> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wasabihosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Counter-Strike 2 Admin Commands & RCON Guide

> Administer your Counter-Strike 2 server hosting at Wasabi Hosting - RCON from the client console, essential commands, and plugin-based admin systems.

There are two ways to administer a CS2 server: **RCON**, the built-in remote console that gives you full control with a password, and **plugin-based admin systems** built on Metamod:Source and CounterStrikeSharp, which add in-game menus, per-admin permissions, and proper ban management. Most server owners use RCON for quick control and a plugin for day-to-day moderation.

## Using RCON from Your Client Console

RCON lets you run server commands from your own game console while playing.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set an RCON password on the server">
    In `game/csgo/cfg/server.cfg` (see [Server Configuration](/games/cs2/server-configuration)):

    ```bash theme={null}
    rcon_password "StrongUniquePassword!"
    ```

    Restart or change the map to apply.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Authenticate from your console">
    Connect to the server, open your developer console, and enter:

    ```
    rcon_address 203.0.113.10:27015
    rcon_password "StrongUniquePassword!"
    ```

    When you're already connected to the server, setting `rcon_password` alone is usually enough — `rcon_address` matters when sending commands from outside.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run commands with the rcon prefix">
    Prefix any server command with `rcon`:

    ```
    rcon changelevel de_mirage
    rcon mp_restartgame 1
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Anyone with your RCON password has **full control** of the server. Use a long unique password, never post console screenshots containing it, and rotate it when staff leave. You can also run all of these commands directly from the live console in the [Game Panel](https://panel.wasabihosting.com) — no RCON needed there.
</Warning>

## Essential Commands

| Command                               | What It Does                                               |
| ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| `changelevel de_inferno`              | Change to another map                                      |
| `mp_restartgame 1`                    | Restart the match in 1 second (resets scores)              |
| `mp_warmup_end`                       | End the warmup phase immediately                           |
| `status`                              | List connected players with their userids and Steam IDs    |
| `kick playername`                     | Kick a player by name                                      |
| `kickid <userid>`                     | Kick a player by userid (from `status` — safer than names) |
| `banid <minutes> <userid>`            | Ban a player by userid for N minutes (`0` = permanent)     |
| `writeid`                             | Save current bans so they persist across restarts          |
| `sv_password "scrim"`                 | Lock the server mid-session (empty string unlocks)         |
| `say Server restarting in 5 minutes!` | Broadcast a message to all players as the server           |

<Note>
  Legacy Source ban commands like `banid`/`writeid` have been unreliable in some CS2 builds, and CS2 has no built-in admin permission levels at all. For dependable, persistent bans and per-admin rights, use a plugin-based admin system (below) — it's what nearly every community server runs.
</Note>

## Plugin-Based Admin: Metamod + CounterStrikeSharp

For real moderation — admin menus, permission tiers, persistent bans, chat commands like `!kick` — install the community plugin stack:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install Metamod:Source">
    Download the latest CS2 build of [Metamod:Source](https://www.sourcemm.net) and upload it into `game/csgo` via the [File Manager or SFTP](/server/file-management), following the official installation notes for CS2 (which include a small edit to `gameinfo.gi`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install CounterStrikeSharp">
    Download [CounterStrikeSharp](https://docs.cssharp.dev) (with runtime) and extract it into `game/csgo/addons`. Restart and confirm both load with `meta list` in the console.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install an admin plugin">
    Add an admin plugin such as **CS2-SimpleAdmin** (or a similar CounterStrikeSharp admin plugin) into the CounterStrikeSharp plugins folder. These provide kick/ban/mute with a database, in-game menus, and chat commands.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure your admins">
    Admin frameworks use a config file (for CounterStrikeSharp, `configs/admins.json`) where each admin is identified by their **SteamID64** and granted permission flags, for example:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "YourName": {
        "identity": "76561198012345678",
        "flags": ["@css/generic", "@css/kick", "@css/ban"]
      }
    }
    ```

    Flag names vary by plugin — check its documentation for the exact list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restart and test">
    Restart the server, join, and test a gated command (e.g. `!admin` or `css_admin`). If nothing responds, check the server console for plugin load errors.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Every CS2 update from Valve can temporarily break Metamod, CounterStrikeSharp, and the plugins on top of them. After a game update, expect your server to need updated plugin builds — keep a [backup](/server/backups) from before the update, and watch each project's Discord/GitHub for fixed releases before restarting a plugin-heavy server.
</Warning>

## Finding SteamID64s

* Run `status` in the console while the player is online — it lists Steam IDs.
* Convert a profile URL to SteamID64 with a lookup site such as [https://steamid.io](https://steamid.io).

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Server Configuration" icon="gears" href="/games/cs2/server-configuration">
    Set rcon\_password, match rules, and game modes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Custom & Workshop Maps" icon="map" href="/games/cs2/custom-maps">
    Change maps and build rotations worth moderating.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Card title="Run a server worth administrating" icon="rocket" href="https://wasabihosting.com/game-servers/counter-strike-2">
  CS2 server hosting from **€9.99/month** at Wasabi Hosting — with DDoS protection and 24/7 support behind your community.
</Card>