Do you need source to run exe as dedicated server?

I’ve seen conflicting things around the internet, I’m just trying to run my game as a dedicated server. I’m aware you need to build the engine from source to create a dedicated server build, but is that to run your game as a dedicated server at all? Or is that just if I want to create an exe that is nothing more than a dedicated server? Thanks

I’ve tried the -server switch, but that appears to just be for the editor.

Yes