> ## 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.

# S&Box Server Hosting: From Order to Playing

> Set up your S&Box server hosting at Wasabi Hosting - choose a game or gamemode, boot your server, and get your community playing on Source 2.

This guide walks you from placing your order to your community playing on your own S\&Box server. Because S\&Box is a platform rather than a single game, the one decision that shapes everything else is which game or gamemode your server runs — we'll cover that too.

<Note>
  S\&Box is evolving quickly. Startup flags, config details, and server tooling can change as Facepunch ships updates. Where specifics may vary, this guide describes the general process — the **Console** in the Game Panel and official Facepunch news are your best sources for the current details.
</Note>

## Setup Walkthrough

<Steps>
  <Step title="Order your server">
    Order at [https://wasabihosting.com/game-servers/s-and-box](https://wasabihosting.com/game-servers/s-and-box) and pick the location closest to your community (Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Ashburn).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for deployment">
    Your server deploys automatically about 2 minutes after payment. You'll receive panel access details by email.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the Game Panel">
    Log in to the [Wasabi Hosting Game Panel](https://panel.wasabihosting.com) and select your S\&Box server.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the game or gamemode">
    Decide what your server runs — a sandbox mode, a community-made gamemode, or any other game published to the S\&Box ecosystem. This is set through your server's **Startup** settings in the panel, where you point the server at the game/gamemode it should load. The exact parameter format follows the current S\&Box server tooling; if you're unsure, check the console output or ask our support team.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the server and watch the console">
    Click **Start** and keep the **Console** open. The first boot downloads the platform files and the content for your chosen game, which can take a few minutes. Wait until the console reports the server is up and listening.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Players join">
    Players find your server through the **in-game server browser** (filtered by the game/gamemode it runs) or connect **directly by address** using the `IP:port` shown on your panel dashboard. Share the address with your community so they can join even if the browser is busy.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Give your server a clear, searchable name that mentions the gamemode it runs — that's how players browsing the server list will decide whether to click yours.
</Tip>

## Mods, Addons, and Content

Content in S\&Box — games, maps, models, and addons — is distributed through the official S\&Box ecosystem hub ([sbox.game](https://sbox.game)). In general:

* Servers reference content from the ecosystem, and clients download what they need when connecting — no manual file syncing for your players.
* What your server loads is controlled by its startup configuration and the game/gamemode you selected.
* The details of how server-side content is declared can change as the platform matures; check the console output and official documentation for the current approach.

Your server's files are always accessible via the **File Manager** and SFTP — see [File Management](/server/file-management).

## Keeping Your Server Updated

Facepunch ships platform updates frequently, and clients on a newer build can't join an outdated server:

* **Restart from the panel** when an update drops — the server installs the latest build on startup.
* **Take a backup first.** Platform updates occasionally change how things work; a pre-update [backup](/server/backups) lets you roll back your files and settings.
* **Watch the console after updates** — deprecation warnings and changed settings show up there first, and official Facepunch news covers breaking changes.

<Info>
  Use the **Schedules** feature in the Game Panel to automate nightly restarts and backups — a good habit on a fast-moving platform.
</Info>

## Troubleshooting Basics

* **Server not in the browser?** It may still be downloading content on first boot — check the console. Direct connect by `IP:port` also works before browser listings refresh.
* **Players can't connect after an update?** Restart the server so it matches the current client build.
* **Startup errors after changing the gamemode?** Verify the game/gamemode reference in your Startup settings, or restore your last [backup](/server/backups).

Still stuck? Open a [support ticket](https://billing.wasabihosting.com/submitticket.php) or join our [Discord](https://discord.wasabihosting.com) — we're around 24/7.

<Card title="Don't have an S&Box server yet?" icon="rocket" href="https://wasabihosting.com/game-servers/s-and-box">
  Get your own S\&Box server from **€10.00/month** — deployed in about 2 minutes with DDoS protection included.
</Card>