The Complete Guide to Hosting Valheim Server: Everything You Need to Know
Valheim has taken the gaming world by storm, bringing together millions of players who want to explore the Norse-inspired survival world with their friends. However, hosting a smooth and reliable Valheim server requires more than just basic hardware—it demands a robust VPS hosting solution that can handle the game's demanding requirements. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about hosting Valheim server, from technical specifications to choosing the right hosting provider.
Understanding Valheim Server Requirements
Before diving into hosting Valheim server, it's crucial to understand what makes this game unique from a hosting perspective. Valheim is a multiplayer survival game that can support up to 10 players simultaneously on a single server. The game features procedurally generated worlds, complex building mechanics, and real-time combat that all require consistent server performance to deliver an optimal gaming experience.
When it comes to server requirements, Valheim isn't extremely demanding compared to some modern games, but it does need reliable resources. A minimum of 2GB RAM is required to run a basic server, though 4GB is recommended for optimal performance, especially when hosting the maximum number of players. The CPU requirements are moderate, with a dual-core processor being sufficient for most scenarios. Storage needs are relatively modest, with about 2-4GB needed for the game files and world data.
Key Features and Explanations for Valheim Server Hosting
1. CPU Performance and Virtual Cores
Virtual Cores (vCores) are the computational backbone of your Valheim server. Our VPS plans offer between 1-2 vCores, which provides dedicated processing power for your server operations. Valheim's game engine benefits significantly from strong single-thread performance, making the quality of the vCore more important than the quantity. With 2c/8t thread capabilities, our servers can efficiently handle game calculations, world generation, and player interactions simultaneously without bottlenecks.
The multithreading support ensures that when multiple players are exploring different biomes, building structures, or engaging in combat, the server maintains consistent performance. This is particularly important during boss fights or when large structures are being rendered.
2. Memory Allocation and Management
RAM is critical for Valheim server hosting because the game stores active world data, player inventories, and current game states in memory. Our Starter and Value VPS plans include 2GB of RAM, which is perfect for small to medium-sized groups (4-6 players). The Essential VPS with 4GB RAM is ideal for larger groups approaching the 10-player limit or for communities that want to run multiple worlds or additional server mods.
Proper memory management prevents server crashes, reduces lag, and ensures that world saving operations complete successfully. Insufficient RAM can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, including rubber-banding, delayed inventory access, and connection timeouts.
3. Storage: SSD vs NVMe Performance
The type of storage you choose dramatically impacts your Valheim server's performance. Our SSD storage in the Starter plan provides reliable, fast read/write operations essential for world loading and saving. However, our NVMe SSD storage in the Value and Essential plans takes performance to the next level with significantly faster data transfer rates.
Valheim periodically saves world data, and during these save operations, NVMe storage ensures minimal gameplay disruption. When players travel to new areas, the server must quickly load terrain data—NVMe storage makes these transitions seamless. The 40GB and 80GB storage options also provide ample space for world backups, which are crucial for protecting your community's progress.
4. Bandwidth and Network Stability
All our VPS plans include 250 MBIT bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for Valheim server hosting. The game's network requirements are relatively modest, typically using 15-30 Kbps per player. With 250 MBIT available, you have massive headroom, ensuring that network congestion never impacts gameplay.
Stable bandwidth is particularly important during high-action scenarios like raids or when multiple players are in the same area. Low latency and consistent connection speeds prevent the dreaded "server timeout" messages and keep combat responsive and fair.
5. Port 25 Open - The Hidden Advantage
One unique feature across all our VPS plans is that Port 25 is open. While Valheim typically uses ports 2456-2458 for game communication, having Port 25 open provides additional flexibility. This allows server administrators to set up email notifications for server events, automated backup confirmations, and community communication systems—all running on the same VPS.
6. Additional IP Addresses
The availability of additional IP addresses is a powerful feature for serious server administrators. You might want to run multiple Valheim servers with different configurations, host a website for your community, or set up a TeamSpeak or Discord bot on the same infrastructure. Additional IPs allow you to segment these services cleanly while maintaining them on a single, cost-effective VPS.
Why Choose VPS Hosting Over Shared Game Hosting
Many gamers initially consider shared game hosting services because they seem simpler and cheaper. However, VPS hosting for Valheim servers offers significant advantages that make it the superior choice for serious communities.
Complete Control and Customization
With VPS hosting, you have root access to your server environment. This means you can install custom mods, modify server configurations beyond standard options, and optimize performance based on your specific needs. Shared game hosting typically limits you to a control panel with preset options, restricting your ability to truly customize your Valheim experience.
You can install server management tools, automation scripts, and monitoring software that help you maintain optimal performance. This level of control is essential for communities that want to experiment with game modifications or run events with special server settings.
Resource Guarantee and Performance
Shared hosting means sharing resources with other users, which can lead to unpredictable performance during peak hours. Our VPS solutions provide dedicated resources—when you have 2GB of RAM allocated, that memory is yours alone. This guarantee ensures consistent performance regardless of what other users on the physical server are doing.
For Valheim specifically, this means stable frame rates, predictable world save times, and reliable server availability even during weekend gaming sessions when usage typically peaks.
Scalability and Future-Proofing
As your Valheim community grows, your hosting needs will evolve. VPS hosting makes it easy to upgrade your resources without migrating to a completely different service. You can start with our Starter VPS plan and seamlessly upgrade to Value or Essential plans as your player count increases.
