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For a dedicated Windrose server, plan hardware by both player count and world age. Hosting guides that cite the developer’s dedicated-server table report 8 GB of RAM for two players, 12 GB for four, and 16 GB for roughly eight to 10 players. The same guidance uses a 2-core, 3.2 GHz Intel Xeon Scalable Sapphire Rapids reference processor and about 35 GB of SSD space, while desktop-oriented guidance recommends a quad-core CPU and up to 50 GB of NVMe storage for eight players.
Those figures describe a server running on separate hardware. If the same computer runs the game client and the server, allow at least 24 GB of total system memory. Windows 10 or 11 64-bit is the documented platform in the available guide. Linux support is less settled: a June 25, 2026 hotfix is reported to add official Docker images, but the official guide snapshot predates that change, so verify the current DedicatedServer.md before deploying on Linux.
Windrose dedicated-server requirements at a glance
The numbers below are the practical planning ranges currently repeated by hosting guides that attribute them to the official dedicated-server documentation. They are not a benchmark showing that every processor or world will perform identically. Memory demand can rise as a world accumulates structures, items and activity over many months.
| Use case | RAM | CPU guidance | Storage guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-player dedicated server | 8 GB | The official-style reference is 2 cores at 3.2 GHz on an Intel Xeon Scalable Sapphire Rapids system. Desktop guides commonly advise a modern quad-core processor. | About 30–35 GB on an SSD |
| Four-player dedicated server | 12 GB | Approximately 35–50 GB on an SSD | |
| Eight-player server | 16 GB | 50 GB on NVMe is recommended by desktop-oriented guidance | |
| Eight-to-10-player resource reference | 16 GB | Not stated separately | Not stated separately |
The 10-player entry is a resource reference, not confirmation that the current game client or server build supports 10 simultaneous players. Confirm the supported player limit for the version you are running.
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How much RAM does a Windrose server need?
Use player count as the starting point
Allocate 8 GB for a two-player server, 12 GB for four players, and 16 GB for an eight-player installation. The figures are intended for a dedicated machine where the operating system and server have the memory to themselves. Do not treat 8 GB as a universal minimum: it is a small-session target, not a guarantee for a heavily developed world.
Allow for world growth
Server memory is affected by what has been built and retained, not only by the number of people connected at one moment. A crew that remains at four players can still consume more memory after months of construction and accumulated world data. Leave headroom above the tier you initially select, monitor usage during busy periods, and increase the allocation before the operating system starts paging to disk.
Hosting and playing on one PC
When one computer runs both the game client and the dedicated process, one guide recommends at least 24 GB of total RAM: 16 GB for the client plus 8 GB for the server. That is a combined-machine planning figure, not a replacement for the dedicated-server tiers. Background applications, voice chat, recording software and browser tabs require additional memory, so a 32 GB system gives more practical breathing room.
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CPU requirements and what the reference processor means
Official-style reference
Hosting documentation that cites the official table describes a 2-core, 3.2 GHz Intel Xeon Scalable processor from the Sapphire Rapids generation. This is a reference specification, not a promise that any two-core chip with the same clock speed will behave the same way.
Desktop recommendations
Desktop-oriented guides advise at least a quad-core CPU, with Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X class hardware given as examples or better. Another guide emphasizes single-thread performance more than raw core count. In practice, prefer a recent processor with strong per-core speed and four or more physical cores, especially if the host also runs the game client or other services.
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Do not convert the Xeon figure into a benchmark score
No verified benchmark maps the Sapphire Rapids reference directly to Ryzen or Intel Core models. Processor age, cooling, power limits, virtualization and background workloads can all change results. If you are choosing between machines, prioritize a modern desktop CPU with high sustained single-core performance, adequate cooling and enough total cores for the operating system and any companion services.
Storage: SSD capacity is a performance requirement
Capacity ranges
Published guidance differs at the low end. One set of summaries lists about 30 GB for a two-player server, while the official-style table is commonly restated as 35 GB. For planning, reserve 30–35 GB for two players, 35–50 GB for four, and 50 GB for an eight-player server.
Choose SSD or NVMe
Use an SSD rather than a mechanical hard drive. Slow disks are repeatedly reported as a source of server problems, particularly during startup, saves and world loading. For eight players, desktop guidance specifically recommends 50 GB on NVMe. Keep free space beyond the stated capacity for updates, logs, backups and temporary files; a disk that is technically large enough but nearly full can still cause failures.
Protect the world data
Put scheduled backups on a different physical disk or host when possible. A backup stored on the same failing drive does not protect the world. Before changing server versions or moving the installation, stop the process cleanly, copy the world and configuration files, and verify that a test restore opens successfully.
Operating-system support: Windows is documented, Linux is version-sensitive
Documented Windows platform
The documented operating system is Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit. For the least ambiguous setup, install the dedicated tool on a supported 64-bit Windows machine and follow the instructions shipped with it.
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Why older Linux advice conflicts with newer reports
Older guides describe the native server as Windows-only and say that no Linux binary was available. A fan-wiki report says Hotfix 0.10.0.7, released June 25, 2026, added official Docker images with Linux server support. A hosting guide names the image windroseserver/windroseserver:latest.
