The most reliable way to run an Arma Reforger dedicated server is a layered setup: SteamCMD installs and updates the server files, a JSON file defines the server, and a shell or PowerShell script launches it. Add a restart supervisor, Docker, LinuxGSM, or a web panel only when you need automatic recovery, repeatable deployments, or multiple instances.
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This approach works because each tool has a clear job. SteamCMD handles the depot, the game executable handles simulation and networking, your configuration and profile directories hold state, and a supervisor keeps the process available. Every method still depends on correct UDP exposure, firewall rules, public registration values, and secure administration credentials.
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Bohemia Interactive defines a dedicated server as “a server without any game instance launched; it purely processes game information and network synchronisation.” Players run the game on their own computers and connect to this headless process. The host can therefore be a separate Linux or Windows machine rather than the computer used to play.
That distinction also explains why a server manager is useful. A manager does not replace the game server. It installs the files, supplies the correct launch arguments, stores configuration and profiles, watches the process, applies updates, and exposes controls for one or more instances.
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The official Steam identifiers are different for each release channel:
| Channel | Steam app ID | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Stable | 1874900 |
Normal public operation |
| Experimental | 1890870 |
Testing changes before moving them to a public server |
These are technical identifiers from Bohemia Interactive’s current hosting documentation, not player-count or performance statistics. No authoritative benchmark establishes a universal CPU, memory, or player limit, so choose a host with sufficient resources for your map, mods, simulation load, and expected population, then observe its logs and system usage.
Choose the management layer that matches your operation
There is no single “best” manager. The right choice depends on whether you run one occasional server or several always-on instances.
| Approach | Setup effort | Updates | Crash recovery | Multiple instances | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteamCMD plus shell or PowerShell | Lowest; you control every file and argument | Scripted with app_update or a SteamCMD runscript |
Must be added with a service supervisor or loop | Manual separation of ports, configs, and profiles | One transparent, easy-to-audit server |
| Docker | Moderate; requires an image, volumes, and UDP mapping | Can be applied on container restart when the image supports update-on-restart | Container restart policies and an external monitor can recover the process | Convenient with separate Compose services and volumes | Repeatable deployments and isolated instances |
| LinuxGSM | Moderate; install and verify the current game script | Scheduled checks can be automated | Monitoring and automatic crash restart are core features | Possible, but each instance needs its own configuration | Linux operators who prioritize uptime over a graphical interface |
| Web administration panel | Highest; adds a web service, credentials, and usually a database or API settings | Panel workflows can combine SteamCMD and configuration actions | Depends on the panel and its service configuration | Strongest operator experience for many servers | Communities that need browser-based multi-server control |
Docker, LinuxGSM, and panels add convenience but also add software that must be secured and updated. A bare executable is simpler, yet it will not restart itself after a crash. For a single private server, scripts are often the most maintainable starting point; for a community with several profiles and ports, standardised containers or a panel usually save administrative time.
Set up the official server with SteamCMD
1. Decide on a release channel
Record whether the instance is stable or experimental before installing anything. Use app ID 1874900 for stable or 1890870 for experimental. Keep experimental testing on a separate machine or instance when the public server must remain predictable.
2. Install SteamCMD and select an install directory
Install SteamCMD for the operating system hosting the server. Pick a dedicated directory such as an application folder rather than mixing server binaries with logs, backups, or user-uploaded files. The account running the process needs read and execute access to the binaries and write access to the profile and log locations.
3. Download or update the depot
Run SteamCMD with an anonymous login, select the install directory, and update the chosen app. The essential operation is:
app_update 1874900Replace the ID with 1890870 for experimental. For repeatable maintenance, place the SteamCMD commands in a runscript such as update_armar_ds.txt and invoke it with:
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steamcmd +runscript update_armar_ds.txtRun the update before starting the server, and record the command’s exit status in your scheduler or service wrapper. A script that reports success while SteamCMD failed can leave you believing the instance is current when it is not.
4. Create configuration and profile directories
Keep the JSON server configuration separate from the executable directory and maintain a distinct profile directory for logs and persistent data. Back up the configuration, launch script, and profile together because a working binary without its matching settings and history is difficult to recover.
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Bohemia Interactive’s configuration reference states that JSON parameter names are case-sensitive. Treat spelling and capitalisation as functional requirements, not style choices. Validate the file before starting and make one change at a time when diagnosing a failure.
5. Launch the process
Start the executable with an explicit configuration file and profile path:
./ArmaReforgerServer -config /path/to/server.json -profile /path/to/profileThe exact paths are yours to choose. An explicit profile prevents logs and persistent files from being written to an unexpected working directory. Apply a conservative -maxFPS value when appropriate for your host and monitor whether simulation timing improves; there is no published universal value that is correct for every map or mod set.
Make the server reachable from the internet
Installation and networking are separate tasks. An instance can start normally and still be invisible to other players if the public UDP path is wrong.
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- Choose the bind and public values in the JSON configuration. The address on which the process listens and the address advertised to players must describe the same reachable service.
- Open the host firewall. Permit the configured game UDP port for the server executable or service account.
- Forward the port on the router. For a machine behind NAT, forward the same UDP port to the host’s internal address. Reserve that internal address so the rule does not silently point at another device later.
- Check the public registration address and port. A mismatch between registration values and the forwarded port can produce a server that appears locally healthy but cannot accept outside connections.
- Test from another network. Use a connection outside the host’s LAN, then confirm the instance appears in the server browser and that a player can complete the connection.
Do not assume that a successful local connection proves internet access. The official hosting guidance specifically warns that outside connections fail when the relevant port is closed.
