How to Set Up a V Rising Dedicated Server on a VPS

A V Rising dedicated server keeps your gothic vampire world running around the clock so your clan can build castles and raid whenever they log in. Like a few other survival titles, V Rising's dedicated server is Windows-only, so on Linux you run it through Proton. This guide covers both paths plus the config that sets PvP versus PvE.

What you need

• A Linux VPS: Ubuntu 22.04/24.04. V Rising wants 6 GB RAM minimum, 8–16 GB for a 40–50+ player world.
• Open ports: UDP 9876 (game) and UDP 9877 (query).

Step 1: Create a user and install dependencies

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

Step 2: Download the Windows server via SteamCMD

V Rising's dedicated server (App ID 1829350) ships only as Windows binaries, so force the Windows platform even on Linux:

sudo su - vrising
steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows \
  +force_install_dir /home/vrising/server \
  +login anonymous +app_update 1829350 validate +quit

{{SCREENSHOT}}

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

On Linux, the VRisingServer.exe runs under Proton/GE-Proton. Many admins use a helper wrapper that sets a Proton compatibility prefix and launches the exe. If you'd rather skip the compatibility layer entirely, a Windows VPS runs VRisingServer.exe natively — a reasonable choice for this game.

Step 4: Open the firewall

sudo ufw allow 9876/udp
sudo ufw allow 9877/udp
sudo ufw reload

Open UDP 9876 and 9877 on any provider firewall as well.

Step 5: Configure the server

V Rising uses two JSON files in VRisingServer_Data/StreamingAssets/Settings/, but you should copy them to your save's settings folder and edit those:

• ServerHostSettings.json — name, description, password, max players, ports, and save name.
• ServerGameSettings.json — the gameplay rules: PvP vs PvE, damage rates, decay, and more.

To set the mode, edit GameModeType in ServerGameSettings.json to PvP or PvE. This is also where you tune castle decay, resource rates, and blood drain to fit your clan.

Step 6: Keep it running

Wrap the launch in a systemd service with Restart=on-failure, and update the server when V Rising patches by re-running +app_update 1829350 validate — or automate updates. A scheduled restart keeps memory tidy on long-running clan servers, especially as castles grow.

Step 7: Join the server

In V Rising, open the server browser or use Direct Connect with YOUR_IP:9876 and the password. Admins add their SteamID64 to the admin list in ServerHostSettings.json to unlock admin commands in-game.

Admin commands and backups

Once you're listed as an admin, press the console key and use commands like .adminauth to authenticate, then tools to teleport, give items, or manage players. There's also a banlist.txt and adminlist.txt you can edit directly on the server for moderation.

Castles represent hours of building, so protect them. V Rising writes saves to the save directory named in your host settings — back it up on a schedule, especially before applying an update:

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

Since castle building grows memory use over a long-lived server, watch usage with monitoring server resources on Linux and read how to back up your game server automatically for a complete strategy.

FAQ

Does V Rising have a Linux dedicated server?

No — only a Windows build exists. On Linux you run it under Proton or Wine; alternatively use a Windows VPS to launch the .exe directly.

What ports does a V Rising server use?

UDP 9876 for the game and UDP 9877 for the query port. Open both on the OS and provider firewalls.

How much RAM does a V Rising server need?

6 GB is the minimum; plan on 8–16 GB for a large world with 40–50+ players. Castle building and player count are the main drivers of memory use.

How do I switch between PvP and PvE on V Rising?

Set GameModeType to PvP or PvE in ServerGameSettings.json, then restart the server. The same file tunes decay, damage, and resource rates.

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