The dependable way to run an Unturned server is to combine the official Dedicated Server with SteamCMD, one isolated ServerID per instance, a carefully planned network setup, and optional administration layers such as OpenMod or RocketMod. On Linux, systemd and screen can keep the process running, save the world, and shut it down cleanly without a logged-in desktop session.
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What an Unturned server manager actually includes
“Server manager” is not one required application. It is the set of tools and files that install, configure, expose, administer, and maintain an Unturned Dedicated Server. The official hosting guidance identifies the foundation clearly: multiplayer servers use the Unturned Dedicated Server tool, installed and updated through Valve’s SteamCMD.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Layer | Tool or file | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Installation and updates | SteamCMD | Downloads the dedicated-server files and applies updates with the Unturned app ID. |
| Process launch | ServerHelper.bat or ServerHelper.sh |
Starts an InternetServer instance and selects its ServerID. |
| Instance isolation | ServerID directory | Gives each server its own save data, configuration, logs, and workshop state. |
| Server settings | Commands.dat and related files |
Defines map, name, ports, player limits, PvE/PvP behavior, and other launch options. |
| Workshop content | WorkshopDownloadConfig.json |
Declares workshop maps, additions, and dependencies downloaded at startup. |
| Administration | Built-in commands, OpenMod, or RocketMod | Handles admins, moderation, permissions, plugins, and optional economy systems. |
| Unattended operation | systemd and screen on Linux | Starts at boot, sends save and shutdown commands, and restarts after failures. |
A web control panel can provide buttons around these same operations, but it does not replace SteamCMD, the ServerID layout, or the game’s configuration files. Before adopting a panel, confirm that it can update the current Unturned build, expose per-instance files, preserve workshop IDs, and issue a graceful shutdown rather than killing the process.
Install and update the Dedicated Server with SteamCMD
Use the Unturned app ID
Install SteamCMD on the machine that will host the server, then use an anonymous login and the Unturned dedicated-server app ID 1110390. The essential update operation is:
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app_update 1110390Run the update again whenever you deliberately patch the server. Keep the SteamCMD installation separate from your instance data when practical; that makes it easier to update the executable files without accidentally replacing saves or configuration.
Start an InternetServer instance on Windows
- Open the directory containing the downloaded Unturned server files.
- Create or edit a batch file that calls
ServerHelper.bat. - Launch the instance with
ServerHelper.bat +InternetServer/MyServer, replacingMyServerwith the ServerID you want. - Watch the console for the first startup to create the instance’s folders and files, then stop the server cleanly before editing them.
Start an InternetServer instance on Linux
- Make the helper executable if your distribution requires it.
- From the server directory, run
./ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer/MyServer. - Keep the ServerID consistent across restarts; changing it starts a different instance with different save and configuration paths.
The InternetServer argument selects an internet-facing server mode. The text after the slash is the ServerID, not a public server name. Use a descriptive, stable ID such as Survival01 or CreativeEU.
Separate multiple servers with ServerID directories
Every ServerID has its own save data and configuration. This is the key to running several maps, rule sets, or communities on one machine. For example, Survival01 and Modded01 can use different maps and workshop inventories while sharing the same underlying server installation.
- Choose one ServerID per independent world.
- Back up each ServerID directory separately so a rollback affects only the damaged instance.
- Do not reuse a directory for a second server unless you intentionally want the same world and settings.
- Assign a different starting port to each instance; Unturned uses consecutive ports for game traffic and server-list queries.
When adding a second server, copy only the configuration you intend to share. Keep its save files, workshop declarations, logs, and port values independent. A written inventory of ServerIDs, starting ports, maps, and workshop file IDs prevents confusion during migration.
