How to Set Up an Arma Reforger Dedicated Server

An Arma Reforger dedicated server keeps your Conflict running whether or not you are playing, and it is the only way Xbox and PlayStation 5 players get a server of their own: consoles cannot host one. There are three ways to run it: by hand, in Docker, or managed on Flux.

Option 1: by hand with SteamCMD

The dedicated server is a free, anonymous download from Steam (application 1874900), with native builds for Windows and Linux. It reads one JSON config file that names the ports, the scenario, the passwords, the platforms and the mods.

  1. Install SteamCMD, then run: +login anonymous +app_update 1874900 validate +quit
  2. Write a config.json with bindPort (2001), publicPort, a2s (17777), game.name, game.passwordAdmin, game.scenarioId, game.maxPlayers and game.supportedPlatforms.
  3. Start it: ArmaReforgerServer -config config.json -profile ./profile -maxFPS 60
  4. Open UDP 2001 (game) and 17777 (query) in your firewall and forward them on your router.

Option 2: Docker

The ACE team's image, ghcr.io/acemod/arma-reforger, installs and updates the server with SteamCMD on every start and writes the config file from environment variables: GAME_NAME, GAME_SCENARIO_ID, GAME_MAX_PLAYERS, GAME_PASSWORD_ADMIN, GAME_MODS_IDS_LIST, RCON_PASSWORD and the ports.

  • Mount /reforger on a volume: the server install is about 10 GB, and Workshop mods are downloaded beside it.
  • Mount /home/profile too: it holds the session saves and the logs.
  • Do not mount an empty folder over /steamcmd: it hides the SteamCMD the image ships, and the container stops at once.
  • Give it about 6 GB of memory for a small server: an empty Conflict Everon uses around 3 GB.

Option 3: managed on Flux

Deploy an Arma Reforger server on the Flux decentralized cloud, on that same image, with the ports opened and routed for you, full crossplay switched on, DDoS protection included, and a dashboard with a Workshop mod browser, a BattlEye RCon console, a file browser, a live terminal and backups. Plans start at $7.49 a month.

  1. Pick the 32, 64 or 128-player plan.
  2. Choose a region close to your players.
  3. Name the server, choose the scenario and deploy. The first start downloads about 10 GB of server files.
  4. Find it by name in the in-game server browser, on PC, Xbox or PlayStation 5.
Deploy an Arma Reforger server →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Arma Reforger dedicated server free?

Yes. It is a free, anonymous download from Steam (application 1874900); what costs money is the machine that runs it.

Does the Arma Reforger server run on Linux?

Yes, natively: Bohemia ships a Linux build of the dedicated server, which is what Docker images such as acemod/arma-reforger run.

How long does an Arma Reforger server take to start?

The first start downloads about 10 GB; in our tests it was listening within five minutes. After that a restart takes about a minute.

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