To keep a Terraria world online around the clock, run the dedicated server—not Host & Play—with a saved world, a configuration file, a persistent process, and a recovery plan. On a home network, the usual arrangement is a fixed LAN address, a host-firewall rule, and TCP port 7777 forwarded from the router. On a VPS or other non-NAT network, you normally skip router forwarding and allow the chosen port in the provider firewall instead.
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This guide covers Windows, Linux, and VPS deployments, repeatable configuration, remote access, automatic recovery, backups, and the choice between vanilla Terraria and TShock.
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A 24/7 label describes an operating setup, not a special Terraria mode. Three independent pieces must remain available:
- The machine: powered on, connected to the network, and not forced to sleep or hibernate.
- The network path: the server port must be reachable from the players’ networks.
- The server process: the dedicated Terraria executable must keep running and be restarted after a crash or reboot.
The durable pattern is a dedicated server process launched with a saved configuration file and an existing world. Host & Play is designed around a player session; it is convenient for short games but is not the right foundation for a world that should remain available when the host is away.
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Keeping the process alive does not guarantee uninterrupted service. Power failures, operating-system updates, ISP outages, router changes, crashes, and maintenance still require an operations plan.
Choose where to host
| Location | What you need | Network work | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Windows PC | Terraria installation, TerrariaServer.exe, a saved world, and a machine that can stay on |
Usually a fixed LAN address, firewall rule, and router port forward | Small groups when a home computer can run continuously |
| Home Linux machine | Dedicated-server files, executable permissions, shell access, and a persistent session or service | Usually the same NAT, firewall, and forwarding steps as Windows | Owners comfortable with command-line administration |
| VPS or managed game host | Provider-supported Terraria version, server files, and an account with console access | Normally no home-router forwarding on a non-NAT data-center connection; allow the port in the host firewall | Homes where the PC cannot stay on, the ISP uses CGNAT, or the server should be separate from a gaming computer |
Before choosing a managed host, verify its Terraria version, backup policy, restart behavior, storage limits, and terms. A provider’s uptime percentage should come from a stated service-level agreement or your own monitoring; Terraria itself does not promise one.
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- Use a machine that can remain powered on. Disable automatic sleep and hibernation for the period you want the world available.
- Give the server a stable local address. A DHCP reservation in the router is usually easier to maintain than manually configuring a static address on the machine.
- Decide where the world, configuration file, logs, and backups will live. Keep backups on a different disk or another machine when possible.
- Choose a strong server password. Do not reuse a personal account password.
- Record the Terraria version and, if applicable, the TShock release. Clients and server software must be compatible.
- Plan a maintenance window for updates. Stop the server cleanly before replacing binaries or world files.
Set up a dedicated server on Windows
Find and launch the server executable
A Terraria installation includes the dedicated-server executable. Open the Terraria installation directory and locate TerrariaServer.exe. Running it interactively starts a wizard that lets you select or create a world, set the player limit, choose a password, and select a port.
For repeatable restarts, save those values in a text configuration file instead of entering them at every launch. The official command-line pattern is:
TerrariaServer.exe -config serverconfig.txtUse the full path to the executable and configuration file if your working directory is different. Confirm in the server console that the intended world loaded and that the process is listening on the selected port.
Create a startup batch file
Place a batch file beside the server executable so you can launch the same configuration every time:
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cd /d "C:pathtoTerraria"
TerrariaServer.exe -config serverconfig.txt
pauseReplace the example path with the actual installation directory. The pause line leaves the window open after an error so you can read the message. For unattended operation, use Task Scheduler or a service wrapper to start the batch file after reboot and to restart the process if it exits. Test the scheduled task while logged out; a process that only works in an interactive desktop session is not a dependable 24/7 service.
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Allow the executable through Windows Firewall
When Windows asks whether to allow Terraria through the firewall, permit it on the network profile you actually use. If no prompt appears, create an inbound rule for the configured TCP port or for the server executable. Limit the rule to the required profiles and networks rather than exposing unrelated ports.
Set up a dedicated server on Linux
Install the server files and prerequisites
Download the dedicated-server files for the Terraria version you intend to run. Install the basic command-line utilities required by your distribution, then place the server files in a directory owned by the account that will run them. Make the server binary executable:
chmod +x TerrariaServerThe exact package names and file locations vary by distribution. Keep the world and configuration in a predictable directory, and do not run the server as root unless a specific platform requirement leaves no alternative.
