Knowledgebase

Don’t Starve Together (DST) is a multiplayer survival game that allows you and your friends to explore, gather resources, build, and survive together in a wild and unforgiving world. Setting up your own dedicated server for DST provides a lag-free, customizable experience with full control over the server settings. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to set up a Don’t Starve Together server on your AnonVM VPS, ensuring you can play with your friends without interruptions.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

• A valid AnonVM VPS account.
• Basic understanding of SSH and Linux commands.
• SteamCMD (Steam Command Line Tool) to download DST server files.
• Proper system requirements on your VPS (an average VPS with moderate CPU and RAM should suffice for a small server).
• A stable internet connection to handle the server files and player connections.

Step 1: Access Your AnonVM VPS

1. Log in to your AnonVM account and access your VPS from the control panel.

2. Connect to your VPS via SSH. Open a terminal (or use PuTTY on Windows) and enter the following command:

    

   ssh root@your-vps-ip

   Enter your password when prompted.

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Before you can download and run the Don’t Starve Together server, you need to install some essential dependencies.

1. Update your system to ensure all packages are up to date:

    

   apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y

2. Install required libraries:

    

   apt-get install wget curl lib32gcc1 screen -y

These libraries and tools are necessary for SteamCMD and running the server efficiently.

Step 3: Install SteamCMD

SteamCMD is a command-line tool used to download and update dedicated game servers, including Don’t Starve Together.

1. Create a directory to store SteamCMD:

    

   mkdir -p /home/steam cd /home/steam

2. Download and extract SteamCMD:

    

   wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

3. Verify SteamCMD installation: Run the following command to start SteamCMD:

    

   ./steamcmd.sh

   If successful, you'll enter the SteamCMD interface. Type quit to exit.

Step 4: Download Don’t Starve Together Server Files

Now that SteamCMD is installed, you can use it to download the DST server files.

1. Start SteamCMD:

    

   ./steamcmd.sh

2. Log in anonymously:

    

   login anonymous

3. Set the installation directory for DST:

    

   force_install_dir ./dont_starve_together_server

4. Download the DST server files:

    

   app_update 343050 validate

   This will download the necessary files for Don’t Starve Together to the dont_starve_together_server directory. Depending on your internet speed, the download may take some time.

Step 5: Configure the Don’t Starve Together Server

Once the server files are downloaded, you can configure the server to your liking.

1. Navigate to the server directory:

    

   cd /home/steam/dont_starve_together_server

2. Edit the configuration file: Don’t Starve Together uses a configuration file called cluster.ini to manage server settings. To modify it, use a text editor like nano:

    

   nano cluster.ini

   In this file, you can configure:

   • Server name: Set a name for your server.
   • Max players: Set the number of players that can join.
   • Password: Optionally, set a password to limit access to your server.
   • World settings: You can adjust game settings like world size, day length, and seasons.

   After editing the settings, save the file (in nano, press CTRL + X, then Y to confirm).

Step 6: Open Required Ports

For players to connect to your Don’t Starve Together server, you need to open the required ports in your VPS firewall.

1. Default ports for DST:

   • P2P port: 10999 (UDP)
   • Steam server query port: 27015 (UDP)

   To open these ports, use ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall):

    

   ufw allow 10999/udp ufw allow 27015/udp ufw reload

   If you are using a different firewall management tool, ensure the necessary ports are open for multiplayer connections.

Step 7: Start the Don’t Starve Together Server

Now that everything is set up, you can start your server.

1. Start the server: Inside the dont_starve_together_server directory, run the following command:

    

   ./dont_starve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer

   This will launch the server in the terminal.

2. Optional: Run the server in the background: It’s a good idea to run your server in the background so that it continues running even if you disconnect from the VPS.

   You can do this using screen:

   • Create a new screen session:

      

     screen -S dst_server

   • Start the server:

      

     ./dont_starve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer

   • Detach from the screen session by pressing CTRL + A and then D. To reattach later, use:

      

     screen -r dst_server

Step 8: Connect to Your Don’t Starve Together Server

Once the server is running, you and your friends can connect to it.

1. In Don’t Starve Together, go to the "Browse Games" section.
2. Search for your server using the server name or IP address.
3. Enter the password, if you set one, and click Join to connect.

Step 9: Keep Your Server Updated

SteamCMD will periodically release updates for Don’t Starve Together, which you can easily download.

1. Update the server: Run SteamCMD again and use the following command:

    

   ./steamcmd.sh login anonymous force_install_dir ./dont_starve_together_server app_update 343050 validate

   This will ensure your server files are up to date with the latest version of the game.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully set up your own Don’t Starve Together server on AnonVM Hosting. Now, you can enjoy playing with your friends without worrying about server limitations or lag. Don’t forget to back up your server regularly and manage your server settings to keep the game fun and challenging. By hosting your own server on AnonVM, you have full control over the gaming experience!