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dedicated serversPATCH 2026.10.27

How to Set Up a Terraria Dedicated Server on Linux

By VGSources Team 11 min read

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To host a Terraria dedicated server on Linux, download the server archive, run the Linux binary, select or create a world, and start it with a configuration file. For LAN play, players connect to the host’s private address. For Internet play, reserve a stable local address, forward TCP and UDP port 7777, and allow that port through the host firewall. Use tmux or screen so the server stays alive after you disconnect from SSH.

The current Official Terraria Wiki download section lists server version 1.4.5.8, but its page is marked subject to revision and includes older-version material. Check the publisher’s official download destination immediately before deployment, then verify that the archive’s directory and binary names match the commands below.

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What do you need before setting up the server?

You need an always-on Linux machine, a user account that can read and write the server and world files, and network access appropriate to the way people will connect. A home machine avoids a recurring hosting bill but requires router access and a stable local address. A VPS supplies public networking and data-center uptime, but you must manage its firewall and pay the provider.

  • A 64-bit x86 Linux host is the straightforward option because the archive includes TerrariaServer.bin.x86_64.
  • A 32-bit x86 host uses TerrariaServer.bin.x86.
  • ARM and other non-x86 systems need the Mono route and additional libraries; the supplied x86 binaries are not interchangeable with those architectures.
  • For a public server, reserve a stable LAN address at home or use the VPS’s public networking so the address does not change unexpectedly.
  • Create a separate Linux account for the game server when possible. Running it under a dedicated account limits the files the process can access if the server is compromised.

The guide below uses a shell session and does not require a graphical desktop. Keep the server files and worlds in a location owned by the account that runs the process.

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How do you obtain and extract the Terraria Linux server files?

Download the dedicated-server archive from the publisher’s official destination, or use the server files included with a Steam installation. Because archive contents change between releases, inspect the extracted directory rather than assuming an old numbered folder.

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  1. Create a directory for the server and enter it: mkdir -p ~/terraria-server && cd ~/terraria-server.
  2. Extract the downloaded archive into that directory with the archive utility appropriate to its format. After extraction, change into the numbered version directory and then its Linux subdirectory.
  3. Give the supplied Linux binaries execute permission: chmod +x TerrariaServer.bin.x86*.
  4. On a 64-bit x86 host, start ./TerrariaServer.bin.x86_64. On a 32-bit x86 host, start ./TerrariaServer.bin.x86.

If the shell reports “permission denied,” repeat the chmod step from the directory containing the binary. If it reports that the executable format is invalid, check the host architecture; an x86 binary will not run natively on ARM or another non-x86 platform.

How do you select or create a world?

The first launch opens the server’s world-selection and startup flow. You can select an existing world or follow the prompts to create one, then confirm that the server reaches its command prompt before exposing it to other players.

On Linux, Terraria world files are stored by default in ~/.local/share/Terraria/Worlds. The account starting the server must be able to read and write that directory. If you keep worlds elsewhere, set both the world file and the world path explicitly in the configuration file described below.

Run one interactive launch first even if you intend to automate startup. It confirms that the binary works, reveals the exact world filename, and lets you catch missing libraries or permission errors before a background process hides them.

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How do you create a repeatable server configuration?

An interactive wizard is useful for the first test; a configuration file is better for restarts, unattended hosting, and multiple worlds. Copy the example configuration supplied with the server files, edit it with a text editor, and pass it to the binary with -config.

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  1. Copy the example file to a name you will recognize, such as serverconfig.txt.
  2. Set the world file, port, maximum players, password, world path, ban list, secure mode, language, and any other options your release documents.
  3. Start the server with TerrariaServer.bin.x86_64 -config serverconfig.txt (or the 32-bit binary on a 32-bit host). The documented form is TerrariaServer -config <serverconfigfile>; use the actual executable name in your archive.

