CS 1.6 ScoutzKnivez Server

// Install

Requires Podman (rootless) or Docker. The script pulls the image from ghcr.io, writes config files to ~/.config/cs-server/ (including a random RCON password), and starts the server on port 27015. With Podman it installs a systemd Quadlet unit; with Docker it creates a container with a restart policy.

// Quick Connect

Default port: 27015 (UDP + TCP). Replace <your-ip> with your server's LAN or public IP.

// Ready Before the Holiday Break

Christmas, New Year, winter or summer holidays: wherever you are, the break is when everyone is finally in one place. Set it up once for a LAN night with family and friends.

// Stack

• ReHLDS3.15.0.896Reverse-engineered HLDS engine
• ReGameDLL_CS5.30.0.814Reverse-engineered game DLL
• Metamod-R1.3.0.149Plugin loader
• AMX Mod X1.10.0 (build 5487)Server-side scripting platform
• ReAPI5.29.0.358Extended API for ReHLDS/ReGameDLL

// Quick Start

Option 1: Pull from ghcr.io (fastest — pre-built image)

$ podman pull ghcr.io/kevintcoughlin/cs-server:latest
$ podman run -d -p 27015:27015/udp -p 27015:27015/tcp \
  --name scoutzknivez ghcr.io/kevintcoughlin/cs-server:latest

Option 2: Build from source (if you need custom maps/configs)

1. Clone the repository
2. Optional: add custom .bsp maps to maps/. The default ScoutzKnivez maps are already bundled from docs/cstrike/maps/
3. Build and launch the server

$ git clone https://github.com/KevinTCoughlin/cs-server.git
$ cd cs-server
# optional: copy custom .bsp maps into maps/
$ podman compose up --build

// Plugins

• ScoutzKnivezAuto-strips weapons, gives scout + knife on spawn
• Auto BhopHold jump to bunny hop — essential for low-gravity
• Quake SoundsAQS v8.0 — kill streaks, headshots, knife kills with HUD messages. Toggle: !sounds. Sound files are not included (copyright); see the README to add them
• Rock the VoteType rtv to start a map vote, nominate <map> to add maps
• AFK KickerOnce 4 or more people are playing, idle players move to spectator after 60 seconds and are kicked after 3 minutes
• High Ping KickerWarns then kicks players over 150 ms average ping
• AdvertisementsRotating server info and command hints in chat
• Website BotSpectator bot in the scoreboard showing the server website URL. Leaves when the server is within 2 slots of full
• Anti-FloodChat spam prevention (built into AMX Mod X)

// Game Settings

// Environment Variables

// Bots

Bots are enabled by default using ReGameDLL_CS's built-in ZBot support. Bots fill the server up to 10 players and leave as humans join — no human player required to start.

// Windows (WSL2)

Docker Desktop for Windows cannot reliably forward UDP game traffic. Run the server inside a WSL2 Debian distro with Podman or Docker CE instead.

1. Install Debian: wsl --install Debian
2. Install dependencies (i386 libs, curl, unzip)
3. Install Podman or Docker CE in the distro, then run the install script inside WSL2
4. Find WSL2 IP: ip addr show eth0
5. Connect from Windows: connect <wsl2-ip>:27015

See README for full instructions. Related: #18

// Production (Quadlet)

Run as a rootless Podman Quadlet unit managed by systemd for auto-start, crash recovery, and graceful shutdown. The one-line installer sets this up with the prebuilt image. From a clone, with a locally built image:

$ podman compose up --build -d && podman compose down
$ mkdir -p ~/.config/cs-server && cp config/server.cfg config/mapcycle*.txt ~/.config/cs-server/
$ just install  # copies the unit, runs daemon-reload
$ systemctl --user start scoutzknivez

To start on boot, run loginctl enable-linger for your user.

On shutdown, players see a 30-second countdown before the server stops cleanly.

// Security

• No capabilitiesAll Linux capabilities dropped
• No privilege escalationno-new-privileges enforced, setuid/setgid bits stripped
• Nologin userSystem user with /usr/sbin/nologin shell
• Resource limits512 MB memory, 2 CPU cores max
• Query rate limitingAnti-amplification via sv_max_queries_sec
• RCON lockout5 failures = 60 min ban

// FastDL

Custom maps (and Quake sounds, if you add them) are served from this site via HTTP for fast client downloads. The repository's config/server.cfg, which is also baked into the image, sets sv_downloadurl to this URL. The one-line installer writes its own server.cfg without it, so add the line there if you want FastDL.

// Source