The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The reliable way to back up a Don’t Starve Together server is to stop it (or force a controlled save), then archive the complete profile or cluster directory used by that server. A single world file is not enough: a dedicated cluster also contains shard settings, player and world data, permissions lists, mod configuration, and the server token. Find the active storage root from the launch options, copy the entire cluster—including both Master and Caves when present—store dated archives outside the live directory, and rehearse a restore on a spare location.
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What counts as a complete DST backup?
Think of the cluster, not an individual save file, as the recovery unit. A cluster is the directory selected by the server’s -cluster option under its persistent-storage root and configuration directory. It holds the files shared by the whole game and the files belonging to each shard. Copying only a world database can leave you without the shard configuration, player data, mod settings, or access lists needed to bring the server back exactly as it was.
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Klei’s official support guidance for Windows PC is direct: “For Don’t Starve Together on Windows PC, go to your \Documents\Klei\ directory and zip it up with all subdirectories.” For a dedicated server, you should normally archive the complete active cluster (or the complete profile when you operate several clusters), rather than relying on a hand-picked save file.
- One cluster: the directory containing
cluster.ini, shard directories such asMasterandCaves, and the cluster’s permission and mod files. - Several clusters or a local profile: archive the profile root so every cluster and its supporting files are retained. This is the safest interpretation of Klei’s “zip it up with all subdirectories” instruction.
- Recovery copy: a dated ZIP or equivalent archive kept somewhere other than the live server folder, plus a second copy on another device or location.
Do not expose cluster_token.txt. It identifies the server instance and is required for operation, so every archive containing it should be treated as sensitive server credentials.
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Find the folder your server is actually using
The default location is useful only if the server is using default launch settings. Klei’s dedicated-server command-line layout is:
<persistent_storage_root>/<conf_dir>/<cluster>/
-persistent_storage_root must be an absolute path. -conf_dir defaults to DoNotStarveTogether, and -cluster selects the cluster directory. Any of those options can point somewhere other than the platform default, so inspect the script, shortcut, container definition, or service unit that starts the server before you copy anything.
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| Platform or installation | Default profile location | Typical default cluster path |
|---|---|---|
| Windows local data | DocumentsKlei |
DocumentsKleiDoNotStarveTogether |
| macOS local data | ~/Documents/Klei |
~/Documents/Klei/DoNotStarveTogether |
| Linux local data | ~/.klei |
~/.klei/DoNotStarveTogether |
| Dedicated server with overrides | Absolute path supplied to -persistent_storage_root |
<root>/<conf_dir>/<cluster>, using the actual launch values |
How to verify an override
- Open the launcher used by the server: a batch or shell script, a Steam launch command, a container command, or the operating-system service unit.
- Locate
-persistent_storage_root,-conf_dir, and-cluster. Record the absolute root and the exact cluster name, including capitalization. - Resolve the path by joining the root, configuration directory, and cluster directory. That resolved directory is the one to archive.
- If the launcher starts Master and Caves with separate commands, confirm that both commands use the same cluster and storage root. A backup that captures one shard but not the other is incomplete.
If you cannot find the launch options, look for the directory that contains cluster.ini and the shard folders, then confirm it against the service’s working directory and logs. Do not assume that a similarly named folder under your home directory is active.
Make the save consistent before copying
A live copy can catch files while the game is writing them. The safest procedure is to stop the server cleanly before making the archive. A Klei forum settings guide states that the game saves on shutdown and that an administrator can manually save with c_save().
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Preferred method: clean shutdown
- Warn connected players and stop new connections.
- Use the server’s normal shutdown mechanism rather than killing the process.
- Wait until both the Master and Caves processes, if used, have exited and the service reports a clean stop.
- Copy the cluster only after the processes are no longer writing to it.
When you cannot take the server offline
Have an administrator run c_save(), then perform the copy as soon as the save completes. This reduces the chance of capturing an in-progress world update, but it is not equivalent to an offline copy: configuration or mod files can still change, and a long-running process may write additional state while you archive. Schedule a maintenance stop for the most dependable backup.
Back up the complete profile or cluster
Windows local or dedicated server
- Stop the server, or run
c_save()followed by a controlled stop. - Open the active profile root. With default settings this is
DocumentsKlei; with a dedicated installation, use the path resolved from the launch options. - Select the entire cluster directory. If you are protecting a local profile with multiple clusters, select the complete
Kleiprofile directory instead. - Create a ZIP that preserves every subdirectory and file. Klei’s support wording specifically calls for zipping the Windows
DocumentsKleidirectory with all subdirectories. - Name the archive with the cluster and UTC date, for example
dst-cluster-main-2026-10-14.zip. Keep the original directory untouched until the archive has been checked.
macOS
- Stop both shard processes if the cluster has Master and Caves.
