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Godlike.Host hosts servers for Minecraft and more than 40 other games, with free DDoS protection and 24/7 support.
Keep your gaming PC switched off by running the game’s dedicated-server software on a separate host that stays powered on. That host can be a spare low-power computer, a virtual machine on an existing home server, or a rented VPS or dedicated server. You then install the server build, allocate enough CPU, memory and storage for the game and player count, make only the required port reachable, and automate startup, updates, backups and recovery.
The exact process is game-specific: some PC games provide an official dedicated-server package, while others only support hosting from the game client. Confirm that distinction before buying hardware or a hosting plan.
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What “24/7” hosting actually requires
A server remains available only while the machine running its server process, operating system, network connection and power are available. Shutting down your gaming computer is therefore fine if the server process has moved to another always-on machine.
Separate the requirements into four layers:
- Server software: an official dedicated-server binary or a supported server package.
- Compute and storage: CPU performance, RAM and durable storage sized for the title, world and concurrent players.
- Reachability: a stable network address and the correct TCP or UDP port allowed through firewalls.
- Operations: automatic startup, updates, backups, logging and a way to recover after a crash or power loss.
If any layer is missing, the server may work while you are testing it but disappear when the gaming PC is turned off, the host reboots or the internet-facing address changes.
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Choose where the server will run
| Host type | Advantages | Trade-offs | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spare or low-power computer at home | One-time hardware cost, local control and usually low latency for people nearby | Uses electricity, depends on your home connection and power, and exposes a device on your network | Small private groups and people who already own suitable hardware |
| Virtual machine or second home host | Isolation between services, snapshots and the ability to run several servers | The underlying host, home power and internet connection are still single points of failure; administration is more involved | People already operating a home server or virtualization platform |
| VPS or rented dedicated server | Datacenter power and connectivity, remote administration and no home port-forwarding requirement | Recurring charge, provider resource limits and less physical control | Groups that need reliable public access or cannot maintain a home host |
Home hardware
A spare desktop, mini PC or single-board computer can run a lightweight server while using less power than a gaming tower. The one-time purchase is not the whole cost: electricity, a UPS, replacement storage and your time maintaining the machine also matter. A home host is attractive when most players are close to your internet connection and you can tolerate occasional outages.
Virtual machines
A virtual machine is useful when an existing computer already stays on for storage or other services. You can snapshot the guest before a configuration change and limit its CPU and RAM allocation. The game still sees the performance of the physical host, so oversubscribing the host with several busy services can cause tick-rate or simulation problems.
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A VPS places the operating system and server process in a provider’s datacenter. A rented dedicated server gives you the machine’s full physical resources, but normally costs more and still requires system administration. Cloud guidance for Minecraft Education explicitly lists VPS providers such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services as possible locations; the suitable provider, region, instance size and current price must be checked for your game and player base.
Verify that the game supports a dedicated server
Do this before choosing hardware. A dedicated server is a separate program that accepts player connections without rendering the game for a local player. If the title offers only a listen-server or client-hosting mode, turning off your gaming PC will also end the session.
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Where to look
- Check the game’s official server-hosting or dedicated-server documentation.
- Look for a separately downloadable server package, Steam tool, command-line installer or documented container image.
- Confirm supported operating systems and CPU architectures. A Windows-only binary cannot be assumed to run on Linux, and an x86-64 binary cannot be assumed to run on ARM.
- Read the licensing and authentication requirements. Some servers require a game-server login token, while the account running a Source Dedicated Server does not need to own the game being hosted. Steam Support states: “You do not need to register any games to your server account in order to host games.”
Steam’s Source Dedicated Server documentation shows a separate workflow and lists a player range of 1–32 with default UDP port 27015 for the relevant server tool. Treat those values as defaults for that tool, not as universal settings for every Steam game.
Example: SteamCMD-based installation
Many Steam servers are installed with SteamCMD. The exact application ID, install directory, launch parameters and token differ by game. A typical repeatable update and validation sequence is:
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchessteamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir <server-directory> +app_update <APPID> validate +quitReplace the angle-bracket variables with the game’s documented values. Garry’s Mod documentation, for example, covers SteamCMD installation, app_update, validation, launch commands and game-server login-token configuration. Do not copy a token, port or launch option from another title.
Size the host for the actual workload
Use the game’s official requirements as the starting point, then allow headroom for the world, mods, plugins and concurrent players. Server workloads often care more about consistent single-thread CPU performance and fast storage latency than about a large number of weak cores.
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- 2 × USB 3. 0 ports, 2 x USB 2. 0 Ports
- 2 × micro HDMI ports supproting up to 4Kp60 video resolution
- Micro SD card slot for loading operating system and data storage
Baseline example: Minecraft Bedrock Dedicated Server
Minecraft’s official server-download documentation, accessed October 15, 2026, lists these minimums:
| Requirement | Published baseline | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i3-3210, AMD A8-7600 APU or equivalent | Minimum listed by the official documentation; larger worlds and more players need more capacity |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | Minimum listed for the Bedrock dedicated server |
| Storage | 180 MB to 1 GB available space | Listed server space; world growth, logs, backups and updates require additional room |
| Linux | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later | Operating-system requirement stated by the official documentation |
| Windows | Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or later, or Windows Server 2016 or later | Operating-system requirement stated by the official documentation |
| Network | Broadband internet connection | Bandwidth still depends on player count, simulation activity and upload capacity |
These figures are not a universal recipe. Add memory for larger worlds, several simultaneous dimensions, plugins or many players, and monitor CPU utilization during busy periods rather than sizing only from an idle test.
