To run Chernarus on an Arma 3 Exile server, install the dedicated server, place the server and client Exile files correctly, add every terrain dependency named by the mission author, copy the mission PBO into MPMissions, connect Exile to MySQL or MariaDB through extDB, and start the server with matching mod parameters. Players must load the same client-side mods, or the map will be incomplete or the join will fail.
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The map itself is normally selected by the mission PBO. Installing a Chernarus terrain mod without installing a compatible mission, database schema and launch configuration will not produce a working Exile world.
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Think of the deployment as several parts that have to agree with one another:
- An Arma 3 dedicated-server installation updated from Steam app
233780. - Server-side
@ExileServerfiles in the server installation. - Client-side
@Exile, distributed through Workshop item1487484880, enabled by every player. - The Chernarus terrain packages and any other dependencies listed in the chosen mission’s readme. The commonly documented Chernarus combination is CUP Terrains Core plus CUP Terrains Maps, but the mission’s own list is authoritative.
- A custom mission PBO in the server’s
MPMissionsdirectory. - MySQL or MariaDB, the Exile SQL schema and upgrade scripts, and a correctly matched extDB connector.
- A server configuration, profile and BattlEye paths, launch parameters, and forwarded UDP ports.
A “map install” is therefore a mission deployment. The mission PBO tells Arma which terrain, spawn logic, loot, traders and Exile settings to load; the terrain mods provide the actual Chernarus world assets.
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Before you begin
Choose a maintained mission package
Download one mission package whose readme clearly states its Chernarus terrain dependencies, required Workshop IDs, Exile version expectations, database instructions and intended mission PBO name. Do not combine files from several missions. Their config.cpp, spawn files and database assumptions can conflict.
Record the exact names you will use
Write down the mission PBO basename (without the .pbo extension), every client and server mod folder, the Workshop IDs, the database name, and the profile directory. Arma matches mission templates and mod folders literally; a spelling or capitalization difference can look like a missing map.
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Back up an existing server
Stop the server and copy the current MPMissions, Exile configuration, profile directory and database dump before replacing anything. If you edit or unpack a PBO, preserve the original archive so you can restore a known-good version.
1. Install or update the Arma 3 dedicated server
SteamCMD can install the dedicated-server files without the game client. The Exile documentation identifies app 233780. On a Linux host, an example installation command is:
./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir /srv/arma3 +login anonymous +app_update 233780 validate +quitUse the equivalent SteamCMD executable on Windows. Anonymous login is documented as sufficient for the dedicated-server app itself. It is not sufficient for downloading the Exile Workshop item: obtaining that client content requires a Steam account that owns Arma 3.
Confirm the server build before adding mods
- Run the executable once and verify that it creates the expected profile and log directories.
- Keep the server binary, SteamCMD update path and mod folders on the same host you will actually launch.
- Run
validateagain after a major update if files appear corrupt, but remember that validation does not install mission-specific Workshop content.
2. Install Exile server and client content
Server-side files
Copy the @ExileServer directory supplied by the Exile project into the dedicated-server installation. This package contains the server-side code and configuration templates; it is not a replacement for the client mod.
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Client-side Exile mod
Install or obtain the Workshop item with published ID 1487484880 and expose it to clients as @Exile (or retain the exact folder name used by your package and launch command). Every player must enable it. A server can start while a connecting player lacks the client mod, but that player will receive a missing-mod error or fail to load the mission.
Keep server-only content out of the client list
Load @ExileServer with -servermod, not ordinary -mod. The ordinary -mod list is for content the engine and clients must load; exposing server-only files there can create signature, download or dependency problems.
3. Install the Chernarus terrain dependencies
Read the selected mission’s dependency section before copying any files. The documented Chernarus hosting setup names:
- CUP Terrains Core
- CUP Terrains Maps
Those names are examples, not a universal version lock. A mission may require a different Chernarus package, an additional library mod, or exact Workshop releases. Use the Workshop IDs and folder names stated by that mission, and install the same versions on the server and every client.
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For each dependency, check all three of these items:
- The server folder exists and is readable by the account that launches Arma.
- The folder appears in the server’s
-modparameter in the required order. - Players have enabled the matching Workshop item and can see its files before joining.
If the mission readme supplies a load order, follow it. Do not substitute a similarly named folder or rely on a different version because the Workshop display name looks identical.
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4. Put the mission PBO in the correct directory
Bohemia’s dedicated-server documentation uses MPMissions for custom mission PBO files. Copy the archive itself into the root of the server installation:
/srv/arma3/MPMissions/YourMissionName.Chernarus.pboThe filename before .pbo is the mission template name that must be selected in the server configuration. Do not leave the archive inside a download folder, a second nested MPMissions directory or an unpacked source directory unless the mission author explicitly requires that layout.
