For comfortable Enshrouded gameplay on a VPS with 4 players, you need a minimum of 2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, and a 40 GB NVMe disk, which will cost approximately $15/month. When increasing the number of players to 8-16, the Enshrouded server requirements rise to 4 vCPU and 16-24 GB RAM for stable, lag-free gameplay.
Enshrouded, the new survival game from Keen Games, has quickly gained popularity thanks to its unique blend of survival mechanics, crafting, and RPG elements. Like many multiplayer games, Enshrouded offers the option to run your own dedicated server. However, before diving into the world of Embervale with friends, it's crucial to understand the Enshrouded server requirements to ensure a stable and enjoyable experience for all participants. This analysis will help you choose the optimal VPS or dedicated server that meets your needs.
What are the Minimum Enshrouded Server Specs and Hardware Requirements?
Running your own Enshrouded server gives you full control over gameplay, modifications, and player roster. However, this requires hosting that meets the game's technical specifications. Understanding enshrouded server requirements is critical to prevent lag and crashes.
Official Developer Recommendations
Enshrouded developers, Keen Games, initially published the following minimum dedicated server requirements:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 7 1700X
- RAM: 16 GB
- Disk Space: 100 GB (SSD recommended)
- Operating System: Windows Server 2016 or newer / Linux (Ubuntu 20.04 or newer)
- Network Connection: Broadband internet connection
These recommendations seem quite high, especially 16 GB RAM for a minimal setup. However, practical experience shows that for a small group of players (4-6 people), fewer resources might suffice if you're using a VPS. It's important to remember that these figures are a starting point, and actual load can vary.
Practical Enshrouded Server Specs: CPU and RAM Requirements
In practice, enshrouded server specs for small groups of players (up to 4) can be slightly lower than the official recommendations, but it's not advisable to skimp on RAM. Enshrouded is quite demanding on RAM, as confirmed by community feedback.
- CPU: The Enshrouded server responds well to high core clock speeds. Even 2 vCPUs with a frequency of 3.0 GHz or higher can handle 4 players, but 4 vCPUs with a similar frequency will provide a significantly smoother experience. Multi-core performance is important for handling OS background processes and network requests.
- RAM: Compromises here are minimal. Even for 4 players, it's recommended to start with 8 GB RAM. For 8 players, 16 GB RAM becomes an almost mandatory minimum. The Enshrouded server actively caches world data in memory, and insufficient RAM leads to constant disk loading, causing delays and "freezes."
- Disk: NVMe SSD is the de-facto standard for game servers. Read/write speed is critical for fast world loading and chunk streaming. 40-60 GB will be sufficient for the game itself and several world saves.
If you plan to set up your own Enshrouded server, you should consider these practical aspects to avoid disappointment.
Enshrouded Dedicated Server RAM: How Many Players Can it Handle?
The question "how much RAM for an Enshrouded server" is one of the most frequently asked. Enshrouded truly stands out among other games for its appetite for RAM.
RAM Calculation for 4, 8, and 16 Players
Based on official recommendations and community experience, here are the estimated enshrouded dedicated server RAM requirements:
- 4 Players: A minimum of 8 GB RAM. The server will use approximately 6-7 GB after world loading and with a small number of active players. A buffer of 1-2 GB is necessary for the operating system and peak loads.
- 8 Players: 16 GB RAM is recommended. With this number of players, RAM consumption can easily exceed 10-12 GB, especially if players are exploring different parts of the map or building large bases. 16 GB will provide a comfortable buffer.
- 16 Players: For the maximum number of players (Enshrouded's cap), 24-32 GB RAM is required. With a fully loaded server and active world exploration, memory consumption can reach 18-24 GB. More RAM will help prevent "swapping" and associated delays.
It's important to note that these figures include RAM for the Enshrouded game server itself and the minimum operating system requirements. If other applications or services are running on the server, additional memory will be needed.
