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An Unturned server manager is a toolkit rather than one program: Valve SteamCMD installs and updates the Dedicated Server, ServerHelper starts each isolated instance, configuration files define its rules, and optional OpenMod or RocketMod add permissions and plugins. This guide shows how those pieces fit together on Windows and Linux, how to publish a server safely, and how to keep it online.
What an Unturned server manager actually includes
The official hosting model is straightforward: multiplayer servers run from the Unturned Dedicated Server tool, and Valve SteamCMD installs and updates that tool. Management then happens around the server executable rather than inside a single control panel.
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- ServerHelper.bat or ServerHelper.sh: starts a named server instance with the correct internet or LAN mode.
- ServerID folders: keep worlds, settings, and logs separate when you run more than one instance.
- Commands.dat and related files: define the map, name, ports, player limit, combat mode, and other rules.
- WorkshopDownloadConfig.json: declares maps, mods, and dependencies that should be downloaded at startup.
- Administration commands: provide in-game and console moderation, saving, messaging, and runtime control.
- OpenMod or RocketMod: optional extension frameworks for plugins, permissions, and economy systems.
- Operating-system automation: Windows scripts or Linux systemd and screen keep the process running and allow graceful restarts.
Thinking in layers helps with troubleshooting. If files are missing, investigate SteamCMD. If the wrong world or rules load, investigate the ServerID directory and Commands.dat. If players cannot connect, investigate login tokens, ports, and firewall rules. If commands or plugins fail, investigate permissions and framework compatibility.
Install and update the dedicated server with SteamCMD
Windows installation
- Install SteamCMD in a dedicated directory with enough space for the server files, workshop downloads, logs, and backups.
- Open a command prompt in the SteamCMD directory and sign in anonymously.
- Run
app_update 1110390. App ID 1110390 is the Unturned Dedicated Server application. - Repeat the update command whenever you intentionally update the game server. Stop the running instance first so files are not replaced while in use.
- Use the installed
ServerHelper.batto launch an instance, for exampleServerHelper.bat +InternetServer/MyServer.
MyServer is not a display name; it is the ServerID. The helper creates or opens the corresponding server directory, so changing that value starts a separate instance with separate saves and configuration.
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Linux installation
- Install SteamCMD through your distribution’s supported package or Valve’s current installation method.
- Run SteamCMD with anonymous login and
app_update 1110390in the directory where you want the dedicated server. - Make the helper script executable if necessary, then start an internet instance with
./ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer/MyServer. - Run the command as a non-root service account. Give that account ownership of the server, save, workshop, and log directories.
Keep SteamCMD’s installation directory separate from your live configuration and backup directories. That makes it easier to replace binaries during an update without deleting worlds or operator files.
Use ServerID folders to run multiple servers safely
Every ServerID has its own save data and configuration. A practical layout is one top-level dedicated-server directory containing one subdirectory per instance, such as a survival server, a test server, and an event server. Never copy files between instances without checking that you are not overwriting saves, bans, or permissions.
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Configure Commands.dat
Commands.dat is the main launch-configuration file for an instance. It can specify the map, server name, port, player limit, PvE or PvP behavior, and other server options. Put one command or setting on each line using the syntax expected by the current Unturned version.
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- Set the map before the first public launch so the server generates the intended save.
- Give each instance a clear name that players can recognize in the server list.
- Set a distinct starting port for every instance; do not reuse the same port range.
- Choose a player limit appropriate for the machine and the map rather than assuming that a larger value is free.
- Keep a version-controlled or dated copy of Commands.dat so a bad edit can be reversed quickly.
After changing Commands.dat, stop and restart the instance. Some runtime commands can change settings immediately, but launch settings are most reliably applied on the next start.
Make the server reachable from the internet
Get a Game Server Login Token
A public internet server requires a valid Game Server Login Token. Treat the token as a secret: do not publish it in screenshots, repositories, or support posts. If you replace the token, update the server’s configuration and restart the instance.
