When an Arma Reforger server is missing, refuses connections, kicks players, or crashes, the fastest route to a fix is to narrow the failure before changing settings. First eliminate version and mod problems, then validate the case-sensitive server JSON, expose the correct UDP port, check filters and crossplay, and finally inspect BattlEye and host stability. The sequence below separates a server-wide fault from a single player’s local problem and gives you a test for each likely cause.
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Start by defining exactly what is failing
Write down the client’s complete error, the matching server-console line, the game and server build, the platform involved, and whether the failure affects everyone or only one player. Also record whether a vanilla server or a minimal mod set works. This first split prevents hours of changing router settings when the real issue is one damaged local cache, or reinstalling a client when the server never registered with the backend.
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- Every player fails: prioritize the server process, configuration, port forwarding, firewall, backend registration, BattlEye, and a shared mod.
- One player fails: prioritize that player’s files, mod cache, antivirus or firewall, platform storage, and platform-specific restrictions.
- The process exits during startup: inspect game files, cache, JSON syntax, scenario identifiers, and downloaded-addon storage before troubleshooting the internet connection.
- The process stays online but is absent or unreachable: inspect the bound interface, public address, UDP forwarding, firewall rules, browser filters, and IPv4 availability.
Keep a short change log while testing. Revert one change at a time so you know which correction produced a result.
Do the content and version cleanup first
Bohemia’s multiplayer support recommends an updated game, verified PC files, a cleared mod cache, and a clean launch when startup or joining problems occur. Perform this baseline before editing advanced settings.
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- Update the game and the dedicated-server tools to the same current branch. Do not assume an experimental build can see or join a main-branch server; the two branches can expose different server lists.
- On PC, use Steam’s file-verification function for the game and the server installation. Let it finish before launching again.
- Clear the local mod cache on the affected machine. A stale or partially downloaded package can look like a server fault even when other players connect normally.
- Launch once with no optional mods and use a standard scenario. Confirm that the unmodified server remains running and that a client can join.
- Download every required mod completely before joining. Re-enable optional content in small groups, testing after each group.
- Disable the most recently added or updated mod first if the failure began after a content change. A mod that is outdated, incomplete, incompatible with the new game build, or blocked by storage can stop a join or crash a scenario.
If the clean test works, the network path is probably usable; isolate the offending mod by adding packages back in batches rather than restoring the entire collection at once.
Fix a server that crashes or will not stay running
Validate installation and launch content
Repeat the update, Steam verification, cache clearing, and no-mod launch described above. Check that the selected scenario identifier is valid for the installed build. A typo in the scenario name can terminate startup even when the executable and network are healthy.
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Audit the JSON as strict input
The server configuration is not forgiving. Parameter names are case-sensitive, and capitalization must match the documented spelling exactly. Values are strings unless a parameter is specifically documented as another type, so do not replace a required string with an unquoted number or a differently cased value. Check every comma, brace, quotation mark, key name, and value type.
- Compare the file against the configuration documentation for your exact build.
- Remove trailing commas and invisible characters introduced by a text editor.
- Restore a known-good copy, then add one change at a time.
- Use a valid scenario and a minimal mod list while diagnosing startup.
Make downloaded-addon storage writable
Containerized servers can fail while fetching a large mod if the temporary addon directory is not writable. Bohemia documents curl error 23 for this condition. Give the process write access and set a writable -addonTempDir location in the launch configuration, then remove any incomplete download and retry. Verify available disk space as part of the same check; a full volume produces a similar symptom.
Make an internet server visible and reachable
A running process is not proof that players on the internet can reach it. For normal hosting, leave bindAddress empty so the server uses its default all-interface behavior (equivalent to 0.0.0.0), unless you have a deliberate multi-interface design. If the server is behind a router, set or verify the documented public-address setting used for backend registration. An internal LAN address in that field can register the wrong endpoint.
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Forward the required UDP ports
| Port | Protocol | Purpose | When to forward it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | UDP | Normal Arma Reforger game traffic | Required for a typical internet server; use the actual public game port if you deliberately configured a different one. |
| 17777 | UDP | A2S query traffic | Optional, only when you need A2S server queries. |
| 19999 | UDP | RCON traffic | Optional, only when RCON is enabled. |
Create router rules that send each selected public port to the host’s current private IPv4 address. A DHCP change can silently invalidate a previously correct rule, so reserve the host address or verify it after a reboot. Do not forward ports you are not using.
