Deploy GMOD Server on Physgun

Overview

This guide covers deploying a Garry's Mod (GMOD) server using DeployHQ to Physgun hosting. Ensure you have an active Physgun hosting account and DeployHQ account before proceeding.

Prerequisites

Active Physgun hosting account
DeployHQ account
GMOD server files ready for deployment
SFTP/SSH access credentials from Physgun

Step 1: Project Setup in DeployHQ

Log into DeployHQ
Click "New Project"
Enter project details:
- Name: GMOD-Server
- Repository type: Select your repository (GitHub/BitBucket/etc.)
- Connect your repository

Step 2: Configure Server Connection

Go to "Servers" in your project
Click "Add Server"
Enter Physgun server details:
- Name: Physgun-GMOD
- Protocol: SFTP
- Hostname: (Your Physgun server hostname)
- Port: 22 (default)
- Username: (Your Physgun SFTP username)
- Authentication: Password/SSH Key
- Deploy Path: /home/gmod/server

Step 3: Configure Deployment Settings

Go to "Configuration" → "Deployment Config"
Set up deployment rules:

# Exclude unnecessary files
exclude:
  - .git/
  - .gitignore
  - README.md
  - docs/

# Include essential GMOD files
include:
  - addons/
  - gamemodes/
  - lua/
  - maps/
  - cfg/

Step 4: Configure Build Commands

Add the following build commands if needed:

# Compress custom addons
zip -r custom_addons.zip addons/*

# Set file permissions
chmod -R 755 lua/
chmod -R 755 gamemodes/

Step 5: Configure Automatic Deployments

Go to "Automatic Deployments"
Enable automatic deployments for your branch:
- Branch: main (or your preferred branch)
- Environment: Production
- Server: Physgun-GMOD

Step 6: Post-Deployment Scripts

Add these post-deployment commands:

# Restart GMOD server
./srcds_run -game garrysmod +maxplayers 32 +map gm_construct

# Clear cache
rm -rf garrysmod/cache/*

Step 7: Configure Notifications

Go to "Notifications"
Set up Discord/Slack notifications for:
- Deployment starts
- Successful deployments
- Failed deployments

Important Files to Monitor

/garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg
/garrysmod/data/
/garrysmod/addons/
/garrysmod/lua/

Deployment Verification

After deployment:

Check server logs for errors
Verify server startup
Test server connection
Confirm addon functionality

Rollback Procedure

If deployment fails:

Go to "Deployments"
Find the last successful deployment
Click "Rollback"
Confirm rollback action

Best Practices

Always test changes locally before deployment
Use staging environment for testing
Keep backups of critical files
Monitor server resources during deployment
Document custom add-on configurations

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

Permission errors: Check SFTP user permissions
Failed connections: Verify Physgun firewall settings
Missing files: Check repository structure
Server crashes: Review logs in /garrysmod/logs/

Security Considerations

Use SSH keys instead of passwords when possible
Restrict file permissions appropriately
Keep sensitive configs in environment variables
Regular security updates for addons

Support

For deployment issues:

DeployHQ Support: support@deployhq.com
Physgun Support: (Physgun support contact)