CS:GO Legacy Server Setup + Guide

Following this guide allows you to locally host a private CS:GO Legacy server on Windows.

Players will be able to join from either the new standalone CS:GO Legacy branch or CS2's CS:GO Legacy beta branch. Gathering all the requirements, dependencies, and dealing with compatibility issues is very time-consuming, so I collected a base set-up of mods (skins, graffiti, map votes, PUG setup with captain roles, etc.) as well as many older maps (e.g., de_cbble_legacy, de_train_2013, de_nuke_2016) and operation/wingman maps that were once part of the game.

📁 Project Files:
Pre-configured server setup | Download.
Maps & graffiti | Download.

💬 Need help?
Join the CS AFAP Discord Server and feel free to ask in the #help channel!

🎓 Forgot your CS:GO utility lineups?
My CS:GO As Fast As Possible video series will be a nice refresher.

Table of Contents

• Mods & Plugins
• Screenshots
• Maps
• Installation
• Administration
• Useful configs and commands
• Known Issues

Mods & Plugins

• NoLobbyReservation: Requirement for players to be able to join.
• CSGOEngineFix: Requirement for players to join from the new CS:GO Legacy (AppID 4465480).
• Skin Changer: Custom knives, gloves, skins, and graffiti via in-game chat commands (!ws, !knife, !glove, !spray).
• PugSetup: Assign 2 captains to pick teammates or shuffle teams via in-game chat command (!start).
• Native Votes: Post-match map votes.
• SourceMod: Dependency.
• MetaMod: Dependency.
• PTaH: Dependency.

Screenshots

↑ AWP like you are prime fnatic JW ...

... or hold banana like NiP Friberg himself.

↑ Use any skin, unlimited graffiti and play your favorite maps of the CS:GO era. Silenced weapons are supported even without inventory.

↑ Use the PugSetup Plugin to build teams via captain role, create map vetos and play on long lost operation maps like de_zoo.

↑ Challenge your friend on aim_redline like it's 2015 again

↑ Play the best 2v2 wingman maps of CS:GO

↑ Post match map vote to keep the pugs rolling

Maps

Competitive Maps (5v5) (Click to expand)

- de_ancient
- de_anubis
- de_inferno
- de_mirage
- de_nuke
- de_overpass
- de_vertigo
- de_tuscan
- de_dust2
- de_train
- de_cache
- cs_agency
- cs_office
- de_train_old
- de_nuke_2016
- de_dust2_old
- de_cache_legacy
- de_inferno_legacy
- de_cbble_legacy
- de_abbey
- de_austria
- de_royal
- de_log
- de_vertigo_old
- de_nuke_legacy
- de_castle
- de_ruby
- de_zoo
- de_subzero
- de_blackgold
- de_tulip
- de_santorini
- de_mikla
- de_resort
- de_season
- de_bazaar
- cs_backalley
- cs_insertion2
- cs_workout

Wingman Maps (2v2) (Click to expand)

- de_elysion
- de_guard
- de_pitstop
- de_calavera
- de_ravine
- de_extraction_r1
- de_hive
- de_crete
- de_blagai
- de_prime

Aim Maps (1v1, 2v2, etc.) (Click to expand)

- aim_map
- aim_redline
- awp_india
- aim_usp_a

Installation

0. Port Forwarding Availability

Check if your internet provider allows you to port forward. If you cannot find a "port forwarding" section in your router's settings, give your internet provider a call and ask. Note: I had them change my connection from IPv6 to a static IPv4 in order to do it.

1. Download SteamCMD & Base Server

a. Download: Get SteamCMD from this link. b. Extract: Create a folder for SteamCMD (e.g., C:\steamcmd) and extract the contents of the zip into this folder. (Source: Valve Developer Wiki) c. Run: Open the Windows Command Prompt as Administrator (Win+R, type cmd, then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter). d. Execute: Run the following commands one by one: cmd cd C:\steamcmd steamcmd login anonymous app_update 740 (Note: App 740 is the CS:GO Legacy beta branch for dedicated servers).

