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Enable the server’s Telnet/RCON interface in the serverconfig.xml file that your dedicated server actually loads, set a strong password, restart the server, and test TCP port 8081 locally before attempting remote access. The configured TelnetPort value is authoritative; 8081 is the documented default, not a port that must be used in every installation.
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Remote administration also requires a firewall rule and, when the server is behind NAT, a router forward for the same TCP port. An empty Telnet password deliberately keeps the interface on the local loopback interface, so it is not a remotely reachable, unauthenticated console.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhat Telnet and RCON do in 7 Days to Die
In a dedicated 7 Days to Die server, the Telnet settings expose the server’s administrative console. “RCON” is commonly used for remote console administration, while the game’s configuration and many instructions call the interface Telnet. The practical result is the same: an administrator can connect with a Telnet client or an RCON utility, authenticate, and issue console commands without opening the game client.
This interface is separate from the normal game-connection port used by players. It has its own setting, TelnetPort, and its own network-security implications. Enabling it does not automatically make it reachable from the public internet. Reachability depends on the password behavior, the host firewall, and any router or cloud-network rules in front of the server.
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The settings reference currently labels its documentation V3.2.0, while an example configuration reproduced elsewhere is from Alpha 20.5. Property names and defaults can change between builds. Keep the names used by the serverconfig.xml shipped with your server, and regard the value in that active file as the source of truth.
Before you edit anything
Identify the active configuration file
Dedicated servers can be started with a selected configuration file. A common launch argument is -configfile, followed by the path to the file to load. Editing a similarly named copy in another directory has no effect if the launch command points elsewhere.
- Find the command, service definition, startup script, or control-panel setting used to launch the dedicated server.
- Record the file path supplied to its
-configfileargument, if one is present. - Open that exact
serverconfig.xml, rather than a template or an unused backup.
If you administer a managed host, its panel may expose a configuration editor instead of a visible command line. Confirm which physical file the panel writes and which file the server starts with.
Stop or quiesce the server
Stop the dedicated server before editing, or otherwise ensure that it is not writing the file at the same time. A clean stop avoids losing your changes when the process saves its current configuration during shutdown. Plan a restart after saving because the server reads these properties during startup.
Choose a port and password
You can retain the documented default port, TCP 8081, or select another unused TCP port. The number must be consistent in the configuration, firewall rule, router forward, and client. Use a long, unique password that is not reused for the game panel, operating-system account, or any other service. Do not publish it in a forum post, script repository, or screenshot.
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Enable the interface in serverconfig.xml
Add or edit the following properties in the active file. XML attributes are case-sensitive; preserve the spelling and capitalization shown.
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<property name="TelnetEnabled" value="true"/>
<property name="TelnetPort" value="8081"/>
<property name="TelnetPassword" value="REPLACE_WITH_A_LONG_UNIQUE_PASSWORD"/>
<property name="TelnetFailedLoginLimit" value="10"/>
<property name="TelnetFailedLoginsBlocktime" value="10"/>Replace the password placeholder with your own secret. If you choose a different port, replace 8081 everywhere with that number. The settings reference documents 8081 as the default and documents 10 failed attempts and a 10-second block period as the default failed-login controls.
What each property controls
| Property | Purpose | Practical interpretation |
|---|---|---|
TelnetEnabled |
Turns the administrative interface on or off. | true enables it; false disables it. |
TelnetPort |
Selects the TCP listening port. | The documented default is 8081. The value in your active file overrides the default. |
TelnetPassword |
Sets the authentication secret and affects listening scope. | An empty value keeps listening on loopback only. A non-empty value permits listening on the configured port, subject to firewall rules. |
TelnetFailedLoginLimit |
Limits consecutive failed authentication attempts. | The documented default is 10 attempts. |
TelnetFailedLoginsBlocktime |
Temporarily blocks further failed-login attempts. | The documented default is 10 seconds. |
Empty password versus a real password
The server configuration comment states: “If no password is set the server will only listen on the local loopback interface.” In practical terms, an empty TelnetPassword is suitable for administration from the same machine, using 127.0.0.1 or another loopback address. It is not a way to provide remote access without authentication.
To connect from another computer, set a password. Once a password is present, the interface can listen on the configured port, so the host firewall and any upstream router or cloud firewall become part of the security boundary. A password alone does not make an internet-facing console safe.
Save, restart, and verify the listener
- Save the active
serverconfig.xmlwith valid XML syntax. - Start or restart the dedicated server using the same launch command or service definition that you checked earlier.
- Wait until startup has completed and inspect the server log for the parsed Telnet settings or a listening-port message.
- From the server machine, test the configured port with
telnet 127.0.0.1 8081. Substitute your actualTelnetPortif it differs. - When prompted, enter the Telnet password. A successful local connection proves that the process loaded the setting and is accepting connections on loopback.
Some operating systems do not install a Telnet client by default. In that case, use another client named in the server’s RCON guidance, such as PuTTY in Raw mode, or an RCON utility. The important first test is local connectivity to the configured TCP port, not the particular client application.
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Make remote administration work safely
Open the host firewall
Create an inbound rule on the machine running the dedicated server that allows TCP traffic to the selected TelnetPort. Scope the rule to known administrator IP addresses whenever possible. If your administrators have changing addresses, use a VPN or another private network path rather than allowing every internet address.
Do not automatically create a UDP rule for this console endpoint. The RCON guidance describes the connection as a TCP service; forward or allow UDP only if documentation for your specific current client and server build explicitly requires it.
Forward the port through NAT
If the server is on a private address behind a home or office router, forward the chosen TCP port from the router’s public interface to the server’s private IP address. The external port, internal port, protocol, and destination must agree with your design. A forward to TCP 8081 will not reach a server configured for 8082 unless you deliberately map those two different numbers.
