Game Servers & OuiPanel•December 15, 2025• 13 views

How to configure server.cfg on your FiveM server

How to configure server.cfg on your FiveM server

How to configure server.cfg on your FiveM server

Estimated time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate ⭐⭐
Compatible servers: FiveM

📋 Introduction

The server.cfg file is the main configuration file for your FiveM server. It allows you to define the server name, number of players, resources to load, permissions, and much more.

What you can configure

Category Examples
🏷️ Identity Server name, description, tags
🔑 License Cfx.re license key (mandatory)
👥 Players Max slots, OneSync
📦 Resources Scripts, maps, vehicles
🔒 Permissions ACE/ACL, admins, groups
⚙️ Network Ports, RCON

🔑 Prerequisites: Obtain a License Key

Before configuring your server, you need to obtain a free license key on Cfx.re.

Create a Cfx.re account

  1. Go to Cfx.re
  2. Click on Sign Up (or log in if you already have an account)
  3. Create your account with email or Discord

Generate the license key

  1. Log in to Cfx.re Keymaster
  2. Click on Register a new server
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  1. Fill out the form:
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  1. Click on Generate
  2. Copy the generated key (format: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)

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⚠️ Important :

  • One key = one server
  • Keep this key secret
  • You can generate multiple keys for multiple servers

📁 Access the server.cfg File

Using the File Manager

  1. Log in to OuiPanel
  2. Select your FiveM server
  3. In the side menu, click on File Manager
  4. Open the server.cfg file at the root

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  1. Click on the file to Edit it

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⚠️ Important : Stop your server before editing this file, then restart it to apply the changes.

🏷️ Basic Configuration

License Key (Mandatory)

sv_licenseKey "your_license_key_here"

Replace with the key obtained on Keymaster.

⚠️ Without a valid license key, your server will not start.

Server Name

sv_hostname "My FiveM Server | French Roleplay"

This is the name displayed in the FiveM server list.

Name tips:

  • ✅ Short and memorable
  • ✅ Include the type (RP, Freeroam, Drift...)
  • ✅ Include the language (FR, EN...)
  • ✅ Use emojis moderately

Examples:

sv_hostname "🇫🇷 Revolution RP | Serious Roleplay"
sv_hostname "Los Santos Life | French RP"
sv_hostname "Drift Paradise | Racing & Tuning"

Server Description

sv_projectDesc "French roleplay server with realistic economy, diverse jobs, and active community."

Description displayed in the server details. Maximum 200 characters recommended.

Project Name

sv_projectName "Revolution RP"

Short project name (displayed in certain menus).

Server Tags

sets tags "roleplay, french, serious, economy, jobs"

Tags for SEO in the server list. Separate with commas.

Popular tags:

  • roleplay, rp, serious, semi-serious
  • french, francais, fr
  • economy, jobs, police, ems
  • custom-cars, drift, racing
  • esx, qbcore, vrp

Server Image/Banner

load_server_icon server_icon.png

Displays an icon in the server list.

Specifications:

  • Format: PNG
  • Size: 96x96 pixels
  • Name: server_icon.png
  • Location: server root

👥 Player Configuration

Maximum Slots Number

sv_maxclients 32
Value Recommendation
32 Small server / Testing
64 Medium server
128 Large server
256+ Very large server (OneSync required)

⚠️ More players = more resources required (RAM, CPU).

Enable OneSync

OneSync allows managing more than 32 players and improves synchronization.

set onesync on
Mode Description
off Disabled (32 players limit)
on Enabled (recommended)
legacy Legacy mode

Advanced OneSync configuration:

set onesync on
set onesync_population true

# Distance de culling (entity view distance)
set onesync_distanceCullVehicles false
set onesync_distanceCull 500

Spawn Configuration

spawnpoint 0 -269.4 -955.3 31.2

Default spawn coordinates (X, Y, Z). Most frameworks (ESX, QBCore) handle the spawn themselves.

📦 Resource Configuration

Start a Resource

ensure resource_name

Or:

start resource_name

💡 ensure is recommended as it restarts the resource if it crashes.

Load Order

The order of ensure is important! Some resources depend on others.

