Your Sons of the Forest server: installation and setup on VPS/dedicated

To create a Sons of the Forest server that provides stable and high-performance gameplay for you and your friends, a VPS or dedicated server with at least 4 GB RAM, 2-4 vCPUs (with high single-thread performance), and an NVMe disk is optimal, allowing you to avoid lag and delays even during peak loads.

Why do you need your own Sons of the Forest server and what advantages does it offer?

Sons of the Forest, like many other survival games, reveals its full potential in cooperative mode. However, playing through built-in Steam lobbies or connecting to public servers often comes with a number of problems: unstable connection, dishonest players, session time limits, or simply the lack of desired settings. This is where the ability to deploy your own Sons of the Forest server on a VPS or dedicated server comes to the rescue.

Control over gameplay and stability

The main and perhaps most significant advantage of your own server is complete control. You become the administrator and can set your own rules, configure world parameters, determine difficulty, enable or disable PvP, and decide who can join your game. This ensures a stable and predictable gaming experience for your group. Unlike public servers, where resources can be overloaded and the hosting provider doesn't always guarantee quality, your own server will run on dedicated resources, providing low ping and minimal latency. This is especially important for dynamic games where every millisecond counts. You will also be able to set up automatic restarts and backups, minimizing the risk of losing progress.

Protection against cheaters and moderation

On public servers, cheaters and griefers are not uncommon. They can ruin the gaming experience by destroying structures, killing players, or exploiting bugs. Your own Sons of the Forest dedicated server allows you to fully control the list of permitted players. You can create whitelists, block unwanted users, and promptly respond to any violations, maintaining a healthy and pleasant atmosphere for your team. This not only enhances security but also allows you to form a community of players who share your interests and value fair play. Additionally, on your own server, you can install various modifications that can add new content, improve gameplay, or fix bugs that are unavailable on standard servers.

Minimum and recommended requirements for a Sons of the Forest dedicated server

To ensure comfortable gameplay without lag or crashes, it's important to choose the right server configuration. Sons of the Forest, while not the most demanding game, still requires sufficiently powerful resources, especially with an increasing number of players. Experience with Palworld hosting and Valheim hosting shows that underestimating server requirements is a common cause of disappointment.

Processor (CPU) and Random Access Memory (RAM)

Sons of the Forest, like many game servers, primarily utilizes single-thread CPU performance. This means that a high clock speed of a single core is more important than the total number of cores. For a small server (up to 4-6 players), 2 vCPUs with a frequency of 3.0 GHz or higher are sufficient. For larger communities (up to 10-16 players), 4 vCPUs with a frequency of 3.5 GHz and above are recommended. As for RAM, a simple rule applies: the more, the better. The game itself consumes about 2-4 GB RAM, but you need to add operating system resources and a buffer for peak loads. For a server with 2-4 players, a minimum of 4 GB RAM is required. For 6-8 players, 6-8 GB RAM. If you plan to host more than 8 players or install many mods, it's better to aim for 12-16 GB RAM.

Disk Subsystem and Network Connection

The speed of the disk subsystem is critically important for fast world loading, progress saving, and data processing. HDDs are strongly not recommended. Using NVMe SSDs is the standard for game servers, providing minimal response time and high read/write speeds. Sons of the Forest will require a minimum of 20-30 GB of disk space for the game itself and save files. It is recommended to have a 50-100 GB NVMe disk to provide room for future updates, logs, and backups. The network connection is another key factor. A Sons of the Forest server requires a stable channel with a bandwidth of at least 100 Mbps, and preferably 1 Gbps. Low ping and high bandwidth from Valebyte.com hosting guarantee smooth gameplay for all connected players, regardless of their geographical location.

Table: Recommended Sons of the Forest Server Configurations based on Player Count

Number of Players	CPU (vCPU / GHz)	RAM (GB)	Disk (NVMe SSD)	Network (Mbps)	Estimated VPS Cost (Valebyte.com)
2-4 players (friends)	2 vCPU / 3.0+ GHz	4 GB	50 GB NVMe	100 Mbps	From $10-15/month
4-8 players (small group)	4 vCPU / 3.2+ GHz	8 GB	80 GB NVMe	500 Mbps	From $20-30/month
8-16 players (active community)	4-6 vCPU / 3.5+ GHz	16 GB	120 GB NVMe	1 Gbps	From $40-60/month
16+ players (large server)	Dedicated server (6+ cores / 3.8+ GHz)	32+ GB	250+ GB NVMe	1 Gbps	From $100+/month

Choosing Hosting for Sons of the Forest: VPS or Dedicated Server?