Raspberry Pi and other ARM boards
A Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is discussed as a Minecraft host in a 2022 community guide, but that evidence is anecdotal and workload-dependent. Many Steam server binaries target x86-64. Verify an official ARM build, compatibility layer support and realistic performance for the exact game, player count and mod set before buying a Pi. A board that handles a lightly populated vanilla world may fail under a heavily modded world or a different title.
Storage, memory and backups
- Prefer reliable SSD storage when the server frequently saves world data or loads many small files.
- Leave free space for temporary update files, logs and at least one local backup.
- Keep an additional copy of saves and configuration off the host. A second disk in the same machine does not protect against theft, corruption or a failed power supply.
- Measure peak RAM and CPU use with the intended player count. A server that is stable for two players can become CPU-bound when simulation entities or mods increase.
Install the server on Linux
- Prepare a dedicated account. Create a non-root user for the server process and a directory owned by that user. This limits the damage from a compromised plugin or malformed file.
- Patch the operating system. Apply current security updates, install the runtime packages required by the game’s documentation and set the correct time zone.
- Install the server package. Use the game’s official download or SteamCMD instructions. Keep the install directory separate from backups and configuration archives.
- Run the server once manually. Accept any license terms, create the initial world and inspect the first log for missing libraries, ports or permissions.
- Configure authentication and gameplay. Set the server name, player limit, world path, password or allow-list, and any game-server login token required by the title. Store secrets in a protected file rather than in a public script or chat message.
- Test locally. Connect from a device on the same LAN, confirm that saves persist after a clean shutdown and record the port shown in the server log.
Run it as a systemd service
Once the manual launch works, use a service manager so the process starts after reboot and restarts after a crash. A minimal unit has this shape:
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[Unit]
Description=Dedicated game server
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target
[Service]
User=gameserver
WorkingDirectory=/srv/game-server
ExecStart=/srv/game-server/start-server.sh
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.targetSave it as /etc/systemd/system/game-server.service, then run:
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sudo systemctl enable --now game-server
sudo systemctl status game-server
journalctl -u game-server -fUse the game’s documented launch command inside start-server.sh. Stop the service cleanly before copying a live world, and make the script return a nonzero status when startup fails so systemd can report the problem.
Install the server on Windows
- Create a separate local service account with only the permissions the server needs.
- Install the official server files and required runtime, then launch once from PowerShell or Command Prompt to generate configuration.
- Set the world, player, authentication and port settings in the game’s documented configuration files.
- Use a Windows service wrapper or Task Scheduler trigger set to “At startup” to launch the server whether or not your gaming account is logged in.
- Configure automatic restart on failure and redirect standard output and error to dated log files.
- Test a reboot, a forced process termination and a clean shutdown. Confirm that the service returns and that the latest world save remains intact.
A scheduled task is simpler to understand; a service wrapper usually provides clearer recovery actions and service status. Whichever method you choose, document the executable path, working directory and launch arguments so an update does not silently start the wrong copy.
Make the server reachable from the internet
Home network procedure
- Reserve a LAN address. Create a DHCP reservation for the server or configure a static address outside the router’s changing pool.
- Identify the documented port and protocol. Some games use UDP, some TCP and some use both. Do not open a broad range “just in case.”
- Create one port-forwarding rule. Forward only that port from the router to the reserved server address. Bohemia Interactive states that port forwarding is required for a hosted server to be visible from outside the local network.
- Allow the same port in the host firewall. Limit the rule to the required protocol and, where practical, to known source networks.
- Test from outside your LAN. Have a friend connect using your public address, or test over a mobile connection. A connection from inside the same LAN can succeed even when internet forwarding is wrong.
If your internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT, ordinary port forwarding may not work because you do not receive a directly reachable public address. In that case, use a provider that supplies a public address, a supported relay or a VPS instead of exposing random ports.
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VPS procedure
- Create the instance in a region close to most players and choose an operating system supported by the game.
- Open the game’s documented TCP or UDP port in the provider’s firewall or security group.
- Open the same port in the operating system firewall.
- Install and configure the server exactly as on a home Linux host, then test using the VPS’s public address.
- Restrict SSH or remote-desktop access to trusted addresses, use key-based authentication where available and disable unused services.
Do not expose administration interfaces
RCON, web dashboards, SSH, remote desktop and database ports are management surfaces, not player ports. Require authentication, restrict their source addresses or place them behind a VPN, and never reuse the player password for administration. Keep the operating system, server binary, plugins and mods patched.
