How to Add Mods to Your GTA San Andreas Server

A SA-MP or open.mp server has no classic mod system. It is extended in four ways:

Install a gamemode

1. Stop the server
   Stop your server via the dashboard.

2. Connect via SFTP
   Connect to your server via SFTP.

3. Upload the gamemode
   Upload the .amx file of your gamemode to the following directory:

   /gamemodes/
   

4. Register the gamemode
   Enter the file name without the .amx extension in your configuration.

   open.mp – config.json:

   {
       "pawn": {
           "main_scripts": ["my-gamemode 1", "second-gamemode 1"]
       }
   }
   

   SA-MP – server.cfg:

   gamemode0 my-gamemode 1
   

   The number behind it defines how many rounds the gamemode runs before the server switches to the next entry. In config.json you separate several gamemodes with a comma – if you only use one gamemode, remove the second entry including the comma.

5. Start the server
   Save the change and start your server.

Install a filterscript

Filterscripts run in addition to the gamemode and can be combined freely.

1. Upload the filterscript
   Upload the .amx file via SFTP to the following directory:

   /filterscripts/
   

2. Register the filterscript

   open.mp – config.json:

   {
       "pawn": {
           "side_scripts": ["filterscripts/Race_System", "filterscripts/Anticheat"]
       }
   }
   

   SA-MP – server.cfg:

   filterscripts Race_System Anticheat Adminspec
   

   In config.json you separate several filterscripts with a comma – if you only use one filterscript, remove the second entry including the comma. In server.cfg you separate several filterscripts with spaces.

3. Start the server
   Save the change and start your server.

Install a plugin

1. Upload the plugin
   Upload the .so file via SFTP to the following directory:

   /plugins/
   

2. Place the include
   If the plugin ships an include file (e.g. streamer.inc or sscanf2.inc), it belongs in the following directory so you can compile your gamemode against it:

   /qawno/include/
   

3. Register the plugin

   open.mp – config.json:

   {
       "pawn": {
           "legacy_plugins": ["mysql", "streamer"]
       }
   }
   

   SA-MP – server.cfg:

   plugins mysql.so streamer.so
   

4. Start the server
   Save the change and start your server.

Add custom models

Custom models let you bring your own vehicles, objects or skins onto the server. Players download these files automatically when they connect – they do not have to install anything.

1. Upload the models
   Upload your .dff and .txd files via SFTP to the following directory:

   /models/
   

2. Enable artwork

   open.mp – config.json:

   {
       "artwork": {
           "enable": true,
           "models_path": "models"
       }
   }
   

   SA-MP – server.cfg:

   useartwork 1
   artpath models
   

3. Register the models in the script
   The files alone are not enough. Your gamemode has to register the models in OnGameModeInit using AddSimpleModel or AddCharModel. Only then are they delivered to the players.

4. Start the server
   Save the changes and start your server.

Where do scripts store their data?

Everything a gamemode stores permanently – accounts, houses, vehicles, statistics – is created by the script itself. The only folder Pawn scripts are allowed to write to is:

/scriptfiles/