To set up a Terraria dedicated server, download the official server files from terraria.org, start TerrariaServer with a serverconfig.txt that sets your world, player limit and port, and open TCP port 7777 in your firewall. This step-by-step guide covers installation, configuration, port forwarding, TShock and the most useful server commands. If you prefer a ready-made server, our Terraria server hosting is online within minutes, with DDoS protection and monthly cancellation. A dedicated server lets you and your friends play together without the host needing to be online, and it runs well on modest hardware.
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Server requirements
- RAM: 1 GB is enough for a small server (up to 8 players). For larger groups or heavy mod usage, 2 GB is recommended.
- Storage: the server files are only a few hundred megabytes. Worlds grow as players explore, but remain compact compared to other games.
- CPU: Terraria relies on a single thread. A fast clock speed matters more than core count.
Installation
- Download the Terraria dedicated server from the official Re-Logic website (
terraria.org). The archive contains server files for Windows, Linux and macOS. - Extract the archive on your VPS or game server and navigate to the folder for your operating system, for example
Linux. - Make the server binary executable:
chmod +x TerrariaServer.bin.x86_64 - Start the server:
./TerrariaServer.bin.x86_64 -config serverconfig.txt
Configuring serverconfig.txt
The most important settings in serverconfig.txt:
- world: the path to the world file, for example
world=/home/terraria/worlds/myworld.wld - autocreate: automatically generate a world if it does not exist. Use
1for small,2for medium and3for large. - worldname: the name of the world.
- maxplayers: the maximum number of players, default 16 on the vanilla server (a tModLoader server, which HostValues runs as standard, has 8 slots by default). Terraria supports up to 255, but keep performance in mind.
- port: the server port, default
7777. - password: optional password to restrict access.
- difficulty:
0for classic,1for expert,2for master,3for journey. - secure: set to
1to block Cheat Sheet and similar tools.
Port forwarding
Terraria uses TCP port 7777 by default. Make sure this port is open in your firewall:
ufw allow 7777/tcp
If you run multiple Terraria servers on the same machine, give each instance its own port.
TShock: mods and server management
TShock is the most popular server framework for Terraria. It adds permissions, region protection, anti-cheat and hundreds of plugins. Installation:
- Download TShock from its official GitHub page.
- Extract the archive into a separate folder and start
TShock.Serverinstead of the standard server. - On the first start, TShock creates a configuration file and database. Set up an administrator account through the console.
With TShock plugins you can add warps, an economy system, anti-grief measures and automatic backups.
Server management and commands
say <message>sends a message to all players.kick <player>removes a player from the server.ban <player>permanently blocks a player.savemanually saves the world.exitsaves and shuts down the server gracefully.
With TShock you also get in-game commands such as /region for area protection and /user for user management.
A whitelist can be set up through TShock using the RequireLogin option, so only registered players can join.
Tips for HostValues customers
- Terraria is light enough to run on the smallest game hosting plans. Start small and scale up as your player count grows.
- Use the game panel to manage server files and monitor the console.
- Make regular backups through the panel, especially before major updates or when adding mods.
- Need help setting things up? Open a support ticket or ask on Discord.
Tip: rather not install the server and forward ports yourself? With our Terraria server hosting your server is online within minutes, with DDoS protection and monthly cancellation.