Enable the 7 Days to Die server’s Telnet interface in the serverconfig.xml file that the dedicated server actually loads, assign a strong password, restart the server, and test locally before opening remote access. The documented default is TCP port 8081, but the value in your active configuration is authoritative. Remote administration also requires a host-firewall rule and, when the server is behind NAT, a router rule forwarding that same TCP port.
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In 7 Days to Die, the built-in console commonly called “RCON” is reached through this Telnet-compatible admin interface. The procedure below covers configuration, local and remote connections, client choices, security controls, and the failure points that most often prevent a connection.
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What Telnet and RCON mean on a 7 Days to Die server
The dedicated server exposes an administrative console that accepts commands over a Telnet-style connection. Guides and server owners often call this “RCON,” even though the connection is made through the game’s Telnet settings. You configure it with the TelnetEnabled, TelnetPort, and TelnetPassword properties, then connect with a Telnet client or an RCON-oriented utility.
This console is separate from the normal game port used by players. Changing TelnetPort does not change the port players use to join the world. It changes only the administrative endpoint, so every client, firewall rule, and router rule must use the Telnet value.
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Before changing the configuration
Use the configuration file selected at launch
A dedicated server can be started with a specific -configfile argument. That argument determines which serverconfig.xml is read. Many failed setups come from editing a copy in the installation directory while the launch command points to a different copy.
- Find the launch command, service definition, or startup script used by the dedicated server.
- Identify the file supplied after
-configfile. - Edit that exact file, not an example or an unused backup.
Stop the server while editing
Stop the dedicated server before saving changes, or otherwise ensure it is not rewriting the file. Restarting after the edit is required because the server reads these properties during startup.
Decide whether remote administration is necessary
If all administration occurs on the host itself, you can keep the interface loopback-only. If you need to administer the server from another machine, plan a restricted network path before choosing a port-forwarding rule. A VPN or a firewall rule limited to known source addresses is preferable to exposing the console broadly.
Configure Telnet/RCON in serverconfig.xml
Add or change the following properties in the active configuration file:
<property name="TelnetEnabled" value="true"/>
<property name="TelnetPort" value="8081"/>
<property name="TelnetPassword" value="REPLACE_WITH_A_LONG_UNIQUE_PASSWORD"/>
<property name="TelnetFailedLoginLimit" value="10"/>
<property name="TelnetFailedLoginsBlocktime" value="10"/>The settings reference documents 8081 as the default Telnet port, a default failed-login limit of 10 attempts, and a default block time of 10 seconds. Those defaults are not a substitute for checking your own file: a host, control panel, or later game build may contain different values.
Choose a password deliberately
Replace the example value with a long, unique password that is not used for the game, the operating system, the control panel, or any other service. Keep XML syntax intact: use a single-line value and escape any characters that would be interpreted as XML markup. Do not leave a password that other people can guess from the server name or administrator name.
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Understand the empty-password behavior
The configuration comment states: “If no password is set the server will only listen on the local loopback interface.” An empty TelnetPassword therefore keeps the endpoint local to the server, rather than creating an unauthenticated service reachable from the network. It is useful for administration on the host itself, but it cannot provide remote access.
Once a password is set, the interface listens on the configured port and network controls become relevant. A password alone does not create a safe exposure: the host firewall, router, and any upstream firewall still determine who can reach the port.
Restart and verify that the server loaded the values
- Save the active
serverconfig.xmlafter checking that each property appears only once or that the intended occurrence is the one the server uses. - Start the dedicated server again.
- Read the startup log and confirm that the parsed Telnet settings match the file, especially the enabled state and port.
- If the log shows a different port or disabled state, stop the server and recheck the
-configfilepath rather than changing firewall rules at random.
Do not assume that a server-management panel’s displayed configuration is the file used by the process. The launch argument and the startup log are the authoritative checks.
Test locally before opening remote access
Testing on the host removes the router and external-firewall variables. From the server machine, run:
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telnet 127.0.0.1 8081Replace 8081 with the value in TelnetPort if you selected another port. When prompted, enter the configured Telnet password. A successful local connection shows that the server is listening and that the credentials are accepted.
If the local test succeeds
The game configuration and local listener are working. Leave the server unchanged and move outward one layer at a time: first the host firewall, then the router or NAT device, then any client-side or VPN policy. This prevents a network problem from being mistaken for an XML problem.
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If the local test fails
- Confirm
TelnetEnabledistrue. - Confirm the command uses the configured
TelnetPort, not an assumed default. - Check that the password is non-empty when you expect a network connection; an empty value intentionally limits listening to loopback.
- Verify that you edited the file named by
-configfile. - Restart again and inspect the startup log for parsing errors or a different effective port.
Allow remote access through the network
Host firewall
Create an inbound rule on the server host for the selected TCP port. For the default configuration, that is TCP 8081. Limit the rule’s source addresses to the administrators or VPN subnet whenever the firewall supports it. Do not open a broad range of ports simply because the game itself uses other networking rules.
Router and NAT forwarding
If the server is on a private address behind a router, forward the same TCP port from the router’s public side to the server’s private IP address. The destination address must remain stable, so use a static lease or another method that prevents the server’s private IP from changing.
Use the exact configured port in the forwarding rule. Forwarding UDP for this console is not required by the documented Telnet procedure; use TCP unless a current client or server guide for your specific build explicitly says otherwise.
VPN and source restrictions
A VPN that places administrators on the server’s private network can avoid exposing the console to the public internet. If a VPN is not practical, restrict the firewall and router source addresses to known locations where possible. Publicly forwarding a management console to every internet address increases scanning and password-guessing risk even when a password is configured.