Additionally, if you decide to host other games or services in the future, your VPS can accommodate them. You're not locked into a single-purpose gaming hosting account.
Setting Up Your Valheim Server on VPS Hosting
Initial Server Configuration
Once you've selected your VPS plan, setting up Valheim server is straightforward. Most administrators prefer Linux-based distributions like Ubuntu Server for their stability and performance. The process involves installing SteamCMD (Valve's command-line Steam client), downloading the Valheim dedicated server files, and configuring your server settings.
Key configuration files include start_server.sh (or .bat for Windows servers), which defines your world name, server name, password, and network ports. You'll also want to configure firewall rules to allow traffic on ports 2456-2458 (UDP), ensuring players can connect from outside your network.
Optimizing Server Performance
Performance optimization is where VPS hosting truly shines. You can implement various tweaks such as adjusting world save intervals, configuring automatic backups, and implementing resource monitoring. Tools like htop, iotop, and nethogs help you track CPU, disk, and network usage in real-time, allowing you to identify and resolve bottlenecks before they impact gameplay.
Server administrators should also implement regular update schedules. Valheim receives frequent updates from its developers, and keeping your server current ensures compatibility with client versions and access to the latest performance improvements and bug fixes.
Backup and Security Best Practices
Your Valheim world represents countless hours of player effort, making backups absolutely essential. With VPS hosting, you can implement automated backup scripts that run daily or even hourly, copying world data to separate storage locations. Many administrators use cloud storage services or secondary backup VPS instances for redundancy.
Security is equally important. Implementing strong passwords, disabling unused ports, and configuring fail2ban to prevent brute-force attacks protects your server from unauthorized access. Regular security updates and monitoring logs for suspicious activity should be part of your routine maintenance.
Advanced Features for Power Users
Running Mods and Custom Content
The Valheim modding community has created incredible content that enhances gameplay. Popular mods like ValheimPlus add quality-of-life improvements and gameplay tweaks. With VPS hosting, installing and managing mods is simple—you have direct filesystem access to drop mod files into the correct directories and configure them according to your preferences.
Some mods require specific dependencies or additional server resources. The flexibility of VPS hosting means you can adjust your environment to meet these requirements, something impossible with restrictive shared hosting services.
Multi-World Hosting
For larger gaming communities, hosting multiple Valheim worlds simultaneously is a compelling option. You might want separate worlds for different groups, a testing environment for trying new mods, or seasonal worlds that reset periodically. With sufficient resources (recommended: Essential VPS plan), you can run multiple Valheim server instances on different ports, each with its own world and configuration.
Integration with Community Tools
Modern gaming communities rely on various tools beyond just the game server. Discord bots that display server status, websites showing player statistics, and voice chat servers all enhance the community experience. VPS hosting allows you to run these additional services on the same infrastructure as your Valheim server, creating a comprehensive community hub.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Connection Problems
If players can't connect to your Valheim server, the issue typically relates to firewall configuration or port forwarding. Unlike home hosting, VPS hosting eliminates router port forwarding complications, but you must ensure your VPS firewall (iptables, ufw, or Windows Firewall) allows traffic on the required ports. Testing with telnet or netcat can confirm port accessibility.
Performance Degradation
Server lag or stuttering usually indicates resource constraints. Monitoring tools help identify whether you're hitting CPU, RAM, or disk I/O limits. If your current plan is insufficient, upgrading to a higher tier resolves most performance issues. Sometimes, optimization of server settings—like reducing world save frequency or limiting concurrent connections—can improve performance without upgrading.
World Corruption and Crashes
While rare, world corruption can occur due to improper shutdowns or storage issues. This is why automated backups are crucial. If your server crashes frequently, check system logs for error messages. Memory exhaustion is a common culprit, especially on servers with exactly the minimum required RAM. Upgrading from 2GB to 4GB often completely eliminates stability issues.
Choosing the Right Plan for Your Needs
Selecting the appropriate VPS plan depends on your specific requirements. For small groups of 2-4 players who play casually, the Starter VPS at $12.50/month provides excellent value. It handles basic Valheim hosting without issues and keeps costs minimal for casual gaming groups.
If you have 5-7 players or want better storage performance for faster world loading, the Value VPS at $16.00/month is ideal. The NVMe storage significantly improves responsiveness, and the additional storage space accommodates extensive backups.
For serious communities approaching 10 players, running multiple mods, or hosting additional services alongside Valheim, the Essential VPS at $34.00/month is the best choice. The 4GB RAM and 80GB NVMe storage provide headroom for growth and ensure consistently excellent performance even during peak usage.
Conclusion: Taking Your Valheim Experience to the Next Level
Hosting Valheim server on quality VPS infrastructure transforms the game from a casual co-op experience into a reliable, always-available world where your community can thrive. The combination of dedicated resources, complete administrative control, and professional-grade network performance ensures that your server runs smoothly regardless of how many players are online or what they're doing in-game.
Whether you're starting a new community or migrating from unreliable shared hosting, ARZ Host's VPS solutions provide the perfect foundation for your Valheim server. With competitive pricing, enterprise features like Port 25 availability and additional IPs, and the performance advantages of NVMe storage, you're equipped to create an exceptional gaming experience for your community.
Don't let inadequate hosting hold back your Valheim adventures. Explore our VPS plans today and discover why thousands of gaming communities trust ARZ Host for their server hosting needs. Your Viking saga deserves infrastructure that can keep pace with your ambitions.