Before Mani, managing a server required a deep understanding of RCON (Remote Console) commands and tedious configuration files. Mani Admin Plugin changed this by introducing a user-friendly, in-game menu system . By simply typing
Admins could cast a on a player (a pillar of light), blind them (white screen), or force noclip for spectating suspected cheaters. These were standard in later plugins, but Mani -v34- pioneered them in a stable, lag-free manner.
Set your admin password:
exec mani_server.cfg
Technically, "v34" refers to the Source engine protocol version associated with the Orange Box era (specifically before the massive "Steampipe" update and the shift to SteamCMD). For years, this was the stable, standard version of the engine.