2. Download Pre-Configured Settings & Mods

All of the files (with their working versions and parameters) are collected for you to download all at once.

1. Download the files from this GitHub repository (Download Link).
2. Copy and place them into your new server directory (C:\steamcmd\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive Beta - Dedicated Server).

3. Create a Server Login Token & Edit Launch Script

1. Log into Steam in your browser, then go to the Game Server Account Management page.
2. Towards the bottom under "Create a new game server account", enter App ID 730 and copy the generated login token.
3. Go to your server directory: C:\steamcmd\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive Beta - Dedicated Server
4. Edit the start.bat file using a text editor of your choice (e.g., Notepad++ or VS Code).
5. Insert your Server Login Token where indicated.
6. Save the .bat file and close it. (Tip: You can create a desktop shortcut to this file for easy access).

4. Download Maps & Graffiti

To play non-default maps, you would normally have to go through a tedious process of downloading workshop maps and checking their compatibility (nav-file, radar issues, and crashes). Instead, use this pre-packaged folder:

a. Download all the maps (competitive and wingman) via this Google Drive link.
b. Copy/place the contents of this downloaded csgo folder inside BOTH your server and game directories:

• Server Directory: C:\steamcmd\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive Beta - Dedicated Server\csgo\
• Game Directory (New Standalone CS:GO Legacy): C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\csgo legacy\csgo\
• Game Directory (CS2 Beta Branch): C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo\ c. Important: Every player joining has to download and install these maps & graffiti locally before joining.

5. Port Forwarding Setup

a. Router Settings:
Check your router settings in your browser at http://192.168.0.1/
(URL might differ depending on your provider, check the sticker on your router). b. Forward Ports:
Find the "Port Forwarding" section and set up multiple rules pointing to your PC's local IP:

• 27015 (UDP & TCP)
• 27020 (UDP)
• 27005 (UDP)
• 26900 (UDP) c. Windows Defender Firewall:
  Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security and create new Inbound Rules:
• New Rule > Port > TCP > Specific Port 27015 > Allow Connection > Domain + Private + Public
• New Rule > Port > UDP > Specific Ports 27015, 27020, 27005, 26900 > Allow Connection > Domain + Private + Public d. Testing:
  WHILE THE SERVER IS RUNNING, go to one of these sites to test if the port forwarding worked. Your IP should be fetched automatically; enter Port Number 27015 and check.
• YouGetSignal
• PortChecker

6. Running the Server

a. Start the server via the start.bat script. b. The console will print your public IP address. c. You and other players can connect using connect <your_IP> in the in-game console.

Administration

► Using Server Console Commands

Using server commands while connected to the server requires you to authenticate first.

1. Open your in-game console and type: rcon_password 12345 (You can change this password here: ../csgo/cfg/server.cfg)
2. Every subsequent command needs to be prefixed with rcon, like so: rcon mp_restartgame 1

► Maps and Map Groups

I created three map rotations (5v5, 2v2, 1v1), which determine which maps will be shown for voting at the end of the match.

• By default, the server starts with +mapgroup mg_comp. You can change this in the start.bat file, or by using the command rcon mapgroup mg_wingman or rcon mapgroup mg_aim.
• Map groups can be adjusted in ../csgo/GameModes_Server.txt.
• You can manually change the map to any of the listed ones in ../csgo/maplist.txt using, for example, rcon changelevel de_cbble_legacy. (Tip: By starting to type changelevel de_ in the console, you can use autofill to check which maps you have installed locally.)
• When changing between gamemodes, make sure to change the map group first (e.g. rcon mapgroup mg_wingman), then to change the map (e.g. rcon changelevel de_elysion), otherwise the post-game map voting won't load properly.

► Starting a Match

Starting a match can be done by executing the respective configs. (Tip: Type exec and use autofill to check installed configs and insert prefix rcon last. Copy these to your local game cfg folder to use this.)

