How to Set Up a Sons of the Forest Dedicated Server

A Sons of the Forest dedicated server keeps your survival island persistent so your group can build, explore the caves, and fend off cannibals on a shared world any time. The dedicated server is Windows-only, so Linux hosts run it through Proton. This guide walks the full setup, ports, and specs.

What you need

• A Linux VPS: Ubuntu 22.04/24.04. Plan on 8 GB RAM as a floor and 16 GB for a comfortable multiplayer world.
• Open ports: UDP 8766 (game), UDP 27016 (query), and UDP 9700 (blob sync).

Step 1: Create a user and install dependencies

sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" sotf
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 steamcmd

Step 2: Download the Windows server via SteamCMD

The Sons of the Forest dedicated server (App ID 2465200) is Windows-only, so force the Windows platform:

sudo su - sotf
steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows \
  +force_install_dir /home/sotf/server \
  +login anonymous +app_update 2465200 validate +quit

{{SCREENSHOT}}

Step 3: Run under Proton (Linux) or directly (Windows)

On Linux, SonsOfTheForestDS.exe runs under Proton/GE-Proton. If you'd rather avoid the compatibility layer, a Windows VPS runs the exe natively. The config and ports are the same either way.

Step 4: Open the firewall

sudo ufw allow 8766/udp
sudo ufw allow 27016/udp
sudo ufw allow 9700/udp
sudo ufw reload

Open all three UDP ports on any provider firewall too — missing the blob-sync port (9700) is a common reason players can't fully connect.

Step 5: Configure the server

Launch once to create dedicatedserver.cfg, then edit it:

• ServerName — how the server appears to players.
• Password — set to keep it private.
• MaxPlayers — the player cap (up to 8).
• GamePort (8766), QueryPort (27016), BlobSyncPort (9700) — match your firewall.
• SaveSlot and GameMode — which save to load and the difficulty.

Step 6: Run it as a systemd service

# /etc/systemd/system/sotf.service
[Unit]
Description=Sons of the Forest Dedicated Server
After=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=sotf
ExecStart=/home/sotf/start.sh
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=15

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now sotf

Update on each patch with +app_update 2465200 validate — or automate it — and add a scheduled restart for long-running worlds.

Save management and joining

Sons of the Forest uses numbered save slots. The SaveSlot value in dedicatedserver.cfg picks which save the server loads, and a fresh slot starts a new game. To carry over a single-player world, you can copy your local save into the server's save folder and point SaveSlot at it.

Back up the save folder regularly — cannibal raids and cave progress represent real time invested:

# nightly backup, keep a week
0 4 * * * tar -czf /home/sotf/backups/sotf-$(date +\%F).tar.gz /home/sotf/server/saves && find /home/sotf/backups -name 'sotf-*' -mtime +7 -delete

To join, players open Multiplayer → Dedicated Servers and use the server browser or a direct IP of YOUR_IP:8766. If someone can't connect, double-check all three UDP ports (8766, 27016, 9700) are open on both firewalls — see how to back up your game server automatically for a fuller backup routine.

FAQ

Does Sons of the Forest have a Linux server?

No — the dedicated server is Windows-only. Linux hosts run it under Proton or Wine; a Windows VPS runs the exe directly.

What ports does a Sons of the Forest server use?

UDP 8766 (game), 27016 (query), and 9700 (blob sync). All three must be open, including on any provider firewall.

How many players can a Sons of the Forest server hold?

Up to 8. Set the cap with MaxPlayers in dedicatedserver.cfg.

How much RAM does a Sons of the Forest server need?

8 GB is a sensible floor; 16 GB gives comfortable headroom for a full co-op world with lots of building.

Want a smooth co-op island that's always online? Compare plans on our pricing page or launch on game server hosting.