If this is your first time hosting a multiplayer server, then you have come to the right place. Creating a multiplayer server is one of the best ways to experience a game you’ve known well in a new light, or perhaps to get new players to experience what a game is like. Whatever the case, you will find all the answers to questions you might have about hosting a server.
What exactly is a Dedicated Server?
So, you know that to play in Multiplayer, you need to create a server, but why? Well, let’s go over the basic function of a server. If we take a look at Minecraft, it has two types of servers: an Integrated and a Dedicated server.
On the top, we have an Integrated server, where one player acts as both player and host. On the bottom, we have a dedicated server, a machine that runs the server and allows for anyone to join in.
If you have ever started a Single Player world, you are starting up a server, an Integrated one at that. These types of servers are a part of the save itself and mostly performs logic. The reason why a Single Player world would also have a server is so that you can open to LAN. When a Single Player world is opened to LAN, anyone on your network can see and join the server, but only for as long as the world is online for. Once everyone is off, the server is offline.
On the other hand, a Dedicated server is a server that stays on for as long as it continues to run. The machine itself is not playing the game, rather it has the resources for players to join. Actually, a Dedicated server is hosting all the data to play, and any activity that occurs on the server is saved to it. The benefit of this is that if everyone is logged off, the server will continue to run for as long as the machine the server is on stays online.
Does a Dedicated Server use my computer’s specs?
A dedicated server does require resources in order to run. As such, if you create a dedicated server on your own computer, it will require resources to run the server, and then it will need more resources to run the client on the same device.
However, when you host a server with us, we handle the hardware, such as the CPU, the memory, and the storage all for you! A dedicated server with us is a machine that contains all the data, and you just have to join it.
Does a plan use memory on my computer?
When you purchase a plan, you are given the memory to run whatever servers you want on our machines. This memory is separate from your own device, so whatever happens on the server, it’s using the memory allocated for you.
How long do I have to wait for my server to install?
After you purchase a plan, it’s time to create a server. All plans can support any game, so there’s no game-specific plan. Click on the Create a Server button, select the game you want and if you want it to have a modpack pre-installed, and finalise some settings before starting.
As a server is a copy of the game with all the client features stripped out, it will need time to install. This process varies in time depending on the game and if there are mods installed. Games such as Minecraft can complete installing in less than a minute without mods, but other games such as ARK: Survival Evolved will require more time as they are much bigger games. You will know when a server is ready once the pinwheel icon disappears.
A server may also have a “Pending” message. This is only for the Friendly Address and does not reflect a server’s installation status. This process also does not take too long for basic setup, but if you can’t wait for the Friendly Address, there is the IP Address.
How do I join my server?
Once you have a server running, joining it will depend on what game you are playing on, and what addresses are available. For most servers, you will be looking to join the server with an IP Address, which looks like a string of numbers. Some servers may have an address that forwards you to the server. These will look like a website URL.
On the left is the IP Address, and on the right is the Friendly Address. The latter is easy to remember, while the former is a direct connection.
With us, you will be given the option to use both an IP Address and a Friendly Address with a domain of your own choice. You can join the server with either of these two addresses, with the Friendly Address serving as a way to easily share and remember the address to the server.
Does my device need to stay on so the server stays on?
In cases such as self-hosting from your own device, the server will only remain on for as long as it is running. We make this easier by having your server run on machines that will always stay on! Because it’s separate from your own device, you won’t have to worry about turning the server back on to play on it again.
Some games such as Vintage Story will pause a server’s activity for as long as nobody is online. That way, time-sensitive tasks will not continue unless there is someone online. Minecraft servers will pause most activity, but to keep certain machines running with nobody online, a mod that force-loads chunks can keep these chunks active and running. In both examples, the server is continually online, so anyone can join at any time.
How do I know my server is online?
Once you press the Start button, that should be it, right? Well, not just yet. A dedicated server is a copy of the game with only server functions, so just like your own game, it needs time to load. This process takes anywhere between a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the game and if mods are installed.
A selection of games with a join message, visible from the server's Console view. If you see these messages, then the server has finished loading and is ready to join.
Some games will post a message in the Console that the server has finished loading. This message usually reads “Done” or “Server open” depending on what the game is. For modded servers, there may be more messages after the start message, so make sure to read over the console for the server start message or if other players are already online.
For games where a start message may not appear or if you missed the message, server starting should take just a few minutes.
How do I get started with my own server?
I am glad you asked! Getting started with a server is simple as we handle all the hard work in creating a server.
First, choose one of our affordable plans and pick the plan with the right amount of memory. The right plan for you depends on the game you are looking to host, how many players you want, and what mods are installed. For modpack servers, check out our comprehensive list of memory requirements for each modpack.
Once you have chosen the right plan, get started with a new server by clicking on Create a Server, then selecting the game for the server. Modpacks can be found under the Minecraft game option, then selecting a modpack from the Modpacks section below. In just a moment, you will have yourself a new server. Have fun!