• Warm-up/Testing: rcon exec solo
• 5v5 Competitive: rcon exec esl5on5
• Wingman 2v2: rcon exec esl2on2
• Aim Map (1v1/2v2): rcon exec esl1on1aml rcon exec esl1on1awp rcon exec esl2on2aml rcon exec esl2on2awp

Alternative via Plugin: There is a plugin to start a competitive match via the in-game chat command !start. Here, you can assign captains to pick teammates or shuffle teams. The first player to type this command becomes the match leader and can decide who will be captain.

Useful Configs and Commands

A) Recommended Launch Options

In Steam > Right-click CS:GO > Properties > General, add the following to your launch options:
-novid -console -tickrate 128 +exec autoexec

B) Config with Recommended Settings & Binds

Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo\cfg. Copy any existing .cfg file, rename it to autoexec.cfg, open it in a text editor, and replace its contents with:

// ========== CSGO Jumpthrow - Binds ==========
alias "+jumpthrow" "+jump;-attack; -attack2"
alias "-jumpthrow" "-jump"
bind "space" "+jumpthrow"			// ◄ KEY customizable

alias "+jumpthrow2" "+forward; +jump; -attack; -attack2"
alias "-jumpthrow2" "-jump; -forward"
bind "n" "+jumpthrow2"				// ◄ KEY customizable

// ========== Network settings ==========
rate 128000
cl_updaterate 128
cl_cmdrate 128
cl_interp 0
cl_interp_ratio 1

// ========== Skins & Graffiti - Binds ==========
bind mouse4 +spray
bind 6 "say /sprays"
bind 7 "say !ws"

cl_color 0						// ◄ Set prefered player color: 0=yellow, 1=purple, 2=green, 3=blue, 4=orange

// ========== QoL ==========
cl_use_opens_buy_menu 0
cl_autowepswitch "0"
cl_disablefreezecam 1

// ========== Sound - Settings ==========
snd_mixahead "0.05"
snd_headphone_pan_exponent "2"
snd_tensecondwarning_volume "0.1"

// ========== Radar zoom-out & cleardecals (hold) ==========
alias "+mz" "cl_radar_scale 0.3; cl_crosshair_sniper_width 1; cl_radar_always_centered 0; cl_crosshaircolor_r 255; cl_crosshaircolor_g 255; cl_crosshaircolor_b 255; +cl_show_team_equipment"
alias "-mz" "cl_radar_scale 0.5; cl_crosshair_sniper_width 2; cl_radar_always_centered 1; cl_crosshaircolor_r 255; cl_crosshaircolor_g 255; cl_crosshaircolor_b 0; -cl_show_team_equipment"
bind "alt" "+mz; r_cleardecals"		// ◄ KEY customizable

// ========== Show netgraph when checking scoreboard ==========
net_graph "1"
net_graphheight "9999"
net_graphproportionalfont "0"
alias "+scorenet" "+showscores; net_graphheight 0"
alias "-scorenet" "-showscores; net_graphheight 9999"
bind "tab" "+scorenet"

// ========== HUD & FPS settings ==========
cl_showloadout 1
cl_hud_background_alpha 0.5
cl_hud_bomb_under_radar 1
cl_hud_healthammo_style 0
cl_hud_playercount_pos 0
cl_hud_playercount_showcount 0
cl_teamid_overhead_mode 1
cl_show_observer_crosshair 2
cl_obs_interp_enable 0
cl_showhelp "0"

cl_lagcompensation "1"
cl_predictweapons "1"
cl_resend "6"
cl_timeout "9999999"
r_eyegloss "0"
r_eyemove "0"
r_eyeshift_x "0"
r_eyeshift_y "0"
r_eyeshift_z "0"
r_eyesize "0"
r_dynamic 1
muzzleflash_light "1"
mat_queue_mode "2"
cl_threaded_bone_setup 1

fps_max_menu 400
fps_max 999

Known Issues

• Radar Backgrounds: On some maps, specifically those with multiple versions installed (e.g., cbble, train, nuke), the radar will display a black background.
• Movement Glitches: If you get more than 1000 FPS, set fps_max 999 in your console to avoid heavy movement glitches.
• Map Crashes (awp_india): For some users, the game might crash when loading into the map awp_india. If you experience this, try starting the server directly on that map by changing it in your start.bat file.