A LAN server is the simplest way to play legacy CS:GO with friends. It skips everything that makes an internet server hard: no Game Server Login Token, no plugins, no matchmaking reservation. If everyone is on the same network, this is all you need. Every step here was tested on a real server.

Setup

1. Install with steamcmd: +login anonymous +app_update 740 validate
2. Remove the bundled bin/libgcc_s.so.1 (the frozen build ships an old copy that breaks on modern Linux). On Windows you can skip this.
3. Launch in LAN mode: +sv_lan 1 +map de_dust2
4. Friends on the same network connect to your local IP: connect 192.168.x.x:27015

LAN mode works because sv_lan 1 tells the server to skip Steam registration and the reservation gate entirely. That is why it needs no token and no plugins, and also why it only accepts clients on your local network.

Playing LAN over the internet

You can play a LAN server with friends who are not in the same room by putting everyone on a virtual LAN. Tools like Tailscale or ZeroTier give each machine a private address in the same range, so to the server a remote friend looks local. Everyone installs the same tool, joins the same network, and connects to the server's virtual-LAN address. This keeps the simple sv_lan 1 setup while letting anyone join.

Want a real public server instead?

If you want friends to join over the internet without a VPN, that needs a token and the SourceMod plugin stack. We wrote that up separately. How to host a CS:GO internet server. Or deploy one ready to go on 2hours.gg.