How Game World and Activity Affect Memory Consumption
Enshrouded server RAM consumption is not static; it changes dynamically based on several factors:
- World Size and Complexity: The more players explore the world, build structures, and alter the landscape, the more data the server has to store and process in RAM.
- Number of Active Entities: Mobs, NPCs, items placed by players—all of these contribute to the load.
- Simultaneous Player Actions: Multiple players simultaneously gathering resources, building, or fighting create peak memory loads.
- Server Uptime: Some games may experience "memory leaks" or simply gradually increase RAM consumption over time due to data accumulation. Regular server restarts can help reset consumption.
Therefore, when choosing a VPS for Enshrouded, it's better to have some extra RAM than to face resource shortages in the middle of intense gameplay.
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View offers →Enshrouded Server Hardware Requirements: vCPU Cores vs. Clock Speed
When choosing a processor for enshrouded server hardware requirements, the question often arises: what's more important—the number of cores or their clock speed? For Enshrouded, the answer isn't straightforward, but there are clear priorities.
Single-Thread Performance vs. Multi-Core
Game servers, including Enshrouded, are traditionally very dependent on single-thread performance. This means that a high clock speed of a single CPU core is often more important than a large number of cores with a lower frequency. The Enshrouded server engine, like many others, performs critical tasks on one or more main threads, and their performance directly impacts the server's "tick" rate (the speed at which the game world updates).
- High Clock Speed: For Enshrouded, processors with high base and turbo frequencies (3.0 GHz and above) are preferred. This ensures fast processing of game mechanics, physics, and world logic.
- Number of Cores: While single-thread performance is crucial, having multiple cores (2-4 vCPUs) also provides benefits. The operating system, network stack, disk operations, and auxiliary server processes can utilize additional cores, freeing up the game engine's main threads for their critical tasks. For 8-16 players, 4 vCPUs is an optimal minimum, allowing for even load distribution.
On Valebyte.com VPS, you get access to powerful latest-generation Intel Xeon processors that combine high clock speed and a sufficient number of cores for efficient Enshrouded server operation.
vCPU Recommendations for VPS
Based on Enshrouded's needs, here are our vCPU recommendations for a VPS:
- 4 Players: A minimum of 2 vCPUs. This will allow the server to have one main thread for the game and one for OS/background tasks. Ensure these vCPUs have a high clock speed.
- 8-16 Players: 4 vCPUs are recommended. This will provide enough power to scale the load, handle more players, and a more complex world. Some advanced users for 16 players might even consider 6 vCPUs for maximum stability, especially if modifications are planned.
It's crucial to choose a provider that guarantees dedicated vCPU resources, not just "bursting." This ensures stable performance without degradation due to "noisy neighbors" on the same physical server.
Disk Subsystem and Network Traffic for Enshrouded VPS
Beyond CPU and RAM, the speed of the disk subsystem and network bandwidth play a key role in the stable operation of an Enshrouded server.
NVMe SSD: Load Speed and Stability
For an Enshrouded game server, using an NVMe SSD is not just a recommendation but practically a mandatory requirement. HDDs or even SATA SSDs are significantly inferior to NVMe in read/write speeds, which is critical for:
- Fast World Loading: When the server first starts or after a restart, the Enshrouded world must be loaded from disk. NVMe significantly reduces this time.
- Chunk Loading: As players explore the world, the server constantly loads new map sections (chunks) from disk into RAM. A slow disk will cause delays and "freezes" during movement.
- World Saves: Regular saving of world progress also requires fast disk writes to avoid creating lag during gameplay.
For an Enshrouded server with 4-16 players, 40-80 GB of NVMe disk space is sufficient. The game itself occupies about 20-30 GB, and the remaining space will be needed for the operating system, world saves, and potential backups. Valebyte.com offers VPS with high-speed NVMe SSDs, ensuring excellent disk subsystem performance.
