Valheim dedicated server: VPS for friends

To run a Valheim dedicated server for 4–10 players, a VPS with 4 GB RAM, 2 CPU cores (with a frequency of 3.0 GHz or higher), and a 40 GB NVMe disk is optimal — this configuration on Linux ensures stable FPS and no desynchronization at a price ranging from $8 to $12 per month.

How to choose the optimal Valheim VPS hosting for a group of players?

Choosing Valheim hosting directly affects the gaming experience: with insufficient resources, players encounter "rubber banding" and delays when opening chests. Unlike a Minecraft Java server on a VPS, Valheim is more demanding on single-threaded CPU performance than on the total amount of RAM.

Minimum and recommended system requirements

For a comfortable game on a Linux distribution (Ubuntu 22.04 or Debian 11/12), aim for the following indicators:

Number of Players	CPU (Cores)	RAM (GB)	Disk (NVMe)	Bandwidth
1–4 (vanilla world)	2 vCPU	4 GB	30 GB	100 Mbps
5–10 (with mods)	3–4 vCPU	8 GB	50 GB	1 Gbps
10+ (Valheim Plus)	4+ vCPU	12 GB+	80 GB	1 Gbps

4GB RAM is sufficient for a basic server, as the valheim_server.x86_64 process consumes about 2.5–3 GB in an active state. However, when installing heavy modifications such as Valheim Plus, memory consumption increases by 20–30%. Using NVMe drives is critical for fast chunk loading and minimizing lag during automatic world saves.

Step-by-step Valheim dedicated server installation on Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

Using Linux for Valheim hosting is preferable to Windows due to lower resource consumption by the OS itself (about 300-500 MB RAM vs 2 GB). SteamCMD — the console version of the Steam client — is used for installation.

System preparation and user creation

Never run a game server as the root user. This creates a security hole for the entire system.

# Update packages
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install dependencies (libraries for SteamCMD and server operation)
sudo apt install lib32gcc-s1 libsdl2-2.0-0 net-tools -y

# Create a separate user
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash valheim
sudo passwd valheim

# Switch to the user
su - valheim

Installing SteamCMD and downloading server files

The process of downloading the valheim dedicated server via SteamCMD is automated. You do not need to buy the game on this account, as server files are available anonymously.

# Create directory for SteamCMD
mkdir ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd

# Download the archive
wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

# Run server installation
./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir /home/valheim/server +login anonymous +app_update 896660 validate +quit

After the command completes, the game files will appear in the /home/valheim/server directory. If you are looking for a DigitalOcean alternative to host your server, Valebyte offers similar ease of deployment with higher CPU clock speeds, which is important for physics in Valheim.

Configuration setup: private and public modes

The main server management file is start_server.sh. Before launching, it must be edited to set the world name, password, and visibility parameters in the global list.

Editing the launch script

cp start_server.sh start_valheim.sh
nano start_valheim.sh

Find the launch line and change the parameters:

./valheim_server.x86_64 -name "Valebyte_Vikings" -port 2456 -world "MainWorld" -password "Secret123" -public 1

• -name: Server name in the Steam list (minimum 5 characters).
• -port: Port (default 2456). Ensure ports 2456-2457 UDP are open in the firewall.
• -world: Save file name. Should not match the server name.
• -password: Password (minimum 5 characters). The server will not start without a password.
• -public: 1 — visible in the server list, 0 — access by IP only.

To ensure the server keeps running after closing the SSH session, use the screen utility or create a systemd unit. This guarantees an automatic restart in case of crashes.

Installing Valheim mods: Valheim Plus and BetterArchery

Modifications significantly expand the game's possibilities. The most popular framework for mods is BepInEx. Installing valheim mods on Linux requires manually copying files to the server directory.

Setting up Valheim Plus

Valheim Plus allows you to configure carry weight, workbench radius, production speed, and even the number of players (more than 10). Architecturally, this is similar to working with plugins when you set up a Rust server on a VPS.

1. Download the Unix version of Valheim Plus (BepInEx) from GitHub or NexusMods.
2. Extract the contents to /home/valheim/server/.
3. Grant execution permissions to the script: chmod +x ./start_server_bepinex.sh.
4. Edit BepInEx/config/valheim_plus.cfg to activate the required features.

To use the BetterArchery mod (improved arrow physics, quivers), simply copy the .dll mod file into the BepInEx/plugins folder. Important: most Valheim mods must be installed on both the server and the client of each player.

World management and automatic backup of the /worlds folder

The most valuable thing on the server is the player progress stored in the world files. In Valheim, save files on Linux are located in a non-standard path.

Where to find Valheim saves on Linux?

The files are located in the home directory of the user under which the server is running:

/home/valheim/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/

If you are transferring a world from a local computer, copy the .db and .fwl files specifically to this folder. To prevent data loss in case of database corruption (which occasionally happens in Valheim), set up a daily backup via crontab.

# Example backup script (backup.sh)
tar -czf /home/valheim/backups/world_$(date +%F).tar.gz /home/valheim/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/

Performance optimization and solving lag issues

Even on a powerful valheim vps hosting, delays can occur. Often this is related to data throughput limitations within the game code itself (Data Per Second).

Increasing the data transfer limit

By default, Valheim limits outgoing traffic to 64 KB/s per player. With a large number of buildings, this is insufficient. This can be fixed using the Valheim Plus mod or by editing assembly_valheim.dll (not recommended without experience).

In valheim_plus.cfg, find the [Network] section:

[Network]
dataRate = 512
serverSendQueueSize = 200

This will increase the limit to 512 KB/s, which eliminates mob "teleportation" in heavily loaded locations. Similar network optimizations are performed when setting up a Palworld dedicated server for large communities.

Security and network settings

Protecting a game server starts with restricting port access. Valheim uses the UDP protocol, which is susceptible to Reflection/Amplification type DDoS attacks.

UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) configuration

sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
sudo ufw allow 2456:2457/udp
sudo ufw enable

If you plan to use web interfaces for monitoring, also open the corresponding TCP ports. Regularly update the Valheim server side, as developers frequently release patches that break compatibility between an old server and a new client.

Comparison: Own VPS vs Game Hosting

Parameter	Own VPS (Valebyte)	Game Hosting (Slot-based)
File Control	Full (SSH, SFTP)	Limited (Web UI)
Price	Fixed ($8-12)	Depends on slots ($15+)
Mods	Any (Valheim Plus, Epic Loot)	Only from the list
Additional Use	Can host a VPN or website	Game only

For those who value flexibility, renting a clean VPS is more cost-effective. You don't overpay for the "game hosting" brand and you get guaranteed CPU resources. If you previously used foreign clouds, study the guide on migrating from Hetzner to Valebyte to maintain low ping for players in the CIS and Europe.

Conclusions

For stable operation of a Valheim dedicated server for 4–10 people, a VPS with 4 GB RAM and 2 vCPUs based on Linux is sufficient. Primary attention should be paid to installing BepInEx for mods and regular backups of the /worlds folder to protect player progress.