Recommended order:

# 1. FiveM Basic Resources
ensure mapmanager
ensure chat
ensure spawnmanager
ensure sessionmanager
ensure hardcap
ensure rconlog

# 2. Database
ensure oxmysql

# 3. Framework (ESX or QBCore)
ensure es_extended

# 4. Common Dependencies
ensure esx_menu_default
ensure esx_menu_dialog
ensure esx_menu_list

# 5. Essential Scripts
ensure esx_identity
ensure esx_society
ensure esx_billing
ensure esx_banking

# 6. Jobs / Careers
ensure esx_policejob
ensure esx_ambulancejob
ensure esx_mechanicjob

# 7. Other Scripts
ensure esx_vehicleshop
ensure esx_property
ensure esx_skin

# 8. Custom Scripts
ensure my_custom_script

Stopping a Resource

To disable a resource, comment out the line with #:

# ensure disabled_resource

🗄️ Database Configuration

MySQL Connection

set mysql_connection_string "mysql://user:password@host:3306/database?charset=utf8mb4"

Replace:

  • user: MySQL username
  • password: MySQL password
  • host: MySQL server address
  • 3306: MySQL port
  • database: Database name

📖 Check the guide "Create and Manage a MySQL Database" to create your database.

Example with OuiHeberg:

set mysql_connection_string "mysql://s123_db:[email protected]:3306/s123_db?charset=utf8mb4"

Alternative MySQL Configuration

JDBC Format (old):

set mysql_connection_string "server=mysql-1.ouiheberg.com;uid=s123_db;password=Password123;database=s123_db"

🔒 Permissions Configuration (ACE/ACL)

ACE System

The ACE (Access Control Entry) system manages permissions on FiveM.

Add an Administrator

By Steam ID (recommended):

add_ace identifier.steam:110000xxxxxxxxx group.admin allow
add_principal identifier.steam:110000xxxxxxxxx group.admin

By Discord ID:

add_ace identifier.discord:123456789012345678 group.admin allow
add_principal identifier.discord:123456789012345678 group.admin

By License ID:

add_ace identifier.license:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx group.admin allow
add_principal identifier.license:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx group.admin

💡 To find your Steam ID: SteamID.io

Create Permission Groups

# Create the admin group with all permissions
add_ace group.admin command allow
add_ace group.admin command.quit deny

# Create the moderator group
add_ace group.moderator command.kick allow
add_ace group.moderator command.ban allow

# Inherit permissions
add_principal group.admin group.moderator

Common Permissions

# Allow the admin group to use all commands
add_ace group.admin command allow

# Specific permissions
add_ace group.admin command.restart allow
add_ace group.admin command.stop allow
add_ace group.admin command.start allow
add_ace group.admin command.refresh allow

# vMenu permissions
add_ace group.admin vMenu.everything allow
add_ace group.moderator vMenu.kick allow
add_ace group.moderator vMenu.ban allow

Assign a Player to a Group

add_principal identifier.steam:110000xxxxxxxxx group.admin
add_principal identifier.discord:123456789012345678 group.moderator

⚙️ Network Configuration

Server Port

endpoint_add_tcp "0.0.0.0:30120"
endpoint_add_udp "0.0.0.0:30120"

⚠️ On OuiHeberg, the port is managed automatically. Use the port assigned to your server.

RCON (Remote Console)

rcon_password "VerySecureRconPassword"

Allows remote control of the server. Use a strong password!

💡 Leave blank to disable RCON: rcon_password ""

Steam Configuration

set steam_webApiKey "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"

Steam API Key (optional, for certain features). Get it at: Steam Web API Key

🎮 Gameplay Configuration

Enable/Disable Features

# Disable automatic passive mode
sv_disablePassive false

# Enable PvP
sv_enablePVP true

# Disable time synchronization
sv_disableTimeSync true

# Show the FiveM logo on loading
sv_showFiveMBanner true

Hardcore/Serious Mode

# Disable automatic radar
sv_disableRadar true

# Disable native notifications
sv_disableClientNotify true

# Serious RP mode
set sv_enforceGameBuild 2944

Game Build

sv_enforceGameBuild 2944

Forces a specific version of GTA V. Useful for resource compatibility.

