CS2 Linux Server Performance Tuning

This page replaces the old "Subtick v2" wording with a practical, modern tuning guide. Valve does not publish a separate "v2" toggle, so focus on official requirements and stable OS hygiene.

1. Use a Modern, Stable Kernel

• Stick with a current LTS distro kernel unless you have a proven reason to change.
• Real-time kernels are not required for CS2 and can introduce extra complexity.
• Keep firmware and microcode up to date for stability on newer CPUs.

2. Avoid Resource Contention

• Give each CS2 instance dedicated CPU headroom when hosting multiple servers.
• Keep heavy background jobs (backups, log compression, antivirus) off the game host.
• If you pin cores, test performance before and after to confirm improvement.

3. Recommended Launch Parameters

Use Valve's standard launch pattern and keep it minimal:

./cs2 -dedicated -usercon +map de_dust2 -port 27015 -maxplayers 12

• -dedicated: Starts a dedicated server
• -port: Game port (UDP)
• -maxplayers: Player slots

4. Network Hygiene

• Open the game port in your firewall and ensure UDP traffic is allowed.
• Avoid deep packet inspection rules that add latency to UDP traffic.
• Monitor packet loss and jitter with your host or provider dashboard.

5. Validate Performance

• Use status in the server console to confirm uptime and player slots.
• Monitor CPU and memory with standard Linux tools (top, htop).
• Check logs for warnings after each configuration change.

Next Steps

• CS2 dedicated server setup
• Utility training & grenade practice
• Back to CS2 Wiki Home