Advanced ReHLDS Cvars: Optimizing Your CS 1.6 Server

Once you have upgraded to ReHLDS, you unlock a suite of new console variables (cvars) that give you unprecedented control over how the GoldSrc engine handles physics and networking. Adding these to your server.cfg will dramatically improve your server quality.

1. Fixing Hitboxes and Physics

The original HLDS had notoriously buggy hitboxes on certain sloped surfaces. ReHLDS introduces a fix for this:

sv_rehlds_hull_centering 1

This setting centers the player hull properly, eliminating those frustrating moments where players get stuck on map geometry or shots mysteriously pass through targets on ramps.

2. Preventing Client Exploits

Malicious clients often send garbage data to overload the server. Use these cvars to harden your network layer:

sv_rehlds_movecmdrate_max_avg 400
sv_rehlds_movecmdrate_max_burst 2500
sv_rehlds_stringcmdrate_max_avg 80
sv_rehlds_stringcmdrate_max_burst 400

These commands limit the average and burst rates of movement and string commands (like spamming the chat or autobuy commands), instantly dropping clients attempting to crash the server.

3. Fast Download Enhancements

To force clients to use their maximum download speed when pulling files from your FastDL server, use:

sv_rehlds_force_dlmax 1

This overrides the client's internal cl_dlmax setting, ensuring they don't bottleneck their own download speeds during map changes.