CS:SServer AdminCounter-Strike: Source (CSS) RCON Commands: Server Admin Reference
CS:S server admin over RCON: the Source protocol (same as CS2/TF2, not the GoldSrc protocol CS 1.6 uses), native kick/ban commands with persistence, the SourceMod admin layer most servers run, match cvars, and how to persist bans.
Counter-Strike: Source runs on the Source engine (srcds). Its RCON is the Source protocol - the same one CS2 and TF2 use, and different from the GoldSrc protocol of CS 1.6 - so a GoldSrc-only RCON tool will not connect.
How CS:S RCON works
RCON runs on the game port (default 27015, TCP). Set the password in server.cfg:
rcon_password "your_secret_here"
An empty password disables RCON. Most real CS:S administration is done through SourceMod (loaded via Metamod:Source), which adds the sm_* admin command set. That is a server plugin, not native srcds - a fresh server only has the native commands in the next section.
Listing players
| Command | What it returns |
|---|---|
status | Each player's # userid, name, Steam ID, ping, and IP. |
users | Connected users (SourceMod, shorter output). |
On sv_lan 1 or no-Steam servers, player IDs show as STEAM_ID_LAN - they are not stable and cannot be banned by ID. IP bans (addip) are the only native option there.
Moderation (native)
| Command | Syntax | Notes |
|---|---|---|
kick | kick <name|#userid> | Disconnect a player (no ban). Prefer #userid. |
banid | banid <minutes> <steamid> [kick] | Ban a Steam ID; 0 = permanent. |
addip | addip <minutes> <ip> | Ban an IP; 0 = permanent. |
removeid / removeip | removeid <steamid> | Lift a Steam ID / IP ban. |
writeid / writeip | writeid | Persist bans to banned_user.cfg / banned_ip.cfg. |
listid / listip | listid | Show the current ban lists. |
Native bans are in-memory until you run writeid/writeip. (SourceMod bans below write to disk automatically.)
Moderation (SourceMod)
Requires SourceMod + Metamod:Source installed; admins are defined in admins_simple.ini (or a database via sourcebans).
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
sm_kick <name> [reason] | Kick with a reason. |
sm_ban <name> <minutes> [reason] | Ban by Steam ID (0 = permanent), writes to disk. |
sm_banip <name> <minutes> [reason] | Ban by IP. |
sm_addban <minutes> "<steamid>" [reason] | Ban an offline player by Steam ID. |
sm_unban "<steamid|ip>" | Remove a ban. |
sm_slay <name> / sm_slap <name> [dmg] | Kill / damage-and-shove a player. |
sm_gag / sm_mute / sm_silence <name> | Block chat / voice / both. |
Match settings
| Cvar | Description |
|---|---|
mp_friendlyfire <0|1> | Team damage. |
mp_autoteambalance <0|1> | Auto-balance teams at round end. |
mp_limitteams <n> | Max team-size difference (0 = no limit). |
mp_roundtime <1-9> | Round length in minutes. |
mp_freezetime <seconds> | Buy/freeze time at round start. |
mp_startmoney <800-16000> | Starting money. |
mp_c4timer <seconds> | Bomb timer. |
mp_maxrounds <n> | Rounds before a map change (0 = use timelimit). |
mp_timelimit <minutes> | Map time limit (0 = unlimited). |
sv_password "<pw|>" | Join password (empty = public). |
sv_cheats <0|1> | Cheat gate - keep 0 on public servers. |
Maps and server control
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
changelevel <map> | Change map (keeps the session). |
map <map> | Full map load with a server reset. |
mp_restartgame <seconds> | Restart the round (resets scores and money). |
hostname "<name>" | Set the browser name. |
exec <file> | Run a .cfg from cstrike/cfg/. |
Communication
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
say <message> | Native broadcast to all players. |
sm_say <message> | SourceMod broadcast. |
sm_csay <message> | Center-screen HUD message (SourceMod). |
sm_psay <name> <message> | Private message to one player (SourceMod). |
Quick reference
status # userids + Steam IDs
kick #5 # kick by userid
banid 0 STEAM_0:0:12345 kick # permanent ban + kick
writeid # persist bans
sm_ban "cheater" 0 "Aimbot" # SourceMod ban (writes to disk)
changelevel de_dust2
say "Server restarting soon"
Running these in MantaScope
MantaScope's web RCON speaks the Source protocol, so you can run these commands from the browser - with live player lists, persistent bans, scheduled restarts, and chat alerts - without a legacy desktop tool.