CS SOURCE - How to Setup COOP Play (BASIC)

Do you have Counter Strike: Source on STEAM but for some earthly reason you can't seem to connect to play with a friend or more online together as a coop or multiplayer? This guide will show you how to do just that, by creating a dedicated server to allow you as a host to play with your friends.

Introduction

A big thank you to my good friend that helped put all this together and went through a lot of time to help test the connectivity; Dusty Viper.

Step 1 - Creating The Server:

Create a folder on your desktop, call it whatever you want in relation to CS Source. I have called mine CS Source Server.

Download the following files via one of these hosting cloud accounts *NOTE* (these files that you need to download are safe for your system and do not contain malware of any kind).

CS GAME FILES[mega.nz]

Unrar/Extract/Unzip the contents of SteamCMD to the folder you created earlier. Then run the .exe file.

Once the process has been completed, in the same window type the following:

login anonymous

After that, type the following again:

app_update 232330 validate

This may take a half hour to an hour to complete, once the process is complete, close the command window.

The CS Source Server folder should look like this


Step 1 is complete, move on to Step 2.

Step 2 - Setting Up The Files:

Go to your desktop and find the folder you created earlier, you will see it is now populated with files and folders pertaining to Counter Strike Source.

Locate the folder > Steamapps > Common > Counter-Strike Source Dedicated Server

In this folder you need to copy and paste the following file titled Run.bat found in the folder you downloaded earlier.

The folder should look like the following:


Proceed to the following folder cstrike > cfg, in this folder you need to copy and paste the following two files titled, Server.cfg and bots.cfg

Locate the destination these files downloaded to, select VIEW and enable file name extensions, locate the files and remove the .txt extensions.

You can access and edit the information in these two files by selecting the properties of the files to be opened using Notepad. Within these files you can change the server name and password including settings related to your game and the bots. The generic password I have listed is four zero's > 0000

When you are ready to launch the game and play online with friends, double click on the file titled run.bat, located in your Counter-Strike Source Dedicated Server folder. Keep these two command windows open and minimized during gameplay.

The folder should look like the following:


Run the game through STEAM as you would normally do, nothing has changed. As your game loads, select Find Servers, your new dedicated server should appear under LAN, Internet, or Friends. Select it, enter your password and enjoy.

*NOTE* It is paramount to disable your Windows Firewall so that your friends can join your game.

That is the Easy version of this guide. If you get stuck, drop me a message and I will help you out.

Final Thoughts:

Hey thanks for reading this, if you found it useful consider liking, sharing and commenting and if you are feeling extra generous consider an award. Happy Gaming!

If you would like to support me in the work I do, consider sending me whatever you would like via PayPal, check my profile for the link.

Thank you

[McALEER GAMES]

If you are confident you did the steps correctly your friends need to follow the same approach. So follow up with them to make sure they followed the exact steps you did. Get back to me

[cmf11ak]

Hi mate, I have followed all steps and it sets up fine, but friends unable to find/join the server. Any guidance?

[McALEER GAMES]

@lerige, I am super happy you came right!

[lerige]

Everything run smoothly thank you !!

[McALEER GAMES]

100% id recommend install winrar its pretty stable and reliable

[lerige]

Thank you for the screenshot! Ok now I understand: for some reason the Windows 11 default unzip manager isn't showing nor extracting anything else outside of the steamcmd.zip file. Now that I have installed 7zip instead I am able to extract everything!!!

Let me try the rest of the tutorial now :)
Thank you for the help!!

[McALEER GAMES]

Hi again, you are not remotely bothering me, I try always to help anybody when it comes to my guides. I am not sure why you are seeing only 1 file, please see this image of what is uploaded as reference > https://mega.nz/file/hj51XATR#uKqvoG1MhA1xPXnShEAv-bMW3bxrfDdi5yPZWb9Pxno

[lerige]

Sorry to bother then cause has I explained when I unzip the rar file I only have the .exe file in the archive from mega :(. Anyway I stop bothering you with this and I ll try some other way. Thank you for your time !

[McALEER GAMES]

The file linked in the guide contains all the files available for the guide. Iv gone over it several times

[lerige]

hi, it seems that the screenshot links goes to a 404 :( https://tmpfiles.org/19597411/untitled.jpg