Hey there, Dev! Are you ready to dive into the world of Altis Life servers? Hosting your own server can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance, it can be a fun and rewarding experience. In this article, we’ll provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to host your own Altis Life server. Let’s get started!
Setting Up the Environment
The first step in hosting an Altis Life server is to set up the environment. This includes installing the necessary software, configuring the server settings, and ensuring that your hardware meets the minimum requirements.
Hardware Requirements
Before you begin, make sure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements to run Arma 3, the game that Altis Life is based on. The minimum requirements include:
Component |
Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
CPU |
Intel Dual-Core 2.4 GHz or AMD Dual-Core Athlon 2.5 GHz |
GPU |
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT or AMD Radeon HD 5670 |
RAM |
2GB |
Storage |
15GB available space |
If your computer does not meet these requirements, you may encounter performance issues or other problems when running the server.
Software Requirements
Once you’ve confirmed that your hardware meets the minimum requirements, you’ll need to install the necessary software to run the server. This includes:
- Arma 3 (available on Steam)
- Altis Life mission file (available on GitHub)
- MySQL database (we recommend using XAMPP for easy installation)
Server Configuration
After you’ve installed the necessary software, you’ll need to configure the server settings. This includes setting up your MySQL database, configuring your server’s IP address and port, and setting up your server’s mission file. We’ll go over each of these steps in more detail in the following sections.
Setting Up the MySQL Database
Before you can run your Altis Life server, you’ll need to set up a MySQL database to store player data and other server information. We recommend using XAMPP, a free and open-source software that simplifies the installation process.
Installing XAMPP
To install XAMPP, simply go to the official website and download the appropriate version for your operating system. Once the download is complete, follow the installation instructions provided by XAMPP.
Creating a Database
Once XAMPP is installed, open the XAMPP Control Panel and start the Apache and MySQL services. Then, open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost/phpmyadmin/. This will launch the phpMyAdmin interface, which you can use to manage your MySQL databases.
To create a new database, click on the “New” button in the left sidebar. Enter a name for your database (e.g. “altislife”) and select the default collation. Then, click on the “Create” button to create the database.
Importing the Altis Life Database
After you’ve created your database, you’ll need to import the Altis Life database file. This file contains all of the necessary tables and data structures for your server to run.
To import the database file, go to the “Import” tab in phpMyAdmin. Choose the file named “altislife.sql” from the Altis Life mission file you downloaded earlier. Then, click on the “Go” button to import the database.
Configuring Your Server
After you’ve set up your MySQL database, it’s time to configure your server. This involves editing several configuration files to set up your IP address and port, mission file, and other server settings.
Server IP Address and Port
The first step in server configuration is to set up your IP address and port. This is done in the “server.cfg” file, which is located in the “Arma 3 Server” directory. Open this file in a text editor and look for the following lines:
hostname = "Altis Life Server";password = "";passwordAdmin = "adminPassword";serverCommandPassword = "serverCommandPassword";logFile = "server.log";verifySignatures = 0;BattlEye = 1;requiredSecureId = 2;steamPort = 2303;steamQueryPort = 2304;motdInterval = 5;maxPlayers = 64;kickDuplicate = 1;voteMissionPlayers = 999;voteThreshold = 1;allowedVoteCmds[] = {};allowedHTMLLoadURIs[] = {};allowedTargets=0;allowedCuratorLogic=0;disabledAI = 1;forcedDifficulty = "Custom";class Missions {class AltisLife {template = "altis_life.Altis";difficulty = "Custom";};};
To set up your IP address and port, you’ll need to modify the “server.cfg” file as follows:
hostname = "Altis Life Server";password = "";passwordAdmin = "adminPassword";serverCommandPassword = "serverCommandPassword";logFile = "server.log";verifySignatures = 0;BattlEye = 1;requiredSecureId = 2;steamPort = 2302; // Change this to your desired portsteamQueryPort = 2303; // Change this to your desired port + 1motdInterval = 5;maxPlayers = 64;kickDuplicate = 1;voteMissionPlayers = 999;voteThreshold = 1;allowedVoteCmds[] = {};allowedHTMLLoadURIs[] = {};allowedTargets=0;allowedCuratorLogic=0;disabledAI = 1;forcedDifficulty = "Custom";class Missions {class AltisLife {template = "altis_life.Altis";difficulty = "Custom";};};
Replace “2302” and “2303” with your desired port numbers. It’s important to note that if you’re hosting the server on the same computer you’re playing on, you’ll need to use a different port than the default port of 2302.
Mission File
The next step is to set up your mission file. This file contains all of the scripts, objects, and other resources that are used in your server’s gameplay. To set up your mission file, follow these steps:
- Download the Altis Life mission file from GitHub.
- Copy the “altis_life” folder to your “Arma 3 Server” directory.
- Edit the “server.cfg” file to include the following line:
template = "altis_life.Altis";
Once you’ve done this, you’ll be ready to launch your Altis Life server!
Launching Your Server
After you’ve configured your server, launching it is a simple matter of running the “arma3server.exe” file in your “Arma 3 Server” directory. To do this, simply double-click on the file or run it from the command line.
Once your server is running, you’ll be able to connect to it from within Arma 3. Simply go to the multiplayer menu and search for your server by name or IP address. Then, join the server and start playing!
FAQ
How do I add mods to my Altis Life server?
To add mods to your Altis Life server, you’ll need to download the mod files and add them to your “Arma 3 Server” directory. Then, edit the “server.cfg” file to include the necessary mod lines. For example, to add the “CUP Vehicles” mod, you would add the following line to your “server.cfg” file:
class ModLauncher {requiredAddons[] = {"CUP_Vehicles"};};
How do I configure my server’s difficulty settings?
You can configure your server’s difficulty settings by editing the “server.cfg” file. Look for the following line:
forcedDifficulty = "Custom";
To set up your own difficulty settings, change the “Custom” value to one of the following:
- “Recruit”
- “Regular”
- “Veteran”
- “Mercenary”
You can also customize your own difficulty settings by editing the “Arma 3” difficulty settings in the “config.cpp” file in your mission folder.
How do I set up a dedicated server?
To set up a dedicated server, you’ll need to follow the same steps outlined in this article, but you’ll also need to install the dedicated server version of Arma 3 and run it from the command line. You can find instructions on how to set up a dedicated server on the Arma 3 wiki.
How many players can my server support?
The maximum number of players your server can support will depend on your hardware and network setup. The default maximum is 64, but you can adjust this by modifying the “maxPlayers” line in the “server.cfg” file.
How do I set up a password for my server?
To set up a password for your server, simply add a password to the “password” line in the “server.cfg” file. For example:
password = "myPassword";
Players will need to enter this password to connect to your server.
How do I set up admin privileges?
To set up admin privileges, add the following line to your “server.cfg” file:
passwordAdmin = "adminPassword";
Replace “adminPassword” with your desired admin password. Once this is set up, players who connect to your server with this password will be given admin privileges.
Conclusion
Congratulations, Dev! You’ve successfully set up your own Altis Life server. While hosting a server can be challenging at times, it can also be incredibly rewarding. We hope this guide has been helpful in getting you started on your journey. Good luck!