The most reliable pattern is to run a maintained Valheim dedicated-server image with Docker, keep /config on the VPS, and expose the selected UDP port pair through both Docker and your VPS firewalls. The default Steam backend uses UDP 2456 and 2457. Crossplay is a different backend: when enabled, Valheim uses a relay and does not require router port forwarding.
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This guide uses ghcr.io/community-valheim-tools/valheim-server as the example image. Image tags, environment-variable names and path conventions can change, so check the image README before a production deployment or automated update.
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- A Linux VPS with administrator access, a public address and a current operating-system patch level.
- Docker Engine and the Docker Compose plugin, or Docker alone if you prefer the documented
docker runform. - At least a dual-core CPU and 4 GB of RAM as a starting point. Four cores and 8 GB of RAM are the image project’s recommended figures. Active worlds, player counts, mods and crossplay can require more.
- About 1 GB of free disk space for the initial dedicated-server download, plus space for worlds, backups and logs.
- A password of at least five characters. Use a longer unique password in practice.
These resource numbers are project guidance rather than a controlled performance benchmark. Monitor CPU, memory, disk and latency after players join instead of treating them as a guaranteed capacity rating.
Choose the deployment layout
Keep persistent files outside the container. A simple layout is:
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/srv/valheim/config -> /config
/srv/valheim/data -> /opt/valheim/config is the essential mount. It contains world saves, backups and the admin, ban and whitelist files, making it the portable unit for backups and migration. The optional /opt/valheim mount keeps the downloaded server files and SteamCMD depot cache. Without it, recreating a container can require another full download.
Create and protect the directories
- Create the directories on the VPS:
sudo mkdir -p /srv/valheim/config /srv/valheim/data - Assign ownership to the account that will operate the service, following the image documentation’s UID/GID guidance. Do not make the directories writable by every local user.
- Keep the VPS patched and restrict shell access with your normal SSH hardening. The game service should not require the Docker API to be exposed to the internet.
Run the server with Docker Compose
Compose makes the port mapping, mounts and environment repeatable. Save a file such as /srv/valheim/compose.yaml:
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services:
valheim:
image: ghcr.io/community-valheim-tools/valheim-server
container_name: valheim-server
stop_grace_period: 120s
ports:
- "2456-2457:2456-2457/udp"
volumes:
- /srv/valheim/config:/config
- /srv/valheim/data:/opt/valheim
environment:
SERVER_NAME: "My Server"
WORLD_NAME: "Dedicated"
SERVER_PASS: "replace-with-a-long-password"
# cap_add:
# - SYS_NICEStart it from the directory containing the file:
sudo docker compose up -dThe image documents CAP_SYS_NICE as optional. Adding cap_add: [SYS_NICE] can remove a thread-priority warning, but it is not required for basic operation. Keep capabilities to the minimum you actually need.
Equivalent one-container command
If you do not want Compose, the project documents this structure:
docker run -d
--name valheim-server
--stop-timeout 120
-p 2456-2457:2456-2457/udp
-v /srv/valheim/config:/config
-v /srv/valheim/data:/opt/valheim
-e SERVER_NAME="My Server"
-e WORLD_NAME="Dedicated"
-e SERVER_PASS="replace-with-a-long-password"
ghcr.io/community-valheim-tools/valheim-serverTreat this as a template, not an immutable interface. Confirm the current image tag and variable names before deploying. The first start downloads the dedicated-server files from Steam; the repository describes that download as approximately 1 GB and it may take several minutes.
Understand Valheim’s ports
Valheim uses the configured port and the next port. With the default port, that means UDP 2456 and UDP 2457. Both layers must allow traffic:
- Docker publishes the pair with
2456-2457:2456-2457/udp. - The Linux firewall on the VPS allows inbound UDP 2456 and 2457.
- Your cloud or VPS provider firewall allows the same UDP ports.
- If another NAT device sits in front of the VPS, it forwards both ports to the VPS host.
For a host using UFW, an example rule is:
sudo ufw allow 2456:2457/udpUse the equivalent rule for your firewall manager and restrict source addresses when your player group has fixed addresses. Do not open a broad TCP range when the game needs UDP.
Run more than one world
Each instance needs its own port pair. Keep the pairs non-overlapping; an example allocation is 2456/2457 for one server and 2458/2459 for another. Change the host-side mapping and the server’s configured game port for the second service, then allow every selected UDP pair in the host and cloud firewalls.
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Give each instance its own container name, /config directory and, if you use it, /opt/valheim directory. Sharing a configuration mount between worlds risks mixing save files and administrative lists. Record the port pair beside the world name so players and future maintenance work have an unambiguous map.
Choose between Steam networking and crossplay
The normal Steam backend is the straightforward choice when everyone joins through the same ecosystem and you can expose UDP ports. It requires the configured port and the following port to be reachable end to end. A server-list entry does not change that requirement.
