How to Install mod.io Mods and Custom Maps on Your Insurgency: Sandstorm Server

Insurgency: Sandstorm does not use the Steam Workshop. Mods and custom maps come from mod.io, and the RiverHosting panel has a dedicated Mods & Maps page that handles the setup for you. This guide walks you through linking your server to mod.io, adding mods, and getting your server to start on a modded map.

Before you start

• A free mod.io account. You will use it to request a security code and create an access token.
• The numeric ID of each mod you want. You can find it in the mod's page address on mod.io (it is the number in the URL).
• Access to your server in the RiverHosting panel.
• A few minutes for restarts. The server needs a restart after every change on the Mods & Maps page.

1. How to link your server to mod.io

Since Sandstorm 1.20, a server needs a one-time device link before it can download mods. Do this first.

1. Log in to the RiverHosting panel and open your Insurgency: Sandstorm server.
2. In the left-hand menu, open Mods & Maps in the game section.
3. Find mod.io Device Link (Security Code).
4. Request a security code from mod.io, then paste it into the field.
5. Click Save.
6. Restart your server once so the link can be made. You can use the Restart button on the Console page, or the Quick Console (the >_ tab on the right edge of other pages).

The link creates a client called games-254 under API Access on your mod.io account. You will need it in the next section.

2. How to add your mod.io access token

The access token lets your server download mods. Without it, nothing downloads.

1. On mod.io, go to mod.io/me/access and open the games-254 client.
2. Generate an access token from that client and copy it.
3. In the panel, open Mods & Maps and find mod.io Access Token.
4. Paste the token and save.
5. Check the status shown on the page. It tells you whether mod.io accepts the token.

Saving the token also accepts the mod.io terms for your server.

3. How to add mods to your server

1. On mod.io, open the mod you want and look at its page address. Note the number in the URL. This is the mod ID.
2. In the panel, open Mods & Maps and scroll to Installed Mods.
3. Enter the numeric mod ID and click Add Mod.
4. Repeat for each mod you want.
5. Restart your server so it can download the mods.
6. Come back to the page and check each mod. It shows whether the server has actually downloaded it (Downloaded or not downloaded yet).

The panel keeps your mod IDs in Insurgency/Config/Server/Mods.txt for you, so there is no need to edit that file by hand.

4. How to boot into a modded map

The server starts before mod downloads finish. Because of that, a custom map can download successfully while the server still starts on a stock map. The Boot Into a Modded Map setting fixes this.

1. Open Mods & Maps and find Boot Into a Modded Map.
2. Optionally add a lighting option at the end, for example ?Lighting=Day. Do not use spaces anywhere in the value.
3. Save, then restart your server.

Enter a travel target in this format:

Canyon?Scenario=Scenario_Crossing_Checkpoint_Security

5. How to add a modded map to your rotation

1. Make sure the mod is marked Downloaded on the Mods & Maps page.
2. Open Map Rotation in the left-hand menu.
3. Click Load from server (or Reload from server if you used it before). Use the filter box to find the map.
4. Add the scenario to your rotation, or type its ID into the Custom scenario field and click Add Custom. Custom IDs can use letters, digits and underscores.
5. Click Save Rotation. It applies on the next map change or restart.

Troubleshooting

• Nothing downloads: Check that an access token is saved and that the page shows mod.io accepts it. Then restart the server.
• The token is rejected: You probably used a personal OAuth 2 Management token. Generate a new one from the games-254 client at mod.io/me/access.
• The games-254 client does not exist: Complete the device link first. Paste the security code, save, and restart once.
• The server keeps failing the device link on every start: Clear the Security Code field and save it blank.
• A mod does not show as Downloaded: Restart the server, wait a little, and refresh the page. Also confirm you entered the numeric mod ID from the mod's URL.
• The map downloaded but the server stays on a stock map: Fill in Boot Into a Modded Map with a travel target and restart.
• The map is missing from the Map Rotation list: Click Reload from server after the mod has finished downloading.
• The scenario does not load: Check that the scenario exists for the chosen map and that your travel target has no spaces.

Need help?

If your mods still will not download or your map will not load, our team is happy to help. Open a ticket at https://riverhosting.com/support and let us know which mod ID you are trying to add.