Myth of Empires Dedicated Server on VPS: Setup & Optimization

To set up a Myth of Empires server on a VPS for 10 players, you'll need a minimum of 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, and 40 GB NVMe disk space, achievable via SteamCMD and configuring port 7777 UDP.

Myth of Empires is an ambitious multiplayer sandbox game with survival and PvP elements, where players build empires, participate in massive battles, and explore a vast world. To truly control the gameplay, customize rules, and avoid issues with other people's servers, many prefer to deploy their own self-hosted Myth of Empires server. Using a VPS (Virtual Private Server) for this purpose offers an ideal balance between performance, flexibility, and cost compared to renting a dedicated server.

Why a VPS is the Best Choice for Your Myth of Empires Server

When it comes to launching your own game server, the choice between a VPS and a full-fledged dedicated server often becomes critical. For a Myth of Empires server, especially in the initial stages or for a medium-sized community, a VPS offers several significant advantages.

VPS vs. Dedicated Server: Balancing Power and Cost for Myth of Empires

A Myth of Empires dedicated server provides maximum performance, as all its resources are entirely available only to you. However, this solution is significantly more expensive and often overkill for most gaming communities. A VPS, on the other hand, divides a physical server into several virtual machines, each with guaranteed access to specific resources (CPU, RAM, disk). This significantly reduces costs while maintaining sufficient performance and full control over the operating system.

For Myth of Empires, which can be demanding on CPU and RAM, a properly selected VPS will ensure smooth gameplay without significant latency. You get administrative access, the ability to install any software, configure a firewall, and scale resources as your community grows. This makes a VPS an ideal solution for those seeking flexibility and cost savings without sacrificing gaming experience quality.

Myth of Empires Server Requirements: Minimum and Recommended VPS Specs

Myth of Empires is a game with a large map and many interacting objects. This means the server will require sufficient resources. Here are the approximate requirements:

• CPU: The Myth of Empires server actively uses single-thread performance but also benefits from multi-core processing. For a small server (up to 10-15 players), 2 vCPUs with a high clock speed (2.5 GHz or more) are sufficient. For 30-60 players, 4-6 vCPUs will be needed.
• RAM: This is one of the most critical parameters. For stable server operation with 10-15 players, a minimum of 4 GB RAM is recommended. For 30-60 players, it's better to aim for 8-16 GB RAM. The more players and constructions, the more memory will be required.
• Disk Space: The game files themselves occupy about 80-100 GB. Add to this space for world saves, logs, and the operating system. NVMe disks are highly recommended for maximum read/write speeds, which will significantly reduce Myth of Empires lag during chunk loading and world saving. A minimum of 100-120 GB NVMe is needed.
• Network Bandwidth: A stable 100 Mbps connection will be sufficient for most servers. For larger communities or frequent file transfers, 1 Gbps is desirable.

Myth of Empires Server Setup: Preparing Your VPS

Before proceeding with your Myth of Empires server setup, you need to prepare your virtual machine. This stage includes selecting an operating system, basic security configuration, and installing necessary utilities.

Choosing the Right Operating System for Your Myth of Empires Server

For game servers based on SteamCMD, such as Myth of Empires, the most popular and well-supported choice is Linux. It is recommended to use Debian-based distributions, such as Ubuntu Server LTS (Long Term Support) versions 20.04 or 22.04. They provide stability, up-to-date software, and an extensive knowledge base within the community.

Updating Your System and Creating a Server User

After deploying the VPS and logging in for the first time via SSH (usually as the root user), the first step is to update the system and create a separate user to run the server. This enhances security by isolating game processes from system ones.

Updating the system:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Creating a new user (e.g., moe_server) and granting them sudo privileges:

sudo adduser moe_server
sudo usermod -aG sudo moe_server

Switch to the new user for subsequent actions:

su - moe_server

Configuring Your Firewall and Opening Ports for Myth of Empires

A firewall is essential to protect your VPS from unauthorized access. Use UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall), which is pre-installed in Ubuntu. Open only the ports necessary for the Myth of Empires server and SSH to function.

Main ports for Myth of Empires:

• 7777 UDP: Primary game port.
• 27015 UDP: Steam query port.

Commands to configure UFW:

sudo ufw allow ssh # or sudo ufw allow 22/tcp if SSH runs on the standard port
sudo ufw allow 7777/udp
sudo ufw allow 27015/udp
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw status

Ensure SSH access is allowed before enabling UFW, otherwise, you risk losing access to the server.