Automate updates, backups and recovery
Updates
Schedule updates during a quiet period and follow the game’s own update instructions. SteamCMD supports repeatable update and validation commands, so an update script can stop the service, back up the current files, run app_update <APPID> validate, and start the service again. Pin or test mod versions when the game does not guarantee backward compatibility.
Backups
- Stop the server or use its documented save command so the world is not being written while copied.
- Back up worlds, server configuration, allow-lists, ban lists and token configuration.
- Keep several dated restore points and at least one copy on another machine or storage service.
- Encrypt backups that contain credentials or private player data.
- Perform a test restore on a temporary directory. A backup that has never been restored is only an assumption.
Power and network resilience
A small UPS can keep a home host and router running through short outages and provide time for a clean shutdown. It cannot compensate for a long ISP outage or a failed host. Datacenter hosting removes many home-power risks but does not eliminate software crashes, provider maintenance or account problems.
Monitoring
Watch service status, free disk space, memory pressure, CPU saturation, login failures and the age of the latest backup. Configure alerts for repeated restarts or a full filesystem. Keep logs long enough to diagnose a crash, but rotate them so logging cannot consume the world-storage volume.
Compare the real trade-offs before deciding
| Decision factor | Home computer | Virtual machine at home | VPS or dedicated server |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly hosting fee | Not stated; depends on owned hardware and electricity tariff | Not stated; depends on the existing host and electricity tariff | Not stated; depends on provider, region, instance size and billing model |
| Electricity | Paid by the owner and varies with hardware draw | Shares the physical host’s draw with other services | Included indirectly in the provider’s fee |
| Upload bandwidth | Limited by the home connection | Limited by the home connection | Usually datacenter-grade, but subject to provider limits and fair-use terms |
| Latency | Excellent for nearby players; depends on the ISP route | Same home-network route | Choose a region near the player group; internet routing still varies |
| CPU behavior | Full access to the machine, including strong single-thread performance if available | Limited by the allocation and host contention | Depends on the advertised virtual or physical CPU; verify single-thread performance for simulation-heavy games |
| Storage durability | You choose the drive and replacement plan | Depends on the physical host and storage pool | Provider hardware and volume policy apply; maintain your own backups |
| Port exposure | Requires router forwarding and host firewall rules | Same home-network exposure unless isolated further | Requires provider security-group and host-firewall rules |
| Administration | Physical access is easy, but you maintain hardware, OS and network | More isolation and snapshots, but more virtualization work | No physical maintenance, but you administer the remote OS and provider account |
| Scaling | Constrained by the machine you own | Can resize allocations within the physical host’s limits | Usually easiest to resize or migrate, subject to provider availability and cost |
| Mod support | Depends on the game’s server build and your storage/CPU headroom | Same software limits, plus VM resource limits | Same software limits; fast remote storage can help with large mod sets |
Troubleshoot the common failure modes
Friends cannot connect, but you can
- Confirm they are using the public address, not the server’s private LAN address.
- Check that the router forwards the correct protocol and port to the reserved LAN address.
- Verify both the router and host firewall rules.
- Check for carrier-grade NAT or a changed public address.
- Read the server log for authentication, version or port-binding errors.
The server disappears after a reboot
- Check that the service or scheduled task is enabled and runs under an account with access to the install directory.
- Use the absolute executable and working-directory paths.
- Inspect systemd’s journal or Windows event and service logs.
- Confirm the network is ready before launch and that the server is not waiting for an interactive license prompt.
Players experience lag or simulation stalls
- Measure one-core CPU usage and tick or frame timing during the busiest period.
- Reduce view distance, entity counts or mod load only after backing up the world.
- Check RAM pressure and swapping; add memory or reduce concurrent services.
- Compare home upload saturation with the game’s documented bandwidth expectations.
- Move to a stronger host or a closer VPS region when the current machine cannot maintain the required simulation rate.
An update breaks the world or mods
- Stop the service and restore the pre-update backup.
- Validate the server files with the game’s supported tool.
- Check that every plugin and mod supports the new server version.
- Stage future updates on a copy before applying them to the public instance.
A practical decision checklist
- Does the game provide an official dedicated-server binary?
- Which operating systems, CPU architectures and authentication methods are supported?
- What CPU, RAM, storage and upload capacity are required for your world and player count?
- Will a home host receive a directly reachable public address, or is a VPS more appropriate?
- Which exact TCP or UDP ports must be open?
- Can the server start automatically and restart after failure?
- Are world files and configuration backed up off-host on a schedule?
- Can you restore a backup and test an update without risking the live world?
- Who will apply security patches and respond when the service stops?
Bottom line
Run the dedicated server on a separate always-on host, not on the gaming PC. A spare home computer is usually the simplest low-cost path for a small private group; a virtual machine suits an existing home-server operator; and a VPS or dedicated server is the most practical choice when public reachability and datacenter power matter more than physical control. Verify dedicated-server support and architecture first, size for peak workload rather than minimum requirements, forward only the documented port, and automate service recovery and tested backups before inviting players.
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