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Don’t Starve Together dedicated servers do not provide a built-in auto-update or scheduled-restart switch. To keep a server current, run SteamCMD from an external script, schedule that script with cron on Linux or a Windows scheduler, and restart the server so downloaded game and Workshop files are loaded. Mods listed in dedicated_server_mods_setup.lua are refreshed at startup; downloading a mod alone does not enable it.
What “auto-update” means for a DST server
There are three separate jobs that are often incorrectly treated as one:
- Update the game files: SteamCMD checks the dedicated-server installation and downloads newer files.
- Update Workshop mods: the server obtains the mods listed in
dedicated_server_mods_setup.luawhen it starts. - Restart the process: the running server does not apply newly downloaded game or mod files until it is started again.
Community guidance indicates that none of these jobs is controlled by a built-in DST server scheduler. The usual design is therefore an external wrapper that stops the server, runs SteamCMD, starts the server again, and records whether each step succeeded. A watchdog can be added to relaunch a crashed process, but crash recovery is not the same as checking for a new game build.
Before automating anything
Confirm how this server is launched
Write down the command, script, service unit, container entry point, or control-panel action that currently starts each shard. A DST installation commonly has a Master shard and may also have a Caves shard. Your update wrapper must stop and start the same process that an administrator would use manually; starting a second copy can corrupt the save or fail because the ports are already occupied.
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Choose a maintenance window
An update requires downtime. Pick a time when players are unlikely to be connected and announce that the server may restart. If the server is saving world data, stop it using the same graceful method you already use for manual maintenance rather than killing the process immediately.
Back up worlds and configuration
Back up shard save directories, cluster.ini, shard configuration, dedicated_server_mods_setup.lua, and every shard’s modoverrides.lua. Keep at least one copy outside the live installation. An update script should never replace your only copy of a world or configuration file.
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Run SteamCMD and the server under the account that owns the installation, or an account with only the permissions needed for that directory and service. Do not put an interactive password in a cron file. If your installation requires credentials, use the authentication method already documented for that installation and protect its file permissions.
Linux: build a SteamCMD update-and-restart wrapper
The exact paths differ by distribution and installation method, so the following is a safe wrapper pattern rather than a drop-in path for every host. Replace the command variables with the commands that start and stop your own server. The important behavior is the order: stop, update, test the result, then start.
1. Create the wrapper
#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -u
# Change these values for your installation.
STEAMCMD="/path/to/steamcmd"
INSTALL_DIR="/path/to/dst-install"
DST_APP_ID="YOUR_DST_SERVER_APP_ID"
STOP_CMD="/path/to/your-graceful-stop-command"
START_CMD="/path/to/your-start-command"
LOG_FILE="/var/log/dst-auto-update.log"
log() {
printf '%s %sn' "$(date -u '+%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ')" "$*" | tee -a "$LOG_FILE"
}
log "Stopping the server"
if ! "$STOP_CMD"; then
log "Stop command failed; refusing to update"
exit 1
fi
log "Running SteamCMD"
if ! "$STEAMCMD" +force_install_dir "$INSTALL_DIR" +login anonymous +app_update "$DST_APP_ID" +quit >>"$LOG_FILE" 2>&1; then
log "SteamCMD failed; the installation was not confirmed updated"
exit 1
fi
log "Starting the server"
if ! "$START_CMD"; then
log "Start command failed"
exit 1
fi
log "Update cycle completed"The application identifier is intentionally a variable: use the identifier belonging to your dedicated-server installation instead of copying an unknown value. Likewise, STOP_CMD and START_CMD must be real, tested commands on your host. Test them manually before scheduling the wrapper.
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2. Make it executable and test interactively
- Save the file outside the game directory, for example as an administrator-owned maintenance script.
- Set ownership and permissions so only the service administrator can edit it.
- Run it in a terminal while watching the server console and the log file.
- Confirm that the server stops once, SteamCMD exits successfully, and the expected shards start once.
Do not move directly to a frequent schedule until one complete manual cycle succeeds. A failed SteamCMD invocation can leave the server unupdated; a robust wrapper must not report success merely because the command was attempted.
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3. Add a lock against overlapping runs
A scheduler can start a second invocation while the first is still downloading. Use the locking facility available on your system, or implement an equivalent lock file that is removed reliably on exit. Without a lock, two SteamCMD processes can write the same installation and two restart attempts can race with one another.
