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No. Counter-Strike 2 does not use FastDL, and setting sv_downloadurl has no effect. In CS2, custom maps, sounds and models reach players through the Steam Workshop: the server downloads the Workshop item, and each player’s game downloads it from Steam when they join. On a FREAKHOSTING server you use Workshop maps, Workshop collections, or the MultiAddonManager plugin for other content.

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What was FastDL?

In older Source games such as CS:GO and CS:Source, a server could point players to a web server with sv_downloadurl. Players then downloaded custom maps and sounds from that web server (“FastDL”) instead of slowly from the game server. Many old guides still describe this. CS2 changed how custom content works. It loads custom content as Workshop addons, so a FastDL web server is not needed and not used.
FREAKHOSTING does not run a FastDL service for CS2, because CS2 does not use one. If an old guide gives you a FastDL address, ignore it.

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Which Workshop method do I need?

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How do players download custom content in CS2?

  1. You give the server the Workshop ID of a map, collection or addon.
  2. The server downloads the item from Steam.
  3. When a player joins, their game downloads the same item from Steam.
Players don’t need to subscribe to anything first. Large items take longer to download on a slow connection, so keep your maps and addons to what you really use.

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How to load extra content with MultiAddonManager

MultiAddonManager is a Metamod:Source plugin that loads several Workshop addons at once and makes players download them.
1

Install Metamod:Source

Open Frameworks and click Install Metamod:Source, or install CounterStrikeSharp, which brings Metamod:Source with it. Restart the server.
2

Install MultiAddonManager

Download the latest Linux package from the MultiAddonManager releases. With Files, upload it to game/csgo/ and choose Unarchive.
3

Add your addon IDs

Open game/csgo/cfg/multiaddonmanager/multiaddonmanager.cfg and set your Workshop IDs, separated by commas:
4

Restart

Restart the server. Once the downloads finish, the plugin reloads the map so the content can be used.

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Frequently asked questions

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Can I still use sv_downloadurl in CS2?

No. CS2 does not use it. Remove it from your configs; it does nothing.

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Do I need a web server or FTP space for custom maps?

No. Workshop maps and addons are downloaded from Steam by the server and by each player.

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Can I upload a map file (.vpk) and let players download it?

Players can’t download map files from your server. Publish the map on the Steam Workshop and load it by its ID.

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Why do players get stuck downloading?

The Workshop item is large or the player’s connection is slow. Ask them to try again. MultiAddonManager has timeout settings such as mm_extra_addons_timeout for addons.

CS2 server guide

Every Counter-Strike 2 guide in one place.

Play workshop maps

Switch to one Workshop map.

Workshop collections

Host your own list of maps.

Custom sounds

Sounds through a Workshop addon.
Checked against the official MultiAddonManager documentation and the Valve Developer Community CS2 dedicated server documentation on 29 October 2026. Steps may differ slightly if the game or its plugins change.

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Last Updated: October 2026