Network Traffic and Bandwidth Assessment
The network connection is the link between your server and players. For Enshrouded, two parameters are important:
- Bandwidth: A 1 Gbps port is usually sufficient for game servers. Enshrouded itself is not extremely demanding on bandwidth, but a stable connection is crucial. For 4-16 players, the total traffic volume will depend on activity, but a typical VPS with a 100-500 Mbps guaranteed channel and sufficient traffic volume (from 1-2 TB/month) will suffice.
- Latency: Low ping between the server and players is critical for comfortable gameplay. Choose a data center geographically close to most of your players.
One Enshrouded player consumes an average of 50-150 KB/s (kilobytes per second) of traffic. For 16 players, this can be up to 2.4 MB/s (megabytes per second) at peak. Over a month of active gameplay, this can amount to several hundred gigabytes. Make sure your VPS plan includes sufficient monthly traffic volume.
Enshrouded VPS Configuration Comparison: How Many Players Can Your Server Handle?
Choosing the optimal VPS configuration for Enshrouded depends on the planned number of players and your performance expectations. The table below will help you navigate your options.
For 16 simultaneous players in Enshrouded, a VPS with 4 vCPUs, 16-24 GB RAM, and an 80 GB NVMe disk is recommended to ensure stable gameplay.
| Players | vCPU (cores) | RAM (GB) | Disk (GB NVMe) | Network Port | Traffic (TB/month) | Price (approx. $/month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 (from 3.0 GHz) | 8 | 40 | 1 Gbps | 1-2 | $15 - $25 |
| 8 | 4 (from 3.0 GHz) | 16 | 60 | 1 Gbps | 2-3 | $30 - $50 |
| 16 | 4 (from 3.5 GHz) | 16-24 | 80 | 1 Gbps | 3-5 | $45 - $70 |
Enshrouded Server Optimization: What Can Be Improved?
Even with powerful hardware, proper optimization can significantly improve Enshrouded server performance:
- Operating System: Linux (e.g., Ubuntu Server) generally consumes fewer resources than Windows Server, leaving more RAM and CPU for the game.
- Server Launch Parameters: Use optimal launch parameters for the Enshrouded server, for example, to configure save frequency or other game settings.
- Updates: Regularly update your Enshrouded server to the latest version, as developers constantly release patches with performance improvements.
- Monitoring: Set up server resource monitoring (CPU, RAM, disk, network) to identify bottlenecks and react to them promptly.
Careful attention to these aspects will allow you to use your VPS resources most effectively.
Setting Up and Running an Enshrouded Dedicated Server on a VPS
After choosing a suitable VPS configuration, the next step is to install and configure your enshrouded dedicated server. The process is quite standardized for game servers on SteamCMD.
Installing SteamCMD and the Enshrouded Server
To install the Enshrouded server, you'll need SteamCMD. Here are the basic steps for Linux:
# Обновляем систему
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
# Устанавливаем необходимые пакеты (например, для 64-битной системы)
sudo apt install lib32gcc-s1 -y
# Создаем пользователя для сервера (рекомендуется из соображений безопасности)
sudo adduser enshroudedserver
su - enshroudedserver
# Создаем директорию для SteamCMD и переходим в нее
mkdir steamcmd && cd steamcmd
# Скачиваем SteamCMD
wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
# Распаковываем архив
tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
# Запускаем SteamCMD
./steamcmd.sh
# Внутри SteamCMD:
login anonymous
force_install_dir /home/enshroudedserver/enshrouded_server
app_update 2278520 validate
quit
After executing these commands, the Enshrouded game server will be installed in the /home/enshroudedserver/enshrouded_server directory. More detailed instructions and setup nuances can be found in our article "How to Set Up Your Own Enshrouded Server on a VPS/Dedicated Server".
