There are two different ways to play “on a Red Dead Redemption 2 server.” For a private, unmodified Red Dead Online game, use Rockstar’s built-in Invite Only Session. For a persistent community server with role-play systems, custom scripts, and other modifications, use RedM, the Cfx-powered modification for RDR2. An Invite Only Session is not a dedicated server, and a RedM server is not an official Rockstar Red Dead Online session.
The choice determines every later step: whether you need server software, a configuration file, a Cfx license key, OneSync settings, and network configuration. Choose the model below before downloading anything.
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Choose the type of server you actually need
| Option | What it is | Customization | Server software and administration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Dead Online Invite Only Session | A private Rockstar session started from Story Mode | Standard Red Dead Online rules and content | No separate dedicated-server software; the player starts the session in the game | Friends who want a private, official session |
| RedM community server | A customized multiplayer server powered by Cfx for RDR2 | Scripts, resources, custom rules, role-play systems and community content, depending on the server | Yes. You operate or rent a machine, install server artifacts, configure the server and manage access | Persistent communities, role-play projects and custom multiplayer experiences |
Rockstar documents Invite Only Session as the private-session route. RedM’s project documentation describes RedM as “a modification for Red Dead Redemption 2 enabling you to play multiplayer on customized dedicated servers, powered by Cfx.” These are separate products and should not be configured as if they were the same service.
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Start a private Red Dead Online Invite Only Session
If your goal is simply to play with invited friends without strangers joining, you do not need a RedM server or a separate host. Use the official session feature in the PC or console game.
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- Launch Red Dead Redemption 2 and enter Story Mode.
- Open the Pause Menu.
- Select Online.
- Choose Find New Session.
- Select Invite Only Session.
- Invite the players you want to join using the in-game player and invite controls for your platform.
The important detail is the starting point: Rockstar’s documented flow begins in Story Mode, not from an external server browser or a dedicated-server executable. This creates a private Red Dead Online session; it does not give you a server process, a configurable world, custom scripts or a community server address.
When an Invite Only Session is the right answer
- You want the normal Red Dead Online economy, missions, progression and rules.
- Your group is small or temporary and does not need a persistent world.
- You do not want to install or maintain server software.
- You want an official Rockstar experience rather than a modded community environment.
What it cannot do
- It cannot load RedM resources or custom role-play scripts.
- It is not a dedicated server that remains available independently of the game session.
- It does not provide an administrator console, server configuration file or custom matchmaking rules.
- It should not be described as “hosting an RDR2 dedicated server.” It is hosting a private game session.
Set up a RedM dedicated server
RedM is the route for a customized, community-run RDR2 multiplayer server. The exact artifact package, installer screens and configuration options can change, so use the current Cfx documentation and RedM hosting documentation when you perform the installation. Do not rely on an old tutorial’s artifact number or assume that a forum post still matches the current release.
Prerequisites
You need an installed copy of Red Dead Redemption 2 or Red Dead Online for the client side. A 2025 Cfx community tutorial identifies one of those installations as a prerequisite for RedM setup. Rockstar’s PC requirements also indicate that PC installation and online play require the relevant Rockstar account, internet access and platform software. Check the current requirements for your edition and storefront before troubleshooting the server.
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Use the current Cfx setup path
- Open the current Cfx “Setting Up a Vanilla FXServer” documentation and the RedM server-hosting documentation. Use those pages as the authority for downloading current Windows or Linux artifacts.
- Prepare the operating system and a dedicated server directory with permissions that allow the server process to read its files and write logs and runtime data.
- Download the current server artifacts for your operating system. Do not copy an artifact number from an older guide; artifacts and installation procedures are changeable.
- Run the setup process described by Cfx. The current workflow can use txAdmin to create and manage a server profile; follow the labels shown by the version you install.
- When the setup asks for a Cfx license key, create or supply the key through the current Cfx account and license-key process. Keep the key private and do not publish it in a repository, screenshot or public configuration.
- Create or open the server configuration file, commonly named
server.cfg, and identify the game as RedM/RDR2 with this setting:set gamename rdr3 - Apply the OneSync settings required by the current Cfx documentation for your server design. OneSync behavior and licensing requirements can change, so copy the current syntax and permitted values instead of reusing an old snippet.
- Start the server through the launch method documented for your operating system or through txAdmin. Watch the console for configuration, license and resource errors before inviting players.
- Test with a small group, confirm that clients can discover and join the server, and record the exact artifact version, configuration changes and resource versions used for that successful test.
The set gamename rdr3 line is the RedM-specific identifier in Cfx’s vanilla FXServer guidance. Without the correct game designation, a general FXServer configuration can be treated as the wrong game type.
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Keep the first configuration deliberately vanilla
Start with the base server and only the resources required to boot and connect. Add one resource or script at a time, restart, and test. This makes a failed start or broken gameplay change attributable to a specific addition. Once the base server is reliable, document your resource load order, permissions and data directories so another administrator can recover the installation.
A customized server can contain role-play frameworks, jobs, inventories, economy systems, maps, vehicles or moderation tools, but those features are supplied by the community resources you choose. RedM itself does not guarantee a particular ruleset, economy or role-play system. Review each resource’s compatibility and license before deploying it.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsNetwork configuration: do not copy Red Dead Online ports into RedM
Rockstar’s connection-error support article lists UDP ports 6672, 61455, 61456, 61457 and 61458 for troubleshooting a Red Dead Online client’s connection to Rockstar services. Those numbers describe Rockstar’s client-connectivity troubleshooting context. They do not establish the listener ports or port-forwarding recipe for a RedM dedicated server.
For RedM, use the current Cfx networking and hosting instructions that accompany the server artifacts. Configure the listener and firewall rules shown there, then forward only the required port or ports from your router to the server machine. Do not open the five Rockstar troubleshooting ports merely because they appear in a Red Dead Online support article.