- In Finder, use
~/Documents/Kleias the default profile location, unless the launch command specifies another persistent root. - Archive the complete active cluster, or the whole profile when several clusters must be protected.
- Open the archive once and confirm that the cluster directory, shard directories, and configuration files are present before moving it to storage.
Linux
- Stop the systemd service, supervisor job, container, or shell processes that run the server. The exact stop command is the one defined by your installation; do not kill only Master while leaving Caves running.
- Check
~/.klei/DoNotStarveTogetherfor the default layout, or follow the absolute-persistent_storage_rootsupplied by your service. - Archive the cluster directory with permissions and subdirectories intact. If the server runs under a service account, make sure the account used for restoration can read the archive and write the destination.
- Move the resulting archive outside the live storage root and verify that its file list is complete.
Files that must travel with a dedicated cluster
The exact contents vary with enabled features, but the configuration reference identifies the following files and roles. Keeping them together prevents a restore that starts a world but silently changes how it behaves.
| Location or file | Why it matters during recovery |
|---|---|
cluster.ini |
Cluster-wide settings, including the identity and shared configuration used by the shards. |
cluster_token.txt |
Server-instance credential required for operation. Back it up, but restrict access to the archive. |
adminlist.txt |
Preserves administrator permissions. |
blocklist.txt |
Preserves blocked-user entries. |
whitelist.txt |
Preserves allow-list access when a whitelist is used. |
Each shard’s server.ini |
Shard-specific server settings; Master and Caves can have different values. |
worldgenoverride.lua when present |
Retains custom world-generation choices. |
leveldataoverride.lua when present |
Retains level-data overrides applied to a shard. |
modoverrides.lua |
Records the mods and per-world settings selected for the shard. |
| Mod download and configuration files | Allow the restored server to obtain and apply the same mod set and settings. |
Do not “clean up” files before archiving. An apparently unused override or mod configuration may be the reason the existing world loads with its current rules. Preserve the directory structure exactly; restoration depends on the relative locations of shared files and shard folders.
Master and Caves: back up both shards together
Master and Caves are separate shards in one cluster. The world is not fully represented by the Master directory alone when caves are enabled. Include both shard directories and the shared cluster files in the same archive, and restore them under the same cluster name.
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- Master only: sufficient only for a cluster that was created and operated without a Caves shard.
- Master plus Caves: required for a cave-enabled world; copy both before deleting or replacing either one.
- Different shard settings: retain each shard’s own
server.ini, overrides, and mod configuration rather than merging files between them.
When checking an archive, expand it and verify that the expected Master and Caves directories appear at the same level beneath the cluster. A flat ZIP with files moved out of their original folders is not a valid cluster backup.
Store archives so one failure cannot erase them all
Use a simple naming and retention policy so you can identify a known-good point in time after a bad update or accidental deletion.
- Put the date and cluster name in every filename, and use a consistent timezone such as UTC.
- Keep the archive outside the live persistent-storage root. If the server disk fails or an update damages the directory, a backup stored beside it can be lost at the same time.
- Maintain a second copy on another device or location. An external hard drive for PC backup is a practical destination for dated ZIP files; disconnect it when it is not being updated to reduce exposure to ransomware or accidental deletion.
- Retain more than one restore point when disk space allows: a recent copy for routine mistakes and an older copy from before a major mod or configuration change.
- Record which server build, mod set, and launch options produced each archive. This is operational metadata, not a replacement for the files themselves, and it helps you select the right restore point.
Never upload or share an archive containing cluster_token.txt without protecting it. Anyone who obtains the token may be able to impersonate or interfere with the server instance. Limit filesystem permissions on the backup device and remove old copies through a secure deletion process when they are no longer needed.
Backup methods compared
| Method | Completeness | Consistency | Portability | Security concern | Recovery confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offline ZIP of the complete profile | Highest for a local installation with multiple clusters and shared files. | High, provided the server is stopped first. | Can be unpacked on another host, then mapped to that host’s absolute storage root. | Archive includes the server token; protect it. | High only after a test restore. |
| Offline ZIP of one complete dedicated cluster | Contains the selected cluster, both shards, permissions, overrides, and mods. | High after a clean shutdown. | Portable when the destination launch options point to the unpacked cluster. | Same token-protection requirement. | High after Master and Caves are launched and checked. |
Live copy after c_save() |
Can be complete if every cluster file is copied, but files may change during the operation. | Medium; a controlled save is safer than an uncontrolled copy but not as reliable as stopping. | Usually portable, subject to remapping the persistent-storage root. | Credentials and permissions still need protection. | Uncertain until restored successfully. |
| Copy of only a world or shard folder | Incomplete for a dedicated cluster; omits shared and administrative files. | Unknown unless the server was stopped. | Fragile because the destination lacks the original cluster context. | May omit the token, but that does not make it a usable recovery set. | Low; treat it as an emergency partial copy, not your backup plan. |
Restore a DST dedicated server
Restore to a spare host or a temporary copy first. A rehearsal catches missing shards, permissions, and mod files without putting the only production world at risk.
