This project creates a Docker image that automates setting up a Half-Life dedicated server, version 1.0.1.6 (also known as Protocol 40), using the WON2 protocol. This image also includes popular Counter-Strike beta mods compatible with this build of Half-Life that are still played by the community, which are Counter-Strike Beta 3.1, Beta 4.0, Beta 5.2, and Beta 6.1.

• Docker/Podman image for HLDS 1.1.1.0

• Basic Linux skills,
• Either docker (easier to set up) OR podman version 5.4.2 or above (advanced but more secure).

There are a few communities around the World that still enjoy playing the early betas of Counter-Strike, either for rediscovering how it was back in the day, or simply out of pure nostalgia. However, I have noticed that community-wise, there wasn't really any project available that allows you to create servers for HL 1.0.1.6 in a matter of minutes. Since game preservation is important, I decided to provide a ready-to-use image for that purpose.

• Creates a barebones HLDS Environment using Debian (i386), using vanilla files and security patches only when applicable.
• Only takes ~500MB of Disk Space !
• Includes all the dedicated server files in its vanilla configuration that can be mostly reconfigured without recompiling the image.
• Advertises servers on both WON2.NET and the Order of Phalanx's masterservers.

• Counter-Strike Beta 6.1
• Counter-Strike Beta 5.2
• Counter-Strike Beta 4.0
• Counter-Strike Beta 3.1

0. If not already done, install Docker.

1. First of all, make sure you have created the hluser user on your server. Don't forget to add the user to the docker group:

adduser hluser
usermod -aG docker hluser

2. Log in as hluser.

su hluser

3. Clone the project, and enter the project's directory.

4. Build the image required for the server (will take ~5 minutes)

docker build -t hlds1016:latest .

5. Then, copy the docker-compose.yml file to docker-compose.override.yml

cp docker-compose.yml docker-compose.override.yml

6. Edit docker-compose.override.yml to your likings.

If you need to change the port of your server, change the -port 27015 parameter (in the command section) with the desired port of your choice.

For instance, here is a docker-compose.override.yml file which will create a CS Beta 6.1 server on cs_assault on port 27010 with 32 players slots:

services:
  hlds-server:
    image: "hlds1016"
    network_mode: host
    user: "1000:1000" # <- IMPORTANT !! Change this to your UID:GID to fix potential permission issues !
    volumes:
      - ./config/cstrk61:/server/cstrk61
    command:
      - -port 27010 -game cstrk61 +map cs_assault +maxplayers 32

7. Once done, just execute docker compose up to start up the server. If everything works well, you should be able to connect to the server.

In case you need to rebuild the image (for advanced purposes only), just type docker compose build and you should be good to go.

0. If not already done, install Podman. If you also have package acl, it's a good time to install it as well.

sudo apt install podman acl

1. First of all, make sure you have created the hluser user on your server. Don't forget to add subuid/subgid support:

adduser hluser
usermod --add-subuids 100000-165535 --add-subgids 100000-165535 hluser

2. As root, we will enable lingering for our user (so that the server will still be active when not connected through SSH):

loginctl enable-linger hluser

3. In a new SSH connection, connect as hluser.

4. Clone the project, and enter the project's directory.

5. We'll set proper permissions for later, so that our user hluser will still have access to files later on on the config subdirectories. This will fix new files permissions for both the container & our user, as well as allowing custom sprays to be saved.

setfacl -R -m d:u:hluser:rwx ./config/*
setfacl -R -m u:hluser:rwx ./config/*

6. Build the image required for the server (will take ~5 minutes)

podman build -t hlds1016:latest .

7. We will create the subfolders required for a rootless podman configuration, and copy the container inside it.

mkdir -p ~/.config/containers/systemd
cp hlds1016.container ~/.config/containers/systemd/

8. Edit ~/.config/containers/systemd/hlds1016.container to your likings.

If you need to change the port of your server, change the -port 27015 parameter (in the command section) with the desired port of your choice.

For instance, here is a container file (= quadlet) which will create a CS Beta 6.1 server on cs_assault on port 27010 with 32 players slots:

[Unit]
Description=HLDS 1.0.1.6 (WON2) Server
Wants=network-online.target
After=network-online.target

[Container]
Image=localhost/hlds1016
Network=host
PodmanArgs=-it
UserNS=keep-id

# Volumes
Volume=%h/docker-hlds-won2-1016/config/cstrk61:/server/cstrk61:z

# Command user
Exec=-port 27010 -game cstrk61 +map cs_assault +maxplayers 32

[Service]
Restart=on-failure
TimeoutSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

9. Refresh the systemd services & containers, then start the server.

systemctl --user daemon-reload
systemctl --user start hlds1016

Simply go to the config folder, and modify the required folders you wish.

• config/cstrk61 is for Counter-Strike Beta 6.1.
• config/cstrk52 is for Counter-Strike Beta 5.2.
• config/cstrk40 is for Counter-Strike Beta 4.0.
• config/cstrk31 is for Counter-Strike Beta 3.1.
• config/valve is for Half-Life.

❌ No need to ! It's already included inside hlds_start (which is basically a renamed hlds_run script), so you don't have to!

✅ Of course! This project will register your dedicated server to both the WON2.NET and the Order of Phalanx masterservers!

Simply because these versions do not have Linux builds available! You can verify them all on this GitHub repository if you need more information.

By default, Half-Life 1.0.1.6 clients assume that the rcon port used for remote access is 27015. You will have to use rcon_port "27016" (adapt 27016 to your server port) to make it work.

This project uses files copyrighted by VALVe.