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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe quickest way to host an Arma 3 session is from the game’s Multiplayer menu: choose New, select LAN or Internet, then choose a scenario and server parameters. For an always-on community, a separately administered dedicated server is the better route. Install the free Arma 3 dedicated-server package, create its startup and server configuration, add the required mission files and mods, open the documented network ports, and test with a client using the same game version and mod set.
Godlike.Host offers hosted Arma 3 servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
Bohemia Interactive’s published defaults use UDP ports 2302–2306. Whether players can join depends on the scenario, server hardware, bandwidth, firewall, router, game branch, and required add-ons—not on installation alone.
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Your choice determines how much administration is required and whether the server remains available when you stop playing.
| Hosting method | Best for | Administration | Control | Network work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-game listen server | A quick private session with friends | Minimal; the player hosting the session runs it | Scenario and session settings available in the Multiplayer menu | LAN or Internet selection; Internet sessions may still require firewall or router access |
| Self-hosted dedicated server | Persistent or separately administered communities | You install files, configure startup and server settings, manage missions and mods, and monitor the process | Direct control over server files, configuration, missions, and add-ons | Host firewall and, when behind NAT, router forwarding for the configured ports |
| Managed hosting | An always-on server without maintaining your own host computer | The provider handles the underlying machine; you still configure the game, missions, and mods through its tools | Depends on the service’s control panel and policies | You generally avoid local port-forwarding, but must still configure the server correctly |
Use a listen server for a one-off game
Open Multiplayer, select New, choose LAN or Internet, and select the scenario. Set the available server parameters, then invite or share the session with your players. This is the shortest path when the host will play at the same time and nobody needs the world to remain online independently.
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Use a dedicated server for persistence
Bohemia Interactive’s FAQ says Arma 3 supports dedicated servers “for greater performance.” A dedicated process can run on a separate computer or virtual machine, so the administrator does not have to occupy a player slot or keep the game client open. The dedicated package is free, and the account downloading it does not need to own the regular game.
Consider managed hosting only when administration is the problem
Paid managed hosting is an alternative for an always-on server when you do not want to maintain the host operating system, storage, firewall, and uptime yourself. The exact features, prices, player allowances, and mod workflows vary by provider and must be checked before purchase. The setup principles below still apply: compatible versions, correct mission files, and a reachable server port.
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Hardware, operating system, and network prerequisites
The Arma 3 Community Wiki lists the following baseline figures for a dedicated server. They are guidance, not a capacity guarantee for a current heavily modded community or a demanding mission.
| Level | CPU | Memory | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum listed | 2.4 GHz dual-core | 2 GB RAM | 32 GB HDD |
| Recommended listed | 3.5 GHz quad-core | 4 GB RAM | 32 GB SSD |
Those figures describe the server package’s published baseline. They do not tell you how many players a particular mission, mod collection, or simulation workload will support. Leave headroom for the operating system, logs, workshop or mod files, updates, and any other services on the machine.
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Operating-system and account requirements
The guide lists a Steam account and either Windows Server 2008 or later or a modern Linux distribution. Installation steps differ between operating systems and between SteamCMD and launcher-based methods, so follow the current instructions for the method you select. Keep the dedicated-server files separate from the regular game client where that method calls for a separate installation.
Check your public-address situation before installing
The guide calls for a real IPv4 connection and states that Arma 3 server does not support IPv6 or DS-Lite IPv4 through an IPv6 tunnel. Because network technology and provider policies change, verify your current connection type with your internet provider or router documentation before committing to self-hosting. If you cannot receive inbound IPv4 traffic, a local port-forwarding rule will not make an Internet server reachable.
Dedicated-server setup: an end-to-end sequence
The exact filenames and defaults vary by installation method and version. The following sequence keeps the decisions in the order that prevents most failed joins.
- Define the audience and uptime. Decide whether the server is private, community-facing, or only for occasional testing. If you only need a short co-op session, return to the listen-server method instead of taking on dedicated administration.
- Choose and prepare the host. Confirm the CPU, memory, storage, operating system, Steam account, and IPv4 situation. Reserve enough disk space for the server files, missions, mods, logs, and updates rather than treating the 32 GB figures as a complete modern installation plan.
- Obtain the dedicated package. Use the documented Steam or SteamCMD route, or the simplified launcher route described for a small casual dedicated server. The dedicated package is separate from the player’s normal game installation when the selected method requires that separation.
- Create startup settings. Build the server’s startup command and configuration files. The official startup reference documents the
-serverswitch and the-port=parameter. For example, the relevant parameters can look like-server -port=2302; add them to the executable or launcher command used by your installation. Do not assume that a filename, working directory, or default from one installation method applies to another. - Configure server behavior. Use the server-configuration settings available for your version to define the server name, access rules, mission rotation, and other operational choices. Keep the configuration in the location expected by the startup method and make one change at a time while troubleshooting.
- Install missions and required add-ons. Place the mission PBO files where the server can load them. Add every mod required by the selected mission and ensure the server’s startup configuration points to the intended mod set. A server can start successfully yet reject players when a required add-on is absent or different.
- Open the network path. Allow the configured UDP traffic through the host firewall. If the host is behind a router performing NAT, forward the same ports to the server’s private address. Use the actual port in the startup command; do not forward a range that does not match the running instance.
- Start and inspect the process. Launch the server and read its log for startup, configuration, mission, and add-on errors. Confirm that the process is listening on the selected port before asking friends to test discovery.
