How to Make an open.mp (SA-MP) Server

A beginner-friendly walkthrough for running your own open.mp server — the modern continuation of SA-MP. Download the server, set up config.json, compile a gamemode, open the port and bring an existing SA-MP server across.

open.mp (open multiplayer) is the open-source, actively maintained successor to SA-MP. It runs existing SA-MP gamemodes and filterscripts, adds config.json with far more settings than the old server.cfg, and players can join with the open.mp launcher or a classic SA-MP client.

The server is tiny on resources — what makes a San Andreas server feel good is ping and uptime. You can self-host it, or use open.mp server hosting in Frankfurt with Anti-DDoS.

What you'll need

• A Windows or Linux machine — 1–2 GB of RAM is plenty for most servers.
• The open.mp server package from the official releases.
• Your gamemode (or the bundled example) and the open.mp Pawn includes to compile it.
• Access to your router or firewall to open UDP 7777.

Set up an open.mp server, step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Download the server package

   Download the latest open.mp server release for Windows or Linux and extract it. You get the omp-server binary, config.json, the gamemodes, filterscripts, components and plugins folders, and the Qawno compiler.

2. 2

   Step 2: Edit config.json

   Name, slots, port, RCON password and the gamemode to load are all here. The default port is UDP 7777 and max_players goes up to 1000.

   {
     "name": "My open.mp Server",
     "max_players": 100,
     "network": { "port": 7777 },
     "rcon": { "enable": false, "password": "a-long-secret" },
     "pawn": { "main_scripts": ["gamemode 1"], "legacy_plugins": [] }
   }

3. 3

   Step 3: Compile your gamemode

   Open the .pwn file in Qawno (or run pawncc) with the open.mp includes and compile it to .amx in the gamemodes folder. Most SA-MP gamemodes compile as they are; fix any warnings the newer includes point out.

4. 4

   Step 4: Add plugins and filterscripts

   Classic SA-MP plugins such as MySQL or streamer go in plugins and are listed in legacy_plugins; open.mp components go in components and load automatically.

5. 5

   Step 5: Open the port

   Forward UDP 7777 (or the port you set) and allow it in the firewall. On a hosted server it is already open.

6. 6

   Step 6: Start and join

   Run omp-server. Players join with the open.mp launcher or a SA-MP client by adding ip:7777 to their favourites.

Run a smooth San Andreas server

• 01

  Use a real database

  For roleplay, store accounts in MySQL/MariaDB with the MySQL plugin instead of flat files — and back it up.

• 02

  Ping beats hardware

  Pawn barely touches the CPU. A well-connected location and stable routing matter far more for how the server feels.

• 03

  Expect attacks

  The SA-MP scene sees a lot of DDoS. Hide your home IP and run behind real protection.

• 04

  Keep your source

  Keep the .pwn source in version control — a compiled .amx alone cannot be fixed later.

Common problems & fixes

Grand Theft Auto and San Andreas are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games. open.mp and SA-MP are independent community projects. ESAGAMES is an independent hosting provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rockstar Games or Take-Two. Players must own a legitimate copy of the game.