Valheim Server is a dedicated game server for the popular survival game Valheim. Self-hosting a Valheim Server allows you to control your gaming environment, customize server settings, and ensure data control while enjoying multiplayer gameplay with friends or community members. In this guide, we’ll walk you through installing, configuring, managing, and optimizing Valheim Server, with a focus on actionable steps and hands-on examples.
Installing Valheim Server
📦 Docker/Docker Compose Setup
A Docker-based setup is the most efficient way to deploy Valheim Server. Below is a docker-compose.yml file tailored to Valheim Server.
version: '3.8'
services:
valheim:
image: lloesche/valheim-server
container_name: valheim-server
ports:
- "2456-2458:2456-2458/udp"
environment:
- VALHEIM_SERVER_NAME=YourServerName
- VALHEIM_SERVER_PASS=YourSecurePassword
- VALHEIM_SERVER_PORT=2456
volumes:
- ./valheim-data:/config
restart: unless-stopped
To deploy the server, run the following commands:
mkdir valheim-server && cd valheim-server
nano docker-compose.yml # Paste the YAML content above
docker-compose up -d
This will spin up a Valheim Server container with persistent data storage in the valheim-data directory.
🚀 Manual Installation
For a manual installation directly on a Linux server, follow these steps:
- Install required dependencies:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y steamcmd wget unzip
- Create a directory for Valheim Server:
mkdir ~/valheim-server && cd ~/valheim-server
- Download and install the Valheim Dedicated Server:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir ~/valheim-server +app_update 896660 validate +quit
- Launch the server:
cd ~/valheim-server
./start_server.sh -name "YourServerName" -port 2456 -world "YourWorldName" -password "YourSecurePassword"
This will start the server using the specified parameters.
Configuring Nginx as a Reverse Proxy
🌐 Nginx Configuration
Set up Nginx as a reverse proxy to route traffic to your Valheim Server. Create an Nginx configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/valheim
Add the following content:
server {
listen 80;
server_name yourdomain.com;
location / {
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:2456;
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
}
}
Enable the site and reload Nginx:
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/valheim /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginx
🔒 SSL/TLS Setup
Secure your server with a Let's Encrypt SSL certificate:
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx
sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com
Set up automatic renewal of certificates:
sudo systemctl reload nginx
🛠️ Testing and Reloading Nginx
Verify the configuration and reload Nginx:
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginx
Logging and Debugging Valheim Server
🗃️ Enabling Debug Logs
To enable debug logs, edit the server start command or Docker environment variables:
./start_server.sh -name "YourServerName" -logfile "valheim_log.txt"
For Docker Compose, add -logfile /config/logs/valheim_log.txt to the VALHEIM_ARGS environment variable.
📄 Viewing Logs
To view logs in Docker:
docker logs -f valheim-server
For manual installations:
tail -f ~/valheim-server/valheim_log.txt
🛠️ Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Ports not open: Ensure the correct UDP ports (2456-2458) are open in your firewall:
sudo ufw allow 2456:2458/udp
- Server crashes: Check logs for errors and inspect system resource usage.
📤 Exporting Logs
Export logs for advanced analysis:
scp ~/valheim-server/valheim_log.txt user@remote-server:/path/to/logs
Backup and Restore
🗂️ File-Based Backups
Back up your Valheim data directory:
tar -czvf valheim-backup.tar.gz ~/valheim-server
🔄 Database Backups
If you use mods that rely on databases, back up the database file:
cp ~/valheim-server/config/db.sqlite ~/backups/db_backup.sqlite
📅 Automated Backup Scripts
Automate backups with a cron job:
crontab -e
Add the following line:
0 3 * * * tar -czvf ~/backups/valheim-$(date +\%F).tar.gz ~/valheim-server
Updating and Upgrading Valheim Server
⬆️ Updating Docker Images
Pull the latest Docker image and redeploy:
docker-compose pull
docker-compose up -d
🛠️ Manual Updates
For manual installations, use SteamCMD:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir ~/valheim-server +app_update 896660 validate +quit
🔍 Checking for Updates
Set up a script to check for updates:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_info_update 1 +app_info_print 896660 +quit
Leveraging Valheim Server’s Unique Features
🔧 Enabling APIs
To enable mods or integrate APIs, use Valheim Plus. Download and configure it:
wget https://github.com/valheimPlus/ValheimPlus/releases/latest/download/ValheimPlus.zip
unzip ValheimPlus.zip -d ~/valheim-server/BepInEx
🌟 Advanced Configurations
Modify server parameters in start_server.sh or Docker Compose for custom gameplay, such as increasing world size or changing game difficulty.
Wrapping Up
In this guide, we covered installation, configuration, logging, backups, updates, and advanced features of Valheim Server. Self-hosting provides unparalleled customization and control, enabling you to create an optimized multiplayer environment for your needs. Start implementing these steps today to harness the full potential of your Valheim Server!