Set CROSSPLAY=true in the container environment when players use different platforms and you want Valheim’s crossplay backend. The official dedicated-server guide says the crossplay backend uses a relay and therefore does not need router port forwarding. This is a change in networking path, not a replacement for a healthy service: the container still has to start, the VPS firewall must not block required traffic, and the image must accept the option.
After enabling crossplay, inspect the startup log for backend initialization and give clients the join method required by that backend. Do not troubleshoot a crossplay timeout by blindly adding router rules; first verify the variable is present in the running container and that the process completed startup.
Verify the first startup
- Watch the logs:
docker compose logs -f valheimor
docker logs -f valheim-serverfor a container started withdocker run. - Wait for SteamCMD and the dedicated-server files to finish downloading. A container that is still downloading is not ready for players.
- Check that the container is running:
docker ps --filter name=valheim-server - Confirm that Docker published the intended UDP ports:
docker port valheim-server - From a Valheim client, connect using the VPS address and configured game port. A listing in a browser or server list alone is not proof that a player can complete a connection.
If the process appears healthy but clients time out, check the cloud firewall first, then the Linux firewall, then Docker’s published-port output. If clients connect but the world resets after recreation, inspect the mounts and the host’s /srv/valheim/config contents.
Where world saves and administration files live
The host directory mapped to /config is the critical backup and migration boundary. It holds the world data along with backups and administrative files such as the admin list, ban list and whitelist. Back up that host directory, not a transient path inside the container.
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- Stop the server cleanly so the world is not being written:
sudo docker compose stop - Create a dated archive or filesystem snapshot of
/srv/valheim/config. Keep at least one copy away from the VPS and protect it from public web access. - Optionally back up
/srv/valheim/dataas well. It is useful for avoiding a fresh server download, but it is not a substitute for the configuration/world backup. - Start the service again and check logs before allowing players back in:
sudo docker compose start
Back up before importing a world, changing image versions or migrating the VPS. A dated copy gives you a rollback point if a new image or file conversion behaves unexpectedly.
Import an existing world
- Stop the container.
- Copy the world’s files into the image’s expected
worlds_locallocation under the mounted configuration directory. - Set
WORLD_NAMEto the existing world name, matching the save’s name rather than inventing a new one. - Start the container and inspect the logs for the world-load result.
Path conventions and handling of legacy, pre-1.0 world files can differ between image versions. Confirm the current image README before copying an older save, and preserve the original files until the imported world has been verified in-game.
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Migrate to another VPS
Stop the old container, make a final archive of /srv/valheim/config, and copy it to the replacement host before starting the new instance. Recreate the same directory ownership, mounts, environment values and port rules. The optional data directory can be copied to avoid downloading the server again, but the configuration directory is the authoritative world and administration payload. Keep the old VPS untouched until a client has joined the new address and the expected world, inventories and permissions are present.
Update the image and the dedicated server safely
Separate two update paths: the container image and the Valheim server files downloaded through Steam. Both can change, and exact timing or migration behavior is image-specific.
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- Choose a deliberate image tag or pin a tested version rather than silently tracking an unreviewed change.
- Stop the running service cleanly and retain a dated
/srv/valheim/configbackup. - Pull the replacement image:
sudo docker compose pull - Recreate the service with the same mounts, environment and port mappings:
sudo docker compose up -d - Review startup logs, verify the expected world loads and make a test connection before announcing the update complete.
Never remove the host /config directory when deleting a container. Recreating the container is safe only when persistent data remains on the VPS and the replacement service mounts the same path. Keep the image documentation available when automating updates because variable names, tags and migration steps can change.
Security and operational checklist
- Use a password of at least five characters, preferably a long random one, and rotate it through your normal secret-management process.
- Do not include the password in the server name. The container documentation says the server refuses an invalid password-and-name combination.
- Allow only the required inbound UDP game/query ports in both cloud and Linux firewalls.
- Do not expose the Docker daemon or its API to the public internet.
- Run the host service with a non-root account where the image supports it, and restrict ownership of the mounted directories.
- Keep backups outside the public web root and limit who can read them.
- Patch the VPS operating system, Docker and the image on a planned schedule.
- Use a graceful stop timeout of about 120 seconds so the server has time to save when you restart or update it.
Store the password outside public shell history and shared Compose files when possible. If you must keep it in Compose, restrict the file permissions and ensure it is not committed to a public repository. Review who can read the mounted configuration directory because it contains both world data and administrative lists.
Plan capacity realistically
| Item | Project guidance | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| CPU minimum | Dual-core | Starting point, not a player-count guarantee |
| CPU recommendation | 4 cores | More headroom for active worlds and concurrent work |
| RAM minimum | 4 GB | Monitor actual use as players and mods increase load |
| RAM recommendation | 8 GB | Additional headroom for busier or modified servers |
| Initial download | Approximately 1 GB | Also reserve space for saves, logs and dated backups |
There is no independently published benchmark establishing a universal player limit for this setup. Treat the figures as a sizing baseline, watch memory pressure and CPU saturation, and scale the VPS when observed load—not a generic specification—requires it.
