Game server guides
Setup guides, fixes, mods and top lists for every game we host. Written by people who run servers all day.
Dead Matter5 min readDead Matter Game.ini Settings Explained (Server Config)
Every Dead Matter server Game.ini setting explained: MaxPlayers, admins, claims, hardcore, first person, PvP, zombie counts, spawn multipliers and whitelist.
ReadDedicated IP vs Shared IP for a Game Server: Does It Matter?
Why a hosted game server address has an odd port number, the difference between a dedicated and a shared IP, and when paying for a dedicated IP makes sense.
ReadDo You Need Root Access for a Game Server? (Usually Not)
Root access lets you control a whole machine, but almost no game server needs it. What you can do without it, the few cases that need it, and the trade offs.
ReadDoes a Game Server Need a GPU? (No, Here Is What It Uses)
Dedicated game servers do not use a graphics card. What they use instead, why a GPU does not help server performance, and the rare cases that need a display.
ReadDoes a Game Server Need a MySQL Database? (And Should You Pay for One)
FiveM roleplay frameworks need MySQL, most Minecraft, Rust and Garry's Mod servers do not. When a database is required, when local storage is fine, and what it costs.
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Don't Starve Together6 min readDon't Starve Together Server Not Showing in Browse Games (Fixes)
DST dedicated server missing from Browse Games? Fix the cluster token (E_INVALID_TOKEN), offline and LAN settings, filters, versions and mod issues.
ReadDouble NAT and Game Servers: How to Spot It and Fix It
Two routers in a row break game server port forwarding. How to confirm double NAT in two minutes, and the fixes: bridge mode, passthrough or forwarding twice.
ReadDynamic IP and DDNS for a Home Game Server (Free Setup)
Stop resending your IP when it changes: free DDNS for a home game server via your router, DuckDNS, No-IP or Cloudflare, plus Minecraft SRV records.
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Eco7 min readEco Admin Commands: Become Admin, Ban, Teleport and Fix Problems
How to make yourself admin on an Eco server and the admin chat commands that matter: bans, mutes, teleports, skills, weather, the meteor and saving.
ReadEco7 min readEco Server Difficulty Settings: Difficulty.eco Explained
The useful settings in Eco's Difficulty.eco: skill cost, crafting cost and time, exhaustion, stack size and food spoilage, with values for small groups.
Readeero Port Forwarding for Game Servers (Step by Step)
Open game server ports on eero in the app under Reservations & port forwarding, plus bridge mode, double NAT and eero Plus settings that block players.
ReadElectricity Cost of Running a Game Server at Home 24/7
How much it costs in electricity to run a game server at home around the clock, with the formula, worked examples for a gaming PC, old PC and mini PC.
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Empyrion - Galactic Survival8 min readEmpyrion Server Not Showing or Can't Connect? How to Fix It
Fix an Empyrion dedicated server missing from the list or refusing players: ports 30000 to 30003, version and experimental branch, scenario data, playfield timeouts, EAC.
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Enshrouded5 min readEnshrouded Server Hosting Cost for 1.0: Prices by Group Size
What an Enshrouded dedicated server costs per month for 4, 8 or 16 players at 1.0, why it needs 8 GB or more, per player prices and the free options.
ReadEnshrouded5 min readEnshrouded Server Won't Start or Closes Right Away? How to Fix It
Enshrouded dedicated server closes on launch or never finishes starting? Read the log, then fix the JSON, port, missing runtimes, memory or Wine setup.
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ET Legacy8 min readET: Legacy etl_server.cfg Explained (Every Setting That Matters)
What each important etl_server.cfg and legacy.cfg setting does on an ET: Legacy server: passwords, slots, gametype, XP save, team balance, rotation and Lua.
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Euro Truck Simulator 28 min readETS2 Convoy Server: Players Cannot Find or Join the Lobby
Friends cannot see or join your ETS2 Convoy server? Search by the search ID, then fix DLC and mod mismatches, the password, ports and the 8 player cap.
ReadEuro Truck Simulator 27 min readETS2 Dedicated Server Not Starting? Fix server_packages Errors
Fix an ETS2 dedicated server that closes on start: missing or stale server_packages.sii and .dat, wrong folder, version mismatch after an update.
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Factorio5 min readFactorio "Map Version Cannot Be Loaded" on a Server? Fix It
Fix "Map version cannot be loaded because it is higher than the game version" when a Factorio server refuses an uploaded save, plus Space Age save errors.
ReadFactorio5 min readFactorio Server Hosting Cost: What You Pay and What It Can't Fix
A Factorio server costs from 4.99 USD a month. Plan sizes for vanilla, Space Age and megabases, why a bigger server will not fix low UPS, and the free options.
ReadFair Price Per GB of RAM for a Game Server (How to Judge It)
How to judge whether a game server's price per GB of RAM is fair: what the number should include, what makes it go up or down, and red flags.
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Fistful of Frags5 min readFistful of Frags Server Game Modes and Bots (fof_sv_currentmode)
Pick a Fistful of Frags server mode with fof_sv_currentmode, run Ghost Town, and control bots with fof_sv_bot_slotpct, including on custom maps.
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Foundry6 min readFOUNDRY Server Not Showing in Server List? Fixes That Work
FOUNDRY dedicated server missing from the Steam server list? Check server_is_public, the query port, version and filters, and join by IP Direct Connect.
ReadFriends Can't Connect to My Server but I Can: Fix It Step by Step
You can join your own server but friends time out. Why it happens (LAN vs public IP, NAT loopback, firewall, CGNAT) and a step by step order to find the cause.
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