When Docker is the better server manager
Docker packages the server runtime into a reproducible container. It is valuable when you already operate Compose, want isolated instances, or need to recreate a known layout after a host migration.
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Persist the state that matters
Mount persistent storage for the server configuration, profile data, and workshop or mod directories. If those paths remain inside an ephemeral container layer, deleting or recreating the container can remove the very logs, settings, and downloaded content needed to restore it.
Expose UDP deliberately
Map the game connection over UDP from the host to the container and duplicate the firewall and router rules at the host level. Container networking does not bypass NAT, provider firewalls, or the game’s public address settings.
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Use documented image settings
The ACE Mod image documentation describes mounted configuration, profile, and workshop directories, along with environment variables for items such as public address and game name. It also documents update-on-restart behavior. Treat those variables and mount points as image-specific: read the current image documentation before copying a Compose file, and verify that an update actually completed before allowing players back in.
Separate instances cleanly
Give every instance its own Compose service or container, profile volume, JSON file, UDP port, and log location. Shared writable directories make it easy for one server to overwrite another’s state and make incident recovery ambiguous.
Use LinuxGSM for monitoring and automatic recovery
LinuxGSM is a community automation option identified by the hosting guide as providing monitoring, automatic crash restart, and scheduled update checks. It is a strong fit for a Linux host where uptime matters more than a graphical control panel.
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Even with LinuxGSM, keep an independent backup and a way to inspect the underlying process. Automation should shorten recovery, not hide failures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What a web administration panel adds
The open-source Arma Server Manager project describes browser-based administration for Arma Reforger and related Bohemia games. Its documented workflows include Docker Compose deployment, SteamCMD access, multi-server administration, mod-directory scanning, configuration handling, and copying .bikey files into server key directories.
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A panel is most useful when several operators need controlled access to multiple instances. It can reduce repetitive SSH and shell work, but it introduces another security boundary:
- Protect panel accounts with unique passwords and, where available, multi-factor authentication.
- Limit the panel’s network exposure; do not publish an administration interface broadly just because the game port is public.
- Store Steam-related settings, API keys, and session credentials outside publicly readable files.
- Review mounted host paths. A panel with broad filesystem access can expose unrelated data if compromised.
- Keep the panel, its database, and its container images updated, and test restoration of its configuration.
For one server, these dependencies may outweigh the convenience. For a community running several profiles, ports, mod sets, and operators, the central view can justify them.
A repeatable operating runbook
- Record the channel and app ID. Mark stable (
1874900) or experimental (1890870) in your deployment notes. - Prepare the host. Confirm adequate CPU, memory, storage, a fixed internal address, and a reachable public UDP path.
- Install and update with SteamCMD. Use anonymous login and a runscript so the operation can be scheduled and logged.
- Version the JSON configuration. Keep secrets out of repositories and review case-sensitive keys before deployment.
- Separate the profile. Store logs and persistent data outside the binary directory and back them up.
- Launch explicitly. Supply
-config,-profile, and, if needed, a conservative-maxFPS. - Verify external visibility. Check firewall, router forwarding, public registration address, public port, and a connection from another network.
- Add supervision. Use a service manager, LinuxGSM, or a container restart policy, then test an intentional stop and a crash-style restart.
- Schedule updates and backups. Update during a maintenance window, retain the previous configuration, and back up profile and mod data before disruptive changes.
- Scale only when needed. Standardise Docker Compose or adopt a panel after reviewing its credentials, volumes, and update process.
- Stage risky changes. Test mods and configuration on an experimental or separate instance before changing the public server.
Common failures and targeted fixes
The server starts but nobody outside the LAN can join
Check the UDP firewall rule, router forwarding, public registration address, and public port as one chain. Test from a different network. A local client can connect through an internal route even when the public path is closed.
The process exits immediately
Read the startup log and inspect the JSON for case-sensitive key errors, invalid syntax, and paths the service account cannot read. Start with the smallest known-good configuration, then reintroduce changes one at a time.
Updates run but the server still uses old files
Confirm that SteamCMD targeted the same install directory used by the launch script and that the update command returned success. Stop the process before replacing files, then verify the binary and log timestamps.
A restart loses settings or mods
Check Docker volume mounts or the service working directory. Configuration, profile, and workshop paths must point to persistent storage; otherwise a recreated container or differently launched service may appear empty.
Mods cause a key or connection error
Confirm that the mod directory is present on the server and that required .bikey files have been copied into the server’s key directory. A panel may automate that copy, but the resulting files still need to be checked after an update.
Several instances interfere with each other
Give each instance its own JSON file, profile, logs, mod storage, process definition, and UDP port. Shared paths and reused ports are the first things to eliminate.
Security and maintenance checklist
- Protect RCON and administrator credentials; never place them in publicly readable repositories or logs.
- Restrict panel, SSH, and Steam-related credentials to the accounts and hosts that need them.
- Keep game files, manager software, container images, and operating-system packages updated on a planned schedule.
- Back up JSON configuration, profile data, logs needed for diagnosis, and mod or key-file state.
- Test restoration on a separate directory or instance instead of assuming a backup is usable.
- Review file permissions on mounted Docker paths and panel-managed directories.
- Record which release channel, app ID, ports, and launch arguments each instance uses.
Which manager should you choose?
Choose SteamCMD plus a script when you run one server and want the fewest moving parts. Choose Docker when repeatability, isolated instances, and infrastructure-as-code matter. Choose LinuxGSM when a Linux host needs monitoring, scheduled updates, and crash restarts without a browser interface. Choose a web panel when multiple servers and operators make centralised administration worth the added credentials, database, and maintenance surface.
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