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To run a Mindustry dedicated server, install a Java runtime, download the matching Mindustry server release, launch it with java -jar [server].jar, and start a map with host <mapname> [mode]. The command uses survival when you omit the mode. Players on your network can connect directly; internet players need port 6567 forwarded for both TCP and UDP.
Campaign play works by hosting a campaign sector or another campaign-compatible map and allowing the server to maintain its own hosted-game saves. You cannot copy an individual campaign save from your personal game into the server: the official game text says, “Individual save files from the campaign cannot be imported.”
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What a Mindustry dedicated server does
A dedicated server is a standalone, headless Mindustry program. It runs separately from the graphical game client, so the computer hosting it does not need to display the game. The process provides the multiplayer session while players connect from their own devices.
Campaign mode is not enabled by importing a single-player save. Campaign progress is represented by campaign-sector state. The reliable approach is to host the desired sector or a campaign-compatible map on the server, then let the server create and maintain its own save and autosave data.
What you need before installing
- A Windows or Linux computer, Raspberry Pi, virtual private server (VPS), or dedicated virtual machine that can remain available while people play.
- A Java runtime compatible with the Mindustry server release you intend to run.
- The Mindustry server JAR downloaded from an official release channel.
- A separate directory for the JAR and its server data, stored on persistent disk rather than temporary storage.
- Firewall access to port 6567. Internet hosting also requires router port forwarding for both TCP and UDP.
- Clients running the same Mindustry version as the server. Mindustry is cross-platform when devices use the same version.
There are no authoritative published figures for campaign player capacity, CPU requirements, or hosting prices in the official material. Choose hardware with enough headroom for your expected group and keep backups under your control instead of relying on an unverified capacity claim.
Install and launch the server
1. Install a compatible Java runtime
Install Java before downloading and launching the server. Compatibility depends on the particular Mindustry release, so check the release’s stated Java requirement and install that version for the operating system hosting the process. Verify that the java command is available in a terminal before continuing.
2. Create a dedicated server directory
Make a directory used only for this server. Put the downloaded server JAR there. Keeping the JAR, generated world data, logs, and saves together makes upgrades and backups easier and prevents a temporary working directory from being mistaken for permanent storage.
3. Start the headless process
- Open a terminal or command prompt.
- Change the working directory to the folder containing the JAR.
- Run
java -jar [server].jar, replacing the bracketed name with the actual file name. - Leave the server console running while players are connected. A service manager, scheduled task, or terminal multiplexer can be used to keep the process running after you disconnect, provided the host still retains the server data directory.
The server exposes a command console after startup. Type help to display the commands supported by the release you installed. Command availability can change between releases, so use that in-session list as the authoritative syntax for your build.
Start a map and select campaign content
Find an available map
Run maps all at the server console to list maps the server can host. Identify the campaign sector or campaign-compatible map you want to use. Use the exact map name shown by the server when issuing the host command.
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Host the game
Start a session with:
host <mapname> [mode]Replace <mapname> with the map name. The optional [mode] argument selects the game mode; when you omit it, the command defaults to survival. If the map or mode is rejected, run help and maps all again to confirm the syntax and available names for your release.
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Understand what “campaign mode” means on a server
For a dedicated server, campaign play means hosting the relevant sector and preserving the resulting hosted-game state on the server. It is not a switch that merges a player’s local campaign profile with the server. The server must build its own state as players complete objectives and progress through the hosted world.
“Individual save files from the campaign cannot be imported.”
That limitation means a player cannot finish a sector in a personal game, copy the personal save file to the server directory, and expect the dedicated server to continue it. Begin the sector on the server instead, and use the server’s save and autosave mechanisms from that point onward.
Make campaign progress persistent
Keep the server data on permanent storage
Mindustry’s server code creates autosave files while a game is hosted. Store the server directory on a disk that survives reboots, container recreation, or VPS replacement. Avoid directories that are cleared when a session ends.
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Back up the hosted state
- Stop or pause the game using the server console before copying data, so files are not being changed during the backup.
- Copy the server’s save and configuration data to a second disk or another protected location.
- Keep dated backup copies so an accidental overwrite does not destroy the only campaign state.
- After a restore, start the same server release first and confirm that the expected sector and player progress appear before inviting players back.
Backups protect the server’s hosted campaign state; they do not make an individual client campaign save importable.
Open the network correctly
Local-network hosting
Players on the same home or office network can connect using the host computer’s local IP address and port 6567. They do not need internet port forwarding when every player is on that local network, although the host firewall must still allow the server process to receive traffic.
Internet hosting
For players outside the local network, forward port 6567 on the router to the server computer and allow both TCP and UDP through the host firewall. Forwarding only one protocol can produce inconsistent connection failures.
- Give the server computer a stable local address, such as a DHCP reservation, so the router’s forwarding rule continues pointing to the right machine.
- Create separate or combined forwarding rules for external port 6567 to internal port 6567, covering TCP and UDP.
- Allow the Java server through the operating system firewall on the same protocols and port.
- Have a player outside your network test the public address and port. Testing only from inside the same network can be affected by router loopback behavior and does not prove that internet forwarding works.
Reduce exposure of a home connection
Publishing a home public IP exposes more than the game port and can reveal the location of the connection. The official guidance cautions against casually exposing a home public IP and suggests using a DNS or domain-masking service, or moving the server to a cloud service or dedicated virtual machine. A cloud host also avoids keeping a home computer powered on continuously. Review the provider’s firewall, update, backup, region, and bandwidth controls before committing to it.
How players join
- Launch Mindustry on a client using the same version as the server.
- Open Play.
- Select Join Game.
- Choose Add Server.
