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Godlike.Host offers hosted Arma Reforger servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
Arma Reforger’s dedicated-server software costs nothing, but a genuinely free server still needs a computer, an internet connection, electricity and your time. You can run the official server on Windows or Linux with SteamCMD, try a small free managed tier, or use the game’s reported in-menu HOST function. Each option has different limits for uptime, player count, upload bandwidth and configuration effort.
What “free hosting” means for Arma Reforger
There are two separate costs to consider. The dedicated-server application itself is free through Steam app ID 1874900. Hosting is the ongoing work of supplying a machine, network connection, storage, power and administration. If you already own a suitable computer and have control of your router, self-hosting can therefore have no additional monthly bill. If you need an always-on machine in a data centre, free capacity is uncommon and usually constrained.
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The official server supports Windows and Linux. It is a dedicated process rather than a copy of the game’s client, so players connect to the machine running the server. The host computer must remain powered on for the server to remain available.
Your three practical options
| Option | Upfront cost | Uptime | Main limits | Setup effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-host the official dedicated server | Free software; you provide hardware, power and internet | Only while your machine and connection are online | Home upload bandwidth, CPU, RAM, router and firewall | High: SteamCMD, JSON configuration, port forwarding and troubleshooting |
| Free managed tier | Potentially free, subject to the provider’s terms | Depends on the provider and whether “free while in use” conditions apply | Small virtual machine resources, unclear duration and provider policies | Lower than self-hosting, but panel and provider-specific limits still apply |
| In-game HOST | No separate server software bill | While the player host is in the session and reachable | Host computer and connection determine stability; it is not dedicated hosting | Low: select HOST in Multiplayer if the option is available in your build |
For a persistent community server, self-hosting is the only broadly available no-monthly-cost route. A managed free tier can be useful for testing, but its terms and capacity need checking immediately before you depend on it. The HOST option is best treated as a quick session tool, not as a 24/7 server.
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Self-hosting requirements and realistic capacity
Hardware
Third-party hosting guidance commonly suggests about a four-core CPU and 8 GB of RAM for 32 players, 16 GB for 64 players, and additional headroom as you approach the game’s higher advertised limits. These are vendor estimates, not independent benchmarks, so treat them as starting points rather than guarantees. Mods, mission complexity, operating-system load and connection quality can all reduce the practical player count.
Published material also conflicts on the player-cap range: one source describes 1–128 players while another describes 2–64. Because the limit can depend on the server build and configuration, verify the current cap in the official documentation and in your installed version before promising a number to players.
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A comparison guide characterises typical home upload service as roughly 10–35 Mbps and estimates that this is realistically suitable for about 10–16 players. That is a provider estimate, not a measured rule for every ISP or scenario. Run a speed test at the location and leave margin for other household traffic. A connection with a high download rate but weak upload rate can still produce a poor server experience.
Network control and uptime
- You need administrative access to the router so you can create port-forwarding rules.
- The operating system firewall must allow the server’s traffic.
- Your public address, carrier-grade NAT or changing ISP address can affect whether players can reach you.
- The host PC must stay on, connected and free from sleep or automatic shutdown while players are using the server.
Self-hosting also makes you responsible for updates, backups, logs, crash recovery and protecting the machine. Those obligations are the trade-off for avoiding a recurring hosting charge.
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Install the official dedicated server with SteamCMD
1. Prepare a dedicated folder and account
Use a separate directory for the server rather than mixing files with your personal game installation. On Windows, an example is C:ArmaReforgerServer. On Linux, an example is /opt/arma-reforger. A separate operating-system user on Linux limits the damage from a compromised process and keeps permissions easier to audit.
2. Download or update app 1874900
Install SteamCMD for your operating system, then use its anonymous login and the Arma Reforger app ID. A typical update sequence is:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /opt/arma-reforger +app_update 1874900 validate +quitOn Windows, use the equivalent SteamCMD executable and a Windows install directory. The important values are the anonymous login, app ID 1874900 and the directory in which you want the server files. Run the update again whenever you intentionally upgrade the server; keep a copy of your configuration first.
3. Create a JSON configuration file
The server is started with the -config parameter pointing to a JSON file. Guides use different filenames, including server.json, config.json and ServerConfig.json; the filename is not the setting that matters, but the path supplied to -config must be correct.
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Configuration keys are case-sensitive. For example, bindPort is valid while BindPort is not. One documented scenario format uses the complete resource path, such as:
{
"bindPort": 2001,
"game": {
"scenarioId": "{ECC61978EDCC2B5A}Missions/23_Campaign.conf"
}
}This is an illustrative fragment, not a complete guaranteed configuration for every server build. Check the current Bohemia Interactive community-wiki references named Arma Reforger:Server Config and Arma Reforger:Startup Parameters for the complete schema and required sections. A malformed JSON file or an unsupported key can cause the server to ignore a setting or fail at startup.