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The documented shell pattern is:
./TerrariaServer -config serverconfig.txtIf the executable is not in the current directory, use its absolute path. Watch the console during the first launch, select or create the world if the configuration does not already specify one, and verify the listening port.
Prevent SSH disconnects from stopping the world
Starting the process directly in an SSH window ties it to that session. Use a persistent terminal session such as tmux or screen, or create a service with your distribution’s service manager. A persistent session is useful for manual administration; a service is preferable when you need automatic startup and restart.
With a service manager, configure the working directory, the dedicated-server command, the account that owns the files, log handling, and a restart policy. Test a deliberate stop and start, then reboot the machine and confirm that the world returns without an SSH login. Keep the service’s configuration path explicit so a reboot cannot silently start a different world.
Use a VPS or managed host when home hosting is unsuitable
A data-center connection generally does not sit behind your home router’s NAT. That removes the home port-forwarding step, but it does not remove firewall configuration: allow the configured TCP port in the VPS security group or operating-system firewall.
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This option is useful when the home PC cannot stay powered on, the ISP places you behind CGNAT, upload reliability is poor, or you want the server isolated from a gaming workstation. Check the host’s supported Terraria version, whether it provides console access, how it performs restarts, how backups are retained, and whether storage survives a reinstall. Do not assume that a generic game-host control panel uses the same configuration keys as vanilla Terraria or TShock.
Build a repeatable configuration file
A configuration file prevents settings from drifting after a reboot. At minimum, define the world path, port, player limit, password, message of the day, ban-list location, and the secure/UPnP choices appropriate to your network. Use the same file on every launch.
world=C:pathtoworld.wld
port=7777
maxplayers=8
password=choose-a-strong-password
motd=Welcome to the server
banlist=banlist.txtThe sample values illustrate the form; use paths and limits that match your installation. The default Terraria network port is TCP 7777. TShock also documents ServerPort defaulting to 7777 and MaxSlots defaulting to 8, but TShock settings belong in its own configuration system rather than being copied blindly into a vanilla file.
You may choose another unused TCP port. If you do, use that same number in the configuration, firewall rule, router rule, and the connection instructions given to players.
Hosting more than one world
Give every instance its own world file, configuration file, log location, and port. Never start two servers with the same world and port. Separate directories make it easier to identify which process should be stopped, backed up, or upgraded.
Make the server reachable from the internet
Home network procedure
- Reserve the server’s LAN address. In the router’s DHCP settings, reserve an address for the server’s network adapter, or configure a static address using your network’s documented range.
- Allow the port on the host firewall. Create an inbound TCP rule for 7777, or for the alternate port you selected, and ensure it applies to the active network profile.
- Forward the port on the router. Create a rule forwarding external TCP 7777 to the server’s fixed LAN address and the same internal port. A UDP-only rule will not work for the default Terraria connection.
- Confirm the server is listening. Check the server console or operating-system network tools while the process is running.
- Test from outside the home network. Have a friend connect using your public IP address or a DNS name and the configured port. Testing only from the same LAN can hide a forwarding problem.
Residential NAT connections generally require forwarding. If your ISP uses CGNAT, the router may show a private WAN address and port forwarding will not be reachable from the public internet. Ask the ISP for a public address, move the server to a non-NAT host, or use a private VPN overlay that every participant can install and use. A VPN overlay changes the connection model: players connect through the overlay address, not your public router address.
Non-NAT and data-center networks
On a VPS or other directly addressed network, skip the home-router rule. Open the port in the provider firewall, security group, and local firewall, then give players the server’s public IP or DNS name. Restrict management interfaces separately; opening the game port should not expose SSH, RDP, or other administration services to everyone.
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Keep the process running after logout, reboot, or crash
Use a supervisor, not an open terminal
A 24/7 setup needs a persistent process. On Windows, use Task Scheduler or a service wrapper configured to start at boot and restart after an unexpected exit. On Linux, use a service manager with an explicit working directory and restart policy, or at minimum run the process in tmux or screen. A terminal that disappears when you close SSH is not persistent.
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Keep console output in rotating log files or in the service manager’s journal. Record the time of crashes, updates, and world restores. An automatic restart without logs can conceal a loop in which the process starts, fails immediately, and repeats.