Give the server a stable private address, such as a DHCP reservation, so the forward does not break when the machine receives a new lease. If the host is in a cloud environment, configure the provider’s security group or network ACL as well as the operating-system firewall.
Prefer restricted paths over a public console
The safest remote arrangement is usually a VPN or a firewall rule limited to trusted source addresses. If you do expose the port publicly, use a unique password, keep the failed-login controls enabled, monitor logs, and remove the exposure when remote administration is no longer needed.
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TelnetFailedLoginLimit and TelnetFailedLoginsBlocktime provide only limited brute-force resistance: the documented defaults are 10 failed attempts and a 10-second block period. They are not a replacement for a firewall, VPN, network allowlist, or other access control. Disable Telnet entirely when you do not need the console.
Connect with a client
Telnet command line
From an administrator computer, run:
telnet SERVER_IP 8081Replace SERVER_IP with the server’s reachable address and replace 8081 with the configured port. Authenticate when prompted. For a local test, use 127.0.0.1; for a remote test, use the server’s private address over a VPN or its public address only when the firewall and NAT design intentionally permits it.
PuTTY Raw mode
- Open PuTTY and select a Raw connection.
- Enter the server address in the host field.
- Enter the configured Telnet port, such as 8081.
- Connect and provide the Telnet password when requested.
Raw mode matters because the game’s interface is a plain TCP console rather than an SSH session. Do not select SSH merely because the server machine itself supports SSH; that would contact a different service.
mcrcon for scripts
mcrcon is a command-line option for cross-platform administration and automation. It is useful when scheduled jobs or deployment scripts need to send console commands, but verify the current release’s protocol flags and authentication syntax before putting a command in production. Client options can change independently of the game server.
ARRCON and web RCON
ARRCON and web RCON are GUI or browser-oriented alternatives named in the server guidance. Check that the version you select supports your server build and the current Telnet/RCON protocol. A graphical interface can simplify authentication and command entry, but it does not remove the need for a strong password, restricted network access, or correct TCP forwarding.
| Access method | Best fit | Network and security considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Telnet command line | Quick local checks and simple interactive administration. | Plain console connection; use loopback, a VPN, or a tightly restricted firewall rule. |
| PuTTY Raw | Administrators who prefer a desktop client. | Use Raw mode and the configured TCP port; it is not an encrypted SSH session. |
| mcrcon | Scripts, scheduled tasks, and cross-platform command-line work. | Confirm current flags and protect credentials stored in automation. |
| ARRCON | GUI-based administration. | Verify compatibility with the server build and keep the same network restrictions. |
| Web RCON | Browser-based convenience where an appropriate, compatible implementation is available. | Secure the web service separately and avoid exposing an unprotected browser endpoint. |
Troubleshoot a failed connection
The server ignores my changes
- Recheck the launch command’s
-configfilepath. The edited file must be the one the process actually loads. - Stop and restart the dedicated server after saving. Editing a running file does not force the process to reread it.
- Inspect the startup log for the parsed Telnet properties and for XML errors.
- Confirm that the property names are spelled exactly as documented and that each XML element is closed correctly.
Localhost works, but remote access fails
A successful 127.0.0.1 test shows that the server is listening locally. Check the network path in this order:
- Confirm that the remote client uses the exact
TelnetPortvalue, not an assumed default. - Check the host firewall’s inbound TCP rule and its source-address scope.
- If NAT is present, verify the router’s TCP forward points to the server’s current private IP.
- For cloud hosting, check the provider security group or network ACL.
- Test from a genuinely external network if you are checking a public address; some routers do not support hairpin NAT from inside the same LAN.
Do not start by changing the password repeatedly. First establish whether the TCP connection reaches the server at all.
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The client connects but authentication fails
- Check for accidental spaces or special characters introduced while copying the password into the XML file or client.
- Confirm that the client is reaching the intended server and port, especially if several game instances run on the same host.
- Wait for the configured block period after repeated failures. With the documented defaults, that period is 10 seconds.
- Change the password only by editing the active file and restarting, then test locally before reopening remote access.
The port appears open but no console prompt arrives
Verify that you selected a raw Telnet-compatible connection rather than SSH or another protocol. Confirm that the server finished starting and that the client supports the interface used by your game build. A TCP handshake alone does not prove that the right application is listening.
I do not need remote administration anymore
Set TelnetEnabled to false, save the active file, and restart the server. If you still need occasional administration from the host itself, leaving the password empty preserves loopback-only behavior, but disabling the interface is the clearer choice when it is not required. Remove obsolete firewall rules and router forwards as part of the shutdown.
Operational checklist
- Active configuration file identified from the server’s launch settings.
- Dedicated server stopped or otherwise prevented from overwriting the file during editing.
TelnetEnabled,TelnetPort, andTelnetPasswordset intentionally.- Password is long, unique, and stored securely.
- Failed-login limit and block time retained or deliberately adjusted with an understanding that they are only limited protection.
- Server restarted and logs checked for the loaded settings.
- Local connection tested on
127.0.0.1before any remote test. - Only the selected TCP port allowed through the host firewall.
- Router or cloud forwarding restricted to trusted sources where possible.
- Telnet disabled and network exposure removed when administration is no longer needed.
Version and configuration cautions
Configuration references are not guarantees that every property behaves identically in every historical or future build. The settings reference identifies V3.2.0, and the example configuration cited in the guidance is from Alpha 20.5. Before upgrading, compare your existing file with the configuration shipped with the new server version and confirm that the Telnet properties remain supported.
Never assume that 8081 is still the active port merely because it is the documented default. The value parsed from the server’s active serverconfig.xml determines where the service listens. Record that value alongside your firewall and router rules so an upgrade or migration does not leave an accidental, mismatched exposure.
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