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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Don’t Starve Together caves do not run as a switch inside the surface world. A caves world is a second shard, running as a separate dedicated-server process and linked to the Forest shard (the Master shard). Start both processes with the same cluster name, keep one shared cluster.ini at the cluster root, and give each shard its own server.ini. On a dedicated server, that means two simultaneous server processes and substantially more CPU work than a Forest-only world.
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How the Forest-and-Caves layout works
A DST cluster is the shared identity and data set for one world. The Forest surface is the Master shard; the underground world is the Caves shard. Klei’s command-line setup runs the dedicated server twice, using the same cluster name but a different -shard argument for each process.
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- Shared cluster data:
cluster.iniand the cluster token belong in the cluster’s root directory. - Surface settings:
Master/server.inicontains settings for the Forest shard. - Underground settings:
Caves/server.inicontains settings for the caves shard. - Running world: both shard processes must remain online for players to travel between Forest and Caves.
Do not put the caves settings in Master/server.ini or launch the second process with a different cluster name. Either mistake creates an unlinked world, applies settings to the wrong shard, or prevents the shards from joining the same cluster.
What you need before enabling caves
- A DST dedicated-server installation on the host machine, or the ability to create a dedicated instance through your hosting control panel.
- A generated cluster with a valid cluster token. The token and cluster-level files must be readable from the same cluster root used by both processes.
- A writable cluster directory containing separate
MasterandCavesfolders. - Enough CPU capacity to run two server processes concurrently. Klei explicitly warns that hosting a Forest and caves world is CPU-intensive and needs a more capable computer setup; the support article carrying that warning was updated July 15, 2026.
- Firewall and network rules that allow the dedicated server to accept connections. The exact ports depend on your existing DST installation and network configuration, so use the ports already defined by your server setup rather than copying an unrelated example.
No official source establishes a universal RAM requirement, player limit, or processor model for caves. Performance depends on the number of players, mods, simulation load, operating system, and other services sharing the machine.
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Recommended cluster folder structure
Before starting either process, verify that the files are arranged as a single cluster. The names below show the required relationship, not a promise that every installation uses the same absolute parent path.
MyDediServer/
├── cluster.ini
├── cluster_token.txt
├── Master/
│ └── server.ini
└── Caves/
└── server.iniThe cluster token filename and location should match the layout created by your DST installation or host panel. The important rule is that both shard launches point to the same cluster root and therefore see the same token and cluster.ini. Back up this entire directory before changing world generation or mod settings.
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Set up caves on a Windows dedicated server
1. Create or select the cluster
Choose the cluster directory you intend to keep permanently and give it a stable name. Klei’s Windows example uses MyDediServer; you can use another name, but the text after -cluster must be identical in both launch commands. Confirm that the cluster root contains cluster.ini and the cluster token before starting the server.
2. Create the shard directories and configuration files
Inside the cluster root, create Master and Caves directories if they do not already exist. Place the surface shard’s server.ini in Masterserver.ini and the caves shard’s file in Cavesserver.ini. On a standard Windows setup, Klei documents the caves configuration location as:
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DocumentsKleiDoNotStarveTogetherMyDediServerCavesserver.iniUse the same cluster name in the path and in your launch command. Keep shard-specific options in the appropriate file so a setting intended for Caves does not silently alter the Forest world.
3. Configure the Caves world
Generate or edit the Caves world settings using the server tools you normally use. The community setup guide identifies DST_CAVE as the default caves preset and also lists DST_CAVE_PLUS and TERRARIA_CAVE as alternatives. Treat those names as checks for generated configuration, not as a substitute for Klei’s current syntax: if a current Klei tool creates the file, use the keys and format it produces.
4. Launch the Master shard
Start one dedicated-server process with the shared cluster name and the Master shard argument. In the executable directory, the command follows this pattern:
dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer_x64 -console -cluster MyDediServer -shard MasterThe executable name can differ by platform or installation build. Preserve the two significant values: the same cluster name used by the other process and -shard Master.
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5. Launch the Caves shard
Open a second console window or service definition and run the equivalent command with -shard Caves. Klei’s Windows quick-setup form is:
dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer_x64 -console -cluster MyDediServer -shard CavesDo not close the Master process after starting Caves. The two windows should remain active, or both commands should be managed by your service supervisor. If one process exits, the corresponding shard is unavailable even though the other process may still appear healthy.
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6. Confirm that the shards linked
- Both processes report the same cluster name.
- The Master process reads
Master/server.ini; the second readsCaves/server.ini. - Both processes can read the shared cluster token and
cluster.ini. - The server log shows each shard starting instead of creating a second independent cluster.
- After joining the Forest, a player can use the normal in-game cave entrance or travel mechanism to reach the caves shard.
