Garry's Mod is endlessly flexible, which makes hosting it mostly about two questions: which gamemode , and how you load content. Here's the whole path.
Step 1 — Pick a gamemode
- Sandbox — the classic build/mess-around mode, simplest to start.
- DarkRP — roleplay; hugely popular, lots of addons, more setup.
- TTT (Trouble in Terrorist Town) — social deduction; great for communities.
- Prop Hunt, Murder, Deathrun, and more — drop-in gamemodes from the Workshop.
Step 2 — Size your RAM
- 2 GB — a small Sandbox or TTT server.
- 4–6 GB — DarkRP or addon-heavy servers with 20+ players. Workshop-heavy servers love extra RAM.
Step 3 — Deploy
- Order a Garry's Mod plan and pick it at checkout.
- Your Pterodactyl panel login arrives by email within minutes.
- Set your gamemode and starting map in the startup variables and start the server.
Step 4 — Workshop content (the important bit)
The clean way to deliver addons to players is a Steam Workshop collection : create one, add the addons you want, and set its collection ID in your server's startup so GMod pulls them. For server-side addons (gamemodes, admin mods like ULX), upload them to the addons/ folder via the file manager. With full file access nothing is locked down.
Step 5 — FastDL (so joins aren't painful)
Custom content downloads slowly through Steam by default. FastDL points players at an HTTP host for fast downloads of your maps/materials. You can host the files on your server or a web bucket and set sv_downloadurl. Our SSD storage keeps these downloads quick.
Step 6 — Admin
Install an admin addon (ULX/ULib is the classic) and add yourself as superadmin with your SteamID. You then manage players, props and rounds in-game, with the panel console available for anything else.
Our Garry's Mod hosting runs on SSD bare metal (FastDL-friendly) with DDoS protection, daily backups and instant setup, from €4.99/mo.
FAQ
How much RAM does a GMod server need?
2 GB for a small Sandbox/TTT server; 4–6 GB for DarkRP or addon-heavy servers with 20+ players. Workshop-heavy servers benefit from more RAM.
How do I add Workshop addons?
Create a Steam Workshop collection, add your addons, and set its collection ID in the server startup so clients download them. Server-side addons go in the addons/ folder via the file manager.
What is FastDL and do I need it?
FastDL serves your custom content over HTTP so players download maps/materials quickly instead of slowly through Steam. Set sv_downloadurl to a host with your files. Recommended for any server with custom content.
Can I run DarkRP or TTT?
Yes — set the gamemode in your startup, upload the gamemode/addons, and you're running. Full file access means any gamemode works.
Originally published at overnight.host. We run a small, honest hosting company on dedicated bare metal — Linux & Windows VPS, game servers, web hosting. Live status at up.overnight.host.
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