A safe firewall checklist
- Identify the actual RedM listener configured by the current Cfx setup, rather than guessing from Red Dead Online support material.
- Allow the server process through the operating-system firewall for the required protocol.
- If the machine is behind a router, forward the documented listener to the machine’s stable local address.
- For a rented or cloud machine, configure its provider-level firewall or security group as well as the operating-system firewall.
- Test from outside the local network; a local connection can succeed even when public forwarding is wrong.
- Remove temporary broad firewall rules after testing and keep an administrator record of every rule.
Symptoms of a networking mistake
- The server starts, but nobody outside the host can connect: check the listener, operating-system firewall, router forwarding and any provider firewall.
- Local players can connect but remote players cannot: suspect NAT, router forwarding or a provider security group rather than the game configuration.
- The server is visible but joining fails: check the server console, license configuration, artifact compatibility and resource errors before changing ports.
- You changed ports based on a Rockstar support article: undo that assumption and return to the current Cfx RedM networking instructions.
How to administer a small RedM community
Separate public identity from secrets
Give the server a clear name and description, but keep the Cfx license key, database credentials, administrator tokens and private webhook URLs out of public configuration files. Use environment variables or a protected secrets mechanism when the current tooling supports it. Restrict filesystem and console access to trusted administrators.
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Back up before updates
Back up the server configuration, resource manifests, persistent player data and database before changing artifacts or adding a framework. Record the previous artifact and resource versions. If an update fails, restore the last known-good files rather than repeatedly changing several variables at once.
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Control resources and permissions
Maintain a written list of every resource, its version and its dependencies. Remove unused resources instead of leaving them enabled. Assign the least privilege needed for moderators and administrators, and test a normal player account separately from an administrator account.
Publish joining instructions
Tell players whether they need RedM, a legitimate installed RDR2 or Red Dead Online copy, and any client-side resources required by your server. State the rules, support channel, maintenance schedule and expected behavior for reports. Do not tell players to use Rockstar’s Invite Only Session steps when you are directing them to a RedM server; the connection paths are different.
Common mistakes and their fixes
Calling an Invite Only Session a dedicated server
Why it fails: the official session has no separate server software or custom configuration layer. Fix: use the Story Mode path for a private vanilla session, or install RedM when you need a persistent customized server.
Using the wrong game identifier
Why it fails: a generic FXServer configuration may not start as an RDR2/RedM server. Fix: verify that server.cfg contains set gamename rdr3 as directed by the current Cfx documentation.
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Following an obsolete installation guide
Why it fails: artifacts, txAdmin screens, license procedures and configuration options change. Fix: start with the current Cfx vanilla FXServer page and RedM hosting documentation; use community tutorials only for concepts such as prerequisites.
Assuming RDR2 ownership creates a Rockstar dedicated server
Why it fails: owning the game supplies the client entitlement; it does not automatically supply an official dedicated-server service or server files. Fix: decide whether you need Rockstar’s private session or a separately operated RedM server.
Opening every port mentioned online
Why it fails: Red Dead Online client troubleshooting ports are not proven RedM listener ports. Fix: configure only the ports and protocols specified by current Cfx documentation and verify them with an external test.
Adding many scripts before the first successful connection
Why it fails: multiple simultaneous changes hide the source of a startup or gameplay failure. Fix: boot a minimal server, connect a test client, then add and test resources one at a time.
Which route should you choose?
| If your priority is… | Choose | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| A quick private game with friends | Invite Only Session | It is the official Rockstar workflow and requires no dedicated-server installation. |
| Rockstar’s normal online progression and rules | Invite Only Session | You remain in Red Dead Online rather than a community modification. |
| Custom scripts, role-play or community rules | RedM | RedM is designed for customized dedicated multiplayer servers. |
| A server that players can join as a community project | RedM | You can operate a persistent server process, configure resources and manage access. |
| The least administration | Invite Only Session | There are no artifacts, server.cfg, license-key or firewall tasks to maintain. |
Final decision checklist
- Decide whether “private session” or “custom dedicated server” describes your goal.
- For a private official session, start in Story Mode and use Pause Menu → Online → Find New Session → Invite Only Session.
- For RedM, confirm that players have a supported RDR2 or Red Dead Online installation and the required Rockstar account and platform access.
- Use the current Cfx vanilla FXServer and RedM hosting documentation for artifacts, txAdmin, license keys, OneSync and networking.
- Set
set gamename rdr3inserver.cfgfor the RedM/RDR2 game designation. - Do not treat Rockstar’s UDP 6672 and 61455–61458 troubleshooting list as RedM port-forwarding instructions.
- Back up configuration and player data before updates, and add custom resources incrementally.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start an Invite Only Session in Red Dead Online?
Start Story Mode, open Pause Menu → Online → Find New Session, then choose Invite Only Session. This creates a private official Red Dead Online session, not a RedM dedicated server.
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Is RedM an official Rockstar server?
No. RedM is a Cfx-powered modification for customized dedicated RDR2 multiplayer servers. It is separate from Rockstar’s Red Dead Online service.
What does `set gamename rdr3` do?
It identifies the FXServer configuration as the RedM/RDR2 game type. Add it to `server.cfg` as directed by the current Cfx setup documentation.
Can I use Rockstar’s Red Dead Online ports for RedM?
Do not assume so. Rockstar’s listed UDP ports 6672 and 61455–61458 are for Red Dead Online connection troubleshooting; use current Cfx RedM networking instructions for dedicated-server listeners.
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A RedM setup tutorial lists an installed Red Dead Redemption 2 or Red Dead Online copy as a prerequisite. Verify current account, platform and installation requirements before setup.
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