If the Caves process starts a fresh world, stops immediately, or never appears reachable, stop both processes and check the directory names, cluster spelling, token location, and shard-specific configuration before changing world settings.
Set up caves through the in-game host flow
You do not need to edit dedicated-server files for ordinary in-game hosting. Klei’s host workflow exposes caves as a server playstyle.
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- Open DST and choose Host Game.
- Select Create New World.
- Choose the Caves server playstyle.
- Open the Caves tab and set the underground world options.
- Review the available world presets and adjust the settings you want.
- Click Generate World.
This flow creates the linked world for a normal hosted session. It is different from a long-running dedicated server: the game client is also hosting the processes, so the host must stay in the session and still has to absorb the CPU cost of running Forest and Caves together.
Why caves require more CPU
Adding caves starts another simulation rather than merely loading extra map tiles. Forest and Caves each maintain their own world state, entities, saves, and simulation updates. Running them at the same time is why Klei describes the configuration as “CPU-intensive” and recommends a beefier computer setup.
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There is no single official CPU or RAM number that guarantees a particular player count. Watch the host while several players are active, during world saves, and when mods are enabled. Sustained high CPU use, delayed actions, rubber-banding, or shard restarts indicate that the machine or its process limits are being exceeded. Reduce simultaneous services, remove expensive mods, lower the player load, or move the cluster to a host with stronger sustained CPU capacity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Managed hosting versus running the shards yourself
If you do not want to maintain two processes, a managed DST host can handle the service layer, but you still need to verify that its product supports a linked Forest-and-Caves cluster. Compare providers on the following points rather than assuming a single “DST server” plan includes caves.
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| Check | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Two linked shards | You create and supervise both processes. | Provider must explicitly support Master and Caves in one cluster. |
| CPU allocation | Uses the machine’s available CPU; burst behavior depends on your hardware and other services. | Ask whether CPU is dedicated, shared, capped, or burstable, and whether the allocation covers two concurrent processes. |
| Persistent storage and backups | You choose the disk, backup schedule, and off-site copy method. | Confirm retention, restore procedure, and whether both shard directories are backed up together. |
| Mods and Workshop content | You install, update, and troubleshoot the mod set. | Confirm Workshop support, upload limits, update handling, and whether mods are applied consistently to both shards. |
| Network and ports | You configure firewall, router, and port forwarding. | Check which ports are exposed and whether the panel configures them for both shards. |
| Restart automation | Use a service manager, scripts, or scheduled tasks to restart both processes. | Verify that a restart brings up the complete cluster, not only the Master process. |
| Current price | Depends on your existing hardware and electricity costs. | No generally applicable price is established here; obtain a current quote and read the resource limits. |
The practical question is not simply whether a provider advertises DST support. Ask how it stores cluster.ini, the token, Master/server.ini, and Caves/server.ini, and how it starts both shards after an update or crash.
Troubleshoot the most common failures
The Caves process launches, but players cannot enter caves
- Check that the process uses
-shard Caves, not-shard Master. - Verify that its
server.iniis inside the same cluster’sCavesdirectory. - Confirm that both launches use exactly the same cluster name, including capitalization and punctuation.
- Check firewall and host-panel rules for the second process.
A second, empty world appears
This usually means the processes are not reading one shared cluster. Stop them, then compare the absolute cluster paths, cluster.ini, token, and cluster-name argument. A typo in the cluster name is enough to create an unrelated instance.
The server stops or lags after caves are enabled
Check CPU utilization over time rather than relying on a brief idle reading. Two shards run continuously, and mods or other services add load. Remove nonessential services, test without mods, and move to hardware with stronger sustained CPU capacity if the symptoms remain. Do not treat a one-time benchmark or a short startup reading as proof that the machine can support a busy world.
World settings affect the wrong shard
Separate the files: Forest settings belong in Master/server.ini; underground settings belong in Caves/server.ini. Reopen the generated files after saving and confirm that the process logs reference the intended shard directory.
A restart brings back only one shard
Review the service manager, batch files, or panel startup tasks. There must be one restart definition for Master and another for Caves, both using the same cluster name and root. Test a full stop-and-start cycle before inviting players back.
Safe maintenance practices
- Stop both shard processes before making structural changes or restoring a backup.
- Back up the complete cluster root, including
cluster.ini, the token, and both shard directories. - Change one setting at a time and record whether it belongs to Master or Caves.
- After a game update, start both shards and inspect their logs before allowing players to connect.
- Keep a copy of the launch commands and the absolute cluster path so a replacement machine can recreate the same pairing.
A caves setup is healthy when one cluster contains the shared files, each shard has its own configuration, both processes use the same cluster name, and the host has enough sustained CPU capacity to run them together.
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