How to Install Myth of Empires Server Using SteamCMD

After preparing the operating system, you can proceed with downloading and installing the game files. This is done using SteamCMD – a command-line Steam client designed for installing and updating dedicated servers.

Installing SteamCMD on Linux for Myth of Empires

First, install the necessary packages for SteamCMD. As the moe_server user (or whatever user you created):

sudo apt install lib32gcc-s1 curl -y

Create a directory for SteamCMD and navigate into it:

mkdir ~/steamcmd
cd ~/steamcmd

Download and extract SteamCMD:

curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | tar xzv

Downloading Myth of Empires Server Files

Launch SteamCMD. It will update on its first run.

./steamcmd.sh

Inside the SteamCMD console, execute the following commands:

login anonymous
force_install_dir /home/moe_server/moe_server # Path where server files will be stored
app_update 1600860 validate # 1600860 is the AppID for Myth of Empires Dedicated Server
quit

The download process may take a considerable amount of time depending on your internet connection speed and file size (around 80-100 GB). After the download is complete, you will find the server files in the specified directory /home/moe_server/moe_server.

First Launch and Configuration File Generation

For the first launch of the server and to generate basic configuration files, navigate to the server directory:

cd /home/moe_server/moe_server/MOE/Binaries/Linux

Start the server with minimal parameters. The -log parameter is useful for debugging.

./MoeServer-Linux-Shipping Moe -log

The server will start, create the necessary files and folders (including world saves and configs), and likely crash or show errors because it's not configured. This is normal. After you see messages about file generation, stop the server (Ctrl+C). Now you have the file structure for configuration.

The main configuration files will be located in the directory /home/moe_server/moe_server/MOE/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/.

Detailed Myth of Empires Server Configuration Guide

After installing and initially launching the server, the key step is its configuration. This will allow you to set game rules, manage performance, and make your Myth of Empires server unique.

Key Server Parameters: ServerSettings.ini and Game.ini

All important server settings are stored in the ServerSettings.ini and Game.ini files, located at /home/moe_server/moe_server/MOE/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/. You can edit them with any text editor, such as nano.

nano /home/moe_server/moe_server/MOE/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ServerSettings.ini

Examples of important parameters in ServerSettings.ini:

• ServerName=Your_Server_Name: The name that will appear in the server list.
• ServerPassword=Your_Password: Password to join the server (leave empty for a public server).
• AdminPassword=Admin_Password: Password for accessing in-game administrative commands.
• MaxPlayers=60: Maximum number of players.
• bPvP=True: Enable or disable PvP.
• PvPTime=0900-2300: PvP window times (e.g., from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM).
• PlayerDamageMultiplier=1.0: Player damage multiplier.
• ExpRate=1.0: Experience gain multiplier.
• HarvestRate=1.0: Resource gathering multiplier.
• GatherRate=1.0: Gathering speed multiplier.

The Game.ini file contains more specific settings related to game rules, such as building limits, guild settings, NPC parameters, and much more. It is often created after the first server launch and can be quite extensive. If it doesn't exist, create an empty file and add the [/script/moe.moegamesettings] section.

nano /home/moe_server/moe_server/MOE/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/Game.ini

Example parameter in Game.ini:

[/script/moe.moegamesettings]
MaxPlayerBaseCount=2000 # Maximum number of structures in a player's/guild's base

Optimizing Performance and World Settings to Prevent Myth of Empires Lag

To prevent Myth of Empires lag and maintain stable performance, especially on large servers, several key parameters need to be configured.

• Tickrate (Server Refresh Rate): While Myth of Empires doesn't provide a direct parameter to change tickrate in the configs, overall server performance directly affects this metric. A high server FPS (frames per second that the server processes) means more frequent updates. Optimize other parameters to ensure the server CPU is not overloaded.
• Building Limits: The MaxPlayerBaseCount parameter in Game.ini is very important. Too many constructions can significantly increase server load. Set a reasonable limit (e.g., 2000-5000 structures per base) to prevent excessive resource usage.
• Inactive Base Cleanup: Myth of Empires has built-in mechanisms for removing inactive bases. Ensure that the parameters governing this are configured in Game.ini or ServerSettings.ini. For example, DecayTimeMultiplier can affect the decay rate of inactive player structures.
• Corpse and Item Removal: A large number of objects on the ground can also cause Myth of Empires lag. Look for parameters related to the despawn time of corpses (NPCs, animals, players) and dropped items, and set them to shorter durations.