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Open both layers of firewall
Allow the dedicated-server executable and the selected UDP ports through the operating-system firewall. Check the router’s firewall as well; a forwarding rule can exist while an independent router rule still drops unsolicited traffic. Ensure the rule applies to the network profile actually used by the host.
Test from outside the LAN
Test with a client on a different connection, such as a phone hotspot or another household network. A local client may connect through the LAN even when internet forwarding is broken, so an internal test cannot validate public reachability. Arma Reforger does not support IPv6; provide an IPv4 path from the router and host.
When the server is online but absent from the browser
Visibility is affected by more than uptime. Check the following in order, using one client that should be allowed to see the server:
- Clear restrictive browser filters, including a low maximum-ping setting, a region selection that excludes the host, or a platform filter.
- Confirm that the client and server are on compatible branches and builds.
- Check platform restrictions. A PC, Xbox, or PlayStation 5 player may be excluded by the server’s platform policy.
- Check crossplay. A mixed PC/Xbox/PS5 group requires crossplay to be enabled for the intended combination.
- Verify that the public address and UDP forwarding still point to the current host.
- Compare a direct external test with the browser. If an external client can reach the server by its address but the listing is absent, the remaining issue is likely registration, filtering, region, platform, or backend visibility rather than basic port forwarding.
Bohemia notes that server visibility can differ because of filters, platform restrictions, ping limits, region, and crossplay settings. Treat a missing listing and a failed direct connection as separate symptoms.
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Fix joins that time out or disconnect
Check whether the failure is shared
If every player times out, inspect server health, forwarding, firewall rules, BattlEye dependencies, backend registration, and any mod shared by all clients. If only one person times out, have that player clear the cache, verify files, check local firewall or antivirus rules, and confirm enough platform storage for the required content.
Retest with a clean content set
Use the same branch and build on client and server, remove optional mods, and join a standard scenario. Reintroduce mods in small groups. A package can be present in the server configuration yet still be incomplete locally, outdated after an update, incompatible with another package, or blocked while downloading.
Separate a list problem from a transport problem
A server can appear in a filtered list but still fail to complete a connection when the forwarded port, firewall, or public address is wrong. Conversely, a correctly reachable server can be hidden by a ping, region, platform, or crossplay filter. Record which stage fails: discovery, connection handshake, content download, BattlEye initialization, or loading into the scenario.
Resolve BattlEye kicks and initialization errors
Preserve the exact kick text and the corresponding server log line; a generic disconnect hides the useful distinction. The documented message Missing GameID/MasterPort server config settings
indicates that required BattlEye settings are absent. Do not casually edit those values: missing settings can kick players, while modified values can prevent BattlEye from working at all.
- Restore the documented GameID and MasterPort values for the server build instead of copying values from an unrelated installation.
- Confirm that the client is not blocking BattlEye through its firewall, antivirus, or platform security controls.
- Restart both server and client after correcting the dependency so stale BattlEye sessions are not reused.
- Retest with optional mods removed. If the clean server works, add content back gradually and identify the package that changes the result.
- Keep the original log and kick reason if the problem persists; those details distinguish a missing setting from a client-side block or content failure.
Handle mods that are stuck, missing, or downloading forever
Mod failures often combine a server-side download problem with a client-side cache problem. First stop the server cleanly, remove the incomplete download, and ensure the addon temporary directory is writable. In a container, explicitly configure a writable -addonTempDir; curl error 23 is the documented sign that the process could not write a large downloaded mod.
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- Check free storage on the server and the client before retrying.
- Let each required package finish downloading instead of repeatedly cancelling and reconnecting.
- Clear the affected client’s mod cache when the package is shown as present but will not load.
- Test the scenario without the newest package, then add it back after the base server is stable.
- Keep client and server on the same game branch; a package built for another branch may not be accepted even when its name matches.
Do not diagnose a mod as defective solely because one player cannot download it. Compare results across players: a single failure points to local storage, cache, or firewall, while simultaneous failures point to the server’s download path or a shared incompatibility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use safe configuration defaults for a public server
Keep fastValidation enabled for public hosting, as recommended in the configuration guide. It helps the server reject invalid input quickly rather than carrying a bad request into a longer failure. Keep the JSON’s documented case and value types exactly as written.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCap the dedicated server’s frame rate with the -maxFPS launch option. The appropriate cap depends on your hardware and workload; the important operational point is to prevent an unrestricted server process from consuming all available CPU while players and mods compete for resources. Change the cap deliberately and observe whether timeouts or crashes correlate with the new workload.
