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A reliable Arma Reforger server backup contains the JSON configuration selected by -config and the complete active profile, including its persistence files. Stop the server before copying or replacing that data. On restore, point the launch command at the recovered configuration and profile, confirm the save-loading settings, then read the startup logs before allowing players to connect.
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What an Arma Reforger backup must contain
Backing up only the dedicated-server executable does not preserve a running community. The executable can be reinstalled; the important state is stored in the server configuration and the profile directory used by the launch command.
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| Backup item | What it preserves | Why it matters during recovery |
|---|---|---|
| JSON server configuration | Network, mission, persistence and other server parameters | The server will otherwise start with different settings or fail to load the intended setup. The file used is the one selected by -config. |
| Entire active profile directory | Profile data, logs, downloaded addons and saves | The -profile location determines where the server looks for this data. Copying a different profile can make an apparently successful restore look empty. |
| Persistence subtree | Current world and playthrough save points | For the current Overthrow persistence system, saves are under profile/.save/app<appid>_user<userid>/game/. |
| Deployment notes | Host, server/mod versions, launch arguments and intended paths | These notes let you reproduce the same layout and identify which backup belongs to which instance. |
Keep the backup outside the live server directory. A second copy on the same disk protects against an accidental overwrite but not against disk failure, so use a separate storage location for important worlds. Label each archive with the server name, date, game/mod version and whether it was made before or after a major configuration change.
Find where the server actually stores saves
Do not assume that a familiar installation folder is the active save location. The launch argument -profile is authoritative: it selects the profile path containing profile data, logs, downloaded addons and saves. A hosting panel may display this as a Saved folder, while a manually managed installation may use any path supplied in the launch command.
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Read the launch command
- Open the service definition, startup script or hosting-panel command that starts the dedicated server.
- Record the path following
-profile. Resolve a relative path from the server’s working directory before you copy anything. - Record the path following
-config. That is the JSON file whose settings must travel with the profile backup. - If several instances run on the same machine, repeat this process for each instance. Each one can have a different profile and configuration.
Locate the persistence files
For an Overthrow server using the post-1.4 persistence system, the relevant subtree is:
profile/.save/app<appid>_user<userid>/game/The application and user portions are identifiers generated for that installation; copy the directory rather than trying to reconstruct those names. Backing up only a visible mission folder, log folder or addon cache will not preserve the world state.
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Check that you found the active profile
- Compare the directory’s modification times with the last known server session.
- Look for the current server’s logs and downloaded addons in the same profile tree.
- Confirm that the save files change after a controlled test session, then stop the server before making the production copy.
- If the host exposes a
Saveddirectory, verify that it corresponds to the profile path in the launch command rather than assuming everySaveddirectory is active.
Back up a running server safely
The copy must represent a consistent state. Overwriting or copying persistence files while the process is writing them can produce an incomplete or unusable backup, so perform the file operation only after the server has fully stopped.
- Announce maintenance. Tell players when the server will close and record the last session or mission you want the backup to represent.
- Stop the server normally. Use the hosting panel’s stop action or the service manager. Wait until the process exits; do not rely on a panel that merely marks the instance as stopping.
- Confirm that no server process remains. Check the process list or service status. Do not begin copying while a second restart policy is launching the instance again.
- Record the two paths. Write down the exact
-configJSON file and-profiledirectory from the startup definition. This prevents copying a template configuration or an inactive profile. - Copy the JSON configuration. Preserve the original filename and character encoding. If you maintain environment-specific variants, include the one actually selected by
-config. - Copy the complete profile. Include the entire profile tree, not just
.save; that retains logs and downloaded addons that can help diagnose a later restore. At minimum, ensure the complete.savepersistence subtree is present. - Store the copy separately. Place it outside the live server directory and, preferably, on separate storage. Use a folder name such as
server-name_2026-10-15_version-contextrather than an ambiguous name such asbackup-latest. - Verify the copy. Compare the source and destination file counts and sizes, and open the archive or destination tree to confirm that the JSON file and expected
.savedirectories are present. Keep the original source untouched until verification is complete. - Restart only after the backup is secured. Watch the initial log output for the expected profile and configuration paths before declaring the maintenance complete.
There is no authoritative universal interval for backups or a guaranteed restore time. Choose a schedule based on how much progress your community can afford to lose: for example, make a manual backup before a mod, server-version or configuration change and automate additional copies if the host supports it. Retain more than one dated copy so a newly corrupted save does not overwrite the last known-good state.
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Configure how Reforger loads and retains saves
Restoring files does not by itself determine which session save the server opens. Review these JSON settings in the configuration that the launch command actually selects.
| Setting | Function | Practical restore implication |
|---|---|---|
loadSessionSave |
Controls automatic session-save loading. The official description is “Automatically load the latest available save point on first startup.” | Enable the behavior when the recovered server should open the latest available session save. If you need a particular file, the launch parameter -loadSessionSave can load the latest available save or a specified save file. |
saveRetention |
Sets how many save points are retained. The official reference lists a default of 10. | A low value can mean that an older recovery point has already been discarded. Treat the documented default as a setting, not as a promise that every host has ten usable historical backups. |
keepSessionSave |
Controls whether playthrough save points are retained after the mission ends. | Enable it when post-mission recovery points must remain available; otherwise a mission transition can remove the save you expected to restore. |
JSON parameter names are case-sensitive. Preserve the spelling and capitalization of existing keys, and validate the file as JSON before starting the service. If you use -loadSessionSave explicitly, make sure the referenced save is present in the restored profile and that the launch command is not pointing at a different profile.
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Restore after reinstalling or changing hosts
A restore is a controlled replacement of the target instance’s configuration and profile. Install the dedicated server and required mods first, then put the saved state in the paths the new launch command will use.
