For a default Sons of the Forest dedicated server, allow and forward three inbound UDP ports to the computer running the server: 8766 for GamePort, 27016 for QueryPort, and 9700 for BlobSyncPort. Open them in the host firewall and, when the server is at home, forward them from the router to the host’s stable private IP address.
The three ports to open
The dedicated-server configuration guide identifies these as the default game-specific ports. Each rule must use UDP; a TCP-only rule will not provide the required traffic path.
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| Function | Default port | Protocol | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| GamePort | 8766 | UDP | Core game traffic between connected players and the server |
| QueryPort | 27016 | UDP | Steam server-query and browser-listing traffic |
| BlobSyncPort | 9700 | UDP | Blob and world-state synchronization used by the dedicated-server configuration |
These are defaults, not immutable assignments. If you change a value in dedicatedserver.cfg, use the new value consistently in the operating-system firewall, router or provider mapping, external tests, and any instructions you give to players. Leaving one rule on the old number creates a mismatch that can look like a server outage.
What each port does
8766/UDP: GamePort
This is the essential gameplay path. Player sessions need the host to receive the game traffic arriving on this port. If the server process is running but players cannot establish a session from outside your network, verify this port first, along with the destination IP and host-firewall rule.
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27016/UDP: QueryPort
The query port carries server-query information used for discovery and listing. A server can therefore be running while absent from a browser list when this port is blocked or forwarded to the wrong machine. Listing visibility and direct connectivity are related but separate checks: fixing the query rule does not repair a blocked GamePort.
9700/UDP: BlobSyncPort
The dedicated-server settings include this port for blob and world-state synchronization. Keep it open with the other two defaults rather than treating it as optional. A configuration that permits gameplay traffic but drops synchronization traffic can produce connection or state problems that are difficult to diagnose from the server browser alone.
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Before changing network equipment, confirm what the server is actually configured to use. Open the dedicated-server configuration and locate the entries named GamePort, QueryPort, and BlobSyncPort. The default values are 8766, 27016, and 9700 respectively.
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- Stop the dedicated server cleanly so the configuration is not overwritten while you edit it.
- Record the three current port values and the server computer’s private IPv4 address.
- Save the configuration, then start the server again and check its startup output for the values it bound to.
- Make the firewall and forwarding rules match those confirmed values exactly.
The guide also lists a default MaxPlayers value of 8. That is a server setting, not a measured capacity statistic, and it does not change which ports must be forwarded.
Allow the ports through the server computer’s firewall
Port forwarding on a router cannot bypass a firewall on the host itself. Create inbound rules for UDP 8766, 27016, and 9700, ideally scoped to the dedicated-server executable or service. If your firewall supports both a program rule and a port rule, use the narrowest combination that still permits the server to bind and receive traffic.
- Use inbound rules, not outbound-only rules.
- Select UDP explicitly; do not select TCP as a substitute.
- Apply the rule to the network profile the host is using. A rule limited to a different profile can appear correct while silently blocking the active connection.
- After saving, restart the server or its network service if the firewall software requires it, then review the firewall log for dropped packets.
On Linux or another operating system, use that system’s firewall manager to permit the same three UDP destination ports. The labels and commands vary by distribution, so verify the rule is attached to the interface and profile carrying the public-facing traffic.
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Forward the ports on a home router
Router forwarding is needed only when the server is inside your home network behind NAT. The public-facing rule sends each UDP port to one private address. A DHCP reservation (or an equivalent static-address arrangement) prevents that destination from changing after a reboot.
- Reserve the host address. In the router’s LAN or DHCP section, reserve the current private IP for the server computer’s network adapter. Write down the address and verify it remains the same after a reboot.
- Open the port-forwarding page. Router labels vary: look for Port Forwarding, Virtual Server, or NAT Rules.
- Create three UDP rules. Use the external and internal port numbers that match each configured value. Set the destination to the reserved private IP, and choose UDP rather than TCP or “TCP only.”
- Save and apply. Some routers reload their firewall immediately; others require a restart. Avoid changing several unrelated settings at the same time, so a later failure is traceable.
- Confirm the server is listening. Start the dedicated server and use its network self-test or startup log. A router rule can exist even when no process is bound to the selected port.
Do not forward these ports to the router’s own address, a different computer, or a changing DHCP address. If the server’s LAN address changes, the forwarding rule continues pointing at the old device and outside players will fail to connect.
When the server is hosted elsewhere
A managed game-server host is a remote machine, so your home router has no path to configure. Use the provider’s firewall or network-control panel to assign the three UDP ports to the server instance. If the provider gives you custom port numbers, put those numbers in the game configuration and use the same mapping in the provider panel.
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Do not create a home-router rule merely because you are playing from home. The relevant firewall is the one protecting the remote host. You still need to test from a client outside that host’s network and read the provider’s allocation and startup logs.
