Greetings, Devs! If you’re looking to set up a dedicated server for Don’t Starve Together, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about hosting your own dedicated server for this popular survival game.
1. What is a Dedicated Server?
Let’s start with the basics. A dedicated server is a type of server that is solely dedicated to hosting and running a specific application or service. In this case, we’re talking about hosting a server for Don’t Starve Together.
When you host a dedicated server, you have complete control over the server environment. This means you can customize settings, mods, and other features to create a unique and personalized gaming experience for you and your friends.
1.1 Why Host a Dedicated Server?
There are several benefits to hosting your own dedicated server for Don’t Starve Together:
- You have complete control over the server environment.
- You can customize settings, mods, and other features.
- You can play with friends without worrying about lag or other issues.
1.2 How Does a Dedicated Server Work?
When you host a dedicated server, you’re essentially running a program on your computer that allows other players to connect and play the game. The server program runs in the background, while you and your friends join as players.
The server program handles all of the game’s mechanics, such as spawning creatures, tracking player stats, and managing resources. It also ensures that all players are in sync with each other, so everyone experiences the same game world.
1.3 What Do You Need to Host a Dedicated Server?
Hosting a dedicated server for Don’t Starve Together requires a few things:
- A computer with adequate processing power and memory.
- A stable internet connection with sufficient upload and download speeds.
- The Don’t Starve Together server program, which can be downloaded from the game’s website.
- The ability to forward ports on your router, which we’ll cover in more detail later in this article.
2. Installing and Running the Server
Now that you understand what a dedicated server is and what you need to host one, let’s move on to the installation and setup process.
2.1 Downloading the Server Program
The first step is to download the Don’t Starve Together server program from the game’s website. You can find it in the “Tools” section of the game’s Steam page.
Once you’ve downloaded the program, extract it to a location on your computer where you want to run the server from.
2.2 Configuring the Server
Before you can run the server, you’ll need to configure some settings. The main configuration file for the server is called “server.ini” and is located in the “Cluster_1” folder within the server program directory.
You can open this file in a text editor to make changes. Here are some key settings you’ll want to configure:
Setting |
Description |
|---|---|
cluster_name |
The name of your server. This will appear in the server browser when players search for servers. |
max_players |
The maximum number of players allowed on your server. |
pause_when_empty |
Whether or not the server should pause the game when there are no players connected. Set this to “true” if you want to conserve resources when the server is not in use. |
pvp |
Whether or not players can damage each other. Set this to “false” if you want a cooperative gameplay experience. |
There are many other settings you can configure in this file, which we won’t go into detail on in this article. For more information, consult the game’s official documentation.
2.3 Starting the Server
Once you’ve configured your server settings, you can start the server by running the “dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer.exe” program in the server directory.
The server will take a few moments to start up, and you should see some text output in the command prompt window indicating that it’s running.
At this point, your server is up and running, but you’ll need to configure your router to forward incoming connections to the server in order for other players to join.
3. Port Forwarding
To allow other players to connect to your dedicated server, you’ll need to configure your router to forward incoming connections on the appropriate ports to your server computer.
3.1 Finding Your Server’s IP Address
The first step is to find the IP address of the computer running the server. You can do this by opening a command prompt and typing “ipconfig” (without the quotes).
Look for the “IPv4 Address” entry, which will show the IP address of your computer. Make note of this address for later.
3.2 Forwarding Ports on Your Router
Once you have your server’s IP address, you can configure your router to forward incoming connections on the appropriate ports.
The ports you need to forward are:
- TCP 10999: This is the default port that Don’t Starve Together uses for server connections.
- UDP 10999: This is the default port that Don’t Starve Together uses for game traffic.
The exact process for forwarding ports will vary depending on your router, so consult your router’s documentation or website for specific instructions.
4. Modding Your Server
One of the great things about hosting your own dedicated server for Don’t Starve Together is the ability to use mods to customize the game experience.
4.1 Enabling Mods
To enable mods on your dedicated server, you’ll need to edit the “modoverrides.lua” file in the “Master” folder within the server program directory.
In this file, you can specify which mods you want to enable on your server, as well as any custom settings for those mods.
4.2 Finding Mods
There are many great mods available for Don’t Starve Together that can enhance the gameplay experience in a variety of ways. You can find mods on the Steam Workshop or on modding websites like Klei Entertainment’s official forums.
When choosing mods to use on your server, make sure they are compatible with the latest version of the game and that they work well together.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
5.1 How Many Players Can I Have on My Server?
The maximum number of players allowed on a Don’t Starve Together server is typically six, although this can be increased with mods or server configuration changes.
5.2 Do I Need a Powerful Computer to Host a Dedicated Server?
Your computer’s processing power and memory will affect the performance of your server, so it’s recommended to have a computer with at least 4GB of RAM and a modern processor.
5.3 Can I Host a Server on a Virtual Private Server (VPS)?
Yes, it’s possible to host a Don’t Starve Together server on a VPS, although this will require more technical knowledge and configuration than hosting on a personal computer.
5.4 Do Players Need to Own the Game to Play on My Server?
Yes, all players who join your server will need to own a copy of Don’t Starve Together in order to play.
5.5 How Do I Update My Server to the Latest Version of the Game?
To update your server to the latest version of Don’t Starve Together, simply download the latest version of the server program from the game’s website and replace the old files with the new ones.
Conclusion
Setting up a dedicated server for Don’t Starve Together can be a great way to enjoy the game with friends and customize the experience to your liking. With the information in this article, you should have everything you need to get started hosting your own server. Happy surviving!