What is the Source Query Protocol?

The Source Query Protocol is a UDP-based protocol developed by Valve that game servers use to expose their status information to clients and server browsers. It allows any application to query a running game server for metadata such as its name, map, player count, and the list of currently connected players — without needing to join the server. Counter-Strike 1.6, Half-Life, and other GoldSrc/Source engine games support this protocol on their default port 27015.

Tool description

The CS 1.6 Server Checker queries any Counter-Strike 1.6 (or compatible GoldSrc) game server and returns its real-time status. Enter the server's IP address or hostname and port, click Check Server, and see the server name, current map, player and bot counts, operating system, VAC protection status, and the full list of connected players with their scores and play time.

Features

  • Real-time server status — fetches live data directly from the game server using the Source Query Protocol.
  • Full player list — displays all connected players with their name, score, and session duration.
  • Server metadata — shows server name, map, game mode folder, server type (dedicated/listen), OS, VAC status, and password protection.

Options explained

Field Description
Host IP address or hostname of the CS 1.6 server (e.g. game.example.com or 123.45.67.89).
Port UDP port the server listens on. Defaults to 27015.

Tips

  • The default port for CS 1.6 servers is 27015. Only change it if you know the server uses a custom port.
  • If the server does not respond, it may be offline, behind a firewall that blocks UDP traffic, or the host/port may be incorrect.
  • Bots are counted separately from human players in the bot count field.