Plan clean shutdowns
Use the server’s save and exit commands before maintenance. Stop the process cleanly before replacing a world file or upgrading server binaries. Do not overwrite a world while the server is still running; the in-memory state may later write back over your replacement.
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Automatic world saving reduces the amount of progress lost, but it is not a backup strategy. Keep dated copies of every important .wld file off the server host, and periodically verify that a copy can be opened.
The Official Terraria Wiki documents automatic world saving behavior. TShock exposes controls including AutoSave, SaveWorldOnCrash, SaveWorldOnLastPlayerExit, BackupInterval, and backup-retention settings. Configure these deliberately and check the resulting files rather than assuming defaults match your needs.
Recovery procedure
- Stop the server process cleanly. If it is unresponsive, terminate it only after accepting that the latest in-memory changes may be lost.
- Copy the damaged or suspect world file to a separate evidence directory; do not delete it.
- Identify the newest verified backup whose timestamp predates the problem.
- Restore that backup to the exact world path used by the configuration file.
- Start the server with the same configuration and inspect the console for load errors.
- Ask a player to check key builds, chests, and progression before declaring the restore successful.
Vanilla Terraria or TShock?
| Consideration | Vanilla dedicated server | TShock |
|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | Shortest path: use the Terraria server executable and its configuration | Additional software and a separate configuration model |
| Administration | Basic console commands and password-protected access | Expanded commands, user login, bans, whitelists, and moderation controls |
| Extensibility | No third-party plugin interface | Plugin interfaces and server-side administration features |
| Operations | Rely on your process supervisor and backup routine | Documented autosave, crash-save, backup, slot, login, and ban settings |
| Compatibility work | Track the official Terraria version | Match TShock, Terraria, and any client-side mods to compatible releases |
Choose vanilla when the group wants the standard game with the fewest moving parts. Choose TShock when moderation, whitelisting, commands, or plugins justify the extra update and compatibility work. TShock is third-party software; do not assume that a vanilla configuration key or update procedure applies to it.
Troubleshoot by symptom
No one can connect from outside the house
- Confirm the server is running and listening on the configured port.
- Check the host firewall rule and the router’s forwarding destination.
- Verify that players are using the current public IP or DNS name and the right port.
- Compare the router’s WAN address with the address visible from the internet. A private WAN address often indicates CGNAT.
- Check whether the ISP or an upstream modem has a second NAT layer.
Local players connect, but remote players cannot
The Terraria process and world are probably healthy. Focus on NAT, forwarding, upstream firewall rules, CGNAT, and whether the public address changed. Test from a genuinely separate network, such as a mobile connection.
The world or settings reset after every restart
Inspect the startup task, batch file, service unit, and working directory. Confirm every launch uses the same -config file and that its world path is correct. Starting the executable without the intended configuration can invoke a different world or prompt for new values.
The server stops when the terminal closes
Move the process into tmux, screen, Task Scheduler, or a service manager. An SSH shell or desktop window alone does not provide persistence.
A crash caused world loss
Stop the process, preserve the damaged file, and restore the newest verified backup. Then review autosave, crash-save, backup interval, retention, disk space, and service logs before bringing players back.
TShock authentication or plugin errors
Use a TShock release matched to the Terraria version and follow TShock’s own configuration format. Its settings are separate from vanilla config.txt and other files shipped with Terraria; copying keys between the two systems can produce ignored settings or startup errors.
Routine maintenance checklist
- Check that the process is running and that logs are advancing.
- Confirm the public address or DNS record still points to the server.
- Verify that scheduled backups completed and that at least one recent copy is off-host.
- Review disk space, especially where worlds, logs, and backups are stored.
- Apply Terraria, TShock, operating-system, and plugin updates during a announced maintenance window.
- Stop cleanly, copy the world, update, start again, and test a real player connection.
- Periodically rehearse a restore on a separate directory or test machine.
The practical 24/7 recipe
For most home groups, the dependable recipe is: install the dedicated server, reserve its LAN address, create a configuration file with a password and port 7777, allow that TCP port through the host firewall, forward it on the router, and run the process under an automatic-start supervisor. Add dated off-host world backups and verify a restore before inviting a large group.
If the home network cannot accept inbound connections or the computer cannot remain powered on, use a VPS or managed host on a non-NAT network and open its firewall instead. Select vanilla for simplicity or TShock for administration and plugin features, while matching every server component to the Terraria version your players use.
Quick Recap
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