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Run The Forest dedicated server in Docker with a maintained image such as jammsen’s, a persistent bind mount for /theforest, the Steam server token required by that image, and UDP port forwarding for 8766, 27015, and 27016. The container wraps the Windows server process with Debian, SteamCMD, Wine, and Xvfb, while Docker keeps the installation and configuration isolated from the host.
This guide uses the current jammsen Compose pattern and explains where the older Donimax workflow differs. It also addresses the important Steam App ID discrepancy: Donimax documents 242760, while jammsen’s material lists dedicated-server App ID 556450. Confirm the value required by the image version and Steam’s account-management page immediately before deployment.
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What a Dockerized The Forest server contains
The Forest was released as a Windows game, so a Linux Docker host normally runs the dedicated server through Wine rather than a native Linux binary. The jammsen image combines Debian tooling, SteamCMD, Wine, and Xvfb. SteamCMD downloads or updates the server files, Wine starts the Windows process, and Xvfb supplies the virtual display components that some Windows applications expect.
Docker does not remove the game’s networking or Steam requirements. You still need a host with Docker Engine and Compose support, enough compute, memory, storage, and network capacity for a Wine-based process, a Steam Game Server Account token when the selected image requires one, and a router or firewall rule that sends the server’s UDP traffic to the Docker host.
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There is no universal CPU, RAM, disk, uptime, or bandwidth figure published for this deployment. Treat capacity as an operational sizing decision: leave room for the operating system, Docker layers, downloaded game files, save files, logs, and future updates rather than assuming a fixed minimum.
Choose an image before you deploy
Image maintenance matters more than a superficially short Compose file. Compare the project’s recent activity, its Wine and SteamCMD base, the directory it expects to persist, token and App ID instructions, port mappings, configuration generation, update behavior, and log output.
| Image/project | Documented characteristics | Maintenance status | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| jammsen The Forest dedicated server | Debian, SteamCMD, Wine, Xvfb; persistent /theforest volume; Compose example publishes UDP 8766, 27015, and 27016; exposes a server-token setting; lists dedicated-server App ID 556450 |
Repository presents the newer image and a current Compose example | Use the image’s current environment-variable names and README for token handling; pin a tested tag or digest for production |
| Donimax The Forest server | Docker/Wine workflow with a /config mount; instructions create a Steam Game Server Account with App ID 242760; similar UDP port mapping |
Repository marked archived on March 19, 2026 | Its setup instructions warn that the first two setup steps are necessary for saves; verify all values against the current image documentation before using it |
The examples below use jammsen’s image because its documented layout is current in the supplied material. If you select another image, do not copy its volume path, environment-variable names, or token variable blindly; substitute the values that image currently documents.
Prepare the Linux host
Install and check Docker
Install Docker Engine and the Docker Compose plugin using the package method supported by your Linux distribution. Confirm that both commands work for the account that will operate the server:
docker --version
docker compose versionRun the service under a user that can invoke Docker, or use sudo consistently. Mixing root-owned files with an unprivileged Compose project can prevent the container from writing saves and generated configuration.
Create a project directory and persistent storage
Make a dedicated directory for the Compose file, environment file, and game data. The bind mount below keeps the host directory ./game attached to the container’s /theforest directory:
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mkdir -p ~/the-forest-server/game
cd ~/the-forest-server
touch default.envThe game directory must remain in place across container recreation and image updates. A named Docker volume can also work, but a bind mount makes backups and inspection straightforward. The container process must have permission to create and modify files there.
Plan the network path
Give the Docker host a stable address on your LAN, preferably through a DHCP reservation or a static configuration. Your router’s forwarding rule must always target that address; otherwise a lease change can make a healthy container unreachable from the internet.
Create the Compose deployment
Save this as compose.yaml in the project directory:
services:
the-forest:
image: jammsen/the-forest-dedicated-server:latest
container_name: the-forest-dedicated-server
restart: unless-stopped
env_file:
- ./default.env
ports:
- '8766:8766/udp'
- '27015:27015/udp'
- '27016:27016/udp'
volumes:
- ./game:/theforestThis follows the published project pattern: the container restarts unless you stop it, all three documented ports are published as UDP, and the game directory is persistent. For a production server, replace latest with a tested image tag or digest after reviewing that project’s release notes. No single tag policy is universally safe; test an update with a backup before changing the live instance.