A minimal configuration can look like this. Replace the example paths with the absolute paths used by the account running the server:

world=/home/terraria/.local/share/Terraria/Worlds/MyWorld.wld
worldpath=/home/terraria/.local/share/Terraria/Worlds
port=7777
maxplayers=16
password=choose-a-password
banlist=banlist.txt
secure=1
upnp=0
npcstream=0
language=en-US

The names and defaults that matter most are:

  • port=7777 is the documented default server port.
  • maxplayers accepts 1 through 255 in the configuration example. The current server page describes 16 as the default maximum; versions before 1.4.0.1 used 8 as the default.
  • worldpath changes where world files are looked up. The Linux default is ~/.local/share/Terraria/Worlds.
  • password protects the join process. Use a non-obvious value when the server is reachable from the Internet.
  • secure, banlist, language, upnp, and npcstream are documented configuration options. Keep the values supported by the server version you downloaded.

Do not use a relative world path when the server may be started from different directories. An absolute path avoids a common failure in which the process starts successfully but cannot find the intended world.

How do you keep the server running after SSH logout?

A foreground process is simplest while diagnosing startup. For a persistent server, launch it inside tmux or screen, detach from the session, and reattach whenever you need to inspect the console or issue a command.

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Using tmux

  1. Start a session with tmux new -s terraria.
  2. Change to the Linux server directory and run the configured command, for example ./TerrariaServer.bin.x86_64 -config serverconfig.txt.
  3. Detach without stopping the server by pressing Ctrl-b, then d.
  4. Reconnect later with tmux attach -t terraria.

Using screen

  1. Start a named session with screen -S terraria.
  2. Run the server command inside it.
  3. Detach with Ctrl-a, then d.
  4. Reattach with screen -r terraria.

These multiplexers preserve the process when the SSH connection closes, but they do not replace backups, monitoring, or a controlled update procedure. Keep the session name and configuration path documented so another administrator can recover the console.

How do you expose the server safely on a LAN or the Internet?

LAN and Internet hosting require different network steps. A LAN player uses the host’s private IPv4 address. An Internet player needs a reachable public address and a path through the router or cloud firewall.

For LAN play

  1. Find the Linux host’s private IPv4 address using the normal network tools for your distribution.
  2. Leave the server on port 7777 unless you deliberately changed the port setting.
  3. Allow local connections to that port in the host firewall if a firewall is enabled.
  4. Give players the private address and port. They should not use the router’s public address for a same-LAN connection unless the router supports that arrangement.

For Internet play from home

  1. Reserve a stable LAN address for the Linux host in the router’s DHCP or address-management settings.
  2. Forward port 7777 from the router to that reserved address. The dedicated-server documentation identifies 7777 as the default and notes that forwarding can fail behind some NAT arrangements.
  3. Allow port 7777 through the Linux host firewall. Permit both TCP and UDP when configuring the rule, rather than opening unrelated ports.
  4. Give remote players the public IP address and configured port. Never publish the server password together with the address in a public channel.

For a VPS or cloud host

Allow TCP and UDP 7777 in the provider’s network controls and in the Linux host firewall. Cloud deployments such as AWS or GCP still need both layers configured; opening a provider rule alone does not override a local firewall.

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When port forwarding does not work

Some Internet connections use carrier-grade or otherwise restrictive NAT, so the router cannot accept an inbound connection even when its rule is correct. A VPN overlay can provide an alternate private network path when you cannot obtain a forwardable public address. Every player then needs access to that overlay, and they join using the address it assigns to the server host.

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How do players join the Linux server?

Players use Terraria’s built-in IP join flow rather than the host’s shell.

  1. Open Terraria and choose Multiplayer.
  2. Select a character.
  3. Choose Join via IP.
  4. Enter the server’s LAN address for a local game or its public address for an Internet game.
  5. Enter the configured port, normally 7777, and supply the password if one is set.

If a player can reach the address but receives a password or world error, the network route is working and the next checks should focus on the configuration file, world path, and server console output.

How do you save, stop, and update the server without losing progress?

Use the server console’s save-and-exit command before closing the process. Automatic saving occurs at each in-game dawn, described in the guide as about 24 minutes, but ending the process without save/exit can lose changes made since the last save.

  1. Warn players that maintenance is about to begin.
  2. Run save if you want to write the current world while leaving the server online, then issue exit or the documented combined save/exit command when shutting down.
  3. Wait for the console to confirm shutdown before closing the tmux or screen session.
  4. Back up the .wld world file, configuration file, and ban list to storage outside the live server directory.