- Prepare the target installation. Install the intended Arma Reforger server version and the same required server-side mods. If the target uses a different version, stop and resolve compatibility before copying saves.
- Stop the target instance completely. Disable automatic restart temporarily if necessary. Never merge or overwrite persistence files while the target process is running.
- Back up the empty or current target. Keep a copy of the target’s original configuration and profile so you can undo an incorrect placement.
- Place the recovered profile. Copy the backup profile tree to the path supplied after
-profile. Preserve the.savehierarchy and its identifiers. If the new host’s path differs, change the launch argument to the copied profile rather than scattering files across both locations. - Install the recovered configuration. Copy the backed-up JSON to the intended location and set
-configto that exact file. Do not assume a file with the same name in the installation directory is the one being read. - Review host-specific values. Keep gameplay and persistence settings from the backup, but intentionally update values that must change on the new host, such as a machine-specific path or network binding. The default public UDP port documented for the server is 2001; if you retain it, open and forward that port as required by the host. If you change it, update the firewall, forwarding and player connection details together.
- Check file access. Ensure the account running the service can read the JSON and read/write the profile and persistence directories. A permissions failure can look like an empty new server.
- Start in a maintenance window. Launch with the intended
-config,-profileand, when appropriate,-loadSessionSavearguments. - Inspect logs before opening the server. Confirm that the expected profile path was opened, the configuration parsed successfully, addons loaded as intended and a save was found or created. Stop and correct the path or version if the log shows a fresh profile being generated.
- Perform a player-free validation. Join with an administrator account, check the world state and a few known persistent objects, then make a small controlled change, stop cleanly and start again. Confirm that the change survives the second start before inviting the community back.
Version and persistence compatibility
Version matching is especially important for Overthrow. Its guidance says that since version 1.4, saves use the .save persistence system under the profile path. Earlier .db saves are no longer used, and saves made before version 1.4 will not load in the current system.
- A backup made from the current
.savesystem should be restored with a compatible server and mod version. - Do not rename an old
.dbfile to make it appear to be a.savefile; the format change is not a filename-only conversion. - Keep the original pre-upgrade backup separately in case you need to roll the entire deployment back to the older compatible version.
- When changing hosts, record the game, scenario and mod versions beside the backup. A profile copied correctly can still fail if the receiving installation cannot interpret its save format.
Filesystem restore versus an in-game save/load mod
The Workshop mod “msave Discrete GM Save & Load” offers Save, Save As and Load controls on dedicated servers. Its listing says saves can be hot-loaded without a full restart and that current players reconnect after loading. That is useful for a game master during play, but it is not a substitute for backing up the server’s configuration and profile.
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| Consideration | Filesystem backup and restore | In-game Save/Load workflow |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery scope | Can preserve the JSON configuration, profile, addons, logs and persistence data. | Targets scenario or playthrough state exposed by the mod, not the complete deployment. |
| Downtime | Requires the server to be stopped while files are copied or replaced. | The listing describes hot-loading without a full restart. |
| Portability | Can be moved to another host when the server, mods and save format are compatible. | Depends on the mod being installed and available in the target scenario. |
| Protection against loss | A dated external copy provides a recovery point if the live profile is damaged. | Provides operational convenience during play but does not protect a deleted configuration or failed disk. |
Use the mod for quick scenario control if it fits your server, and use stopped-server filesystem copies for disaster recovery, host migration and version changes.
Troubleshoot a restore that does not work
The server starts as a new world
- Re-read the launch command and verify that
-profilepoints to the restored directory. - Check that the persistence tree is nested exactly under
.save/app<appid>_user<userid>/game/for the applicable Overthrow setup. - Confirm the service account can read the files and that the copied directory was not placed one level too high or too low.
- Read the startup log for the profile path actually opened; it is more reliable than a panel label.
The intended save is not selected
- Review
loadSessionSaveand whether the latest save is supposed to load automatically on first startup. - If selecting a particular save with
-loadSessionSave, verify that the file exists in the restored profile and that the argument is attached to the instance you started. - Check
saveRetentionandkeepSessionSave; the desired point may have been removed by retention rules or a mission transition before the backup was made.
Older saves refuse to load
Check the format and version. Overthrow’s current system does not load saves made before version 1.4 in the older .db format. Restore the complete compatible deployment instead of mixing an old save with a newer profile.
The configuration appears to be ignored
- Confirm the filename and path after
-config. - Validate the JSON syntax and exact case of parameter names.
- Look for a service or panel setting that supplies a second
-configargument or overwrites the command you edited.
Players cannot connect after migration
Verify the configured public UDP port and the host firewall or forwarding rule. The documented default is UDP 2001, but a deliberate custom port is valid when every network component and the player connection instructions use the same value.
Quick Recap
The server stops while loading
- Restore the last known-good dated copy rather than repeatedly starting against a potentially damaged profile.
- Compare the restored configuration with the target version and remove only values that are incompatible with the new deployment.
- Check logs for permission, malformed-JSON, missing-addon or save-format errors before attempting another start.
Pre-restore and post-restore checklists
Before copying a backup
- Players have been warned and the service is stopped.
- No dedicated-server process or automatic restart remains active.
- The active
-configand-profilepaths are recorded. - The complete profile and required JSON configuration are included.
- The backup is stored outside the live directory with a date and version label.
Before reopening the server
- The target launch command points to the intended configuration and restored profile.
- Persistence settings and JSON case have been reviewed.
- The game/mod version is compatible, especially when moving between pre-1.4 and current Overthrow persistence.
- Required permissions, addons and network settings are present.
- Logs show the expected profile and save behavior.
- A controlled change survives a stop-and-start test.
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