When comparing VPS plans, account for more than the advertised CPU and RAM. You also need persistent disk for the Steam download, growing worlds, logs and several dated backups. Off-host backup storage adds another operational cost, while a faster disk and additional memory may matter more than nominal network bandwidth for a busy or modded world. Start with the baseline, measure during peak activity and resize before the host begins swapping or filling its disk.
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Routine operations runbook
Assign a short maintenance window for updates and backups. Announce the stop to players, run a clean stop, archive /srv/valheim/config, then perform the image pull and recreation. After startup, read enough log output to confirm the world name, backend and port settings, and make a real client connection. Record the image tag and date of the change so a rollback decision is based on a known version.
Periodically check free disk space and the age of the newest off-host backup. A successful container restart is not proof that a backup is usable; occasionally inspect an archive or restore it to a separate test directory. Retain the original configuration when diagnosing a failed update instead of overwriting it with repeated restore attempts.
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Troubleshoot the common failure modes
The container exits immediately
Read the complete startup log. Check the password length, server-name/password combination, invalid environment-variable names and write permissions on both mounted directories. A failed first download can also leave an incomplete data directory; correct the underlying error before repeatedly recreating the container.
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Confirm that the container is running and that both UDP ports are published. Verify the VPS provider firewall and the Linux firewall independently. If a NAT device is involved, forward the same pair to the VPS. Test with the configured game port and inspect logs rather than relying on a server-list entry.
The world is missing after an update
Stop the service and inspect whether the old files are still in /srv/valheim/config. Check that the replacement container mounts that exact directory to /config and that WORLD_NAME matches the save. Restore the most recent dated backup only after preserving the current directory for diagnosis.
The first start takes a long time
The image may still be downloading roughly 1 GB of server files through Steam. Follow the logs until the download and initialization finish. A persistent /opt/valheim mount avoids repeating the complete download after a routine container recreation.
Crossplay users still fail to join
Confirm that CROSSPLAY=true is actually present in the running container, then review logs for backend initialization. The relay removes router port forwarding, but it does not bypass a stopped process, blocked VPS firewall or invalid server configuration.
Compose versus a packaged image
A maintained image is convenient because it handles SteamCMD and server installation, while Compose records your mounts, ports and variables in a reproducible file. When evaluating another image or a hand-written build, compare the things that affect long-term operations:
- Maintenance activity and update cadence.
- Stability and documentation of environment variables and defaults.
- Shutdown and backup behavior.
- Support for mods such as BepInEx.
- Crossplay support and its port requirements.
- Ability to pin versions and reproduce a known deployment.
- Quality of logs, recovery instructions and migration notes.
The best choice is the one whose update and recovery behavior you can explain, test and back up—not merely the one that starts fastest on day one.
Final pre-launch checklist
/srv/valheim/configand, if used,/srv/valheim/dataexist with controlled ownership.- The password is at least five characters, unique and absent from the server name.
- The selected UDP port pair is published by Docker and allowed by every relevant firewall.
- The first Steam download has completed and logs show a ready server.
- A client has connected using the VPS address and configured port.
- A dated, off-host backup of
/srv/valheim/confighas been tested or at least inspected. - The image tag and update procedure are recorded for the next maintenance window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ports must I open for a Valheim Docker server?
For the default Steam backend, publish and allow UDP 2456 and 2457. The configured port and the next port are both required, and the Docker, Linux and cloud firewalls must agree.
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Where are Docker Valheim world saves stored?
They are stored under the host directory mounted to /config, such as /srv/valheim/config. Back up that directory because it also contains administrative files and backups.
Does Valheim crossplay require port forwarding?
The official crossplay backend uses a relay and does not require router port forwarding. You still need a running container, valid configuration and appropriate VPS firewall access.
Why mount /opt/valheim if /config is enough?
The optional mount preserves downloaded server files and the SteamCMD depot cache, reducing the chance of another roughly 1 GB download after a container recreation. It is helpful but not the primary world backup.
How do I move an existing Valheim world to the VPS?
Stop the container, copy the save into the image’s expected worlds_local path under the mounted configuration directory, set WORLD_NAME to the save name, and verify the load in logs and in-game. Check current image instructions for legacy saves.
What should I back up before updating the image?
Stop the server cleanly and create a dated archive or snapshot of /srv/valheim/config. Optionally copy /srv/valheim/data to avoid a fresh download, but do not treat it as a substitute for the configuration backup.
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The image project lists a dual-core CPU and 4 GB RAM as a minimum starting point, with 4 cores and 8 GB recommended. Player activity, mods, crossplay, worlds and backup retention determine the actual requirement.
Why can players see the server but not join?
A listing is not proof of end-to-end reachability. Check container logs, confirm both UDP ports are published, verify the cloud and Linux firewall rules, and test with the configured game port.
The Bottom Line
Run the maintained image with persistent /config storage, publish the configured UDP port pair through every firewall, and treat backups, passwords and image updates as routine operations. Add the optional data mount for faster recreations, and use CROSSPLAY=true when the relay-based backend fits your players.
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