Once you've determined the system requirements, the question of choosing the hosting type arises. Valebyte.com offers both VPS (Virtual Private Server) and dedicated servers, each with its own advantages for Sons of the Forest hosting.

When to choose a VPS for Sons of the Forest

A VPS is a virtual server that runs on physical hardware alongside other VPSs but has its own guaranteed resources (CPU, RAM, disk). This is an excellent solution for most scenarios, especially if you plan to host the game for a small or medium-sized group of friends (up to 8-10 people). A VPS offers an optimal balance of price and performance, as well as ease of management. You get full root access, allowing you to install any software and configure the server to your needs. To run a Sons of the Forest dedicated server on a VPS, you will have enough resources to ensure stable operation without significant costs. Furthermore, scaling a VPS is usually simpler and faster than with a dedicated server.

Advantages of a dedicated server for large-scale projects

A dedicated server is a physical server that is entirely at your disposal. This means that all its resources (processor, memory, disks) are used only by you, without neighbors. A dedicated server is the ideal choice for large player communities (more than 16 people), gaming clans, or public servers where maximum performance, stability, and the ability to handle a large number of simultaneous connections are required. It is also preferable if you plan to host multiple game servers simultaneously or use the server for other resource-intensive tasks. Despite the higher cost, a dedicated server provides unparalleled performance, reliability, and complete resource isolation. Valebyte.com offers a wide selection of dedicated servers in various locations, including Ashburn (Virginia) and Los Angeles, allowing you to choose the optimal location for minimal ping to your audience.

Step-by-step installation of Sons of the Forest dedicated server on Linux (Ubuntu)

Most game servers are more convenient and cost-effective to run on Linux. In this guide, we use Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS, as one of the most popular and stable distributions.

Server preparation and SteamCMD installation

Before proceeding with the installation of the Sons of the Forest dedicated server, you need to update the system and install SteamCMD — a command-line utility for installing and updating Steam game servers.

1. Connect to your VPS or dedicated server via SSH:

ssh user@your_server_ip

2. Update the package list and installed packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

3. Install the necessary dependencies for SteamCMD:

sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 curl

4. Create a new user for the game server (this is good security practice to avoid running the server as root):

sudo adduser sotfserver
sudo usermod -aG sudo sotfserver # Optional, for easier administration

Switch to this user:

su - sotfserver

5. Create a directory for SteamCMD and navigate into it:

mkdir ~/steamcmd
cd ~/steamcmd

6. Download SteamCMD:

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

7. Run SteamCMD. It will update on its first launch:

./steamcmd.sh

You will see the Steam> prompt.

Downloading Sons of the Forest server files

Now that SteamCMD is installed and ready, you can download the Sons of the Forest game server files.

1. In SteamCMD, log in anonymously:

login anonymous

2. Specify the installation directory for the server. We will create it in the sotfserver user's home directory:

force_install_dir /home/sotfserver/sotf_server

3. Download the Sons of the Forest server. The application ID for the Sons of the Forest dedicated server is 2465200.

app_update 2465200 validate

The download process may take some time depending on your internet connection speed and disk performance.

4. After the download is complete, exit SteamCMD:

quit

Now all server files are located in the /home/sotfserver/sotf_server directory.

Launching and basic configuration of the Sons of the Forest server

After installing the server files, the next step is to launch and configure it for optimal operation.

Server configuration files

The main configuration file for the Sons of the Forest dedicated server is serverconfig.json, located in the /home/sotfserver/sotf_server/serverdata directory. If it doesn't exist, the server will create it on its first launch. You can create or edit it using a text editor, for example, nano:

nano /home/sotfserver/sotf_server/serverdata/serverconfig.json

Example of a basic serverconfig.json:

{
  "ServerName": "Valebyte Sons of the Forest Server",
  "Password": "your_strong_password",
  "MaxPlayers": 8,
  "GameMode": "Survival",
  "SteamServerPort": 8766,
  "SteamQueryPort": 27016,
  "RconPort": 8080,
  "RconPassword": "another_strong_password",
  "SaveSlot": 1,
  "SaveInterval": 600,
  "Difficulty": "Normal",
  "LaunchOptions": "",
  "KickIdlePlayersAfter": 1800,
  "BannedPlayers": [],
  "AdminPlayers": [],
  "AllowCheats": false,
  "DisableBuildingDestruction": false,
  "AllowEnemies": true,
  "AllowInstantRepairs": false,
  "AllowEnemiesCreative": false,
  "AllowBuildingCreative": false,
  "AllowDebugCreative": false,
  "AllowPlayerDamage": true,
  "AllowFriendlyFire": false,
  "KeepContainersOpen": false,
  "ResetSaveData": false
}