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Point the executable at the file you created. The exact executable filename can change with a release, so launch the server binary installed by SteamCMD from that directory. The essential form is:
ArmaReforgerServer.exe -config C:ArmaReforgerServerserver.jsonOn Linux, use the installed server binary and an absolute path, for example:
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./ArmaReforgerServer -config /opt/arma-reforger/server.jsonKeep the console output visible during the first launch. It is the quickest way to catch a missing file, invalid JSON, permission problem or port-binding failure. Once the configuration is proven, you can run the process under a service manager or a scheduled task so it restarts after a reboot, but confirm that automatic restarts do not create a crash loop.
Ports, forwarding and firewall rules
Secondary configuration guides commonly report these ports:
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| Traffic | Reported port and protocol | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Game traffic | UDP 2001 | Player connections to the server |
| Server-browser query | UDP 17777 | A2S-style listing and query traffic |
| RCON | TCP 19999 | Remote administration, when enabled and configured |
These values come from third-party documentation and should be checked against the current official wiki and your server build before opening them. Forward only the ports you actually use. For each required port, create a router rule from the public port to the host computer’s fixed local address, then allow the same protocol through the operating-system firewall. Do not expose RCON to the internet without authentication and a reason to use it.
After changing rules, test from a different network rather than relying only on a test from inside your home LAN. Some routers do not support loopback connections, so a local test can appear to fail even when outside players can connect.
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How to diagnose a server that does not appear or accept players
The process closes immediately
- Check that the path after
-configexactly matches the file location and capitalization. - Validate the JSON syntax and remove recently added keys to isolate an unsupported setting.
- Confirm that the SteamCMD update completed and that the executable and libraries are from the same installation.
- Read the first error in the console rather than the final shutdown message; the final line is often only a consequence.
The server runs but is not listed
- Confirm that the game port and query port use the expected protocols, not TCP-only rules.
- Check both the router forwarding target and the host firewall profile.
- Look for carrier-grade NAT or a double-router setup. If the router has no routable public address, ordinary forwarding may not work.
- Verify that the server is bound to the intended interface and that another program is not already using the port.
Players connect but experience lag or drops
- Measure upload utilisation while the server is busy; household streaming or backups can consume the available margin.
- Reduce the expected player count before adding more hardware. The 10–16-player estimate for a typical 10–35 Mbps home upload is only a rough guide.
- Watch CPU and memory usage and account for mods and mission complexity.
- Disable sleep, scheduled reboots and aggressive power-saving settings on the host machine.
A scenario or setting is ignored
Recheck spelling and capitalization. In particular, use bindPort exactly as documented and provide the full .conf resource path for game.scenarioId. Because configuration references are version-sensitive, compare your file with the current official parameter list instead of copying an old guide unchanged.
What a free managed tier can and cannot provide
Revelation Hosting publicly describes a free tier with 2 vCPUs, 1 GB of RAM, 10 GB of storage and no stated slot cap, with wording that the service is free while in use. The duration of that offer is unclear, and 1 GB of RAM is notably below the 8 GB starting point suggested by third-party guidance for a 32-player self-hosted server. Treat it as an experiment or a small test instance until the provider confirms current terms, supported server version, networking, backups and mod handling.
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A provider-controlled machine can remove router configuration and home-uptime problems, but you trade that convenience for limits you do not control. Ask whether the free allocation sleeps, expires, throttles CPU, restricts inbound UDP, limits Workshop or mod synchronisation, or deletes inactive instances. Do not advertise a player capacity that the provider has not documented.
The in-game HOST option
A 2024 Steam forum report describes a HOST option in the Multiplayer menu. Because this is a player report rather than official documentation, the label and behaviour may differ by game version. If the option appears in your build, it can be a convenient way to start a session without installing the dedicated-server package.
HOST still depends on the player’s computer and connection. Closing the game, losing the connection or suffering a saturated upload ends the session for everyone. It should therefore be considered peer-to-peer play, not a persistent dedicated server with independent uptime, automated restarts or guaranteed browser availability.
Choosing the right “free” approach
| Your goal | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Play occasionally with friends | In-game HOST, if available | Minimal setup and no separate server maintenance |
| Run a small private server from home | Self-hosted dedicated server | No hosting subscription and full control over configuration |
| Learn server administration | Self-hosted dedicated server on a spare machine | Teaches SteamCMD, firewall, forwarding, logs and updates |
| Keep a community server online without using your home network | Verified managed hosting | More reliable uptime, but genuinely free capacity is uncommon |
| Test a provider panel or mod workflow | Free managed tier, cautiously | Useful for evaluation when its resource and retention limits are acceptable |
Before inviting players, write down the server’s expected hours, maximum practical population, restart plan, backup location and who can administer it. “Free” is worthwhile only when those operating costs and limits fit your use case.
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- Confirm the current official player-cap and configuration documentation for your server version; published third-party limits conflict.
- Check whether the listed ports are still correct, especially after updates.
- Verify that your provider or self-hosted setup supports the mods and Workshop content your scenario needs.
- Confirm how updates affect configuration files and whether a rollback is possible.
- Test an external connection and a restart before announcing the server publicly.
The durable takeaway is simple: the Arma Reforger server binary is free, while dependable hosting is an infrastructure project. Self-hosting gives you the lowest recurring cost and the most control, but your upload bandwidth, hardware and uptime become the limits. A free managed tier or HOST session can fill narrower needs, provided you treat their capacity and availability claims as conditions to verify rather than guarantees.
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