Download the stable Arma Reforger dedicated server through SteamCMD with Steam app ID 1874900. The experimental build uses app ID 1890870. Both are free server tools for Windows and Linux. SteamCMD downloads or updates the files; the headless ArmaReforgerServer executable runs the server without opening a playable game client.
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The most reliable setup is to keep one directory per branch, update it with a short SteamCMD script, then launch the executable with a JSON configuration. The steps below cover the download, first launch, scenario selection, network access, mods, and the common mistakes that prevent a server from appearing online.
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Bohemia Interactive describes a dedicated server as “a server without any game instance launched; it purely processes game information and network synchronisation.” In practical terms, it is a command-line process that needs its own installation directory, configuration file, network ports, and operating-system firewall rules.
| Branch | Steam app ID | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Stable production | 1874900 | You want the regular public release and compatibility with players on the stable client branch. |
| Experimental | 1890870 | You are deliberately testing the experimental client branch and can accept build changes. |
Steam’s app metadata identifies app 1874900 as a free-to-download tool with separate 64-bit Windows and Linux depots. Depot contents, file locations, and build requirements can change, so do not rely on a fixed download size or a hard-coded folder path.
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Choose a branch and prepare the machine
Match the server to the client branch
Players must use a client compatible with the server build. Use app ID 1874900 for a normal public server. Use 1890870 only when the players joining you are also using the experimental branch. Keep experimental files in a clearly named directory such as armar_ds_experimental; mixing branches in one directory makes version problems difficult to diagnose.
Create a dedicated directory
Choose a location with enough free disk space for the current depot and future updates. A separate directory also keeps server files away from the SteamCMD program itself and makes backups easier. For example, you might create C:ServersArmaReforger on Windows or /srv/armareforger on Linux. These are examples, not required paths.
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Install SteamCMD
Download SteamCMD from Valve’s official distribution for your operating system. Extract or install it where the account running the server can read and write files. On Linux, use the package and 64-bit compatibility requirements documented for your distribution; on Windows, run the 64-bit SteamCMD executable from its extracted directory.
Install the stable server with SteamCMD
1. Create an update script
Inside the SteamCMD directory, create a text file named update_armar_ds.txt:
@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 1
@NoPromptForPassword 1
force_install_dir ../armar_ds
login anonymous
app_update 1874900 validate
quitThe force_install_dir line places the server in a directory beside the SteamCMD folder. Change that relative path if you selected a different layout. The validate option checks the downloaded files and repairs missing or damaged files during an update.
2. Run the script
Open a terminal or Command Prompt in the SteamCMD directory and run:
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steamcmd +runscript update_armar_ds.txtSteamCMD logs in anonymously, downloads the stable server app, validates the installation, and exits because the script ends with quit. A successful run leaves the server executable and its data directories under your chosen installation directory.
3. Install the experimental build instead
Make a separate script and directory for testing. Replace the update line with:
app_update 1890870Give the directory an unambiguous name and never point a stable service at it accidentally. Experimental depots can change more often, so schedule an update only when you are ready to test the resulting build.
Windows and Linux launch commands
Windows
Change to the directory containing the executable and launch it with a configuration file:
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ArmaReforgerServer.exe -config .config.jsonKeep the Command Prompt open while testing so you can read startup errors. Once the configuration works, you can place the command in a scheduled task or a service wrapper that restarts the process after maintenance.
Linux
From the installation directory, run:
./ArmaReforgerServer -config ./config.jsonIf the shell reports that the file cannot be executed, confirm that you are using the Linux depot, that the file has execute permission, and that you are launching it from the directory containing the binary. Do not copy a Windows executable into a Linux installation and expect SteamCMD to repair it.
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Use the Steam library instead of SteamCMD
Steam also distributes the server tool through the Steam client’s Tools library. Bohemia’s server-app announcement says the tool includes a Server Hosting Docs launch option that opens the hosting documentation. This route is convenient for a desktop administrator who wants Steam to manage installation interactively.
- Open Steam and enable the display of tools in your Library.
- Find the Arma Reforger server tool and install it.
- Open the tool’s launch options or library entry and use Server Hosting Docs when you need the current hosting instructions.
- Locate the installed executable and start it with
-configpointing to your JSON file.
SteamCMD is generally better for a VPS, automation, repeatable updates, and separate stable and experimental directories. The Steam client is more convenient when the server runs on a Windows desktop that is already managed through Steam.
Create the JSON configuration
The server does not obtain its identity, scenario, visibility, player limit, or mod set from the executable name. Those settings are supplied in JSON through the -config argument. Use the configuration template shipped with your current build because field names and available options can change between releases.
A configuration normally contains values for the server name, region, local bind address, public registration address, ports, administrator password, visibility, player limit, scenario ID, supported client platforms, gameplay properties, and mods. Replace every example value before opening the server to the internet.