- Test from a client. Join from a machine that is using a compatible game version, branch, and mod set. Test from outside the host’s local network when the server is intended for Internet play; a local test can succeed even when the router blocks inbound traffic from the public Internet.
Ports and forwarding
The official dedicated-server guide lists this default inbound UDP range:
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| Port | Documented role |
|---|---|
| 2302 | Game port; the guide’s note includes voice-over-network traffic with the main port |
| 2303 | Steam query port, game port plus 1 |
| 2304 | Steam master port, game port plus 2 |
| 2305 | Reserved VON port, described by the guide as not currently used |
| 2306 | BattlEye traffic, game port plus 4 |
The startup parameter reference defines -port= as the port on which the dedicated server listens. If you change the game port, adjust the related ports and forwarding rules according to the server’s configuration and the documented offsets. Multiple instances must use non-conflicting port ranges.
Host-firewall checklist
- Create an inbound rule for the UDP ports used by the running instance.
- Apply the rule to the correct network profile and host interface.
- Confirm that the rule targets the dedicated-server process or the intended port range.
- Recheck the rule after changing
-port=or moving the installation.
Router checklist
- Give the server machine a stable private address, using your router’s reservation feature when available.
- Forward the required UDP ports to that address.
- Check for a second router or carrier-grade NAT upstream; forwarding on only the inner router will not solve an upstream restriction.
- Test from an external connection rather than relying only on a client on the same LAN.
Missions, mods, and version compatibility
Arma 3 clients do not join merely because they can see a server. The official FAQ identifies version mismatch and required add-ons as common connection blockers.
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Ensure the server and every client use compatible game versions. An experimental or development-branch server can reject a client on a different branch. When troubleshooting, first compare the branch and version on both sides before changing firewall rules.
Match the complete mod set
Install the user-generated mods or add-ons required by the mission on the server and on each client. A missing, outdated, or differently configured add-on can prevent loading or joining. Record the server’s required mod list so players can reproduce it exactly, and update the list whenever the mission changes.
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Place and select mission files deliberately
Copy mission PBOs into the location expected by the server installation and select only missions that the installed game and mods can load. If a mission does not appear, inspect the startup path and server log before assuming that the network is broken.
How many players can an Arma 3 server host?
Bohemia Interactive’s FAQ gives no technical hard limit. It says reasonable maximums depend on the selected scenario, server hardware, and available bandwidth, and that typical scenarios cater to 2–64 players.
Use 64 as the upper end of the FAQ’s typical-scenario description, not as a promise for every mission. A lightly modded scenario on a capable host can behave very differently from a complex mission with extensive scripts and many add-ons. Capacity planning should therefore start with the scenario and expected workload, then verify that the machine and connection have enough headroom.
Practical capacity questions
- Is the mission designed for the number of players you want to invite?
- Does the host meet more than the minimum CPU, memory, and storage figures?
- Will mods add substantial processing, storage, or update requirements?
- Can the connection provide the bandwidth needed by the scenario and player count?
- Can you observe server logs and performance while players join?
Connection troubleshooting by symptom
The server is not visible
- Confirm that the dedicated process started without configuration errors.
- Check that it is listening on the port specified by
-port=. - Verify the host firewall rule and router forwarding use the same UDP ports.
- Confirm that the server is configured for the intended LAN or Internet access.
- Test from outside the local network and check whether an upstream NAT or IPv6-only connection prevents inbound IPv4 access.
A player sees the server but cannot join
- Compare the server and client game versions.
- Check whether one side is using the experimental/development branch.
- Compare the complete required mod and add-on set.
- Confirm that the selected mission is installed and that its PBO and dependencies are available.
- Read the server log at the time of the failed join for a specific mission, version, or add-on error.
LAN players connect but Internet players cannot
This pattern points toward the external network path rather than the mission itself. Recheck the public IPv4 address, router forwarding, host firewall, and any second NAT device. A successful same-LAN connection does not prove that traffic from the Internet can reach the server.
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The server starts, but the mission is missing
Check the mission PBO location, the startup working directory, and the server configuration that defines available scenarios. Then verify that required mods are installed and loaded; a mission can be present but unavailable when a dependency is missing.
Operating a server after the first successful join
Keep the installation, configuration, mission files, and mod list organized so an update can be reproduced. Before changing the game branch, mission, or add-ons, note the previous working state. After each change, restart the process, inspect the log, and test with a client using the matching version and mod set.
For a public server, communicate the required game branch, mission, and mods to players before they connect. For a private server, restrict access through the server’s available settings rather than relying on an undisclosed port. In both cases, retain enough storage for logs and updates and monitor whether the workload remains appropriate for the host’s CPU, memory, and bandwidth.
Which route should you choose?
- Choose a listen server when one player will host and play, the session is temporary, and simple Multiplayer-menu setup matters more than persistence.
- Choose a self-hosted dedicated server when you need an always-on or separately administered instance and can control the host, firewall, router, files, and mod updates.
- Choose managed hosting when persistence matters but maintaining the machine and network is not practical; verify the provider’s current version, mod, mission, access, and pricing details independently.
The reliable 2026 workflow is not “install and invite.” It is: select the appropriate hosting model, install the dedicated package when needed, configure startup and missions, align versions and mods, open the correct UDP path, verify the process is listening, and test from the network your players will actually use.
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