Gamemodes + addons

Garry's Mod runs different "gamemodes" — Sandbox is default, but DarkRP, TTT (Trouble in Terrorist Town), Murder, Prop Hunt, and dozens of others are popular.

Setting the gamemode

In your panel startup variables (or server.cfg):

gamemode "sandbox"   // or darkrp, terrortown, murder, etc.

For non-default gamemodes, you need to install the gamemode addon first (next section).

Server config (server.cfg)

Lives at /data/gmod/garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg. Common settings:

hostname "Your GMod Server"
sv_password ""               // empty for public
rcon_password "your-rcon"
sv_maxplayers 16
sv_lan 0
sv_region 1                  // 0=US East 1=US West 2=South America 3=Europe ...
sv_loadingurl ""             // custom loading screen

Workshop addons / collections

Players auto-download workshop content on connect. To make your server use addons:

1. Create a Steam Workshop Collection with all the addons you want.
2. Get the collection ID (the ?id= in its URL).
3. Set in panel: WORKSHOP_COLLECTION_ID=<id> (or +host_workshop_collection <id> in startup).
4. Restart. Server downloads the addons.

Server-side addons

Some addons need to be installed in /data/gmod/garrysmod/addons/ directly (not via Workshop). Common cases: custom gamemodes, admin tools (ULX), permission systems.

1. Stop the server.
2. Upload the addon folder to /garrysmod/addons/.
3. Each addon goes in its own subfolder.
4. Start the server.

Map

map gm_construct          // change to map of your choice

Players download maps automatically if they're not in their local files.

Admin tools

Most communities use ULX + ULib for admin commands and permissions. Install both as server-side addons.

After install, the first connecting Steam user is added as superadmin via ulx adduser <name> superadmin from the server console (or panel console).

DarkRP setup

For DarkRP specifically:

1. Install DarkRP from workshop or GitHub release.
2. Set gamemode "darkrp" in startup.
3. Edit /garrysmod/gamemodes/darkrp/gamemode/config/ to configure jobs, money, jail times, etc.
4. Restart.

DarkRP has a steep learning curve. The DarkRP wiki has the canonical docs.