The official guide snapshot available for comparison was last updated May 18, 2026 for game version 0.10.0.5.120, before that hotfix. Because the Docker claim comes from secondary reporting and the support status can change with each build, read the current DedicatedServer.md and the current official guide at playwindrose.com/dedicated-server-guide before committing a Linux deployment. Do not assume that a Windows binary run through a compatibility layer has the same support status as an official Linux image.
Installing the dedicated server
The server is distributed as the free Windrose Dedicated Server tool. Its Steam application ID is 4129620, and the installation includes DedicatedServer.md in the server root.
- Prepare the host. Use a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 installation unless the current documentation confirms a supported Docker/Linux path. Apply operating-system updates, install current graphics-independent runtime components requested by the guide, and create a dedicated folder or service account for the server.
- Install through Steam. In the Steam client, search for Windrose Dedicated Server, select the free tool and install it to the target SSD. If you manage the machine without the desktop client, use SteamCMD with the application ID supplied by the documentation:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 4129620 validate +quit. Check the guide shipped in the resulting server directory for the supported launch parameters. - Read the local guide before editing files. Open
DedicatedServer.mdin the server root. Follow its current instructions for world selection, ports, authentication and launch options rather than copying settings from an older guide. - Start a controlled test. Launch the server with a fresh or copied world, connect from the same network, and confirm that saves complete and the process remains stable. Test a restart before inviting other players.
- Measure under real load. Watch RAM, CPU, disk activity and network upload while players build and travel. Record peak use, not only the idle value, then increase memory or storage headroom if the host approaches its limits.
- Automate recovery. Configure clean shutdowns, scheduled backups and an automatic restart policy appropriate to your operating system. Keep the server and client versions aligned; a mismatched update is a common cause of connection or world-loading errors.
Network and bandwidth planning
Some guides suggest roughly 20 Mbps of upload capacity for a stable server. That number is not tied to a verified primary measurement in the available documentation, so treat it as a planning target rather than a guaranteed requirement. Actual traffic depends on player count, world activity, update frequency, network overhead and whether other applications share the connection.
- Measure sustained upstream speed at the host during the hours players will connect, not only the provider’s advertised maximum.
- Leave margin for other household or datacenter traffic; saturating upload produces latency even when the server has enough CPU and RAM.
- Use a wired connection where possible and test from an external network so local-loopback success is not mistaken for public reachability.
- Apply the port, firewall and forwarding instructions in the current
DedicatedServer.md; those labels and defaults can change between versions.
Choosing a machine by scenario
Two friends, separate server
Start with 8 GB of RAM, an SSD holding at least 35 GB, and a modern quad-core desktop CPU if you are not using the reference Xeon platform. Keep additional disk space for saves and updates. This is the smallest practical profile in the published tiers.
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Four-player persistent world
Use 12 GB as the memory tier and reserve 35–50 GB of SSD capacity. Choose a CPU with strong single-thread performance and enough cores to handle the operating system and monitoring tools without contention. Add headroom if the world will remain online for months.
Eight-player community server
Plan on 16 GB of RAM and 50 GB of NVMe storage. A quad-core or better desktop CPU is the safer interpretation of the desktop guidance, particularly when backups, dashboards or other services share the host. Validate the 10-player reference separately before advertising capacity beyond eight players.
One PC that hosts and plays
Use at least 24 GB of total RAM for the combined client-and-server workload, with more preferred when recording, streaming or multitasking. Faster storage and a high-performance desktop CPU reduce contention, but they do not remove the need to monitor memory peaks.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting common sizing failures
The server stops or the operating system starts paging
Check peak RAM rather than idle usage. Close unrelated applications, reduce simultaneous workloads and move to the next memory tier. If the world has grown substantially, increasing RAM is more reliable than repeatedly restarting the process.
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Long startups, save pauses or world-load errors
Confirm that the installation and world are on an SSD, preferably NVMe for larger sessions, and that the volume has free space. Inspect disk health and backups before attempting a migration.
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Players report lag despite adequate memory
Examine single-core CPU utilization and upstream saturation. A processor can have unused total cores while one busy thread limits simulation. Likewise, a nominally fast internet plan can perform poorly when upload is shared by other traffic.
Linux deployment fails after an update
Do not assume that an older compatibility-layer recipe remains supported. Check the current official guide and the server’s DedicatedServer.md for the exact Docker image tag, environment variables and launch procedure. The June 25, 2026 Docker report is newer than the May guide snapshot, so version alignment is essential.
More than eight players cannot connect
The 16 GB figure sometimes appears alongside an eight-to-10-player resource reference, but that does not establish a supported 10-player client limit. Verify the current game build’s player cap before changing hardware or network settings.
Keeping the specification current
The official guide snapshot cited by hosting summaries was updated May 18, 2026 for version 0.10.0.5.120. The later Hotfix 0.10.0.7 report demonstrates why operating-system and Docker advice can become stale quickly. Recheck the official guide and the local DedicatedServer.md after every major game update, and record the version beside your hardware and backup procedures. Treat the RAM tiers as starting allocations, then size upward using observed peak usage and the growth of the world you actually run.
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