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Choose Fake IP or port forwarding
The hosting documentation describes two ways to expose an internet server:
| Method | How it works | Operational considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Fake IP | The service receives an internet-reachable address without you forwarding game ports from a home router. | Presented in the documentation as the easier choice for most servers; verify current availability and account requirements. |
| Port forwarding | Your router sends the server’s required UDP traffic to the machine running Unturned. | Requires a stable local address, firewall rules, and router access. Carrier-grade NAT or a changing public address can prevent inbound connections. |
Whichever method you use, test from a different network, such as a phone hotspot. A connection that works only from inside your home LAN can be caused by NAT loopback behavior and does not prove that internet players can join.
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Plan ports for more than one instance
Unturned uses consecutive ports for game traffic and server-list queries. Assign a different starting port to every ServerID and leave the required consecutive ports available. Record the mapping in an operations note containing the ServerID, machine address, public port range, and firewall rule. This prevents a second instance from silently colliding with the first.
Open only the ports you actually use. Keep operating-system administration ports restricted to trusted addresses, and update the dedicated server and operating system regularly. Before accepting donations, paid perks, or other payments, read the current Unturned server monetization and hosting rules; compliance requirements can change independently of the software.
Add workshop maps and mods
Workshop content is declared in WorkshopDownloadConfig.json. At startup, the Map command searches installed workshop items for the matching name, while listed dependencies are downloaded for players who connect. A missing dependency can therefore look like a map or plugin failure even when the main item is installed.
- Choose a workshop map or addition and record its numeric workshop file ID and exact item name.
- Add the item to the instance’s
WorkshopDownloadConfig.jsonusing the structure required by the current server files. - List every dependency identified by the workshop author, not just the main map.
- Restart the server and watch the startup log for download errors, duplicate items, or an item that cannot be found by name.
- Join with a clean client to confirm that the server prompts for or downloads the required workshop content.
Maintain a written inventory of file IDs, item names, dependencies, and the date each item was added. Workshop authors can update or remove items, so an inventory is essential when migrating to another machine or rolling back after a bad update. Test workshop changes on a separate ServerID before applying them to a busy public world.
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Administer a running server
Commands can be entered in chat, in the server console, or in Commands.dat, depending on the command. Chat commands require administrator privileges and commonly use a slash or at-sign prefix. Use the console for recovery when no administrator can join.
- Grant or revoke administrator access.
- Ban, unban, permit, or inspect players.
- List current players and investigate a reported connection.
- Set or inspect server ports.
- Broadcast a maintenance or event message.
- Force a save before maintenance or a migration.
- Change supported runtime settings without editing files.
Keep the operator list small and review it after staff changes. Save before every planned restart, announce the shutdown, and allow players time to leave. A forced process kill risks losing recent progress and can leave a world in an awkward recovery state.
Choose an extension framework: OpenMod or RocketMod
The base dedicated server is enough for maps, rules, and basic moderation. Extension frameworks add commands, permissions, moderation workflows, and plugins. OpenMod is a supported server-extension path, and its Unturned module is installed through the OpenMod.Unturned workflow. RocketMod remains another ecosystem, and OpenMod can be installed side by side with it.
| Decision area | OpenMod | RocketMod |
|---|---|---|
| Primary role | Plugin framework with its own permissions and integrations. | Established plugin framework with its own permissions and integrations. |
| Coexistence | Can be installed alongside RocketMod. | Can run alongside OpenMod when the installation and plugins support that arrangement. |
| Permissions | Can use OpenMod permissions, RocketMod permissions, or a separate system through integration settings. | Can provide its own permission state or share it through the configured integration. |
| Economy | Can use OpenMod Uconomy, RocketMod Uconomy, or keep economy systems separate. | Can use RocketMod Uconomy or an integrated alternative when configured. |
| Upgrade risk | Plugin compatibility must be checked against the current game and framework versions. | Plugin compatibility must be checked against the current game and framework versions. |
The important migration decision is where permission and economy data live. If both frameworks are installed but configured to use separate systems, a player may have different ranks or balances depending on which plugin handles the command. Document the selected permission and economy back ends before installing plugins, and test upgrades on a copy of the server.
