Host Game Servers on a Windows VPS

Published 8 June 2026 · By Host Havoc Technical Support Team

This guide covers installing dedicated servers for FiveM, BeamMP, and Garry's Mod on a Windows VPS. Each game has its own section below. The port-forwarding process is the same for all three: open the required ports in Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security using both Inbound and Outbound rules.

Before starting, connect to your Windows VPS via Remote Desktop and make sure your VPS is fully up to date. All steps must be completed on the VPS, not your local machine.

Before you start: Garry's Mod requires SteamCMD to be installed first. FiveM and BeamMP use their own installers.

FiveM

FiveM is a multiplayer modification framework for GTA V. The recommended installation method uses txAdmin, which handles server setup through a web interface.

Prerequisites

  • Install Visual C++ Redistributable 2019 from the Microsoft website.
  • Install an archive tool such as WinRAR or 7-Zip.
  • Ensure your Windows VPS is fully up to date (see Update Your Windows VPS).
  1. Go to the FiveM Server Artifacts website and download the recommended version.
  2. Create a folder on the server called FXServer.
  3. Extract the downloaded archive into the FXServer folder.
  4. Open FXServer.exe. A console window opens with a PIN and a link to the txAdmin panel. A browser window may open automatically.
    FiveM txAdmin setup console showing the PIN code
  5. Log in with your Cfx.re Forum account and authorize txAdmin access.
    Browser window linking your Cfx.re Forum account to txAdmin
  6. Set a backup password and accept the Cfx.re Terms of Service and the txAdmin license.
  7. Follow the setup wizard. When asked for a Deployment Type, select Popular Templates and choose a template tagged FiveM (for example, CFX Default FiveM for a basic setup).
  8. Leave the Data Location at the default. Click Go to Recipe Deployer.
    txAdmin setup wizard showing the Server Name field
  9. Enter your Cfx.re License Key from the FiveM Keymaster. On the Keymaster, click New Server and fill in the form: set Initial Server IP to your VPS IP, Server Type to VPS, and Server Provider to Host Havoc.
  10. Paste the key into txAdmin and click Run Recipe.
  11. Once the recipe completes, click Next to review server.cfg, then allow the server to start.
    txAdmin setup PIN screen
    Linking a Cfx.re account in txAdmin
    Creating the txAdmin admin account
    Reviewing server.cfg in a text editor
    FiveM server console after a successful start

Open firewall ports (FiveM)

Forward TCP and UDP port 30120 for both Inbound and Outbound rules.

  1. Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
  2. Click Inbound Rules, then New Rule. Select Port, choose TCP, enter 30120, allow the connection, and name the rule (for example, FiveM TCP).
  3. Repeat step 2 choosing UDP and enter 30120 (name it FiveM UDP).
  4. Repeat both steps under Outbound Rules.

BeamMP

BeamMP is a multiplayer mod for BeamNG.drive. Its server is a single executable with no external dependencies.

Install

  1. Go to the BeamMP website and download the server from the homepage.
  2. Move BeamMP-Server.exe into a dedicated folder with no other files.
  3. Double-click BeamMP-Server.exe and wait about 10 seconds. The console closes automatically after generating the server files.
  4. Open ServerConfig.toml with a text editor and configure the following fields:
    • AuthKey: Generate a key from the BeamMP Key Dashboard. Enter your VPS IP as the Server IP and paste the generated key between the apostrophes ('') in the AuthKey line.
    • Description: A short description shown in the server list.
    • Map: The map name. Vanilla map names are listed in the BeamMP Wiki.
    • MaxCars: Maximum cars per player.
    • Name: The server name shown in the server list.
    • Port: Default is 30814. Change only if needed.
    • Private: Set to true to hide the server from the public list.

Open firewall ports (BeamMP)

Forward TCP and UDP port 30814 (or your chosen port) for both Inbound and Outbound rules using the same steps as FiveM above.

Start the server

Double-click BeamMP-Server.exe to start. Your server is now online and ready to join.

Garry's Mod

Garry's Mod uses SteamCMD to download and update the server files. Install SteamCMD before continuing.

Install via SteamCMD

  1. Open steamcmd.exe.
  2. Log in. Anonymous login is sufficient for a private server; a Steam account that owns Garry's Mod is required for a public server:
    login anonymous
  3. (Optional) Set a custom install directory:
    force_install_dir c:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\steamcmd\FOLDERNAME
  4. Install the Garry's Mod dedicated server:
    app_update 4020
  5. Once installed, locate the server files. If you did not set a custom directory, the default path is:
C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\steamcmd\steamapps\common\GarrysModDS

Open firewall ports (Garry's Mod)

Forward TCP and UDP port 27015 for both Inbound and Outbound rules using the same steps as FiveM above.

Launch the server

  1. Run srcds.exe from the GarrysModDS folder.
  2. Configure your server details (port, server name, and other options) in the launcher window.
  3. Click Start Server.

Your Garry's Mod server is now online and ready to join.