Connect with the public address
From an external network, connect to the router’s public address (or its approved hostname) and the forwarded TCP port. Do not test the public address from inside the same LAN unless the router supports NAT loopback; a failed hairpin test does not prove that an external connection is broken.
Choose a client for the console
The server does not require one particular client. The best choice depends on whether you need a quick manual command, repeatable scripts, or a graphical interface.
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| Client or method | How to connect | Best fit | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telnet command line | telnet SERVER_IP 8081, then enter the password |
Fast manual administration and a basic connectivity test | Substitute your configured port; the command reaches the server’s Telnet interface. |
| PuTTY | Select a Raw connection, enter the server address and configured port, then authenticate | Administrators who prefer a graphical connection setup | Use Raw mode rather than selecting an unrelated protocol. |
| mcrcon | Supply the server address, configured port, password, and the current protocol flags supported by your installed release | Scripts, scheduled commands, and cross-platform command-line workflows | Verify the flags for the version you install; client syntax can change independently of the game server. |
| ARRCON | Enter the server address, Telnet port, and password in the client | Graphical administration | Check compatibility with your specific 7 Days to Die build before relying on a release. |
| Web RCON | Configure the browser-based client with the same endpoint and credentials | Administration from a browser where supported | Confirm that the web client supports your server build and protect the browser service separately. |
All of these methods still depend on the same server-side settings. Switching clients cannot fix a wrong -configfile, a blocked TCP port, or a password mismatch.
Security settings and safe operating practice
Failed-login controls
TelnetFailedLoginLimit controls how many failed attempts are allowed before blocking. The documented default is 10 failed attempts. TelnetFailedLoginsBlocktime controls the block duration; the documented default is 10 seconds.
These values provide limited brute-force resistance, not comprehensive protection. They do not replace a host firewall, a restricted router rule, a VPN, or a strong unique password. An attacker who can reach the service can still generate traffic, and a short block period is not an internet-facing access policy.
Disable the interface when it is not needed
Set TelnetEnabled to false when no administrator needs the console. Save the file and restart the server so the disabled state takes effect. If you need local administration but no remote access, leaving the password empty preserves the loopback-only behavior described in the configuration comment.
Separate administration credentials
Do not reuse the Telnet password elsewhere. Store it in the administrator’s password manager and avoid placing it in shared screenshots, public scripts, or chat. If a credential is exposed, replace it in the active configuration, restart the server, and review firewall and router rules for unnecessary reachability.
Review logs and rules periodically
Keep an eye on startup logs after configuration changes and remove temporary firewall or port-forwarding rules when an event or maintenance window ends. A forgotten forwarding rule can leave an otherwise unused console reachable long after the original need has passed.
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Troubleshooting by symptom
“Connection refused” or an immediate disconnect locally
- The server may not have loaded the file you edited. Recheck the
-configfileargument. TelnetEnabledmay still befalse, or the server may not have been restarted.- The client may be using 8081 while
TelnetPortcontains another value. - An XML formatting error may have caused the server to ignore or replace the intended property. Use the startup log to see the effective setting.
Local connection works but remote connection fails
- Confirm the remote client is using the same port shown in the server log.
- Check the host firewall’s inbound TCP rule and its source-address restriction.
- Check the router’s TCP forwarding destination and ensure it points to the server’s current private IP.
- Verify that you are testing from a genuinely external network if the router lacks NAT loopback.
- Check for an upstream firewall, carrier-grade NAT, or VPN policy that prevents inbound connections.
The password is rejected
- Type the value exactly as stored, including capitalization.
- Make sure the client is reaching the intended server and port rather than another service.
- Inspect the XML for characters that require escaping and confirm that the server successfully parsed the file.
- If repeated attempts triggered the failed-login block, wait for the configured block time before testing again.
The interface is reachable without the expected remote setup
Check whether the client is running on the server itself or through a VPN; those paths can use loopback or private-network access without a public router rule. Also verify that the password is not empty if you intended to require authentication. An empty password is specifically associated with local loopback listening, not a remotely reachable unauthenticated service.
Changes disappear after a restart
Another service, control panel, or deployment script may be restoring a template. Compare the file named by -configfile before and after startup, then inspect the launch process and management tooling for a generated configuration. Editing an unused copy will never change the running endpoint.
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Settings and defaults can change between game builds. The settings reference labels its current page V3.2.0, while a separate shipped example reproduces an Alpha 20.5 configuration. Treat the property names as the stable interface, but verify the effective values in the file and startup log for the build you operate.
The configured port is always more important than a guide’s example. If your file says TelnetPort is 9000, clients and network rules must use TCP 9000 even though 8081 is the documented default. Likewise, a hosting panel may expose a different external port that it maps internally; follow the panel’s actual forwarding arrangement rather than assuming the game’s default.
Operational checklist
- Identify the exact
serverconfig.xmlsupplied by-configfile. - Stop the server or prevent it from rewriting the file.
- Set
TelnetEnabled,TelnetPort, and a long uniqueTelnetPasswordas needed. - Keep the documented failed-login controls at suitable values, understanding their limits.
- Save, restart, and confirm the parsed settings in the startup log.
- Test
telnet 127.0.0.1 PORTon the host first. - For remote use, allow the selected TCP port in the host firewall.
- Behind NAT, forward that same TCP port to the server’s stable private IP.
- Prefer a VPN or restricted source addresses over unrestricted public exposure.
- Disable Telnet when administration no longer requires it.
What to remember
The active configuration file, not an example file or control-panel label, determines whether the console is enabled and which port it uses. TCP 8081 is the documented default, but your configured value wins. An empty password intentionally keeps the listener on loopback; remote access requires a password and corresponding firewall and NAT rules. The failed-login settings add limited throttling, while a VPN or tightly restricted firewall rule provides the stronger network boundary.
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