1 What you're actually installing

A DarkRP server is four layers stacked together. Knowing them keeps your customization from getting wiped:

LayerWhat it is
GMod dedicated serverThe base server build (srcds). On Solace this is pre-installed and boots straight to a console.
DarkRP gamemodeThe roleplay framework itself. You install it but never edit it directly.
darkrpmodificationA separate addon where all your jobs, entities, shipments and config live. Survives DarkRP updates.
Addons + admin modWorkshop content, custom weapons/maps, and an admin tool like ULX.
The #1 DarkRP mistake: editing files inside the darkrp gamemode folder. The next time you update DarkRP, your changes are gone. Everything custom belongs in darkrpmodification.

2 Step-by-step install

1

Get the gamemode + modification addon

Download the DarkRP gamemode and the darkrpmodification addon from their official GitHub releases. Unzip and upload darkrp to garrysmod/gamemodes/, and darkrpmodification to garrysmod/addons/.

2

Set the gamemode and a map

In your panel's startup settings (or command line) set the gamemode to darkrp and a compatible map — rp_downtown_v4c and rp_evocity_v33x are the classics. Make sure the map is actually installed (mounted or downloaded) or the server won't boot.

3

Boot once, confirm it loads

Start the server and watch the console for Gamemode "darkrp" loaded with no red errors. Connect and confirm you spawn as a Citizen with the F4 menu working. Get this clean before adding any customization — it makes later errors easy to attribute.

4

Add your jobs in darkrpmodification

Open addons/darkrpmodification/lua/darkrp_customthings/jobs.lua. Each job is a TEAM_* entry created with DarkRP.createJob(). A minimal one looks like this:

TEAM_GUN = DarkRP.createJob("Gun Dealer", {
    color = Color(205, 155, 29, 255),
    model = {"models/player/group01/male_07.mdl"},
    description = [[Sell guns to the public.]],
    weapons = {},
    command = "gundealer",
    max = 3,
    salary = 65,
    admin = 0,
    vote = false,
    hasLicense = true,
    category = "Citizens",
})

Get the fields wrong and the server throws a Lua error on boot, so this is the easiest place to break a working server.

Skip the syntax errors: our DarkRP Job Creator gives you a form — color picker, models, weapons, salary, category — and outputs a clean, valid createJob() block ready to paste.
5

Install an admin mod

You need admin tools for moderation. ULX (with ULib) is the long-standing standard; there are lighter modern options too. Drop it in addons/, restart, and set your own rank to superadmin via the server console with ulx adduser <you> superadmin.

6

Set up FastDL

Without FastDL, players download custom models/sounds at a painful trickle over the game's built-in transfer. FastDL points them at a web host instead. Upload your content to the FastDL location, set sv_downloadurl in your server.cfg, and run a resource/resource.AddWorkshop setup so clients know what to fetch.

3 A sane DarkRP server.cfg

Set the basics in garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg — hostname, RCON password, download URL, and the DarkRP convars you care about (currency, salary timing, max props). Keep it minimal at first; add convars as you understand them rather than copy-pasting a 300-line config you can't debug.

Set an rcon_password and a strong one. An exposed or blank RCON password is how GMod servers get hijacked. Never share it, and don't reuse it across servers.

4 Common first-boot problems

SymptomUsual cause
Server stuck / won't startMissing map, or a Lua error in jobs.lua/entities.lua. Read the console top-to-bottom for the first red line.
Custom jobs not showingEdited the DarkRP gamemode instead of darkrpmodification, or a category that doesn't exist.
Players see purple/black missing texturesFastDL not set up or content not added to the resource list.
"You don't have access" as ownerAdmin mod rank not set — run the adduser command from the server console, not in-game.

Build jobs without the Lua headaches.

Our DarkRP Job Creator outputs ready-to-paste createJob() blocks — color, models, weapons, salary and category, validated as you go.

Open Job Creator

5 Quick recap

  1. Install the GMod server, the darkrp gamemode, and the darkrpmodification addon.
  2. Boot clean on a valid map before customizing.
  3. Add all jobs/entities in darkrpmodification — never edit DarkRP itself.
  4. Install an admin mod and set your rank from the console.
  5. Set up FastDL and a minimal server.cfg with a strong RCON password.

Need a server to run it on?

Solace runs Garry's Mod on high-clock dedicated CPUs with NVMe storage, DDoS protection, workshop and FastDL support. Live in 60 seconds.

View GMod hosting

Related