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Introduction to Garry’s Mod Server Optimization

Optimizing your Garry’s Mod server is essential for ensuring a smooth gaming experience for your players. This guide covers various techniques to improve your server’s performance on Wasabi Hosting’s Gamepanel platform.

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Hardware Allocation

Garry’s Mod servers can be demanding, especially with multiple addons and players. Here are Wasabi Hosting’s recommended resource allocations:

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Startup Parameters

Optimize your server’s startup flags in the Wasabi Hosting Gamepanel for better performance:

./srcds_run -game garrysmod -console -tickrate 66 +map gm_construct +host_workshop_collection 123456789 +maxplayers 32 -authkey YOURAUTHKEY -disableluarefresh -softrestart

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Key Parameters Explained

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Server Configuration Files

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server.cfg Optimization

Your server.cfg file contains important settings that affect server performance:

// Network Settings
sv_minrate 20000
sv_maxrate 100000
sv_maxupdaterate 66
sv_minupdaterate 33
sv_maxcmdrate 66
sv_mincmdrate 33
net_maxfilesize 64
decalfrequency 10

// Performance Settings
sv_parallel_packentities 1
sv_parallel_sendsnapshot 1
sv_lan 0
sv_region 0
sv_loadingurl "https://yourloadingurl.com"
sv_downloadurl "https://yourfastdownloadurl.com"

// Entity Settings
gmod_physiterations 4
sv_turbophysics 1
sv_defaultdeployspeed 1.5
sv_client_predict 1
sv_client_min_interp_ratio -1
sv_client_max_interp_ratio 2
sv_stats 0
sv_allowcslua 0
sv_cheats 0
sv_hibernate_think 1

// Gameplay Settings
sbox_godmode 0
sbox_plpldamage 1
sbox_playergod 0
sbox_noclip 1

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Addon Management

Addons are the primary cause of lag on Garry’s Mod servers. Here are some tips for managing them:

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Identifying Resource-Heavy Addons

Use these tools to identify problematic addons:

• gm_debug - Shows Lua memory usage
• ULX Lag Checker - Tracks hook call times
• FProfiler - Detailed profiling of Lua functions

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Optimizing Addons

1. Limit total addons - Only use what’s necessary for your server
2. Use collection IDs - Faster and more reliable than individual workshop IDs
3. Avoid redundant addons - Many addons have overlapping functionality
4. Update regularly - Outdated addons may have unpatched performance issues
5. Check compatibility - Ensure addons work together without conflicts

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FastDL Setup

Setting up FastDL (Fast Download) significantly reduces loading times for players:

1. Create a web server for hosting content files
2. Configure these settings in your server.cfg:

   sv_downloadurl "http://your-fastdl-url.com"
   sv_allowdownload 0
   sv_allowupload 0
   

3. Compress content files using bzip2
4. Organize files in the proper directory structure (/maps, /materials, etc.)

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Database Optimization

If your server uses MySQL (common for DarkRP and similar gamemodes):

1. Use connection pooling to reduce database overhead
2. Index frequently queried fields for faster lookups
3. Regular database maintenance to prevent bloat
4. Consider SSD storage for database files

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Console Settings for Optimization

Run these commands in your server console for immediate optimization:

sv_hibernate_when_empty 1
r_3dsky 0  
host_sleep 0
fps_max 600

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Gamemode-Specific Optimizations

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DarkRP Optimization

For DarkRP servers, add these settings to darkrp_config/settings.lua:

GM.Config.minCopsToRaid = 2                        -- Prevents constant raiding
GM.Config.minCopsToVendorCrack = 2                 -- Reduces unnecessary theft events
GM.Config.pricecheckerHideNonBuyable = true        -- Reduces UI overhead
GM.Config.restrictallteams = true                  -- Better job management
GM.Config.playerFrozeNotification = false          -- Reduces notification spam
GM.Config.disableNoclip = false                    -- Allow admin noclip

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Sandbox Optimization

For Sandbox servers:

-- Add to server.cfg
sbox_maxprops 100                                  -- Limit props per player
sbox_maxragdolls 5                                 -- Limit ragdolls
sbox_maxvehicles 6                                 -- Limit vehicles
sbox_maxballoons 10                                -- Limit balloons
sbox_maxeffects 10                                 -- Limit effects
sbox_maxdynamite 10                                -- Limit dynamite
sbox_maxlamps 5                                    -- Limit lamps
sbox_maxthrusters 20                               -- Limit thrusters
sbox_maxwheels 20                                  -- Limit wheels
sbox_maxemitters 5                                 -- Limit emitters
sbox_maxspawners 3                                 -- Limit spawners
sbox_maxturrets 2                                  -- Limit turrets

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Routine Maintenance

Implement these maintenance routines on your Wasabi Hosting server:

1. Regular map changes every 6-12 hours
2. Scheduled restarts to clear memory leaks
3. Prop cleanup every 30-60 minutes:

   lua_run for k, v in pairs(ents.FindByClass("prop_physics")) do v:Remove() end
   

4. Player data cleanup - Purge inactive player data monthly

By implementing these optimization techniques, you should see a significant improvement in your Garry’s Mod server’s performance on Wasabi Hosting. If you continue to experience issues, contact our support team for assistance.

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Network Optimization

1. DDoS protection - Use our built-in firewall or a service like Cloudflare
2. Connection throttling - Prevent excessive reconnects:

   sv_connectthrottle 60
   

3. Packet rate configuration - Balanced settings for various connections:

   sv_minrate 20000
   sv_maxrate 100000
   

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Advanced Lua Optimizations

For server developers:

1. Use timer.Simple instead of timer.Create for one-time events
2. Avoid table.concat in frequent operations
3. Cache results of expensive calculations
4. Use ENT:NextThink to reduce entity think frequency
5. Implement think spreading to distribute processing across frames

-- Example of think spreading
local thinkOffset = 0
local entitiesToThink = 5 -- Process 5 entities per frame

hook.Add("Think", "ThinkSpreading", function()
    local entities = ents.GetAll()
    local count = #entities
    
    for i=1, entitiesToThink do
        local index = (thinkOffset + i) % count
        if index > 0 then
            local ent = entities[index]
            if IsValid(ent) and ent.CustomThink then
                ent:CustomThink()
            end
        end
    end
    
    thinkOffset = (thinkOffset + entitiesToThink) % count
end)

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Common Performance Issues

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Prop Spam

Control prop limits with these plugins:

• ULX Prop Protection
• FPP (Falco’s Prop Protection)
• SPP (Simple Prop Protection)

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Lua Errors

1. Install ulib_errors or similar to log errors
2. Check logs regularly for recurring errors
3. Fix or remove problematic addons

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Memory Leaks

1. Monitor RAM usage trends
2. Restart server when memory usage becomes excessive
3. Check for addons that gradually consume more memory