How to create a cheap PalWorld dedicated server with Docker and Linux

Introduction

Creating a dedicated server for the popular multiplayer game, PalWorld, can seem daunting, but with the help of Docker and a Linux-based operating system, the task becomes significantly more manageable. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to set up a PalWorld dedicated server.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

A Linux-based system.
Docker installed on your system.
Basic knowledge of command-line operations.

Step 1: Downloading Docker Image

The first step in setting up your dedicated server is to obtain the Docker image for PalWorld. Docker Hub is an invaluable resource for this. Execute the following command in your terminal:

docker pull thijsvanloef/palworld-server-docker:latest

‘thijsvanloef/palworld-server-docker’ is a very good image for Palworld server. The ‘latest’ tag downloads the most recent version.

Step 2: Configuring the Docker Container

With the Docker image downloaded, it’s time to configure and run the PalWorld server container. Creating a instance of Docker container with necessary ports exposed, here’s an example of command:

docker run -d \
    --name palworld-server \
    -p 8211:8211/udp \
    -p 27015:27015/udp \
    -v ./palworld:/palworld/ \
    -e PUID=1000 \
    -e PGID=1000 \
    -e PORT=8211 \
    -e PLAYERS=16 \
    -e MULTITHREADING=true \
    -e RCON_ENABLED=true \
    -e RCON_PORT=25575 \
    -e TZ=UTC \
    -e ADMIN_PASSWORD="adminPasswordHere" \
    -e SERVER_PASSWORD="worldofpals" \
    -e COMMUNITY=false \
    -e SERVER_NAME="palworld-server-docker by Thijs van Loef" \
    -e SERVER_DESCRIPTION="palworld-server-docker by Thijs van Loef" \
    --restart unless-stopped \
    --stop-timeout 30 \
    thijsvanloef/palworld-server-docker:latest

Breaking Down the Docker Command

The provided Docker command streamlines the process of installing and running a PalWorld dedicated server in a Linux environment. Let’s break down the command for a more in-depth understanding:

docker run -d --name palworld-server -p 8211:8211/udp -p 27015:27015/udp -v ./palworld:/palworld/ -e PUID=1000 -e PGID=1000 -e PORT=8211 -e PLAYERS=16 -e MULTITHREADING=true -e RCON_ENABLED=true -e RCON_PORT=25575 -e TZ=UTC -e ADMIN_PASSWORD="adminPasswordHere" -e SERVER_PASSWORD="worldofpals" -e COMMUNITY=false -e SERVER_NAME="palworld-server-docker by Thijs van Loef" -e SERVER_DESCRIPTION="palworld-server-docker by Thijs van Loef" --restart unless-stopped --stop-timeout 30 thijsvanloef/palworld-server-docker:latest

At its core, the command utilizes Docker’s ‘run’ function to initialize and manage a container that hosts a PalWorld server.

With -d, the server is launched in detached mode, running in the background and freeing up your terminal.

—name palworld-server assigns a distinct name to the container, making it easier to manage if you run multiple containers at once.

The ‘-p 8211:8211/udp’ and ‘-p 27015:27015/udp’ commands map the game’s necessary UDP ports (8211 and 27015) from the container to your host machine.

The ‘-v ./palworld:/palworld/’ command sets a volume linking a host system directory (./palworld) to a corresponding directory within the container.

A series of ‘-e’ commands follow, denoting environment variables. These variables include the Define User ID (PUID) and Group ID (PGID), the game port (PORT), the maximum players (PLAYERS), along with settings related to multithreading, RCON settings, server details, and more.

The flag ‘—restart unless-stopped’ ensures that Docker restarts the container unless explicitly stopped by the user. This ensures the server will resume operation even in cases of unexpected shutdowns or reboots.

Finally, ‘—stop-timeout 30’ is a grace period for the server to shut down cleanly before Docker forces it to stop. And then, ‘thijsvanloef/palworld-server-docker:latest’ represents the Docker image in use.

Step 4: Checking the Running Server

Ensure that everything is functioning as expected by checking the container’s logs:

docker logs -f palworld-server

Conclusion

Creating a PalWorld dedicated server on a Linux system with Docker is streamlined and requires minimal dependencies, making your hosting journey simpler. Enjoy having complete control over your PalWorld gameplay experience and happy gaming!

Rreference

PalworldTravel