How to install plugins on your Counter-Strike: Source server

Plugins on a Source server run on top of two pieces of software: MetaMod:Source, which hooks the game, and SourceMod, which runs the plugins. Install them in that order.

1. Download the right builds

1. Get the Linux build of MetaMod:Source for Counter-Strike: Source.
2. Get the matching Linux build of SourceMod.
3. Take the stable branch of each unless a plugin you need says otherwise.

2. Upload them

1. Stop the server in the Game Panel.
2. Unpack both archives on your PC. Each contains an addons folder and sometimes a cfg folder.
3. In the Files tab, upload the contents into cstrike, so you end up with cstrike/addons/metamod and cstrike/addons/sourcemod.
4. Start the server.

3. Check they loaded

1. Open the Console tab.
2. Run meta list. SourceMod should be listed as running.
3. Run sm plugins list. The stock plugins should be listed.

If meta list is not recognised, MetaMod is not loading. Check that cstrike/addons/metamod.vdf exists, since that file is what makes the game load it.

4. Add a plugin

1. Stop the server.
2. Upload the plugin's .smx file into cstrike/addons/sourcemod/plugins.
3. Upload any config or translation files the plugin ships into the matching folders.
4. Start the server and run sm plugins list to confirm it loaded.

5. When a plugin breaks the server

• Add plugins one at a time and restart in between.
• If the server crashes on start, move the last plugin out of the folder and start again.
• Check the plugin was built for the SourceMod version you installed. Old plugins fail silently or crash on map change.
• sm plugins load and sm plugins unload let you test without a restart.

Open a ticket with the console output from a fresh start if a plugin will not load.