To update, stop the old process cleanly, download and extract the new server archive, reapply execute permission with chmod +x TerrariaServer.bin.x86*, and inspect the new directory for changed binary names or configuration examples. Point the new binary at the existing world and configuration only after confirming their paths, then start it in a test session before inviting players back.

How do you run more than one Terraria server?

Each instance needs its own configuration file, world, and port. Copy the first configuration, change the world and, if necessary, worldpath, assign a different port such as a second unused value, and start each binary with its matching -config argument.

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Every additional Internet-facing port must also be allowed through the host firewall and forwarded by the router or opened in the cloud firewall. Tell players the specific port for the world they want; the default 7777 applies only to the instance configured with that value.

What are the main hosting choices?

The right arrangement depends on whether you value low recurring cost, public reachability, or administrative simplicity.

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Choice Advantages Costs and constraints
Home Linux machine No recurring hosting bill; direct control of files and hardware Needs an always-on machine, stable LAN addressing, router access, firewall rules, and an Internet connection that accepts inbound traffic
VPS or cloud host Public networking and data-center uptime; no home-router dependency Provider cost, cloud firewall rules, Linux administration, and responsibility for backups and updates
Interactive startup Fastest way to select a world and expose startup errors Manual after every restart; easy to choose the wrong world or forget an option
Configuration-file startup Repeatable, scriptable, and suitable for multiple worlds Requires careful paths, permissions, and version-aware settings
Foreground process Clear console output while diagnosing a new installation Stops when the shell closes or SSH disconnects
tmux or screen Survives logout and permits later console access Someone must still monitor the session and perform orderly shutdowns
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What should you check when the server fails?

The binary will not start

Confirm that you are in the archive’s numbered Linux directory, rerun chmod +x TerrariaServer.bin.x86*, and select the binary matching the host architecture. Non-x86 machines require the Mono route and its additional libraries rather than the supplied x86 executable.

The server starts but the world is missing

Check the exact filename, case, and absolute location of the world setting. Verify that worldpath points to the directory containing the .wld file and that the dedicated Linux user has read and write permission there.

Players on the same network cannot connect

Have them use the host’s private IPv4 address, not localhost or a public address that the router may not loop back to. Check the Linux firewall and confirm that the server is listening on the configured port.

Remote players cannot connect

Verify the server’s port value, the host firewall rule, the router forward or cloud firewall rule, and the public address supplied to players. If all settings are correct but the connection is still unreachable, the Internet service may use restrictive NAT; use a VPN overlay or obtain a forwardable connection.

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The server stops when you disconnect

Start it inside tmux or screen and detach using the proper key sequence. Reattach afterward to confirm that the process remains at the Terraria console.

Recent building or inventory changes disappeared

The process may have been closed without a save-and-exit command. Reconnect to the console, use the documented save command before maintenance, and restore a known-good world backup if the latest file is damaged.

What is the safest first-run checklist?

  • Confirm the archive version and binary names against the publisher’s current download.
  • Run one interactive launch and verify the intended world.
  • Move the confirmed settings into a configuration file with absolute paths.
  • Test locally before opening the server beyond the LAN.
  • Use a dedicated Linux account and a strong server password.
  • Allow only the configured Terraria port through host and network firewalls.
  • Run the production process in tmux or screen.
  • Use save-and-exit for every planned shutdown and keep separate world backups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I administer a Terraria Linux server entirely over SSH?

Yes. The dedicated server runs from a shell, and a terminal multiplexer lets you detach and reconnect without a graphical desktop. Keep an SSH session available for maintenance, but use the server console’s save-and-exit command before terminating the process.

Where should I store backups of a Terraria world?

Store copies of the active .wld file outside the live server directory, along with the configuration and ban-list files that determine how that world is served. Make a copy after a clean save rather than while the process is writing the world.

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Why does changing the port require more than editing one line?

The port in the Terraria configuration, the Linux firewall, and any router or cloud firewall must agree. Internet players must also be given the new port, while LAN players still need the host’s private address.

How can I tell whether a router problem is caused by NAT?

If local players can join and the server console is healthy but inbound Internet connections never arrive, the connection may be behind carrier-grade or restrictive NAT. A VPN overlay is the documented alternative when you cannot create a usable port-forwarding rule.

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