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When a PBO must be edited
Only edit a PBO when the mission instructions require a change, such as a server name, trader setting or database identifier. Use a maintained PBO tool, unpack to a working directory, make the smallest change possible, repack with the original basename, and retain the untouched archive as a backup. A malformed archive or missing file can prevent the mission from appearing at all.
5. Configure database persistence and extDB
Exile’s player, vehicle, territory and storage persistence depends on a database connection. A server that displays the Exile loading screen can still be unusable if extDB cannot connect.
Install the database and schema
- Install MySQL or MariaDB on the database host. The Exile development documentation describes MariaDB 10.11 as a safe choice; verify compatibility with the connector package you are using.
- Create a dedicated database and account with permission to create and modify the Exile tables.
- Import the supplied
MySQL/exile.sqlschema. - Apply every supplied
upgrade-*.sqlscript in numerical or documented order. Do not skip an intermediate upgrade when moving an existing database between Exile releases.
Keep a SQL dump before each upgrade. If an import stops with an existing-table or duplicate-column error, stop and inspect the current schema rather than repeatedly running scripts.
Match extDB to the server architecture
Check whether the executable you launch is 32-bit or 64-bit, then install the matching extDB libraries and configuration. The Exile setup warns that the stock 1.0.4a package contains 32-bit extDB2 DLLs; a 64-bit server will not find or load those binaries. An architecture mismatch commonly produces an apparently healthy game server with no saved players or vehicles.
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Verify the connection before inviting players
- Confirm the database host, port, database name, user and password in the extDB configuration.
- Check the server log for a successful extDB initialization and SQL connection.
- Join with a test profile, make a harmless change such as moving an item, disconnect cleanly, restart the server, and verify that the change remains.
6. Configure the server and launch it
Set the mission cycle
In the server configuration selected by -config, set the mission cycle to the exact basename of the PBO in MPMissions. If the archive is named YourMissionName.Chernarus.pbo, the template value is YourMissionName.Chernarus. Use the mission’s supplied difficulty and cycle examples where they are provided.
Use the required launch parameters
The essential Exile pattern is:
/srv/arma3/arma3server_x64 -config=/srv/arma3/server.cfg -profiles=/srv/arma3/profiles -name=exile -mod=@Exile;@CUP_Terrains_Core;@CUP_Terrains_Maps -servermod=@ExileServer -bepath=/srv/arma3/battleye -autoInitReplace the terrain folder names with the exact dependencies from your mission. Keep @Exile in -mod, keep @ExileServer in -servermod, and point -config, -profiles and -bepath at directories that exist and are writable.
Why these switches matter
-configselects the server settings and mission cycle.-profilescontrols logs and profile data, making troubleshooting files easy to locate.-modloads client-visible Exile and terrain content.-servermodloads server-only Exile code.-bepathselects BattlEye configuration and logs.-autoInitallows an unattended server to initialize the configured mission instead of waiting for an administrator to start it interactively.
Do not copy a launch line blindly from another server. A valid line with the wrong folder names is functionally the same as a missing-mod installation.
7. Open and forward the network ports
The Exile setup lists these UDP ports:
| Port | Typical role | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 2302 | Game traffic | Forward to the host running the Arma server and allow the actual executable through the firewall. |
| 2303 | Steam query | Required for reliable server-browser information and discovery. |
| 2304–2306 | Additional Steam and BattlEye traffic | Forward and permit the full range, not just the game port. |
Forward the ports to the server’s fixed LAN address if it sits behind NAT. On a multi-instance host, assign each instance its own port range and make the corresponding configuration changes. Check the operating-system firewall, the router and any provider-level firewall; opening only one layer is not enough.
8. Make Workshop content discoverable
Bohemia’s Workshop server-browser procedure uses a meta.cpp file in the mod root. It pairs a local mod folder with a Workshop item so the browser can identify required content. A minimal file has this form:
protocol = 1;
publishedid = 1487484880;Place the file in the root of the mod it describes and use the correct published ID for each required Workshop item. The administrator must set this identifier; otherwise players have to activate mods manually. Pairing improves discovery, but it does not fix a missing server folder, an incorrect load order or a mission that requires a different version.
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First-boot acceptance test
Run this test with a non-administrator account before announcing the server:
- Start the server and wait for the mission to initialize without a repeating error in the main or extDB log.
- Confirm the server appears in the browser with the intended name and mission template.
