# Glossary (/docs/glossary)

## The server [#the-server]

### HLDS [#hlds]

Half-Life Dedicated Server: Valve's server program for Half-Life and the games built on it, including Counter-Strike 1.6.

### ReHLDS [#rehlds]

A rebuild of HLDS made by reverse engineering the original, with bug fixes and an extended API for plugins. See the [ReHLDS reference](/docs/rehlds).

### xHLDS [#xhlds]

Hostsrc's fork of ReHLDS. See the [xHLDS docs](/docs/xhlds), or [xHLDS licence and prices](/xhlds).

### steamcmd [#steamcmd]

Valve's command-line tool that downloads and updates dedicated servers.

### Console [#console]

The text window of the server. It shows what the server prints, and you type commands and settings into it. On a hosted server, the control panel shows it.

### Cvar [#cvar]

Short for console variable: a named setting with a value, such as `sv_maxrate 25000`. Typing the name on the console shows its value; typing the name and a value sets it.

### server.cfg [#servercfg]

The config file the server runs when it starts and at every map change (`cstrike/server.cfg` for Counter-Strike 1.6). Settings you want to keep go here.

### rcon [#rcon]

Remote console: running server commands from your game or a tool, protected by `rcon_password`. For example, `rcon changelevel de_dust2`.

## Plugins [#plugins]

### Metamod [#metamod]

A loader that sits between the engine and the game and loads plugins such as AMX Mod X. Metamod-R is the version made by the ReHLDS team.

### AMX Mod X [#amx-mod-x]

A Metamod plugin that runs scripts (also called plugins, `.amxx` files) for admin tools, game modes and more.

### Plugin and module [#plugin-and-module]

In AMX Mod X, a plugin is an `.amxx` script; a module is a native library (`.so` on Linux, `.dll` on Windows) that adds functions plugins can call, such as fakemeta or hamsandwich.

### ReAPI [#reapi]

An AMX Mod X module that gives plugins access to the extra functions of ReHLDS and ReGameDLL_CS.

### ReGameDLL_CS [#regamedll_cs]

A rebuild of the Counter-Strike 1.6 game library, with fixes and its own settings.

## Network [#network]

### Rate [#rate]

The most data a player's connection takes, in bytes per second. The player sets it with `rate`; the server limits it with `sv_minrate` and `sv_maxrate`.

### Update rate [#update-rate]

How many world updates a second a player asks for (`cl_updaterate`), limited by the server's `sv_minupdaterate` and `sv_maxupdaterate`. A world update tells the player's game where everyone is.

### Command rate [#command-rate]

How many packets with the player's moves their game sends each second (`cl_cmdrate`).

### Server frames (FPS) [#server-frames-fps]

How many times a second the server runs the game: reads players' moves, runs physics, sends updates. `sys_ticrate` sets the target.

### Ping [#ping]

The time a packet takes from the player to the server and back, in milliseconds. Check yours with the [CS 1.6 ping test](/ping-test).

### Packet loss [#packet-loss]

Packets that were sent but never arrived.

### Choke [#choke]

Updates the server held back because the player's rate could not take them yet.

### Reliable and unreliable data [#reliable-and-unreliable-data]

Reliable data must arrive, so it is sent again if it is lost: chat, scores, menus. Unreliable data can be lost without harm and is not sent again: sounds and effects.

## Maps and files [#maps-and-files]

### Precache [#precache]

The list of models, sounds and other files the server tells players to load when a map starts. Each kind of list has a fixed size limit, so too many custom files stop a map from loading.

### FastDL [#fastdl]

Players downloading the server's custom files over HTTP, from the web address in `sv_downloadurl`, instead of through the much slower game connection.

### HLTV [#hltv]

A proxy that joins the server as a spectator and relays the match to viewers.

## Admin [#admin]

### Kick and ban [#kick-and-ban]

A kick removes a player, who can join again. A ban keeps them out: `banid` bans a SteamID and `addip` an IP address. `writeid` saves SteamID bans to `banned.cfg` and `writeip` saves IP bans to `listip.cfg`, so they survive a restart.