Squad is a large-scale modern military shooter emphasizing realistic ballistics, squad command, and infantry-artillery coordination. A self-hosted Dedicated Server provides essential infrastructure for team training, friendly matches, and private tactical exercises. This article covers SteamCMD deployment standards, ports, and administrator permissions for Squad.
1. Server hardware baseline
| Specification | 20~40-player tactical matches | Full 80~100-player battles |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4 cores / 3.4GHz+ | 8 cores / 4.0GHz+ with very high single-core performance |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB physical RAM | 32 GB physical RAM |
| Storage | 60 GB NVMe SSD | 120 GB NVMe SSD |
| Upload bandwidth | 20 Mbps dedicated | 50 Mbps ~ 100 Mbps dedicated high bandwidth |
2. Install the dedicated server with SteamCMD
Download the dedicated server anonymously through SteamCMD (AppID 403240):
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 403240 validate +quit
After the download, the main executable is in the root directory: SquadGameServer.exe.
3. Network port planning
| Default port | Protocol | Purpose | Router forwarding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7787 | UDP | Main direct client game connection (GamePort) | Required |
| 27165 | UDP | Steam queries and lobby listings (QueryPort) | Required |
| 21114 | TCP | Remote RCON web/tool console | Required |
4. Startup script and core configuration
1. Startup script (start_server.bat)
@echo off
start SquadGameServer.exe Port=7787 QueryPort=27165 RCONPORT=21114 -log
2. Core settings: SquadGame/ServerConfig/Server.cfg
ServerName="LanGame Tactical Milsim Training"
MaxPlayers=50
NumReservedSlots=4
IsLANandMatchmaking=false
ShouldSortByPing=true
RecordDemos=false
3. Administrator groups: SquadGame/ServerConfig/Admins.cfg
Group=SuperAdmin:changemap,pausegame,cheat,private,balance,chat,kick,ban,config,cameraman,immune,manageserver
Group=Admin:changemap,chat,kick,ban,cameraman
Admin=76561198000000000:SuperAdmin // Enter the commander's SteamID64
4. Campaign map rotation: SquadGame/ServerConfig/LayerRotation.cfg
Enter one map Layer identifier per line, for example:
Gorodok_RAAS_v1
Al_Basrah_Invasion_v1
Yehorivka_RAAS_v2
5. Choose an approach: manual configuration or LanGame Server Manager (LGSM)
Manual Squad maintenance involves frequently switching between CFG files and complex RCON commands.
We recommend the official open-source dedicated server management platform to automate routine administration:
- Tool overview and client: LanGame Server Manager (LGSM) product page
- Open-source repository: GitHub - SZSLGJCOM/LanGame-Server-Manager
LGSM provides:
- One-click multiple-port testing: Scans 7787, 27165, and 21114 automatically to eliminate missing router settings.
- Visual map rotation: Select theater Layers graphically and switch training maps in one click.
- Built-in tactical RCON terminal: Enter
AdminKickandAdminBroadcastin the client, avoiding bulky third-party tools. - Self-healing watchdog: Monitors high-load physics calculations in real time and restarts within seconds after unexpected exits.