Important parameters:

• "ServerName": The name of your server, which will be visible in the server list.
• "Password": Password for connecting to the server (if you want to make it private).
• "MaxPlayers": The maximum number of players who can be on the server simultaneously.
• "SteamServerPort": Main port for game traffic (default 8766).
• "SteamQueryPort": Port for Steam queries (default 27016).
• "RconPort" and "RconPassword": Port and password for remote server administration (RCON).
• "SaveSlot": Save slot number.
• "Difficulty": Game difficulty (Peaceful, Normal, Hard).

Save changes (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X in nano).

Opening network ports

For players to be able to connect to your Sons of the Forest server, you need to open the corresponding ports in the server's firewall. Sons of the Forest uses UDP ports for game traffic. By default, these are 8766 and 27016. If you are using RCON, you will also need to open TCP port 8080 (or the one you specified).

We use UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) to configure the firewall:

sudo ufw allow 8766/udp
sudo ufw allow 27016/udp
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp # If using RCON
sudo ufw enable # Activate UFW if it's not already active
sudo ufw status # Check firewall status

Make sure these ports are also open on your hosting provider's side if they have their own firewall (e.g., in the Valebyte.com control panel).

Now you can start the server. Navigate to the server directory:

cd /home/sotfserver/sotf_server

And run the server executable:

./SonsOfTheForestServer.x86_64 -logFile server.log

To run the server in the background and keep the session alive after disconnecting SSH, use screen or tmux:

screen -S sotf_server
./SonsOfTheForestServer.x86_64 -logFile server.log

To exit a screen session, press Ctrl+A, then D. To reattach to the session, use screen -r sotf_server.

Server management, backup, and mods

Effective management of a Sons of the Forest server includes not only launching it but also ensuring its stable operation, data protection, and the ability to extend its functionality.

Automatic startup and monitoring

Manually starting the server via screen is convenient for testing, but for continuous operation, it's better to use a systemd service. This will allow the server to start automatically when the system boots, restart in case of failures, and be easily managed via standard Linux commands.

1. Create the service file sotfserver.service:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/sotfserver.service

2. Insert the following content:

[Unit]
Description=Sons of the Forest Dedicated Server
Wants=network-online.target
After=syslog.target network.target nss-lookup.target network-online.target

[Service]
ExecStart=/home/sotfserver/sotf_server/SonsOfTheForestServer.x86_64 -logFile /home/sotfserver/sotf_server/server.log -savepath /home/sotfserver/sotf_server/serverdata
LimitNPROC=10000
LimitNOFILE=100000
WorkingDirectory=/home/sotfserver/sotf_server
User=sotfserver
Group=sotfserver
Restart=always
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Be sure to check the ExecStart and WorkingDirectory paths, as well as the user and group User=sotfserver and Group=sotfserver.

3. Save the file and reload systemd, then enable and start the service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable sotfserver
sudo systemctl start sotfserver

You can check the server status with the command:

sudo systemctl status sotfserver

To view logs:

sudo journalctl -u sotfserver -f

Backup: Regular backup of game saves is critically important. Save files are located in the /home/sotfserver/sotf_server/serverdata directory. You can set up automatic copying of this directory, for example, using cron and rsync, to an external drive or cloud storage. Example command to create an archive:

tar -czvf /home/sotfserver/backups/sotf_save_$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S).tar.gz /home/sotfserver/sotf_server/serverdata

This command can be added to crontab to run once a day or more frequently.

Installing mods and plugins

Sons of the Forest, like The Forest, has an active modding community. Installing mods on a Sons of the Forest dedicated server can significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Typically, Sons of the Forest mods are installed via third-party mod managers, such as Thunderstore Mod Manager, or with BepInEx. The process may vary for different mods, but the general scheme is as follows:

1. Ensure that BepInEx is installed on the server (if the mod requires it). This is a framework for Unity game plugins.
2. Download the necessary mod files.
3. Place the mod files in the appropriate server directories (often BepInEx/plugins or BepInEx/config).
4. Restart the server.

Always carefully read the installation instructions provided by the mod authors. Keep in mind that some mods may be incompatible with each other or cause server instability. Testing mods on a separate test server before deploying them on the main server is best practice. It's also worth remembering that some mods may require installation on players' clients.

For other popular game servers, such as Conan Exiles or Enshrouded, the mod installation process may be similar, but there are always specific nuances.