4. Schedule it with cron
A widely shared Linux pattern checks on a short interval, about once per minute, and lets SteamCMD decide whether anything changed. That cadence is optional; a less frequent maintenance window is often more appropriate for a small community. The cron entry should call the wrapper by absolute path, redirect scheduler output to a log, and run as the same account that owns the server:
* * * * * /path/to/dst-auto-update.shIf you select a longer interval, change the five time fields rather than editing the wrapper’s update logic. Keep the script’s timestamps in UTC or label the timezone clearly so an announced restart corresponds to the actual schedule.
Do not compare Steam’s build number with Klei’s version string
Some community scripts query SteamCMD app information and compare a returned build number with a value in a Klei version file. A forum comment specifically warns that these are different identifiers: Steam’s build number is not the version number recorded by Klei. A numeric comparison between them can therefore trigger needless restarts or, worse, skip a real update.
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The safer choices are to run SteamCMD on the chosen schedule and use its exit status, or to compare values only when you have verified that both values come from the same numbering system. The wrapper above does not attempt to infer a version from unrelated files.
Make the restart decision safely
Restart only after a successful update command
Older community scripts stop the server, run SteamCMD, and restart unconditionally. That creates an avoidable failure mode: if SteamCMD cannot reach its service, lacks permission, or encounters a damaged installation, the server may come back with the old files while the operator assumes an update occurred. Gate the start step on SteamCMD’s exit status, as in the wrapper, and alert an administrator when it fails.
Decide what to do after a failed update
There are two defensible policies:
- Remain stopped: safest when running an unverified mixture of files could damage a world or produce inconsistent shards. This requires an alert and manual recovery.
- Start the previous installation: useful when availability matters more than immediate updating, but only if your process can prove that the installation remains coherent and that the start command is safe.
Choose one policy explicitly. Do not let shell fall-through decide by accident. Whichever policy you use, preserve the SteamCMD output and the timestamp so an administrator can diagnose the event.
Keep Master and Caves in one maintenance transaction
If both shards share an installation, stop them before SteamCMD runs and start them after it succeeds. Starting one shard against new files while the other still uses the old process can make troubleshooting harder. If they are separate installations, give each a defined stop, update, and start sequence and log them independently.
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How mod updates actually work
List Workshop IDs in the setup file
Mods are identified by Workshop ID in dedicated_server_mods_setup.lua. The dedicated server reads that list during startup and downloads or updates the corresponding mod content. Keep the file syntactically valid and under version control or backup; a malformed setup file has been reported to cause a loader error followed by shutdown.
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Restart to apply a mod update
Mods are not refreshed while the server process is running. Even if a newer Workshop package is available, the running process continues using what it loaded at startup. The restart that follows the SteamCMD phase is therefore the step that makes a mod update active.
Downloading is not enabling
A Workshop download does not automatically turn a mod on for a shard. Each shard needs its own entry in its own modoverrides.lua. If you run Master and Caves, check both files. A mod can be present on disk yet absent from the active configuration, which explains why an update log may show a download while the game behaves as though the mod is disabled.
Be cautious with ForceEnableMod
Community sources disagree about using ForceEnableMod in modsettings.lua as an alternative. Reports also indicate that this method does not permit changing mod settings. Because the behavior and configuration relationship are disputed, use explicit per-shard modoverrides.lua entries when you need predictable activation and settings, and test any force-enable approach on a copy of the cluster before using it in production.
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Windows community scripts commonly combine game and mod update work. The same sequence applies: stop the server, invoke SteamCMD for the installation, check the process result, and start the server. Task Scheduler can launch that script at a chosen interval or during a maintenance window.
Suggested Task Scheduler configuration
- Create a script with variables for the SteamCMD executable, installation directory, application identifier, stop action, start action, and log path.
- Configure the task to run under the account that owns the server files and to use an absolute working directory.
- Set a timeout long enough for SteamCMD to finish; never allow a second instance to start while the first is active.
- Capture standard output and error in a dated log, and configure an operational alert when the script returns a failure code.
- Run the task manually from Task Scheduler and verify both shards, mod loading, and the server console before enabling the recurring trigger.
Do not assume that a successful Task Scheduler launch means an update happened. The script must inspect SteamCMD’s result and report it separately from the scheduler’s own status.
