s&box Server Setup for Creating Your First Server

s&box servers work a little differently from most games. The server itself doesn't have a game built in: you tell it which game package to run, such as Facepunch's own Sandbox mode or a community gamemode, and which map to load. Get those two right and everything else is straightforward.

This guide walks you through setting up your first s&box server on PLAYERTICK, from choosing what to host to getting your friends connected.

Prerequisites

• An s&box server. You can view our plans here.
• s&box installed on your PC, so you can test your server.
• The game and map you want to host, found on sbox.game.

Step 1 - Find your game and map identifiers

Every game and map on sbox.game has an identifier in the form organisation.package. You can read it straight from the package's address:

Write down the identifier of the game you want to host and a map that works with it. The game's page usually recommends maps. If you're not sure, facepunch.sandbox with facepunch.flatgrass is a safe place to start; they're also the defaults on a new PLAYERTICK server.

Step 2 - Configure your server

1. Log in to the client area and open your s&box server.
2. Click Settings and scroll down to Startup Variables.

Fill in the fields:

• Game: the game identifier from Step 1, for example facepunch.sandbox.
• Map: the map identifier, for example facepunch.flatgrass.
• Server Name: the name players see in the server list.
• Max Players: how many players can join at once. Keep it modest at first; you can raise it once you've seen how the game performs.
• Auto Update: leave this on (1) so your server updates itself every time it starts. Players can't join a server running an older version of s&box.

Two fields are for more advanced setups. You can leave them empty for your first server:

• Local Project (.sbproj): runs your own s&box project uploaded to the server, instead of a package from sbox.game. Useful if you're developing a game yourself.
• Extra Args: extra launch options, if a game's documentation asks for them.

Click Save Variables. The server restarts with your new settings.

Type identifiers exactly as they appear on sbox.game. A single typo means the server can't find the package.

Step 3 - Start the server and watch the console

Click Console in the left-hand menu. If the server isn't already running, click Start.

The first start takes longer than usual while the server downloads the game and map packages. Keep the console open until the output settles and the Status tile on the right shows RUNNING.

If the server stops straight after starting, scroll up to the first error in the console. It's usually a mistyped Game or Map identifier.

Step 4 - Connect to your server

Your server's address is shown under IP Address on the right of every panel page. Click it to copy it.

Your server appears in the in-game server list under the Server Name you chose. To connect directly instead, open the s&box console and type connect followed by your server's address:

connect your.server.ip:port

Step 5 - Protect your setup

Once your server works the way you want:

• Take a backup. Click Backups, then Create backup. If you later try a different game or map and something goes wrong, you can roll back.
• Add co-admins safely. If someone else helps run the server, add them from Subusers instead of sharing your account. You choose exactly what they can do.
• Schedule a daily restart. On the Schedules page, add a schedule with a Power Action task set to Restart at a quiet time. With Auto Update on, this also keeps your server on the latest s&box build.

Running a DarkRP server with DXRP

If you want to run DXRP, the DarkRP-style gamemode, PLAYERTICK has a dedicated DXRP page under Game Features that handles the setup for you. Follow our guide on how to start a DXRP server on s&box.

Troubleshooting

Wrapping up

That's it: your first s&box server is up, running the game and map you chose, and ready for your friends. If you get stuck, reach out to us on Discord or through support.