Ensuring Security: Protecting Sons of the Forest from DDoS Attacks

Game servers, especially popular ones, often become targets for DDoS attacks, which can lead to server unavailability and ruin the gaming experience. Valebyte.com offers various levels of protection for your Sons of the Forest hosting.

Basic OS-level protection measures

At the operating system level, you can take several steps to enhance protection:

• UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall): As mentioned, UFW allows you to close all ports except those necessary for the server's operation (SSH, Steam Game Port, Steam Query Port, RCON). This minimizes the attack surface.
• Fail2ban: This utility automatically blocks IP addresses from which multiple failed SSH login attempts or other suspicious activities originate.
• Updates: Regularly update the operating system and all installed software. Vulnerabilities in outdated versions can be exploited for attacks.
• Strong Passwords: Use long, complex passwords for all accounts, especially for SSH and RCON. It's better to use SSH keys instead of passwords for server access.

Hardware and software solutions from the hosting provider

Even with ideal OS-level configuration, a powerful DDoS attack can overload your network connection before it even reaches the server. This is where Valebyte.com's hosting provider solutions come to the rescue. We provide comprehensive DDoS protection at the network level. This includes:

• Traffic Filtering: Specialized hardware and software analyze incoming traffic and filter out malicious packets, allowing only legitimate requests to reach the server.
• High Bandwidth: Our data centers have multi-gigabit communication channels capable of handling significant volumes of traffic, which allows them to absorb even large attacks without compromising availability.
• Geographically Distributed Protection: Some of our solutions allow traffic to be distributed across multiple points of presence, making it harder to attack a single specific target.

When choosing a dedicated server for business or game hosting, the presence of built-in DDoS protection is one of the key factors. Valebyte.com guarantees a high level of security for your Sons of the Forest dedicated server, allowing you and your players to enjoy the game without interruptions.

Which Valebyte.com plan to choose for your Sons of the Forest server?

The choice of the optimal plan directly depends on the planned number of players and your performance expectations. Valebyte.com offers flexible VPS and dedicated server plans that can meet any needs.

Comparison of VPS plans for different scenarios

Based on system requirement recommendations and our experience hosting game servers (e.g., ARK: Survival Ascended or Project Zomboid), we can offer the following guidelines for choosing a VPS:

1. For a small circle of friends (2-4 players):
   • Recommended VPS: VBY-START or similar.
   • Specifications: 2 vCPU (3.0+ GHz), 4 GB RAM, 50 GB NVMe SSD.
   • Estimated Price: From $10-15/month.
   • Advantages: An economical solution, sufficient for stable gameplay in a small group.
2. For a medium group (4-8 players):
   • Recommended VPS: VBY-MEDIUM or similar.
   • Specifications: 4 vCPU (3.2+ GHz), 8 GB RAM, 80-100 GB NVMe SSD.
   • Estimated Price: From $20-30/month.
   • Advantages: Good balance of performance and cost, ensures comfortable gameplay for an active group.
3. For an active community (8-16 players):
   • Recommended VPS: VBY-LARGE or VBY-PRO.
   • Specifications: 4-6 vCPU (3.5+ GHz), 16-24 GB RAM, 120-200 GB NVMe SSD.
   • Estimated Price: From $40-70/month.
   • Advantages: High performance to support a larger number of players, possibility of installing mods.
4. For a public or very large server (16+ players):
   • Recommended VPS: VBY-ULTRA or transition to a dedicated server.
   • Specifications: 8+ vCPU (3.8+ GHz), 32+ GB RAM, 250+ GB NVMe SSD.
   • Estimated Price: From $80/month (VPS) or from $100+/month (dedicated).
   • Advantages: Maximum performance, stability, and reliability. Valebyte.com dedicated servers provide complete resource isolation and can be configured for the most specific requirements.

When choosing a plan, always consider the potential growth of your gaming audience. It's better to choose a plan with a small reserve than to face the need for an upgrade in a few weeks. All Valebyte.com VPS plans provide NVMe disks and high-speed network connections, as well as DDoS protection, which is standard for reliable Sons of the Forest hosting.

Conclusion

Deploying your own Sons of the Forest server on a VPS or dedicated server from Valebyte.com is the optimal solution for gaining full control over the gameplay, ensuring stability, and protecting against external threats. Choose your server configuration based on the planned number of players, using NVMe disks and sufficient RAM to guarantee a smooth and uninterrupted gaming experience for your team. Don't forget about regular backups and using systemd for automatic server management.