Registering Your Myth of Empires Server in the Game List

To make your server visible in the in-game list, ensure that:

1. Ports 7777 UDP and 27015 UDP are open in your VPS firewall.
2. ServerName in ServerSettings.ini is unique and easily recognizable.
3. The server is running and operating without errors.

Sometimes it takes some time (up to 15-30 minutes) for the server to appear in the public list after the first successful launch. If the server doesn't appear, check the logs for errors and ensure there are no network or firewall issues on the VPS side.

Monitoring and Optimizing VPS Resources for Myth of Empires

Maintaining stable operation of your Myth of Empires server requires constant monitoring of VPS resources. Understanding what exactly causes slowdowns will help you effectively scale or optimize the server.

Identifying Bottlenecks: CPU or Memory for Myth of Empires Lag?

Determining which resource is the "bottleneck" is critically important for eliminating Myth of Empires lag. Use the following commands for diagnosis:

• CPU Monitoring:

  top

  or the more advanced

  htop

  (install with sudo apt install htop -y). Pay attention to the CPU usage percentage of the MoeServer-Linux-Shipping process. If it's consistently close to 100% on one core or the total usage of all cores is high, and players complain about "freezes" and delays, then you've hit a CPU bottleneck. Myth of Empires often heavily loads a single core, so a high clock speed is important.

• RAM Monitoring:

  free -h

  This will show current RAM usage. If the used amount is close to total, and especially if swap (virtual memory on disk) is actively used, this indicates a lack of RAM. Swap usage significantly slows down server operation, causing micro-freezes and long loading times. In this case, the server needs more RAM.

• Disk Monitoring (NVMe):

  iostat -x 2

  (install with sudo apt install sysstat -y) will show disk activity. High %util values (close to 100%) and await (I/O operation wait time) can indicate that the disk is a bottleneck, especially when saving the world or loading chunks. NVMe disks significantly reduce the likelihood of this problem.

If you've hit a CPU bottleneck, consider upgrading to a VPS plan with more powerful cores (higher clock speed) or a larger number of cores. If the problem is RAM, increase the amount of memory. For a general understanding of the differences between server types, we recommend reading our article Cloud VPS vs Cloud Server: Terminology and Pricing 2026.

Myth of Empires Server Optimization Tips

If monitoring shows that resources are at their limit but scaling is not yet possible, try the following steps:

• Game Settings: Reduce MaxPlayers. Shorten the lifespan of corpses and dropped items. Set stricter limits on the number of structures per player/guild.
• World Cleanup: Regularly clean up the world from inactive bases and objects if the game provides such tools or console commands.
• Kernel Tuning (Advanced): For very large servers, you can try optimizing Linux kernel parameters related to networking and the file system, but this requires deep knowledge and can be risky.
• Automatic Restart: Set up a script that will automatically restart the Myth of Empires server if it crashes. This can be done using systemd.

Choosing the Right VPS Configuration for Your Myth of Empires Server

Choosing the appropriate VPS configuration is critical for the stable operation of your Myth of Empires server. Base your decision on the number of players you plan to host and their activity. Valebyte.com offers flexible plans, allowing you to select the optimal solution.

For 30 concurrent players, 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, and a 120 GB NVMe disk are sufficient.

Players	vCPU	RAM	Disk	Network Bandwidth	Estimated Valebyte.com Price (April 2026)
1-10	2 (2.5+ GHz)	4 GB	80 GB NVMe	1 Gbps	from $15/month
10-30	4 (2.5+ GHz)	8 GB	120 GB NVMe	1 Gbps	from $30/month
30-60	6 (3.0+ GHz)	16 GB	200 GB NVMe	1 Gbps	from $60/month
60-100+	8+ (3.5+ GHz)	32+ GB	300+ GB NVMe	1 Gbps	from $100/month

The Importance of NVMe and Network Bandwidth for Your Self-Hosted Myth of Empires Server

As mentioned, NVMe disks are the de facto standard for high-performance game servers. Their high read/write speeds significantly reduce world loading times, save processing, and decrease latency related to disk operations, which is critically important for a game with a large map and a dynamically changing world. Standard SSDs, or even HDDs, will perform significantly worse and can cause Myth of Empires lag.