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Configure Commands.dat before opening the server
Commands.dat controls launch settings. Exact available options can change with the game version, so keep comments or a separate change log rather than relying on memory. The commonly managed categories are:
| Category | Examples of what to set | Operational note |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Server name and map | Use a name players can distinguish in the server list; verify the map is installed before launch. |
| Networking | Starting port | Reserve a unique consecutive port range for every instance. |
| Capacity | Maximum players | Set a limit your CPU, memory, bandwidth, and moderation capacity can sustain. |
| Rules | PvE/PvP-related settings | Declare the intended rules clearly in the server name and community information. |
| Other server options | Additional commands supported by the current build | Test after updates; an obsolete command can be ignored or produce unexpected behavior. |
Change one group of settings at a time. Start the server, confirm the console output and server-list appearance, then record the working configuration. If the server fails to start after an edit, revert the last change rather than deleting the entire instance directory.
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Make a server reachable from the internet
Obtain a Game Server Login Token
A public internet server requires a valid Game Server Login Token. Treat the token as a secret: store it in the server’s supported configuration location, restrict file permissions, and replace it if it is exposed. A token alone does not solve routing or firewall problems.
Choose Fake IP or port forwarding
The official documentation describes two reachability approaches:
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- Fake IP: presented as the easier choice for most servers. It avoids asking players to connect through your home router’s address and can simplify exposure.
- Port forwarding: forwards the server’s required ports from your router or firewall to the host machine. You must reserve the host’s local address, allow the ports through the operating-system firewall, and repeat the process for every instance.
When using forwarding, verify the protocol and consecutive-port requirements for the current server build, then test from a network outside your LAN. A connection that works only from inside the same router can be a local hairpin result rather than proof that public routing is correct.
Plan ports for more than one instance
Assign non-overlapping starting ports before creating additional ServerIDs. Document each mapping as ServerID → starting port → public address → map. If two instances attempt to bind the same port, one will fail to start or will not be reachable even though its console appears to be running.
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If you accept payments or grant paid perks, read the current Unturned server monetization and hosting rules first. Rules can change, and compliance is separate from technical reachability. Do not promise advantages that violate the game’s current policy.
Add workshop maps and mods safely
Declare content in WorkshopDownloadConfig.json
Curated maps and other workshop additions are declared in WorkshopDownloadConfig.json inside the relevant instance configuration. During startup, the Map command searches installed workshop items for a matching name. Listed dependencies are downloaded for connecting players.
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- Collect the workshop item IDs and the exact map or content names.
- Enter the required items and dependencies in
WorkshopDownloadConfig.jsonusing the format supported by the current Unturned build. - Start the correct ServerID and watch the console for download or dependency errors.
- Join with a test account, confirm that the map loads, and verify that a player without the content is prompted to download it.
- Record the complete workshop file-ID inventory beside your backup.
Keep the inventory under version control or in a dated operations document. If an item is removed, renamed, or updated incompatibly, the list lets you reproduce the old environment or roll back to a known set. Do not mix a modded configuration into a vanilla ServerID unless you are prepared to remove its workshop files and restore a clean backup.
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Commands can be entered in chat, the server console, or Commands.dat. Chat commands require administrator privileges and commonly use a slash or at-sign prefix. Command names and arguments should be checked against the current game documentation before you automate them.
- Access: grant or revoke administrator status.
- Moderation: ban a player, permit a player, and inspect the current player list.
- Communication: broadcast a message to everyone online.
- Runtime settings: inspect or set the server port and change supported rules such as PvE/PvP mode.
- Persistence: force a save before maintenance and issue a shutdown command for a graceful stop.
Use the console for recovery when chat permissions are broken. Keep an administrator roster and an incident log; moderation actions are easier to audit when the player identifier, reason, time, and responsible operator are recorded.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Extend administration with OpenMod or RocketMod
Plugins are optional. Run the vanilla server first, confirm that updates and backups work, and then add one framework at a time. OpenMod is a supported server-extension path, and its Unturned module provides the installation workflow for OpenMod plugins. RocketMod remains another established plugin ecosystem.
