in Settings. They see Bad rcon_password., and when the field is empty also No password set for this server.. The Console tab of your server shows Bad Rcon from and their address.
Fix: set an RCON Password in Settings, Game Settings, restart, and use exactly that password. The Console tab of the panel never needs it. See How to use the Console and RCON on your Counter-Strike 1.6 server.
An AMX Mod X plugin does not load
Why: the .amxx file is not in cstrike/addons/amxmodx/plugins, its name is not in cstrike/addons/amxmodx/configs/plugins.ini, or it needs a module or a newer AMX Mod X.
Fix: type amxx plugins in the Console tab. A plugin that failed is listed under the table with Load fails: and the reason. A reason such as Module/Library "cstrike" required for plugin. Check modules.ini. means the plugin needs the cstrike or csx module, which the installed AMX Mod X build does not have. See How to install AMX Mod X plugins on your Counter-Strike 1.6 server.
My admin rights are gone
Why: your SteamID in cstrike/addons/amxmodx/configs/users.ini does not match the one you play with, or the file was edited or replaced. Update and reinstall keeps users.ini, so it is not the cause.
Fix: add yourself again with amx_addadmin while you are on the server: How to become admin on your Counter-Strike 1.6 server. Keep a backup of your configuration: How to back up and restore your Counter-Strike 1.6 server.
Maps
changelevel failed: 'mapname' not found on server.
Why: there is no mapname.bsp in cstrike/maps, or the name is misspelled.
Fix: upload the map first, then change to it: How to add custom maps to your Counter-Strike 1.6 server.
The server starts on the wrong map
Why: the Map in Settings, Game Settings is loaded at every start and restart, whatever map was played last.
Fix: set the map you want there. See How to change the map on your Counter-Strike 1.6 server.
Something else? See the Counter-Strike 1.6 server FAQ or contact support through the website chat or a ticket.