- Join with
@Exileand every terrain dependency enabled. - Travel to a Chernarus location that uses terrain objects; missing buildings, roads or textures indicate a dependency or version mismatch.
- Spawn or acquire a low-value item, disconnect normally, restart the server and verify that the item persists.
- Inspect BattlEye and server logs after the test, then remove the test profile or reset the test data according to the mission instructions.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The map is blank or objects are missing
- Compare the server’s complete
-modlist with the mission readme, including CUP Terrains Core and CUP Terrains Maps where required. - Check that clients have the same dependencies and compatible versions.
- Confirm the terrain folders are not nested one directory too deep and that their names match the launch line.
The mission never starts
- Verify that the PBO is directly under
MPMissions. - Match the mission-cycle template to the exact PBO basename, excluding
.pbo. - Confirm
-autoInitis present for unattended startup. - Read the first mission-loading error rather than later cascading errors; a malformed PBO or missing dependency can generate many secondary messages.
Players join, but nothing saves
- Check that
exile.sqlwas imported into the database named in extDB. - Apply upgrade scripts in order if the database came from an older Exile installation.
- Verify the extDB library architecture matches the server executable. The 32-bit libraries in the stock 1.0.4a extDB2 pack will not load in a 64-bit server.
- Check credentials, database reachability and the extDB initialization lines in the server log.
The server does not appear or cannot be joined
- Allow UDP 2302 through 2306 on the host firewall and forward the same ports on the router.
- Confirm port 2303 is available for Steam queries.
- Check that the firewall rule targets the executable you actually launch, especially when switching between 32-bit and 64-bit binaries.
- Verify the server has a stable internal address and that no second Arma instance is already using the ports.
Workshop mods are not offered automatically
Add a meta.cpp with protocol = 1; and the correct publishedid in each mod root. Recheck the ID and file location; a typo or a file placed beside rather than inside the mod directory prevents pairing.
Editing the mission broke startup
Stop editing and restore the original PBO backup. If the original works, unpack a fresh copy, make one change, repack and test again. Keep a change log so a database or configuration problem is not confused with a packaging problem.
How to evaluate a Chernarus mission before installing it
Two missions can use the same terrain and still require very different maintenance. Compare them on these concrete points:
| Criterion | Questions to answer |
|---|---|
| Workshop dependencies | Which terrain and library mods are required, and are exact IDs and versions stated? |
| Mission PBO | Is the PBO supplied, named clearly and maintained for the current Exile stack? |
| Database | Does it use the standard Exile schema, provide SQL changes, or require custom tables? |
| File scope | Which files belong in -mod, which belong in -servermod, and what must clients install? |
| Launch settings | Are the required parameters, profile paths, mission-cycle entry and BattlEye settings documented? |
| Architecture compatibility | Do the supplied extDB libraries match the 32-bit or 64-bit executable you intend to run? |
| Maintenance | Are updates, migration scripts and known issues published by the mission maintainer? |
A package that omits its Workshop IDs or database migration steps may still start, but it leaves the most failure-prone parts of the deployment to guesswork.
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Self-hosting gives you direct control of the PBO, launch command, database and firewall. A managed Arma 3 Exile server hosting plan can reduce operating-system and network work, but it is useful only if the host exposes the controls this installation needs.
Before paying, confirm in writing that you can:
- Upload and replace mission PBO files in
MPMissions. - Install or select the exact Workshop terrain dependencies and set both client and server mod lists.
- Access the Exile database, import
exile.sqland apply upgrade scripts. - Choose the server executable architecture or obtain extDB libraries that match it.
- Set the mission cycle,
-autoInit, profile path and server-only mod parameters. - Configure the required UDP ports and query settings.
- Schedule automated restarts and download independent backups of the database and mission files.
If any of those controls are unavailable, ask how the provider handles a custom Chernarus PBO, a terrain-mod update and a failed database migration before moving an established community.
Quick Recap
Final deployment checklist
- Dedicated server app
233780is current. @ExileServeris installed server-side.- Clients can obtain and enable Exile Workshop item
1487484880. - Every Chernarus dependency named by the mission is installed on both sides.
- The mission PBO is directly in
MPMissions, and its basename matches the mission cycle. - MySQL or MariaDB contains
exile.sqland all required upgrades. - extDB architecture matches the server executable.
- The launch line separates
-mod=@Exilefrom-servermod=@ExileServerand includes-autoInit. - UDP 2302 through 2306 are forwarded and allowed.
- Workshop pairing metadata uses the correct
publishedid. - A restart test proves that player data persists.
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