- Enter the server’s local IP for a local connection, or its public hostname/IP for an internet connection, followed by port
6567. - Save the entry and connect.
If the server is reachable but the client reports a version or content mismatch, update the client or server so both use the same release and compatible mods.
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Useful server-console commands
The rendered official command reference includes administration commands beyond starting a map. The exact options can vary by release, so run help on the running server before using an unfamiliar argument.
| Command | Use |
|---|---|
help |
Display commands and syntax supported by the current server build. |
maps all |
List maps available to host. |
host <mapname> [mode] |
Start a hosted map; mode defaults to survival when omitted. |
status |
Inspect the current server or game status. |
stop |
Stop the hosted game or server operation according to the release’s command behavior. |
pause |
Pause or resume the active game where supported. |
say |
Send a message from the server to connected players. |
playerlimit |
Set or inspect the player limit, subject to the release’s syntax. |
rules |
View or change game rules exposed by the server. |
config |
View or change server configuration options. |
reloadmaps |
Reload map data after map files change. |
reloadassets |
Reload available assets when supported. |
mods |
Inspect or manage installed mods according to the build. |
The command reference also documents logging, strict mode, anti-spam limits, and automatic-update configuration. Treat those as administrative controls rather than campaign features, and verify each option with help because names and arguments can differ between releases.
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The same JAR workflow can run on several kinds of machine. The practical differences are ownership, exposure, maintenance, storage, and uptime rather than a different campaign command.
| Host type | What you control | Network and uptime considerations | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Windows or Linux computer | Operating-system updates, Java, firewall, router, saves, and backups. | Local play is simple; internet play requires forwarding port 6567 and exposes the home connection unless you use an additional masking or tunnel service. | A small group that already has an always-on computer and is comfortable administering it. |
| Raspberry Pi | Java compatibility, operating-system maintenance, storage, power, and backups. | Low-power, continuously running hardware is practical when the installed Java version matches the server release. Internet access still needs the same firewall and forwarding work. | A low-power home host for a modest group. |
| Cloud VPS or dedicated virtual machine | Java, the server process, data, updates, and application-level firewall rules; the provider supplies the virtual infrastructure. | Designed for remote access without exposing a residential public IP. Choose a region near players and confirm persistent storage and backup options. | An internet-facing server that should remain online independently of a home computer. |
| Managed game-server hosting | The provider may handle some combination of backups, updates, and firewall configuration; the exact scope must be verified before purchase. | Convenient for operators who do not want to maintain a JAR and firewall themselves. Confirm current Mindustry support, version controls, mod handling, storage, and restore procedures. | Players who value administration convenience over direct control. |
The official FAQ confirms that a dedicated server can run on a Raspberry Pi when the correct Java version is installed. It does not establish a universal player limit or a performance guarantee for a particular Pi model, RAM amount, VPS size, or geographic region.
Mods, versions, and updates
Keep client and server versions aligned
Cross-platform play depends on devices running the same Mindustry version. Before an update, record the server release, installed mods, and current campaign backup. Update a test copy first if the campaign is important.
Handle mods deliberately
Use the mods command to inspect the server’s mod state. Every connected client must have compatible content when a mod requires it. Do not reload or remove a mod in the middle of a campaign without a backup: changing content can make a saved world unavailable or alter its behavior.
Use automatic updates cautiously
The official command reference includes automatic-update configuration. If you enable it, schedule updates for a maintenance window, retain a known-good server JAR, and back up the campaign data first. Automatic replacement without a rollback copy can turn a version mismatch into data loss or a failed startup.
Quick Recap
Troubleshooting checklist
The JAR will not start
- Run the command from the directory containing the JAR.
- Check that the file name in
java -jar [server].jarexactly matches the downloaded file. - Confirm that Java is installed and that its version is compatible with this server release.
- Read the console error before changing files; a missing Java runtime and an incompatible Java version require different fixes.
The map cannot be found
- Run
maps alland copy the map name exactly as displayed. - Use
reloadmapsafter adding or replacing map files. - Check that the campaign sector or custom map is present in the server’s data directory.
Players on the same network cannot connect
- Confirm that the client is using the host’s local IP, not the router’s public IP.
- Allow Java or the server process through the host firewall on port 6567 for TCP and UDP.
- Check that another application is not already using port 6567.
Internet players cannot connect
- Verify router forwarding to the server computer’s current local address.
- Check both TCP and UDP rules and the host firewall.
- Test from a genuinely external network rather than relying on a same-network test.
- Confirm that the public address has not changed and that any DNS name resolves to the current address.
- If the internet service uses carrier-grade NAT or blocks inbound traffic, use a cloud VM, dedicated VM, or an appropriate masking/tunneling arrangement instead of repeatedly changing local rules.
Campaign progress disappeared
- Make sure the server is using the original persistent data directory rather than a new empty directory.
- Restore the latest server-side backup and verify the server release before inviting players.
- Do not substitute a personal campaign save; individual campaign files cannot be imported into the dedicated server.
Clients see a version or content error
- Compare the exact Mindustry version on every client with the server version.
- Check mod lists and versions on both sides.
- After changing maps or assets, run the relevant reload command and reconnect.
A safe operating routine
- Choose the host and install a Java version compatible with the selected Mindustry release.
- Download the server JAR into a persistent, dedicated directory.
- Launch it, run
help, and confirm thatmaps alllists the intended sector or map. - Start the session with
host <mapname> [mode]. - Join locally first, then test the external address if the server is internet-facing.
- Before each release, mod, or configuration change, stop or pause the game and create a dated backup.
- Keep the host’s firewall, Java runtime, server JAR, and operating system maintained, while avoiding unplanned updates during active campaign sessions.
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