Welcome, Dev! If you’re a fan of the sandbox-style adventure game Terraria, you may have considered hosting your own dedicated server. Whether you want to play with friends or create a public server for other players, it can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps needed to host your own Terraria server, from setting up your machine to configuring the server software. Let’s dive in!
Preparation: Setting up the Server Machine
Before you start hosting your Terraria server, you need to make sure your machine is ready to handle the task. Here are some things to take into consideration:
1. System Requirements
First and foremost, you need to have a machine that meets Terraria’s system requirements. These are:
Minimum Requirements |
Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|
Processor: 2.0 Ghz |
Processor: Dual Core 3.0 Ghz |
Memory: 2GB RAM |
Memory: 4GB RAM |
Graphics: 128MB Video Memory, capable of Shader Model 2.0+ |
Graphics: 256MB Video Memory, capable of Shader Model 2.0+ |
It’s worth noting that these are the minimum and recommended requirements for hosting a server with up to 8 players. If you plan on hosting a larger server, you may need a more powerful machine or consider using a hosting service instead.
2. Network Requirements
Next, you need to consider your network setup. The server needs to be able to communicate with other players over the internet, so you need to ensure that your router is properly configured to allow incoming connections to the server. This typically involves forwarding the server port (default is 7777) to the machine hosting the server.
You should also make sure that your internet connection is stable and fast enough to handle the number of players on your server. Terraria doesn’t use a lot of bandwidth, but each player connected will increase the load on your network.
3. Server Software
Finally, you need to choose the server software that you’ll use to host your Terraria server. There are a few different options available:
- TerrariaServer.exe: This is the official dedicated server software provided by Re-logic, the developers of Terraria. It’s free to use, but requires you to download and run it on your own machine.
- TShock: TShock is a third-party server software that adds additional features and functionality beyond the vanilla Terraria server. It’s also free to use, but requires additional setup and configuration.
- Hosting Services: If you don’t want to host your own server, you can use a hosting service like GameServers or Host Havoc. These services provide pre-configured Terraria servers that you can rent on a monthly basis.
For this guide, we’ll be using the official TerrariaServer.exe software, but the steps should be similar regardless of which software you choose.
Installation: Setting up the Server Software
Once you have your machine set up and ready to go, it’s time to install and configure the server software. Here’s how:
1. Download and Extract the Server Software
The first step is to download the server software from the official Terraria website. You can find the latest version of the software at https://terraria.org/downloads. Make sure to download the version that matches your operating system.
Once you’ve downloaded the software, extract the contents of the ZIP file to a folder on your machine. This can be anywhere you like, but make sure to note the location for later steps.
2. Configure the Server Settings
Before you start the server, you need to configure some basic settings. Open the serverconfig.txt file located in the server software folder using a text editor. Here are some settings you may want to adjust:
- world: This sets the name of the world that the server will use. You can leave it as the default value, or change it to something else.
- port: This sets the port that the server will use to listen for incoming connections. The default is 7777, but you can change it if needed.
- maxplayers: This sets the maximum number of players that can connect to the server at once. The default is 8, but you can increase it if you have a powerful enough machine and network.
There are many other settings that you can adjust as well, but these are the most important for getting started.
3. Start the Server
With the server settings configured, it’s time to start the server software. Run the TerrariaServer.exe executable in the server software folder. You should see a console window appear with some basic information about the server.
If everything is working correctly, you should be able to connect to your server using the Terraria client. In the next section, we’ll go over how to connect to your server and start playing!
Playing: Connecting to Your Server
Now that your server is up and running, it’s time to connect to it and start playing. Here’s how:
1. Find Your Server’s IP Address
The first step is to find the IP address of the machine hosting your server. You can do this by opening a command prompt or terminal window and typing ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig (Mac/Linux). Look for the section labeled “IPv4 Address” or “inet addr” and note the value. This is the IP address that you’ll use to connect to the server.
2. Launch Terraria
Next, launch the Terraria client on your machine. From the main menu, click on the “Multiplayer” button, then select “Join via IP”.
3. Connect to Your Server
In the IP field, enter the IP address of the machine hosting the server, followed by a colon and the server port number. For example, if your server is running on the same machine as your client and using the default port, you would enter 127.0.0.1:7777.
Click “Join Server” to connect to your server. If everything is working correctly, you should now see your server listed in the server browser. Select it and click “Join” to start playing!
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I host a Terraria server on my own machine?
Yes, you can host a Terraria server on your own machine as long as it meets the system requirements and you have a stable internet connection. However, if you plan on hosting a large or public server, you may want to consider using a hosting service instead.
2. Can I use mods with my Terraria server?
Yes, both the official server software and TShock support mods. You can find a variety of mods on the Terraria forums or on sites like CurseForge.
3. How do I configure my server to use a different world or character?
You can adjust the world or character that your server uses by modifying the appropriate settings in the serverconfig.txt file. See the Terraria wiki for more information.
4. How do I ban or kick players from my server?
TShock provides built-in commands for banning or kicking players. See the TShock documentation for more information.
5. How do I update my server software?
To update your server software, simply download the latest version from the official Terraria website and replace the existing files on your machine.
Conclusion
Congratulations, Dev! You now know how to host your own dedicated Terraria server. With these steps, you can create a server for you and your friends to explore or even create a public server for other players to enjoy. Remember to keep your machine and network up to date and secure, and have fun!