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.

Hardware Allocation

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

Resource Recommendations

Server Size	RAM	CPU	Recommended Player Count
Small	4GB	2 Cores	Up to 16 players
Medium	8GB	4 Cores	Up to 32 players
Large	16GB+	6+ Cores	32+ players

With Garry’s Mod, CPU performance is often more important than raw RAM. A server with fewer, faster cores may outperform one with more, slower cores. Wasabi Hosting’s optimized plans are specifically designed with this in mind.

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

Key Parameters Explained

Parameter	Description	Recommended Value
-tickrate	Server tick rate	66 (default) or 100 for better hit registration
+maxplayers	Maximum player slots	Based on your server capacity
-authkey	Workshop authentication	Required for workshop content
-disableluarefresh	Prevents constant Lua refreshing	Recommended for performance
-softrestart	Allows cleaner restarts	Recommended for stability

Setting tickrate too high (above 100) can cause performance issues on most hardware.

Server Configuration Files

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

The sv_parallel_packentities and sv_parallel_sendsnapshot settings utilize multi-threading capabilities in the Source engine, which can significantly improve performance on multi-core systems.

Addon Management

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

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

Optimizing Addons

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Update regularly - Outdated addons may have unpatched performance issues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

Some popular addons like Wiremod, ACF, and certain RP systems can be extremely resource-intensive. Consider lighter alternatives if performance is a priority.

FastDL Setup

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

Create a web server for hosting content files

Configure these settings in your server.cfg:

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

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

Database Optimization

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

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

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

Gamemode-Specific Optimizations

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

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

Routine Maintenance

Implement these maintenance routines on your Wasabi Hosting server:

Regular map changes every 6-12 hours
Scheduled restarts to clear memory leaks

Prop cleanup every 30-60 minutes:

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

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.

Network Optimization

DDoS protection - Use our built-in firewall or a service like Cloudflare
Connection throttling - Prevent excessive reconnects:
```
sv_connectthrottle 60
```
Packet rate configuration - Balanced settings for various connections:
```
sv_minrate 20000
sv_maxrate 100000
```

Advanced Lua Optimizations

For server developers:

Use timer.Simple instead of timer.Create for one-time events
Avoid table.concat in frequent operations
Cache results of expensive calculations
Use ENT:NextThink to reduce entity think frequency
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)

Common Performance Issues

Prop Spam

Control prop limits with these plugins:

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

Lua Errors

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

Memory Leaks

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

Firewall Dashboard

Minecraft

Garry's Mod

Unturned

Garry's Mod Server Optimization Guide

Introduction to Garry’s Mod Server Optimization

Hardware Allocation

Startup Parameters

Key Parameters Explained

Server Configuration Files

server.cfg Optimization

Addon Management

Identifying Resource-Heavy Addons

Optimizing Addons

FastDL Setup

Database Optimization

Console Settings for Optimization

Gamemode-Specific Optimizations

DarkRP Optimization

Sandbox Optimization

Routine Maintenance

Network Optimization

Advanced Lua Optimizations

Common Performance Issues

Prop Spam

Lua Errors

Memory Leaks

Firewall Dashboard

Minecraft

Garry's Mod

Unturned

​Introduction to Garry’s Mod Server Optimization

​Hardware Allocation

​Startup Parameters

​Key Parameters Explained

​Server Configuration Files

​server.cfg Optimization

​Addon Management

​Identifying Resource-Heavy Addons

​Optimizing Addons

​FastDL Setup

​Database Optimization

​Console Settings for Optimization

​Gamemode-Specific Optimizations

​DarkRP Optimization

​Sandbox Optimization

​Routine Maintenance

​Network Optimization

​Advanced Lua Optimizations

​Common Performance Issues

​Prop Spam

​Lua Errors

​Memory Leaks

Introduction to Garry’s Mod Server Optimization

Hardware Allocation

Startup Parameters

Key Parameters Explained

Server Configuration Files

server.cfg Optimization

Addon Management

Identifying Resource-Heavy Addons

Optimizing Addons

FastDL Setup

Database Optimization

Console Settings for Optimization

Gamemode-Specific Optimizations

DarkRP Optimization

Sandbox Optimization

Routine Maintenance

Network Optimization

Advanced Lua Optimizations

Common Performance Issues

Prop Spam

Lua Errors

Memory Leaks