First-time setup of an SCP: Secret Laboratory server

An SCP: Secret Laboratory server runs on one of two engines: LocalAdmin, the standard server from Northwood, or EXILED, which adds plugin support. This article covers the first start, the configuration files and switching the engine.

The client panel is available in Polish only, so this article gives its labels in Polish with a translation the first time they appear.

LocalAdmin or EXILED

• LocalAdmin: the server with no add-ons, as Northwood ships it. Choose it if you play by the game's own rules.
• EXILED: LocalAdmin with a plugin framework. Choose it if you want to add plugins, such as custom roles, items or commands for your staff.

You can change the engine in the panel at any time.

First start

On the first start, LocalAdmin asks three questions in the Konsola (Console) tab. Answer them in order and confirm each answer with Enter:

1. Do you accept the EULA? [yes/no]: type yes to accept the game's licence.
2. Do you want to edit that configuration? [edit/keep]: type keep to keep the default LocalAdmin settings.
3. The question about saving the configuration [this/global]: type this.

The server then starts and the console shows Waiting for players....

Configuration files

The Konfiguracja (Configuration) tab doesn't support SCP:SL, so you change settings in files. In the Pliki (Files) tab, open the folder .config/SCP Secret Laboratory/config/<port>, where <port> is the server port from the Przegląd (Overview) tab. The main files are:

After changing a file, click Zapisz plik (Save file) and restart the server, because the files are read at startup. The server name and contact address needed for the server list are covered in Verifying the server.

Switching the engine to EXILED

1. Choose the engine

   In the Przegląd (Overview) tab, in the Informacje o serwerze (Server information) section, click Zmień typ serwera (Change server type). In the Silnik serwera (Server engine) field, choose EXILED and click Zapisz (Save). The panel doesn't show a message, but the change is saved.

   

2. Reinstall the server

   Click Zreinstaluj serwer (Reinstall server) and confirm with Tak, zreinstaluj (Yes, reinstall). Only the reinstall downloads EXILED. Without it, the server won't start. After a moment, the console prints Installation Complete!.

3. Start the server

   Click Uruchom (Start). The console shows the lines [Exiled.Loader] Loading EXILED Version: and Loaded plugin. The server configuration and verification stay as they were.

   

EXILED keeps its files in .config/EXILED. Plugins, as .dll files, are in the Plugins folder, and their settings in the Configs folder. Installing plugins shows how to add them.

EXILED settings

On a server with EXILED, the Parametry startowe (Startup parameters) tab has extra fields. The default values suit most servers:

• Install Exiled?: true installs the latest EXILED version.
• Use Exiled Pre-Releases?: true installs a pre-release. Instead of true, you can enter a specific EXILED version number.
• Remove Exiled Updater?: true removes EXILED's built-in updater, which can cause problems on panel servers.
• Beta Tag: a beta branch of the game. none means the regular version.

Changes to these fields take effect at the next server reinstall.

Switching back to LocalAdmin

1. Choose the engine

   Click Zmień typ serwera, choose LocalAdmin and click Zapisz.

2. Reinstall the server

   Click Zreinstaluj serwer and confirm.

3. Remove the EXILED loader

   The reinstall leaves EXILED in place, and it keeps loading. In the Pliki tab, open .config/SCP Secret Laboratory/LabAPI/plugins/global and delete the Exiled.Loader.dll file. Plugins and their settings in .config/EXILED stay, so they're ready if you switch back to EXILED.

4. Start the server

   The console should no longer show [Exiled.Loader] lines.

Common problems