To deploy a game server on a VPS, check the game’s current dedicated-server requirements, prepare a securely administered VPS, install and configure the server software, allow only its required network traffic, then test access and protect the saved game data. A VPS gives you an always-available remote machine; you remain responsible for installing and maintaining the server unless you choose a managed hosting service.
Choose between a self-managed VPS and managed game hosting
With a self-managed VPS, you administer the operating system as well as the game server. A managed game host may take on some of that work, but the exact responsibilities depend on the provider and service. Confirm what is included before choosing.
| Responsibility | Self-managed VPS | Managed game hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system administration | You handle it, including security updates and routine maintenance. | Provider responsibility is not established here; check the service terms. |
| Game installation and configuration | You install and configure the game server using its official instructions. | Provider responsibility and supported games vary; confirm before purchase. |
| Firewall and network access | You configure the VPS firewall and any provider-level network firewall. | Check which firewall and network settings you can control. |
| Game updates and backups | You plan updates and make backups of saves and configuration. | Check whether updates and backups are included, and how restores work. |
| Support and game compatibility | You troubleshoot the OS and game; compatibility depends on the game’s server software. | Support scope and compatible games depend on the provider. |
This is a responsibility comparison, not a price or service-level comparison. The available documentation does not establish provider prices or service guarantees.
Check the game’s requirements before selecting a VPS
Start with the game developer’s current dedicated-server instructions, not a generic VPS plan recommendation. The server software, supported operating systems, dependencies, network ports, player limits, and resource needs differ by title and can change.
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- Confirm that the game offers dedicated-server software and supports the operating system and architecture you intend to use.
- Check its installation method and required packages or runtime dependencies.
- Find the documented player limit, network ports and protocols, configuration options, and save-data location.
- Use the game’s published hardware guidance, if available, and account for your expected player count and workload. Do not infer CPU, memory, storage, or bandwidth needs from another game’s guidance.
Prepare the VPS for secure administration
Provision a VPS with an operating-system image supported by the game’s server instructions. Keep secure SSH access for administration, use a non-root account for routine work, apply security updates, and configure a host firewall that exposes only necessary services. Ubuntu recommends SSH, least privilege, and security updates in its server security guidance; UFW is Ubuntu’s default firewall tool, as described in its firewall documentation.
Check the VPS provider’s network firewall separately from the operating system firewall. A rule in one does not necessarily open traffic through the other. Keep remote administration access available while tightening rules so you do not lock yourself out.
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Install and configure the game server
Follow the game’s official installation guide for your operating system and distribution. Commands and dependencies are title-specific; do not copy a different game’s setup steps as if they were universal.
Valheim example: install the dedicated-server tool
Iron Gate’s official dedicated-server guide, dated April 11, 2024, covers the Steam version. It directs administrators to install the dedicated-server tool from Steam’s Library Tools section. The guide uses start_headless_server.bat on Windows and start_server.sh on Linux; its Linux prerequisites include libatomic1, libpulse-dev, and libpulse0. These are Valheim-specific details, not requirements for other games.
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For Valheim, Iron Gate advises configuring a copy of the supplied startup script because Steam updates can reset the original. Use the game’s documented launch options to set the server name, port, world, and password; its guide also documents -savedir for choosing a save directory. The default Linux save path given in that guide is ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim.
Open only the game’s required network traffic
Allow the game’s documented ports and protocol in both the provider-level firewall and the VPS host firewall. The correct rules depend on the title, server mode, and configuration; opening extra ports unnecessarily expands exposure.
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Valheim port behavior
For Valheim using the Steam backend, Iron Gate says the server uses its selected port and the next port; the defaults are 2456–2457. With Valheim’s Crossplay backend, the server relays data and does not require router port forwarding. These are Valheim-specific instructions. For a VPS, check the provider’s network controls as well as the host firewall, and follow the current guide for the chosen backend.
Run the server persistently and verify access
Use the game’s documented server-running approach or a suitable service manager so the process can remain available beyond an interactive shell session. Confirm that it starts correctly by reviewing its logs, then connect with a real game client using the expected address, port, and access settings. A process that starts successfully is not proof that firewall rules, client connectivity, or configuration are correct.
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Back up saves and plan maintenance
Find the game’s save and configuration locations before making changes, and arrange backups before updates or other risky operations. Keep a backup outside the VPS’s only copy where feasible, and document how to restore it. The Valheim guide documents a default Linux save path and a -savedir override, but does not prescribe a backup schedule.
Plan for two separate maintenance streams: operating-system security updates and game-server updates. Ubuntu documents that unattended security updates are enabled by default and run daily; automatic reboot is configurable and defaults to off. See Ubuntu’s automatic-updates documentation. Game updates and OS updates may each require a restart, so choose a maintenance window and verify the server and world afterward.
Quick Recap
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