Most open.mp server problems on PlayNHost come from a small mistake in config.json, a gamemode or plugin file that is missing or built for Windows, or a player whose GTA: San Andreas is the wrong version. Find the line you see in the Console or in the game below: each entry says why it happens and how to fix it.
The server does not start, or starts without your settings
The Console says "Error while parsing config file"
Why: config.json is not valid JSON any more, usually after a hand edit: a missing comma, a missing quote, or a comma after the last item of a list. If the server starts anyway, open.mp ignores the whole file and runs on its built-in defaults: port 7777 instead of your server's own port, RCON switched off, and none of your name, gamemode or other settings. Players then cannot connect, even though the badge may say Online.
Fix:
- Click Files in the left menu and click
config.jsonto open it. - Find the mistake near the place you last changed. Every value except the last one in a block needs a comma after it, and every text value needs double quotes.
- Click Save content and restart the server.
To avoid it, change the simple options through Settings, under Config files, config.json: that editor always writes valid JSON. See open.mp config.json settings reference. If you cannot find the mistake, restore the last backup: How to back up and restore your open.mp server.
The Console says "Could not find" and "a file-not-found error was encountered"
Why: open.mp was asked to load a gamemode that is not in the gamemodes folder. Either the name in pawn.main_scripts in config.json is wrong, or the gamemode was uploaded as a .pwn source file, which the server cannot run. It needs the compiled .amx.
Fix: check that gamemodes holds <name>.amx with exactly the name you wrote, including upper and lower case. See How to upload your own gamemode to your open.mp server.
The Console says "Your rcon password must be changed from the default password"
Why: the RCON Password is changeme. open.mp refuses that one and shuts down straight away.
Fix: open Settings, Game Settings, type another RCON Password and start the server. See How to become admin on your open.mp server.
The Console says "Could not load plugin"
Why: a plugin named in pawn.legacy_plugins is missing from the plugins folder, is a Windows .dll, or is not a 32-bit Linux build. open.mp on Linux runs as a 32-bit program and only loads .so plugins built for it. The line after "Could not load plugin" names the file and the reason.
If the next line says "This file is an open.mp component. Please move it to components/ folder.", the file is an open.mp build: move it to components and take its name out of pawn.legacy_plugins.
Fix: upload the Linux .so of the plugin to plugins, or check the name in pawn.legacy_plugins. See How to add plugins to your open.mp server.
Players cannot join
The game sticks at "Connecting to IP:Port..."
Why: the server is not Online, the player typed a different address or port, or open.mp is listening on another port than your server's own.
Fix: check the badge in the panel says Online, then copy the address again from the Server Address row on Overview. The port is part of it. Then compare it with the Legacy Network started on port line in the Console. If that line shows another port, such as 7777, look for a server.cfg in your server folder (its port line wins over config.json: delete the file and restart) or a broken config.json. See How to join your open.mp server.
The launcher says "Can't find GTA: San Andreas!"
Why: the open.mp launcher does not know where the game is installed.
Fix: set the GTA: San Andreas path in the launcher's settings to the folder that holds the game. open.mp needs the PC version 1.0 of GTA: San Andreas: the open.mp client guide says other versions, such as v2.0 and the Steam release, do not work without a downgrade.
The game says "Unacceptable Nickname"
Why: the name has a character open.mp does not accept, is longer than 20 characters, or a player with the same name is already on the server (this happens after a quick reconnect).
Fix: use only letters, digits and [ ] ( ) $ @ . _ =, up to 20 characters, as the open.mp client guide lists. After a crash, wait a moment before you reconnect.
The game asks for a password
Why: your server has a join password in config.json.
Fix: give your players the password, or remove it: How to change your open.mp server name, password and player slots.
The server is not in the launcher's Internet list
Why: Announce is off in config.json, or the list has not picked the server up yet.
Fix: players can always join with the address through Add Server in the launcher. To be listed, turn Announce on in the config.json settings and restart.
Admin and commands
In game, /rcon login says "Bad admin password"
Why: the password is not the RCON Password the server started with. A new password counts only after a restart.
Fix: copy the RCON Password from Settings, Game Settings, restart if you changed it a moment ago, and type /rcon login and the password again. The message warns that repeated wrong attempts can get you banned, so check before you retry.
The Console says "Unknown command or variable"
Why: open.mp has no command by that name. The Console sends your text to open.mp exactly as typed.
Fix: type cmdlist to see the commands your server knows. See How to use the Console and commands on your open.mp server.
A player you unbanned still cannot join
Why: the ban is still in bans.json, or the file was edited by hand while the server ran.
Fix: type unbanip and the player's IP in the Console, or, after editing bans.json by hand, type reloadbans. See How to kick, ban and unban players on your open.mp server.
Memory
Overview says "This server ran out of memory"
Why: the server used more memory than its plan gives. On open.mp that almost always comes from the gamemode or a plugin, not from open.mp itself.
Fix: see How much RAM does an open.mp server need? and the general guide How to fix a server that will not start.
