How to Set Up a Garry's Mod Server (DarkRP & Sandbox)
Stand up a Garry’s Mod dedicated server, add addons and a gamemode like DarkRP, and get players in — without the Workshop mess.
Garry’s Mod servers run everything from chaotic sandbox to deep DarkRP roleplay. The setup is straightforward; the part that trips people up is addons and the Workshop collection. Here’s the clean path.
What you need
- A Linux or Windows box; 2–4 GB RAM and a fast core handle most gamemodes, more for heavy DarkRP.
- SteamCMD and the GMod dedicated server app (4020).
- Port 27015 UDP/TCP open.
- A Steam Workshop collection and a Workshop API key for content delivery.
Step 1 — Install with SteamCMD
Download app 4020 with SteamCMD, then write a launch script setting the gamemode, starting map and max players. For DarkRP the gamemode is added as an addon (next step) rather than shipped with the server.
Step 2 — Add your gamemode and addons
Put addons in garrysmod/addons, or — better for clients — use a Workshop collection so players auto-download the content on join. For DarkRP, install the DarkRP gamemode plus DarkRPModification, the supported way to customize jobs, entities and shipments without touching the base.
Step 3 — Use a Workshop collection (the right way)
- Create a Workshop collection containing every addon your server uses.
- Set host_workshop_collection to its ID and add a Workshop API key.
- Clients then download content cleanly on connect instead of joining with missing models and errors.
Never edit DarkRP’s base files directly — use DarkRPModification. When DarkRP updates, base edits are overwritten and your customizations vanish; the modification addon survives updates.
Step 4 — Configure and secure
Set server.cfg (hostname, rcon_password, sv_password if private), add an admin tool like ULX or ServerGuard for moderation, and keep the addon list lean — errors and lag usually come from one broken or duplicated addon.
Step 5 — Get players
List it so it appears in the GMod ranking, give it a clear name (gamemode + theme), and run a Discord. A well-described DarkRP or sandbox server with no missing-content errors fills far faster.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Workshop API key?
For a server using a Workshop collection, yes — it lets clients reliably download your addons on join. Without it, players often connect with missing models and Lua errors.
How do I customize DarkRP safely?
Use the DarkRPModification addon, never the base DarkRP files. Base edits are wiped on every DarkRP update; the modification addon persists.
How much RAM does a GMod server need?
2–4 GB suits most gamemodes. A big DarkRP server with many addons and players can want 6 GB+. CPU single-thread speed matters for tick rate.