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| Decision | OpenMod | RocketMod |
|---|---|---|
| Coexistence | Can be installed side by side with RocketMod. | Can remain present while OpenMod is added, subject to plugin compatibility. |
| Permissions | Can use OpenMod permissions, RocketMod permissions, or a separate system through integration settings. | Existing RocketMod permission data can be retained when configured as the source. |
| Economy | Can integrate with RocketMod Uconomy, OpenMod Uconomy, or remain separate. | Can continue supplying Uconomy data when selected as the economy source. |
| Migration concern | Check each plugin’s current Unturned and framework compatibility before upgrading. | Old plugins may depend on APIs or permission data that differ from the target build. |
Choose one authoritative permission system and one authoritative economy system for each community. Running two independent stores or permission databases creates confusing results: a user may be an administrator in one framework but not the other, or have a balance visible to only some plugins.
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Keep a Linux server online 24/7
Use screen for the game process
screen provides a persistent terminal session. It lets an operator attach to the server console for maintenance while the process continues after disconnecting. Name the session consistently, such as unturned, so automation can target it.
Create a systemd service
The following is a practical baseline. Replace paths, the Linux user, and the ServerID with your own values:
[Unit]
Description=Unturned Dedicated Server
After=network.target
[Service]
User=steam
WorkingDirectory=/home/steam/unturned
ExecStart=/usr/bin/screen -DmS unturned /home/steam/unturned/ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer/MyServer
ExecStop=/usr/bin/screen -S unturned -X stuff "save^M"
ExecStop=/usr/bin/screen -S unturned -X stuff "shutdown^M"
Restart=on-failure
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target- Save the unit under the systemd service directory used by your distribution.
- Reload systemd, enable the service for boot, and start it.
- Check the service status and attach to the named screen session when you need the console.
- Test a restart and a stop during a maintenance window. Confirm that the world saves before the process exits.
The save and shutdown commands are intentional. A forced process kill can lose recent world changes or leave files in an uncertain state. For production operation, add scheduled backups, log rotation, disk-space alerts, uptime monitoring, and a tested rollback procedure. A service that restarts automatically is not a backup strategy.
Back up, migrate, and recover an instance
- Stop the instance with a save followed by a graceful shutdown before copying files.
- Back up the entire ServerID directory, including saves,
Commands.dat, workshop configuration, logs, and plugin data. - Store the SteamCMD update procedure, ServerID name, starting port, login-token location, and workshop IDs with the backup.
- Test restoration on a separate directory or machine; do not overwrite the only working copy.
- After migration, check file ownership, executable permissions, port assignments, and plugin versions before allowing players to join.
If a workshop update breaks startup, restore the last known-good workshop inventory and instance backup. If a second server cannot bind, compare its starting port with every running ServerID. If players cannot connect but the console is healthy, check the token, Fake IP or forwarding choice, firewall, and external connectivity separately.
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Quick Recap
Choose a practical tool stack
| Server need | Recommended baseline | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One private test server | SteamCMD, one ServerID, ServerHelper, and Commands.dat | Few moving parts make troubleshooting and map testing easier. |
| Several public instances | SteamCMD, one ServerID per instance, documented port ranges, login tokens, and workshop inventories | Isolation prevents a change to one world from damaging another. |
| Community moderation | Built-in commands plus OpenMod or RocketMod after vanilla validation | Plugins add permissions and moderation workflows without replacing the dedicated server. |
| Unattended Linux hosting | systemd, screen, graceful save/shutdown, backups, and monitoring | Provides boot-time startup and controlled recovery instead of manual terminal work. |
| Frequent migrations | Documented ServerIDs, ports, workshop IDs, plugin versions, and tested backups | Recreates the same environment and limits rollback scope. |
Pre-launch and maintenance checklist
- SteamCMD completed
app_update 1110390successfully. - The intended ServerID starts and has its own save directory.
Commands.datnames the right map, rules, player limit, and unique starting port.- A valid Game Server Login Token is configured for a public server.
- Fake IP or port forwarding is selected, and firewall rules have been tested from outside the local network.
WorkshopDownloadConfig.jsoncontains the required items and dependencies.- Administrators can use console commands and know how to save and shut down safely.
- OpenMod or RocketMod plugins have been checked against the current game and framework versions.
- Linux services start at boot, restart only when appropriate, and send save/shutdown commands.
- Backups, logs, monitoring, and a restoration test exist before inviting a large player population.
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