Server Configuration and Management
The Enshrouded server configuration is done via the file enshrouded_server/enshrouded_server.json (or similar, depending on the game version). Here you can configure the server name, password, maximum number of players, and other parameters. Example of a basic configuration:
{
"name": "My Valebyte Enshrouded Server",
"password": "your_server_password",
"maxPlayers": 16,
"saveInterval": 300,
"logLevel": "info"
}
The server is launched using a command from the server directory:
./enshrouded_server -config enshrouded_server.json
It is recommended to use screen or tmux to run the server in the background so that it continues to operate even after disconnecting from the SSH session.
screen -S enshrouded_server_session ./enshrouded_server -config enshrouded_server.json
Valebyte.com Best Practices for Hosting Enshrouded Servers
Valebyte.com offers not just VPS, but also expert recommendations to ensure maximum performance and stability for your game servers.
Choosing an Operating System
For an Enshrouded server, we recommend using Linux. The most popular and well-supported distributions are Ubuntu Server (20.04 LTS or 22.04 LTS) or Debian. They offer better performance, lower resource consumption, and higher stability compared to Windows Server for gaming applications. Additionally, most server installation guides are Linux-oriented.
If you are accustomed to Windows, Windows Server 2019 or 2022 will also work, but keep in mind that they will require more RAM and CPU for the OS itself, which will increase the overall server requirements.
Monitoring and Scaling
To maintain stable Enshrouded server operation, it is crucial to set up monitoring. Use tools like htop, glances, iotop to track CPU load, RAM consumption, disk operations, and network traffic. Regularly check server logs for errors or warnings.
As your gaming group grows or server activity increases, resource scaling may be required. Valebyte.com offers flexible pricing plans that allow you to easily increase vCPU count, RAM, and disk space without reinstalling the server. This is especially convenient for games like Enshrouded, where enshrouded how many players directly impacts the required resources.
Our solutions are ideal for a wide range of tasks, from hosting Enshrouded to more demanding projects like a Squad dedicated server with a hundred players or even a server for self-hosted AI.
Frequently Asked Questions about Enshrouded Server Hosting
Here we've compiled answers to the most common questions about hosting an Enshrouded server.
How many players can an Enshrouded server support?
Officially, Enshrouded supports up to 16 players on a single dedicated server. However, for comfortable gameplay with 16 players, a powerful VPS or dedicated server with 4 vCPUs, 16-24 GB RAM, and an NVMe disk will be required to avoid lag and delays. With insufficient resources, even fewer players might encounter performance issues.
Can I run an Enshrouded server on my home PC?
Theoretically, yes, but it is not recommended for long-term or public play. A home PC typically lacks a stable internet connection with high bandwidth and is not designed for 24/7 operation. Additionally, port forwarding and open access to your home network would be required, which carries security risks. A VPS offers a much more reliable and secure solution.
How much disk space is needed for an Enshrouded server?
The Enshrouded game itself occupies about 20-30 GB. Considering the operating system, world saves, and potential backups, it's recommended to have a minimum of 40 GB NVMe disk space for a server with 4-8 players, and 60-80 GB for 16 players. NVMe is critically important for fast world loading and stable operation.
Is a dedicated IP address required for an Enshrouded server?
Yes, any game server, including Enshrouded, requires a dedicated public IP address. This allows players to connect directly to your server over the internet. All Valebyte.com VPS come with a dedicated IP address.
Will an Enshrouded server consume a lot of traffic?
Traffic consumption depends on the number of players and their activity. One player typically generates 50-150 KB/s on average. For 16 active players, this can amount to up to 2.4 MB/s. Monthly usage can range from 200 GB to 1 TB or more. Ensure your VPS plan includes sufficient monthly traffic volume (Valebyte.com offers plans with 1 TB and more).
Conclusion
Hosting your own Enshrouded server on a VPS requires a careful approach to configuration, especially regarding RAM and the disk subsystem. For comfortable gameplay with friends, Valebyte.com recommends starting with a VPS equipped with at least 8 GB RAM and an NVMe disk, even for a small group of players. As the number of participants grows to 8-16, be sure to scale resources up to 16-24 GB RAM and 4 vCPUs to ensure a stable and enjoyable gaming experience for everyone.
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