Change the public name of an Arma 3 dedicated server by editing the hostname entry in the configuration file that the server actually loads, then restarting the process. The filename itself is arbitrary; the -config= launch option determines which file is used.
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What controls the name players see?
Arma 3 reads the server’s displayed name from a line named hostname in its dedicated-server configuration. Use this form, including the quotation marks and semicolon:
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hostname = "Your Server Name";Replace Your Server Name with the text you want shown in the server browser. Keep the value inside straight double quotes and terminate the line with a semicolon. A missing quote or semicolon can prevent the setting from being parsed correctly.
The filename is not special
A common source of confusion is assuming that a file called server.cfg is automatically loaded. Arma 3 does not assign special meaning to that filename. You can call the file something else; the startup command selects it with -config=.
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For example, these commands point to different files:
./arma3server_x64 -name=server -config=server.cfg
./arma3server_x64 -name=server -config=competitive.cfgThe first command loads server.cfg; the second loads competitive.cfg. If you rename a configuration file, update the value after -config= at the same time. Editing a file that is not named by the running command has no effect on the server.
Change the name on a self-hosted Linux server
1. Find the configuration file used at launch
Inspect the command, service definition, script, or panel startup field that starts your Arma 3 process. Identify the exact path or filename supplied after -config=. Do not rely on a file merely being present in the Arma 3 directory.
2. Open that file in the Arma 3 server directory
Change into the directory containing your server executable and configuration. If your command uses a relative filename such as server.cfg, the process must be started from the directory where that relative path resolves, or the launch setup must provide the appropriate path.
3. Add or edit the hostname entry
Set the value to the desired browser name:
hostname = "Evening Co-op | EU";If the file already has a hostname line, edit that line rather than adding competing entries. Save the file without changing the spelling of the setting.
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4. Launch with the matching -config option
The Bohemia Interactive wiki’s Linux example is:
cd /path/to/arma3
a ./arma3server_x64 -name=server -config=server.cfgRemove the accidental a if you copy the command above: the executable invocation should be:
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./arma3server_x64 -name=server -config=server.cfgIf your file has another name, substitute it after -config=:
./arma3server_x64 -name=server -config=competitive.cfgThe -name=server portion remains separate from the public hostname. The browser name is the value assigned to hostname in the loaded configuration.
5. Restart and verify the listing
Configuration changes are applied when the server starts. Stop the running instance cleanly, start it again with the corrected command, and confirm that the startup command still references the file you edited. Hosting-guide reports commonly advise waiting roughly one to two minutes before refreshing the server browser; that delay is not a guaranteed Arma 3 timing requirement, so allow longer if the listing service is busy.
Choosing a clear server name
The hostname is what players use to recognize your server among search results. Put the information that affects a joining decision near the beginning, such as the group name, region, language, or activity type. Keep the value as plain text unless you have verified that your intended characters display correctly in the current game build.
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Examples of valid syntax are:
hostname = "North Ridge Co-op";hostname = "UK | Public Operations";hostname = "Training Server - Password Required";
These examples demonstrate formatting only; choose wording that accurately describes your own server.
Why a changed name may not appear
The wrong file was edited
This is the most important check. Compare the edited filename and path with the value after -config= in the command that actually starts the process. A second copy of server.cfg elsewhere on the machine can look correct while never being read.
The process was not restarted
Saving a configuration file does not retroactively change an already running instance. Stop and relaunch the server after saving the hostname.
The browser is showing an old listing
Refresh after the restart has completed. If the old name persists, clear the game’s server-browser cache if that option is available, or use Direct Connect to determine whether the running server itself is reachable under the new configuration. Direct Connect helps separate a stale browser result from a configuration problem; it does not repair a missing or incorrect hostname entry.
The listing is missing altogether
A name problem and a visibility problem are different. Forum reports have associated missing listings with an unforwarded query port. That network issue can stop a server from appearing even when the hostname line is correct. Check the query-port forwarding and firewall arrangement separately rather than changing the name repeatedly.
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The line contains a syntax error
Check for all three required elements: the exact key hostname, a quoted value, and a terminating semicolon. Compare the line with:
hostname = "Your Server Name";Also check that you did not leave an older hostname line active elsewhere in the same file. Keep one intended setting so the result is unambiguous.
Hosted servers and control panels
Rental hosts often provide a Server Name field on a startup or configuration page instead of asking you to edit files directly. In that arrangement, enter the desired name in the panel’s field and restart through the panel. The panel may regenerate its configuration when it starts the server, so a direct edit can be overwritten. If a manual change disappears, treat the panel as the source of the launch configuration and make the change there.
The same rule still applies: whichever configuration the panel passes through its launch command is the one that matters. If the panel exposes both a text editor and a startup command, verify that the command’s -config= value points to the file containing your hostname entry.
Self-hosted versus panel-managed setup
| Setup | Where to set the name | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted Linux process | The loaded configuration file’s hostname line |
The launch command includes the intended file after -config= |
| Hosted control panel | The panel’s Server Name field, or the file selected by its startup settings | The panel does not overwrite a manual edit when restarting |
| Any setup with a missing listing | Hostname configuration and network visibility are separate checks | Query-port forwarding and firewall rules are handled independently |
A quick verification checklist
- The configuration contains exactly one intended line in the form
hostname = "Name";. - The spelling, quotation marks, and semicolon match the expected syntax.
- The file path or filename matches the running command’s
-config=argument. - The server process was stopped and started again after the edit.
- You allowed time for the browser listing to refresh before judging the result.
- If the server is absent rather than merely misnamed, you checked query-port forwarding separately.
- If a hosting panel is involved, you changed the panel field that generates the startup configuration.
Example: renaming a server without changing its file
Suppose the server starts with:
./arma3server_x64 -name=server -config=server.cfgOpen that server.cfg and change only the hostname line:
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hostname = "Old Name";to:
hostname = "New Name";Save, restart with the same command, and refresh the browser after the process has come back online. There is no need to rename the file because -config=server.cfg already points to it.
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If you move the settings into events.cfg, update the startup option as well:
./arma3server_x64 -name=server -config=events.cfgPlace the hostname in events.cfg. Leaving the command at -config=server.cfg would continue loading the old file, so edits to events.cfg would not be visible.
What is and is not changed by hostname
The setting changes the public display name used for the server listing. It does not, by itself, alter the server’s network address, query-port forwarding, mods, mission rotation, password, or other configuration options. Those systems can affect whether players find or join the server, but they are separate from the text shown as its name.
Compatibility note
The syntax above follows the documented dedicated-server format, but game builds and hosting tools can change how launch options are assembled. If your installation uses a wrapper, service manager, or control panel, verify the generated command and confirm that its -config= target is the file you edited. When in doubt, compare the command and configuration syntax with the current Bohemia Interactive documentation for your installed build.
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