{
"game": {
"name": "Replace with your server name",
"passwordAdmin": "Replace with a long administrator password",
"scenarioId": "Replace with a scenario identifier",
"visible": true,
"playerCountLimit": 32,
"mods": []
},
"bindAddress": "0.0.0.0",
"bindPort": 2001,
"publicAddress": "203.0.113.10",
"publicPort": 2001
}The address 203.0.113.10 is an example placeholder, not an address to publish. Set the public address to the address through which players can reach the machine, or follow the current hosting documentation for a deployment behind NAT or a proxy. Do not reuse a password from another service.
Keep the JSON valid: use double quotes, commas between properties, and no comments inside the file. A single missing comma or quotation mark can stop the process before it opens a port.
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Find a scenario ID
The scenarioId value must identify a scenario available to the server, including scenarios supplied by installed mods. Bohemia’s developer guidance provides a discovery method:
- Stop the server if it is running.
- Run the executable with
-listScenarios. On Windows, useArmaReforgerServer.exe -listScenarios; on Linux, use./ArmaReforgerServer -listScenarios. - Wait for the scan to finish. The command searches the server’s data folders, including downloaded mod content.
- Open
console.log, normally located in the Arma Reforger profile directory. - Copy the desired scenario identifier exactly into the JSON configuration’s
scenarioIdfield.
Copying a display name instead of the identifier, or selecting a scenario from a mod that is not installed, prevents the requested mission from loading.
Make the server reachable
A process can start successfully and still be invisible to remote players. External access depends on the host firewall, router forwarding, the server’s bind address, and the public registration settings all agreeing.
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- Allow the selected server port through the operating-system firewall for the protocol required by the current hosting documentation.
- If the machine is behind a home router, forward the same external port to the server’s local address.
- Make the configured server port, forwarded port, and local bind address consistent.
- Confirm that the public address is the address players can actually reach, not a private address such as
192.168.x.x. - Check whether your internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT; in that case, ordinary inbound forwarding may not work.
Bohemia’s player-hosted example uses public port 2001 and explains that the forwarded port, server port, and local bind address must match. Treat 2001 as that documented example, not a universal requirement for every dedicated deployment. Verify the current hosting instructions for your topology before publishing a different port.
Test locally first
Start with the server on the local network and confirm that it loads the selected scenario. Then test from a second network, such as a mobile connection. A local test proves that the process and JSON work; it does not prove that router forwarding, firewall rules, or public registration are correct.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Mods and client compatibility
When a server requires mods, joining clients automatically download the required content. Bohemia states that players cannot choose individual omissions: everyone joining that server uses the same required mod set. Switching between servers with different mod versions can trigger another download.
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Declare the mod set in the server configuration and keep versions aligned with the branch you installed. If a client repeatedly downloads the same mod, check whether the server is changing versions, whether the server directory is being reset, or whether stable and experimental content have been mixed.
Community servers are independently operated. Their administrators choose rules, queues, scenarios, mod lists, and performance limits, so behavior on one server is not a guarantee about another.
Update and maintain the installation
Run the updater before planned sessions
Stop the server cleanly, run the SteamCMD script again, and start the executable only after the update completes. The stable script’s validate option repairs files as part of the update. Keep the experimental script separate so an update cannot silently move a production server to the test branch.
Back up configuration and logs
Back up config.json, scenario and mod settings, and the profile directory that contains logs. Do not overwrite a known-good configuration while experimenting; copy it first and change one setting at a time.
Watch resource use
Monitor CPU, memory, disk space, and network traffic on the host. A server that starts normally can still become unstable when its player limit, scenario, or mod set increases. The appropriate limit depends on the scenario and hardware rather than on a universal number.
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Common installation failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| SteamCMD says the app is not found | Wrong app ID or a mistyped command. | Use 1874900 for stable or 1890870 for experimental, then run the update again. |
| The executable is missing | The wrong depot was installed, the update stopped early, or the path is incorrect. | Review the SteamCMD output, confirm the installation directory, and rerun with validation. |
| The server exits immediately | Invalid JSON, a missing required value, or an unavailable scenario ID. | Validate the JSON syntax, run -listScenarios, and copy an identifier from console.log. |
| The server works locally but is not visible remotely | Firewall, router forwarding, public-address, or bind-address mismatch. | Check each layer using the same port and test from outside the local network. |
| Players are prompted for repeated mod downloads | Server mod versions changed or stable and experimental content is mixed. | Keep one branch per directory and update the declared mod set consistently. |
Which installation approach fits?
| Approach | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| SteamCMD on a self-managed Windows or Linux host | Administrators who need scripting, repeatable updates, and full control. | You manage firewall rules, backups, process supervision, and upgrades. |
| Steam Tools library | A desktop administrator who prefers a graphical Steam workflow. | Automation and branch separation require more manual work. |
| Managed dedicated hosting | Operators who want a provider to handle updates, process supervision, backups, ports, and configuration. | Features, regions, pricing, uptime, cancellation terms, and branch support vary by provider and must be checked before purchase. |
Regardless of the route, the downloadable software remains the same Steam server tool. The durable choices are the branch, installation directory, JSON configuration, scenario, network topology, and mod set.
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