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A successful connection from another computer on the same LAN is not proof that public NAT is correct. Local traffic may never traverse the router’s external interface, and some routers handle their own public address through a separate hairpin or NAT-loopback feature.
- Start the dedicated server and run its built-in network self-test, if available.
- Read the self-test and server log output for bind errors, rejected packets, or a port already in use.
- From a genuinely external network, try the server browser or a direct connection. A phone hotspot is a practical test when the client would otherwise be on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Check the router’s forwarding or security log while making the test. Incoming packets should reach the reserved host address.
- If the external test fails, change one variable at a time: first the host firewall, then the router rule, then the configured port values and destination address.
Third-party port-check websites often focus on TCP and may report a UDP game port as closed even when the server is configured correctly. Prefer the game’s self-test, log evidence, and an actual connection attempt over a generic TCP checker.
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Troubleshoot by symptom
The three ports can fail in overlapping ways; there is no authoritative one-symptom-per-port matrix. Use the following as a decision path rather than a guarantee that one blocked port always produces one result.
The process runs, but the server is missing from the browser
- Confirm that QueryPort is enabled as UDP on the host firewall and router or provider panel.
- Check that the query value in the configuration matches the value in every network rule.
- Verify the server is not bound only to a private interface or an address that changed after reboot.
- Allow for listing and cache delays; test direct reachability separately instead of using browser visibility as the only test.
Players cannot connect from outside the home
- Recheck the GamePort rule and the destination private IP.
- Look for a TCP-only forwarding entry, a host-firewall rule limited to the wrong network profile, or another process already using the selected port.
- Run the self-test while watching the server log, then repeat from an external network.
It works on the same LAN but not over the internet
- Test from a hotspot or another connection to avoid hairpin/NAT-loopback behavior.
- Verify the router has a public IPv4 address on its internet-facing interface and that the forwarding target is still reserved.
- Ask the internet provider whether the connection uses carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) or blocks inbound traffic. Under CGNAT, a home router may have no public address to which outside players can connect.
The self-test reports a failure or a port conflict
- Confirm the configuration file contains the intended values and that the server was restarted after editing.
- Check for another server instance or application already bound to one of the ports.
- Ensure the firewall rule and router rule use UDP and the same number shown in the startup output.
- If you cannot obtain usable inbound NAT because of CGNAT or an ISP restriction, move the server to a managed host or use a supported tunneling solution whose port-mapping instructions you can follow.
TCP versus UDP: what you actually need
The dedicated-server guide labels all three game-specific ports as UDP. Do not replace them with TCP rules simply because a router offers a combined “TCP/UDP” preset. A combined rule may work, but it exposes an unnecessary TCP path; a TCP-only rule does not satisfy the documented protocol.
Steam documentation also describes broader client and dedicated/listen-server ranges for general Steam operation. Those ranges are separate from the three Sons of the Forest inbound ports. Do not forward large Steam ranges as a substitute for the game-specific rules, and do not assume every Steam service port belongs on the internet-facing side of your home router.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
Both approaches can provide the same game ports, but they place the networking work in different locations. Use these decision points before choosing where to run the server.
| Decision point | Home self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration control | Direct access to the configuration file, operating system, and router | Control is limited to the provider’s panel, image, and permissions |
| UDP forwarding | Requires host-firewall rules plus router NAT rules | Configured in the provider’s firewall and port-allocation system |
| Administrative maintenance | You handle updates, restarts, logs, backups, and hardware | The provider supplies infrastructure tools; you remain responsible for game settings and account access |
| Geographic location and latency | Determined by your home connection and its route | Selected from the provider’s available regions and network routes |
| Backups | You must copy and protect world data yourself | Backup tools depend on the provider’s plan and controls |
| Home-network exposure | Inbound NAT rules expose the selected services on your home connection | Your home router does not receive inbound rules for the remote machine |
There are no current, authoritative prices or performance benchmarks in the available documentation, so choose on network capability, administration, location, and exposure rather than an assumed cost or latency advantage.
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Security and maintenance checklist
- Forward only the three UDP ports the server configuration requires; do not expose administrative interfaces.
- Keep the host operating system, router firmware, and dedicated-server files updated through their normal supported channels.
- Use a DHCP reservation and record the reserved address, port values, and router rule names.
- Review server and firewall logs after updates or unexplained connection failures.
- Back up world and configuration files before changing ports or performing upgrades.
- Remove stale forwarding rules when you retire a server or move it to another machine.
The practical answer is therefore precise: open UDP 8766, 27016, and 9700 on the server host; forward those same values to its stable LAN address when it is behind a home router; or configure them in the remote provider’s network panel when the server is hosted elsewhere.
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