How to Set Up a Garry's Mod Server: DarkRP & Beyond

Why Host Your Own GMod Server?

Garry's Mod has been a sandbox mainstay for nearly 20 years, and it's still one of the most-played games on Steam. With your own server, you can:

• Run any gamemode — DarkRP, TTT, Prop Hunt, Murder, Sandbox, Cinema, and more
• Curate Workshop content — build the perfect addon collection
• Build a community — create a home for your playerbase
• Full customization — Lua scripting, custom jobs, weapons, and vehicles

Choosing the Right Plan

GMod resource needs vary dramatically by gamemode:

Tip: DarkRP with many addons, custom jobs, and entities is the most RAM-hungry gamemode. Budget more RAM for addon-heavy servers.

Step 1: Deploy Your Server

1. Go to HostedGG GMod hosting
2. Choose your plan
3. Your server deploys in under 60 seconds
4. Default gamemode is Sandbox — change it in the next step

Step 2: Set Your Gamemode

DarkRP Setup

DarkRP is by far the most popular GMod gamemode. Here's how to set it up:

1. Go to Startup settings in your control panel
2. Set Gamemode to darkrp
3. Install DarkRP Modification (DarkRPMod) for custom jobs and settings
4. Restart your server

Other Popular Gamemodes

Step 3: Workshop Collections

Workshop collections let you bundle all your server's addons together. Players automatically download everything when connecting.

Creating a Collection

1. Go to the Steam Workshop for GMod
2. Click Create Collection
3. Add all the addons your server uses
4. Copy the Collection ID from the URL
5. Paste it into the Workshop Collection field in your server settings

Essential DarkRP Addons

Managing Addons

• Keep your addon count reasonable — more addons = longer download times
• Use a loading screen addon so players see progress while downloading
• Remove unused addons regularly to keep server startup fast
• Test new addons on a local server before adding them live

Step 4: Lua Configuration

GMod servers are heavily configurable through Lua scripts:

DarkRP Jobs

Edit darkrpmodification/lua/darkrp_customthings/jobs.lua to add custom jobs:

TEAM_POLICE = DarkRP.createJob("Police Officer", {
    color = Color(25, 25, 170, 255),
    model = "models/player/police.mdl",
    description = "Protect and serve the city.",
    weapons = {"arrest_stick", "unarrest_stick", "stunstick", "weapon_glock2"},
    command = "police",
    max = 4,
    salary = 65,
    admin = 0,
    vote = true,
    hasLicense = true,
    category = "Civil Protection",
})

Server Settings

Key DarkRP settings in darkrpmodification/lua/darkrp_config/settings.lua:

Step 5: Admin Setup

Install ULX and ULib for comprehensive admin tools:

Admin Ranks

Essential Admin Commands

Step 6: Connect & Test

1. Launch Garry's Mod
2. Open the developer console (~ key)
3. Type connect YOUR_IP:PORT
4. Press Enter

Alternatively, find your server in the GMod server browser (it may take a few minutes to appear).

Building Your Community

GMod servers thrive on community. Tips for growing yours:

1. Be active — play on your own server regularly
2. Consistent rules — post rules on a website or loading screen
3. Staff team — recruit trusted players as moderators
4. Discord — create a community Discord for announcements and support
5. Events — host regular events (building contests, TTT tournaments)
6. Unique content — custom jobs, maps, or mechanics set you apart

Troubleshooting

Addons Not Working

• Verify the Workshop Collection ID is correct
• Check that addon IDs are correct (not removed from Workshop)
• Look for Lua errors in the server console
• Some addons conflict with each other — disable recent additions to find the conflict

Players Stuck on Loading

• Reduce your total addon count or use compressed content
• Add a loading screen that shows download progress
• Remove unnecessarily large addon packs that players rarely use

Server Lag

• Monitor RAM usage — upgrade plan if consistently above 80%
• Reduce max entity count in DarkRP settings
• Remove heavy addons (large maps, excessive NPCs)
• Enable Prop Protection to prevent prop spam

Ready to build your community? Get your GMod server now — starting at just €4.99/month.