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Linux cron, Windows scripts, and watchdogs compared
| Approach | Platform | Updates game files | Applies mod updates | Restarts server | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| External SteamCMD wrapper plus cron | Linux | Yes, when SteamCMD succeeds | Yes, at the following startup | Usually; the wrapper controls it | Needs locking, absolute paths, and failure handling |
| Community update script plus Windows scheduler | Windows | Yes, when SteamCMD succeeds | Can, if the script starts the server afterward | Script-dependent | Scheduler success is not SteamCMD success |
| Watchdog or relaunch loop | Either | No, unless it also calls SteamCMD | No, unless it restarts after a mod download | Relaunches after a crash | Crash recovery is not update automation |
| Manual SteamCMD maintenance | Either | Yes | Yes, after a manual restart | Administrator-controlled | Requires a person to perform every cycle |
Validation after every automated cycle
- Read the updater log: confirm the stop command, SteamCMD invocation, exit status, and start command all appear in order.
- Check process count: verify that each intended shard has one running process, not zero and not duplicates.
- Check the server console: look for startup errors, especially Lua loader errors associated with a malformed mod setup file.
- Check both shard configurations: confirm that every mod intended for Master and Caves has the corresponding
modoverrides.luaentry. - Perform a client connection test: join with an administrator account and verify that the world loads and that expected mod features are present.
- Record the outcome: keep the timestamp, SteamCMD output, and any restart failure with the maintenance record.
When a script runs frequently, these checks should be automated where practical, but an automated “process exists” check cannot prove that a mod is enabled or that a world loaded correctly.
Troubleshooting common failures
The server never updates
- Run the exact SteamCMD command interactively as the scheduler’s account.
- Check that the installation directory is writable and that the SteamCMD executable path is correct.
- Read the captured output rather than relying on the scheduler’s generic success message.
- Confirm that the wrapper is using the intended installation and application identifier.
SteamCMD fails and the server remains stopped
This is the expected result of a fail-closed wrapper. Preserve the log, correct the connectivity, permission, or installation problem, run SteamCMD manually, and start the server only after the update step succeeds. If your service requires high availability, document and test a separate rollback policy instead of silently starting an unverified installation.
The game updated but a mod did not
Confirm that the Workshop ID is present in dedicated_server_mods_setup.lua, then restart the server. A running process does not apply a newly downloaded mod. If the mod is downloaded but inactive, inspect the relevant shard’s modoverrides.lua; downloading alone does not enable it.
One shard has the mod and the other does not
Master and Caves load separate override files. Add and validate the mod entry in each shard that should use it, then restart both shards together.
The server exits immediately after a mod-file edit
Restore the last known-good setup file from backup and inspect its Lua syntax. A malformed dedicated_server_mods_setup.lua can produce a loader error and shutdown before the world becomes available. Reintroduce changes one at a time and test manually before returning the file to automation.
The script starts duplicate servers
Verify that the stop action completes before the start action, add a lock around the wrapper, and make sure cron or Task Scheduler is not launching a second copy under another account. A watchdog should not fight the maintenance script; coordinate their ownership of the process.
The script restarts every time
If you schedule SteamCMD on a short interval, a restart on every successful invocation may be disruptive even when no files changed. Use a maintenance interval appropriate for your community, or add a trusted change-detection method after verifying that the identifiers being compared are from the same numbering system. Do not compare Steam’s build number directly with Klei’s version-file number.
Operational checklist
- SteamCMD path, installation directory, and application identifier are correct.
- Stop and start commands have been tested manually and target every intended shard.
- The updater runs under the correct account and cannot be edited by untrusted users.
- A lock prevents overlapping executions.
- SteamCMD failure stops the success path and generates an alert.
- Logs include timestamps and are retained long enough to diagnose a missed update.
- Worlds, shard settings, mod setup, and mod overrides are backed up.
- Workshop IDs are listed in
dedicated_server_mods_setup.lua. - Each shard that should load a mod has its own
modoverrides.luaentry. - A restart follows a successful update so mod downloads are actually loaded.
- Players are informed of the maintenance window and expected downtime.
What you can and cannot automate
You can automate SteamCMD checks, stopping and starting the server, Workshop refreshes that occur during startup, logging, and alerts. You cannot make a running process adopt a new mod package without restarting it, and no scheduler can compensate for a malformed Lua setup file or a failed SteamCMD transaction. Treat the updater as maintenance software: test it, lock it, back up the data it touches, and make failures visible instead of claiming an update that was never confirmed.
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