Don't Starve Together server setup guide

Don't Starve Together (DST) is the multiplayer version of the survival classic. A dedicated server lets you and your friends survive together with persistent worlds, caves and custom settings.

Requirements

• RAM: 1 to 2 GB for the overworld, 1 to 2 GB additional for caves. Total: 2 to 4 GB with caves enabled.
• CPU: 2 cores (one for overworld, one for caves).
• Storage: 2 to 4 GB.
• Port: 10999 UDP (default), 11000 for caves.

Installation

1. Select Don't Starve Together in the game panel, or install via SteamCMD (app ID 343050) on a VPS.
2. Generate a server token: open DST on your PC, press ~ for console, type TheNet:GenerateClusterToken(). Find the token in your DST folder.
3. Place the token in cluster_token.txt on the server.
4. Edit cluster.ini for server name, password and game mode.
5. Start the server.

Enabling caves

Caves run as a separate server process connected to the overworld. The cluster.ini needs:

[SHARD]
shard_enabled = true
bind_ip = 127.0.0.1
master_ip = 127.0.0.1
master_port = 10998
cluster_key = supersecretkey

Create both a Master/ (overworld) and Caves/ shard directory with their own server.ini.

World settings

Edit worldgenoverride.lua in each shard to customize:

• Resource frequency (more or fewer berry bushes, trees, rocks).
• Season length (default: 20 days each for autumn, winter, spring, summer).
• Monster frequency and difficulty.
• Biome composition and world size.

Adding mods

1. Find the mod on the Steam Workshop. Note the Workshop ID.
2. Add the ID to dedicated_server_mods_setup.lua:

   ServerModSetup("WORKSHOP_ID")

3. Enable the mod in modoverrides.lua in each shard.
4. Restart. The server downloads the mod automatically.

Popular mods: Global Positions (show all players on map), Extra Equip Slots, Geometric Placement, Wormhole Marks.

Can I play without caves?

Yes. Set shard_enabled = false. The server uses less RAM and CPU. However, you miss cave-exclusive content (ruins, bunny villages, ancient guardian).

How many players can join?

Default is 6. You can increase this in cluster.ini with max_players. Performance stays good up to 10 to 12 players.

DST servers run on KVM VPS plans or game plans at HostValues.