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Dedicated Servers: Installation, Configuration, and Command Line
s&box dedicated servers run headless and can be installed via SteamCMD. They host multiplayer games without requiring the full editor.
Installation
Install via SteamCMD (app ID 1892930):
BASH
./steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 1892930 validate +quitUse -beta staging for the staging branch (may not be compatible with all clients).
Running the Server
Windows (.bat file)
BAT
echo off
sbox-server.exe +game facepunch.sandbox facepunch.flatgrass +hostname My Dedicated ServerLinux (requires .NET Runtime)
BASH
#!/bin/bash
./sbox-server.exe +game facepunch.sandbox facepunch.flatgrass +hostname "My Dedicated Server"Command Line Parameters
| Switch | Arguments | Description |
|---|---|---|
| +game | <packageIdent> [mapIdent] | Game package to load, optionally with a map |
| +hostname | <name> | Server title visible to players |
| +port | <port> | Hosting port |
| +netqueryport | <port> | Query port for server info (player count, map) |
| +netgameserver_token | <token> | Optional persistent Steam ID token (from steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers) |
Local Projects
You can pass a path to a .sbproj file to load a local project. Connected clients receive code changes and hotload them — useful for development and testing.
Key Notes
- Without netgameserver_token, the server generates a new Steam ID on each restart
- The server uses the same ConVar/ConCmd system as the client — command line switches are just ConVars run at boot
- Default install directory: steamcmd/steamapps/common/sbox dedicated server
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