Do not invent undocumented keys to solve a symptom. Start from the official configuration shape, change one supported parameter, and retain a backup of the last working file.
Stabilize performance after the server starts
Reduce variables before tuning
Use a standard scenario and no optional mods to establish a baseline. Record whether the process remains stable, whether players can complete a join, and whether the server console reports repeated errors. Then add the scenario and mods in controlled groups. This identifies whether the trigger is content, network load, or the base server.
Control expensive content
Reduce the number of mods and remove expensive scripted content when crashes or timeouts begin immediately after a scenario change. Community anecdotes may suggest a lead, but there is no authoritative universal player-count, tick-rate, uptime, or crash-rate guarantee to apply to every machine and mod set. Size the host from observed CPU, memory, storage, and network behavior rather than a single advertised number.
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- Maintain a known-good JSON and a minimal mod manifest.
- Back up scenario and configuration files before updates.
- Schedule a controlled restart after major game or mod updates, then verify a clean join before opening the server to everyone.
- Keep console and BattlEye logs from the first failed launch; later restarts can overwrite the evidence needed to identify the trigger.
Choose local or third-party hosting by operational needs
Bohemia confirms that dedicated-server tools support both local hosting and third-party hosting. The better choice depends on who will maintain networking, storage, updates, and recovery—not on a universal performance ranking.
| Decision factor | Local host | Third-party host |
|---|---|---|
| Public reachability | You control the router, IPv4 address, forwarding, and firewall, but must configure and monitor them. | The service usually provides an internet-facing endpoint; confirm which ports, address controls, and firewall rules you can manage. |
| CPU, RAM, and mod storage | Limited by your own machine and its available disk space. | Depends on the selected plan and host; verify headroom for the base server, downloaded mods, logs, and updates. |
| Restarts and recovery | You control restart timing, backups, and local access. | Check whether automated restarts, snapshots, backups, and console access are included. |
| Geographic latency | Usually tied to your home connection and location. | You can often choose a data-center region; compare that location with the players. |
| Mod updates | You manage downloads, writable temporary storage, and cache cleanup. | Confirm how mod updates are triggered, logged, and rolled back. |
| BattlEye and configuration control | Full access to the server files and launch arguments. | Verify that GameID, MasterPort, -maxFPS, -addonTempDir, and log access are available under the service’s controls. |
| Cost | Uses existing hardware and connection, with your own electricity and maintenance costs. | Recurring service cost; compare included resources, backups, support, and transfer limits. |
Whichever model you choose, confirm IPv4 support, the ability to expose the game UDP port, and enough writable storage for large mods before migrating an established community.
A complete troubleshooting runbook
Use this order when you need a repeatable incident procedure:
- Capture the exact client error, server log line, versions, platforms, and scope.
- Update the game and server tools; verify Steam files on PC.
- Clear the affected mod cache and test a standard scenario without optional mods.
- Validate JSON spelling, capitalization, value types, commas, scenario identifier, and BattlEye dependencies.
- If containers are involved, make the temporary addon directory writable and check disk space.
- Confirm
bindAddressbehavior, the documented public address, and an IPv4 host path. - Forward UDP 2001; add UDP 17777 only for A2S and UDP 19999 only for RCON.
- Allow the executable and ports through both host and router firewalls.
- Test from outside the LAN, then remove browser filters and verify region, ping, platform, branch, and crossplay settings.
- Restore BattlEye’s documented GameID and MasterPort values without modifying them experimentally.
- Add mods back in small groups, recording which change reintroduces the failure.
- For public stability, keep
fastValidationenabled and apply a deliberate-maxFPScap.
Stop at the first step that changes the symptom. That boundary tells you which subsystem to investigate instead of mixing unrelated fixes.
Quick Recap
What not to assume
- A process shown as running is not proof that the public UDP port is forwarded.
- A server visible on one client is not proof that filters, regions, platforms, or crossplay allow every intended player.
- A successful LAN join is not proof that internet hosting works.
- A mod listed in the configuration is not proof that every client has a complete, compatible copy.
- A community-reported player limit or crash frequency is not an official guarantee; hardware, scenario, and mod workload change the result.
- Changing BattlEye identifiers or configuration values at random can turn a recoverable missing-setting error into a nonfunctional BattlEye installation.
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