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Keep a Linux server online with systemd and screen
On Linux, systemd can start the helper at boot, restart it after a failure, and provide a predictable service name. The screen program gives the service a terminal session to which an operator can attach for diagnostics and from which commands such as save and shutdown can be sent.
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- Run the service as a dedicated unprivileged user.
- Set the working directory to the SteamCMD-installed server directory.
- Launch
ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer/MyServerinside a named screen session. - Configure systemd to start at boot and restart on failure, with a delay that avoids a rapid crash loop.
- Stop gracefully by attaching to the screen session, issuing
save, thenshutdown.
A typical operational sequence is to reload systemd after editing the unit, enable the service, start it, and inspect its status and journal. Use the exact paths and account names from your machine rather than copying a path blindly. Confirm that the service can write saves and workshop files before exposing the server publicly.
Production safeguards
- Back up each ServerID directory on a schedule and keep at least one copy on another disk or host.
- Rotate logs so a long-running server cannot fill the filesystem.
- Monitor process state, disk space, memory, and failed restarts.
- Test restoring a world and its configuration, not just creating backup archives.
- Keep a rollback copy of the previous server build and workshop inventory before upgrading.
Windows and Linux management compared
| Capability | Windows approach | Linux approach |
|---|---|---|
| Install and update | SteamCMD, commonly invoked from a batch script. | SteamCMD invoked from a shell script or service workflow. |
| Instance launch | ServerHelper.bat +InternetServer/MyServer |
./ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer/MyServer |
| Multi-instance separation | Distinct ServerID directories and starting ports. | Distinct ServerID directories and starting ports. |
| Boot automation | Task Scheduler or a service wrapper can launch the batch file. | systemd can start at boot and restart on failure. |
| Interactive recovery | Use the server console or a persistent terminal session. | Use a named screen session and attach when needed. |
| Graceful shutdown | Issue save and shutdown through the console. |
Send save and shutdown to the screen session. |
The better operating system is the one you can patch, back up, monitor, and recover confidently. Neither platform removes the need to plan ports, tokens, workshop dependencies, and version compatibility.
Troubleshoot the failures that matter most
The server does not appear in the list
- Confirm that you launched with
+InternetServer, not a local-only mode. - Verify the Game Server Login Token is present and valid.
- Check that the selected Fake IP or port-forwarding method is active.
- Check the operating-system firewall, router rules, and port collision with another ServerID.
The wrong map or an empty world loads
- Check the ServerID in the launch command and open that instance’s Commands.dat.
- Confirm the map name matches an installed map or a workshop item found by the Map command.
- Make sure you did not start a newly named ServerID by mistake.
Players are missing workshop content
- Check the item ID and name in WorkshopDownloadConfig.json.
- Review startup logs for a failed dependency download.
- Remove or replace an item that has been deleted or made private by its author.
Plugins fail after an update
- Check the plugin’s stated game and framework compatibility.
- Verify whether it expects OpenMod permissions, RocketMod permissions, or a separate provider.
- Disable the newest plugin on a test ServerID, then re-enable plugins one at a time to isolate the conflict.
The Linux service keeps restarting
- Inspect the systemd journal and the screen session for the first error, not just the final restart message.
- Check file ownership, executable permission on ServerHelper.sh, disk space, and the selected ports.
- Run the helper manually as the service user to distinguish a service-unit error from a server error.
A repeatable operating checklist
- Update the dedicated server with SteamCMD only during a maintenance window.
- Back up the affected ServerID directory and record the current workshop inventory.
- Review Commands.dat, token configuration, and port assignments.
- Start the instance and inspect logs before announcing that it is open.
- Join from an external network and test administration, saving, map loading, and workshop downloads.
- Record any changed plugin, permission, economy, or firewall setting.
- Schedule the next backup and verify that monitoring reports the process as healthy.
Following this sequence turns an Unturned server from a manually launched process into a manageable service: SteamCMD keeps the files current, ServerID keeps instances isolated, configuration files make behavior reproducible, and automation protects uptime without sacrificing controlled shutdowns.
Quick Recap
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