Build GTA V Version
2060 Los Santos Summer Special
2189 Cayo Perico
2372 Los Santos Tuners
2545 The Contract
2699 Criminal Enterprises
2944 San Andreas Mercenaries
3095 Chop Shop

📜 Useful Convars Variables

Set Variables

set my_variable "value"
setr my_replicated_variable "value"
sets my_serverinfo_variable "value"
Command Visibility
set Server only
setr Replicated to clients
sets Visible in server info

ESX Framework Variables

set es_enableCustomData 1
set es_startingCash 50000
set es_startingBank 100000
set es_startingBlackMoney 0

QBCore Framework Variables

set qb_locale "fr"
set qb_starterMoney 5000
set qb_starterBank 10000

📄 Complete server.cfg File (Example)

Here is an example of a complete and functional server.cfg:

# ============================================
# FIVEM SERVER CONFIGURATION
# ============================================

# === LICENSE ===
sv_licenseKey "your_license_key_here"

# === SERVER IDENTITY ===
sv_hostname "🇫🇷 My RP Server | Serious Roleplay"
sv_projectName "My RP Server"
sv_projectDesc "French roleplay server with realistic economy and active community."
sets tags "roleplay, french, serious, esx, economy"
load_server_icon server_icon.png

# === PLAYERS ===
sv_maxclients 64
set onesync on

# === NETWORK ===
endpoint_add_tcp "0.0.0.0:30120"
endpoint_add_udp "0.0.0.0:30120"

# === RCON ===
rcon_password ""

# === DATABASE ===
set mysql_connection_string "mysql://user:password@host:3306/database?charset=utf8mb4"

# === STEAM (Optional) ===
# set steam_webApiKey "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"

# === GAMEPLAY ===
sv_enforceGameBuild 2944

# ============================================
# ACE/ACL PERMISSIONS
# ============================================

# Admin Group
add_ace group.admin command allow
add_ace group.admin command.quit deny

# Administrators (replace with your identifiers)
# add_principal identifier.steam:110000xxxxxxxxx group.admin
# add_principal identifier.discord:123456789012345678 group.admin

# ============================================
# RESOURCES
# ============================================

# === Base FiveM ===
ensure mapmanager
ensure chat
ensure spawnmanager
ensure sessionmanager
ensure hardcap
ensure rconlog

# === Database ===
ensure oxmysql

# === ESX Framework ===
ensure es_extended
ensure esx_menu_default
ensure esx_menu_dialog
ensure esx_menu_list

# === ESX Scripts ===
ensure esx_identity
ensure esx_society
ensure esx_billing
ensure esx_banking
ensure esx_skin

# === Jobs ===
ensure esx_policejob
ensure esx_ambulancejob
ensure esx_mechanicjob

# === Other Scripts ===
ensure esx_vehicleshop
ensure esx_property

# === Custom Scripts ===
# ensure my_script

🔧 Troubleshooting

The server doesn't start

❌ Error ✅ Solution
Invalid license key Check your key on Keymaster
License key not set Add sv_licenseKey in server.cfg
Could not find resource Ensure the resource exists in the resources folder
MySQL connection failed Check the MySQL connection string

The server doesn't appear in the list

❌ Cause ✅ Solution
Invalid license key Regenerate a key on Keymaster
Port blocked Ensure TCP/UDP ports are open
Server starting up Wait a few minutes

Resource not loading

❌ Cause ✅ Solution
Missing dependency Check required dependencies
Error in script Check console (F8 in-game)
Incorrect loading order Reorganize ensure
fxmanifest.lua missing Ensure the file exists

Database error

❌ Error ✅ Solution
Access denied Check MySQL user/password
Unknown database Create the database
Connection refused Check host and port

Unapplied ACE permissions

❌ Cause ✅ Solution
Incorrect identifier Check format (steam:, discord:, license:)
Server not restarted Restart after modification
Typo Check syntax

📝 Useful Console Commands

Command Description
restart [resource] Restart a resource
stop [resource] Stop a resource
start [resource] Start a resource
refresh Refresh the resource list
status Show connected players
quit Stop the server

📝 Summary

1. Obtain a license key on Keymaster (Cfx.re)
2. Stop the server
3. File manager → server.cfg → Edit
4. Configure:
   - sv_licenseKey (mandatory)
   - sv_hostname (server name)
   - sv_maxclients (slots)
   - mysql_connection_string (database)
   - Resources (ensure)
   - ACE Permissions (admins)
5. Save the file
6. Restart the server
7. Check in the FiveM server list
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