Populate the environment file without leaking secrets
Open default.env and add the variables named by the selected image’s current documentation. At minimum, provide its server-token variable if the image requires a Steam Game Server Account token, plus any variables it uses to generate server.cfg. Do not commit this file to a public Git repository, paste the token into screenshots, or place it directly in the Compose file.
Environment-variable names differ between projects and image revisions. An incorrect name can result in a container that starts but never authenticates, so copy the exact spelling and capitalization from the image README you selected. Keep the file readable only by the account that administers the server when your host’s permission model allows it.
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Obtain the Steam Game Server Account token
Steam’s Game Server Account Management page is https://steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers. Sign in with the Steam account that will own or administer the server, create a new game-server entry, and record the token securely.
- Open the Steam Game Server Account Management page.
- Create a new account entry when Steam presents the form.
- Enter the App ID required by your selected image and Steam’s current form.
- Copy the generated token into the image’s documented environment variable in
default.env. - Keep the token private; treat it like a credential and regenerate it if it is exposed.
The two project documents expose different App IDs. Donimax says to use App ID 242760, while jammsen’s material lists dedicated-server App ID 556450. This is not a value to reconcile by guessing: check the current README for the exact image tag you deploy and verify Steam’s current account-management requirements. If the token is accepted by Steam but the server still fails to register, revisit this App ID first.
Configure server.cfg
The image generates or consumes a configuration file in the persistent game directory. The documented settings are:
| Setting | Example value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
serverIP |
0.0.0.0 |
Listen on all container interfaces. Use the host’s internal address only when the deployment specifically requires it. |
serverSteamPort |
8766 |
Steam communication port. |
serverGamePort |
27015 |
Gameplay traffic port. |
serverQueryPort |
27016 |
Server-query and browser traffic port. |
serverName |
Forest Home |
Name shown to players. |
serverPlayers |
8 |
Maximum players in the example configuration. |
enableVAC |
on or off |
Controls Valve Anti-Cheat according to the game’s configuration format. |
serverPassword |
A private password you choose | Restricts player access when set. |
serverPasswordAdmin |
A separate private administrator password | Protects administrator actions; use a different value from the player password. |
A minimal file based on the documented example looks like this:
serverIP 0.0.0.0
serverSteamPort 8766
serverGamePort 27015
serverQueryPort 27016
serverName Forest Home
serverPlayers 8
enableVAC on
serverPassword choose-a-private-player-password
serverPasswordAdmin choose-a-different-admin-passwordReplace both example passwords before allowing anyone to connect. Keep the configuration inside the persistent mount so a container replacement does not reset the server name, player limit, anti-cheat setting, or passwords. If the image generates this file from environment variables, use that mechanism instead of editing a generated file that will be overwritten on restart.
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Publish the required UDP ports
The common port assignments in the current Compose examples are:
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| Port | Protocol | Role | Where to forward it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8766 | UDP | Steam communication | Router and host firewall to the Docker host |
| 27015 | UDP | Game communication | Router and host firewall to the Docker host |
| 27016 | UDP | Query communication | Router and host firewall to the Docker host |
Forward each external port to the same numbered UDP port on the Docker host unless you intentionally change the mapping and then update the server configuration accordingly. The project documentation specifically calls for port forwarding or NAT for the ports in the Compose file.
Host firewall checklist
- Allow inbound UDP 8766, 27015, and 27016 on the Docker host’s firewall.
- Forward those UDP ports from the public router address to the host’s stable LAN address.
- Check that another service is not already bound to any of the three host ports.
- When testing from inside the LAN, use the host’s internal address; some routers do not support hairpin NAT.
- Do not open unrelated ports simply because they appear in an old guide using a different image or protocol.
Start the container and watch first boot
- From the directory containing
compose.yaml, rundocker compose up -d. - Follow the startup output with
docker compose logs -f the-forest. Look for SteamCMD installation or update activity, Wine startup, configuration generation, and the game-server process launching. - In a second terminal, run
docker compose psand confirm the service remains in a running state rather than repeatedly restarting. - Allow the first boot to finish downloading and updating the server before judging availability. A restart during SteamCMD work can leave an incomplete installation.
- After the server reports readiness, search for its configured name in the in-game browser or use the game’s normal direct-connect workflow.