A network connection with 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) bandwidth is recommended. While Myth of Empires is not a game that consumes an excessive amount of traffic per player, a stable and fast connection is important for handling simultaneous connections, transmitting world state data, and preventing network latency. Ensure your VPS provider offers not only high speed but also a stable channel without overloads.

If you are looking for more powerful solutions or want to compare offerings, consider reviews of other dedicated server providers, for example, Namecheap Dedicated Server: Review 2026 and Pitfalls.

Myth of Empires Server Backup and World Transfer

Data security is paramount. Regular backups of your Myth of Empires world will help prevent loss of progress in case of failures or errors. It's also useful to know how to transfer a world between servers.

Myth of Empires Server Backup Strategies

The most important files for backup are located in the /home/moe_server/moe_server/MOE/Saved/ directory. Inside it are world saves, logs, configurations, and other critical information.

It is recommended to use the rsync utility to create incremental backups. This allows you to copy only changed files, saving space and time. Create a separate directory for backups, preferably on a different disk or remote storage.

mkdir ~/backups
rsync -avz /home/moe_server/moe_server/MOE/Saved/ ~/backups/moe_server_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M)/

To automate the process, use cron. For example, for a daily backup at 3:00 AM:

(crontab -l 2>/dev/null; echo "0 3 * * * rsync -avz /home/moe_server/moe_server/MOE/Saved/ ~/backups/moe_server_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M)/") | crontab -

Before performing a backup, it is recommended to temporarily stop the server or put it into maintenance mode to avoid corruption of save files.

Migrating Myth of Empires World Data Between Servers

Transferring a Myth of Empires world to another VPS or dedicated server is relatively simple:

1. Stop the server on the old VPS.
2. Copy the entire MOE/Saved/ directory from the old server to the new one. Ensure that the Myth of Empires Server is already installed on the new server and you have performed the first launch to create the basic file structure.
3. Place the copied Saved/ directory at the same path on the new server (/home/moe_server/moe_server/MOE/Saved/), overwriting the existing one.
4. Ensure that file and folder permissions match the user under which the server runs (e.g., moe_server). Use sudo chown -R moe_server:moe_server /home/moe_server/moe_server/MOE/Saved/.
5. Start the server on the new VPS. The world should load with the saved data.

This process allows you to easily migrate your self-hosted Myth of Empires server if you need to upgrade or change hosting providers. If you are familiar with setting up game servers on Linux, you might be interested in reading about other platforms, for example, Source Dedicated Server (SRCDS): Installing TF2, CS:S, and GMod on Linux.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much RAM is needed for a Myth of Empires server with 30 players?

For a Myth of Empires server designed for 30 concurrent players, at least 8 GB of RAM is recommended. This ensures stable server operation, minimizes latency, and maintains a comfortable gameplay experience even with active building and world exploration. If the number of players increases to 60, 16 GB of RAM will be required.

Which disk type is better for Myth of Empires Server: SSD or NVMe?

For a Myth of Empires Server, NVMe disks are unequivocally superior. Thanks to significantly higher read and write speeds compared to standard SSDs, NVMe disks substantially accelerate world loading, save processing, and reduce overall server latency, which is critically important for performance in a game with a large map and dynamic environment. The speed difference can be 3-5 times.

How do I open ports for Myth of Empires on a Linux VPS?

To open ports on a Linux VPS using UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall), you need to execute the commands: sudo ufw allow 7777/udp for the main game port and sudo ufw allow 27015/udp for the Steam query port. After adding the rules, activate the firewall with sudo ufw enable and check its status using sudo ufw status. Ensure that the SSH port is also allowed.

Can I configure PvP windows on a Myth of Empires server?

Yes, you can configure PvP windows on your Myth of Empires server. To do this, you need to edit the ServerSettings.ini file, located in the MOE/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ directory. Find the PvPTime= parameter and specify the desired time interval in HHMM-HHMM format, for example, PvPTime=0900-2300, for PvP to be active from 9 AM to 11 PM.

Conclusion

Deploying your own Myth of Empires server on a VPS is the optimal path to full control over gameplay, flexible rule customization, and stable performance. The key to success is choosing the right VPS configuration with sufficient RAM and an NVMe disk, along with careful game parameter setup and regular resource monitoring. Valebyte.com offers reliable VPS solutions that will provide your Myth of Empires world with the necessary power and stability for a comfortable gaming experience.