This guide covers admin commands, RCON, game mode configuration, and server management for your Contagion dedicated server. For initial setup and connection, see Contagion Server Setup Guide.
1. RCON (Remote Console)
RCON allows you to execute admin commands remotely. Set your RCON password in contagion/cfg/server.cfg:
rcon_password "your_secure_password"To use RCON in-game, open the console (~) and type:
rcon_password your_secure_password
rcon [command]You can also execute commands directly through the GPanel Console tab without RCON.
2. Admin Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
changelevel [map] |
Change to a different map. |
map [map] |
Load a map (restarts the server on that map). |
kick [player] |
Kick a player from the server. |
banid [steamid] |
Ban a player by Steam ID. |
removeid [steamid] |
Unban a player by Steam ID. |
status |
Show connected players with IDs and IPs. |
say [message] |
Broadcast a message to all players. |
mp_restartgame 1 |
Restart the current round. |
3. Game Modes
Contagion features three main game modes, determined by the map prefix:
| Mode | Prefix | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Escape | ce_ |
Cooperatively escape a zombie-infested area. Complete objectives and reach the extraction point. |
| Hunted | ch_ |
Survival mode where players defend against waves of zombies. Dead players become zombies. |
| Flatline | cf_ |
PvP zombie mode. Players fight each other and deal with zombie threats. |
4. Server Settings
Common settings for contagion/cfg/server.cfg:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
hostname "name" |
Server name in the browser. |
sv_password "pass" |
Join password (blank = public). |
mp_timelimit [min] |
Round time limit in minutes. |
sv_cheats [0/1] |
Enable/disable cheats (keep at 0). |
mp_friendlyfire [0/1] |
Toggle friendly fire. |
5. Map Rotation
Create a mapcycle.txt file in the contagion/cfg/ directory with one map name per line:
ce_barlowe
ce_pioneer
ce_roanoke
ch_alex
cf_pioneerThe server will cycle through these maps in order.
6. Troubleshooting
- Server not starting: Check the GPanel console for errors. Contagion runs under Wine -- startup may take longer than native Linux servers.
- RCON not working: Verify your
rcon_passwordis set inserver.cfgand that you entered it correctly in the client console. - Players cannot find server: Ensure the server has fully started and registered with Steam. Look for
Connection to Steam servers successfulin the console. - Map not loading: Verify the map name is correct. Use the exact map name including the mode prefix.
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Need Help?
If you need further assistance, open a support ticket with your server IP and any error messages from the GPanel console.