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- Stop the destination. Ensure no Master or Caves process is running and no service will automatically restart while files are being replaced.
- Choose the destination storage root. Use the existing launch options, or deliberately set an absolute
-persistent_storage_root, the intended-conf_dir, and the original-clustername. The path must resolve to the directory that will contain the restored cluster. - Preserve the destination before changing it. Rename the current cluster directory or move it aside instead of deleting it. This gives you a rollback if the archive is damaged or the wrong restore point was selected.
- Unpack without flattening. Place the archived cluster at
<persistent_storage_root>/<conf_dir>/<cluster>/. Keepcluster.ini, permission lists, and the Master and Caves directories in their original relative locations. - Restore credentials and configuration. Confirm that
cluster_token.txt, shardserver.inifiles, overrides,modoverrides.lua, and mod download/configuration files are present. Apply restrictive permissions to the token. - Match the shard layout. Start the same Master and Caves shards that existed on the source. Do not launch only Master for a cave-enabled cluster.
- Start and inspect. Verify that the expected world loads, the latest player progress is present, and no shard repeatedly crashes or regenerates a new world.
- Check behavior before switching players over. Test administrator access, block and allow lists, world settings, caves travel, and mod-dependent features. Only after those checks should you point the production service at the restored directory.
Restore checks that prove the archive is usable
- World identity: the restored world has the expected name, day/progression state, and map rather than a newly generated world.
- Player data: at least one known player can connect and retains inventory, location, and progression.
- Shard connectivity: Master and Caves both start and players can travel between them when caves are enabled.
- Mods: the server downloads or finds the intended versions, and mod settings match the archived
modoverrides.lua. - Permissions: an administrator can use administrative controls, while blocklist and whitelist behavior matches the source server.
- File ownership: the service account can read every restored file and write new saves. A successful process start followed by a save is stronger evidence than merely seeing the directory on disk.
After the test, stop the temporary server cleanly and label the archive with the result. A backup that has never been unpacked is only an assumption of recoverability.
Troubleshooting common backup and restore failures
The restored server starts a new world
Most often, the archive was unpacked one directory too deep or the launch options point to a different root, configuration directory, or cluster name. Recalculate <root>/<conf_dir>/<cluster>/ from the destination command line and check that cluster.ini and the shard folders are directly inside that directory. Do not overwrite the archive while correcting the path.
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Confirm that the source cluster actually used caves, that the archive contains the Caves directory, and that the destination starts a Caves shard against the same cluster. Restoring Master alone cannot recreate the missing cave state.
Players or permissions are wrong
Check that the archive includes the cluster-level permission lists and that you did not copy only a shard directory. Verify ownership and read permissions for the account running the service, then restart both shards from the restored cluster.
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Mods fail or the world behaves differently
Look for modoverrides.lua, world and level override files, and the mod download/configuration files in their original locations. A clean archive preserves these files; a hand-selected save copy often does not. Resolve any mod download errors before allowing players to write new progress on the restored world.
The archive itself is incomplete or corrupt
Open the ZIP and browse its contents immediately after creation. If a file cannot be read, recreate the archive from a stopped server. Keep the earlier dated archive until the replacement has passed a restore test.
The token was exposed
Treat exposure as a credential incident: remove public copies, restrict access to the backup device, and follow the server operator’s procedure for replacing the compromised token. Do not publish an archive or attach it to an open support ticket without removing or protecting sensitive credentials.
A repeatable backup routine
- Review the launch options whenever the host, service, or container changes.
- Schedule a maintenance window and notify players.
- Stop Master and Caves cleanly; use
c_save()only as a fallback when an immediate controlled save is necessary. - Archive the complete active profile or cluster, preserving every subdirectory.
- Inspect the archive, date it, and move it outside the live storage root.
- Copy it to a second protected location, such as an external hard drive kept offline between updates.
- Periodically unpack the newest archive on a spare host and run the restore checks before declaring the backup dependable.
This routine protects the parts that are easiest to overlook: the active path selected by command-line options, the separate Caves shard, administrative files, and the token needed to operate the recovered instance.
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