There is no single authoritative health-check command published for these images. Container status, startup logs, visibility in the game browser, and a real player connection are practical operational checks rather than benchmark results.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify saves and survive an update
Persistence is the difference between a disposable test container and a usable server. Stop and start the service after creating a world, then confirm that the save and configuration files remain under ~/the-forest-server/game. Recreating a container must not delete that directory.
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The warning refers to completing the project’s required setup and mount steps before relying on saves. In the jammsen layout, verify that the host directory is actually mounted at /theforest; a typo in the host path or a mount placed on the wrong service creates a fresh, empty filesystem inside the container.
Back up before changing the image
Stop the server cleanly, archive the persistent directory, and only then pull or start a new image version:
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docker compose down
tar -czf the-forest-game-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S).tar.gz game
docker compose pull
docker compose up -dKeep at least one known-good archive outside the project directory. If an update changes configuration generation or fails to start, stop the new container, restore the archive, and return to the previously tested image tag or digest.
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The container exits or restarts repeatedly
- Run
docker compose logs --tail=200 the-forestand identify whether the failure occurs during SteamCMD, Wine, configuration parsing, or token authentication. - Check that
default.envexists, contains the exact variable names expected by the image, and has no accidental quote or line-break errors. - Confirm that the host can reach Steam services and has enough free disk space for the download and update.
- Inspect
docker compose psfor a restart loop; stop the service before repeatedly editing files so you do not obscure the first error.
The server starts but is invisible on the internet
- Confirm all three UDP mappings are present in Compose and that the host firewall allows them.
- Check router forwarding to the Docker host’s current LAN address.
- Verify
serverIPis0.0.0.0unless your image documentation requires the internal host address. - Confirm that
serverSteamPort,serverGamePort, andserverQueryPortmatch the published ports. - Test from outside the LAN if possible; an internal test can fail because of missing hairpin NAT even when external players can connect.
The server appears only on the LAN
A LAN-only result usually points to NAT, firewall, or registration rather than a save problem. Recheck the router’s destination address, ensure the public-side rules are UDP rather than TCP, and review logs for token or Steam registration errors. If the App ID is wrong for the selected image, create a token with the value that image currently documents and restart the service.
Players cannot join or queries time out
Check that the game port 27015 and query port 27016 are both forwarded; opening only the Steam communication port is insufficient. Verify that no host process occupies the ports and that the Compose file did not map them to different external numbers. A successful container start does not prove that the router is forwarding packets.
Saves disappeared after an update
- Stop the service and inspect the host-side
gamedirectory for the expected files. - Run
docker inspect the-forest-dedicated-serverand verify that the mount source is the intended host directory and the destination is/theforest. - Look for a second Compose project or a changed working directory that created a different relative
./gamepath. - Restore the last archive if the host files were deleted, then start the previously tested image before investigating further.
Operate the server safely
Keep credentials out of source control
Protect the Steam token, player password, and administrator password. Store them in the environment file or secret mechanism supported by the image, restrict file access, and rotate exposed credentials. Use separate player and administrator passwords so a shared player password cannot grant administrative access.
Control updates
Automatic restart is useful for recovering from a crash, but it is not a substitute for controlled image upgrades. Review release notes, back up the persistent directory, test the new tag, and watch the first startup logs. A mutable latest tag can change without a Compose-file edit; pin a tested tag or digest when repeatability is more important than automatic updates.
Monitor disk and logs
SteamCMD downloads updates into the container’s storage, while saves and generated configuration accumulate in the bind mount. Check free disk space periodically and retain only the backups and logs you need. If you move the project directory, update the bind-mount path deliberately and verify the mount after the move.
Quick Recap
Deployment checklist
- Docker Engine and Docker Compose run successfully on a Linux host.
- The selected image’s current README has been checked for environment-variable names, token handling, volume path, and App ID.
- A Steam Game Server Account token has been created through Steam’s account-management page and kept private.
default.envcontains the image-specific token and server settings without committed secrets.- The persistent host directory is mounted to the image’s documented game directory.
- UDP 8766, 27015, and 27016 are published in Compose and forwarded through the router and host firewall.
server.cfghas the intended IP, ports, name, player limit, VAC setting, and separate passwords.- Logs show SteamCMD and the server process completing startup.
- The server is visible through the game’s browser or connect workflow.
- A stop/start test confirms that saves and configuration survive container recreation.
- A backup exists before the first image update.
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