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Unturned Server Setup: Dedicated Server Guide

Unturned dedicated server setup, map selection, workshop mod support, Rocket mod framework, permission system, and server configuration.

Read time: 13 min Game Server Setup
unturnedgame serversteamcmddedicated serverrocket mod
Author
REXE Teknoloji Network & Security Team
Editor
REXE Teknoloji Technical Editorial
First published
Last updated

Introduction

Unturned is a free-to-play open-world survival game with a zombie theme. By setting up your own dedicated server, you can play with friends or build a community. This guide covers the complete Unturned dedicated server setup on your REXE VDS, including Rocket mod framework integration and server configuration.

System Requirements

ResourceMinimumRecommended
CPU2 Cores4+ Cores
RAM4 GB8+ GB
Disk10 GB SSD20+ GB NVMe
OSUbuntu 22.04+Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Bandwidth3 Mbps5+ Mbps

Prerequisites

hljs bash
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 lib32stdc++6 wget tar screen unzip

Create a server user:

hljs bash
sudo adduser unturned --disabled-login --gecos ""
sudo su - unturned

SteamCMD Installation

hljs bash
mkdir -p ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd
wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
tar -xzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
rm steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
./steamcmd.sh +quit

Download Unturned Server Files

hljs bash
~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir ~/unturned-server \
  +login anonymous \
  +app_update 1110390 validate \
  +quit

App ID 1110390 is the Steam ID for Unturned Dedicated Server. The download is approximately 3-4 GB.

Server Configuration

Commands.dat File

The main server configuration file is Commands.dat:

hljs bash
mkdir -p ~/unturned-server/Servers/MyServer
nano ~/unturned-server/Servers/MyServer/Commands.dat

name REXE Unturned Server
port 27015
maxplayers 24
map PEI
perspective both
mode normal
pvp
owner STEAM_ID
welcome Welcome!
loadplugins

Key Commands Explained

CommandDescriptionExample
nameServer namename My Server
portGame portport 27015
maxplayersMaximum playersmaxplayers 24
mapMap namemap PEI
modeDifficulty (easy/normal/hard)mode normal
perspectiveCamera (first/third/both/vehicle)perspective both
pvp/pvePvP or PvE modepvp
passwordServer passwordpassword pass123
cycleDay/night cycle (seconds)cycle 3600
ownerServer owner Steam IDowner 76561198...

Popular Maps

MapSizeDescription
PEISmallStarter map, Prince Edward Island
WashingtonMediumUS Washington state
RussiaLargeRussia-themed large map
GermanyLargeGermany-themed map
GreeceMediumGreek islands
HawaiiMediumHawaiian islands

Port Configuration

PortProtocolUsage
27015UDPGame port
27016UDPQuery port

Firewall Rules

hljs bash
sudo ufw allow 27015/udp comment "Unturned Game"
sudo ufw allow 27016/udp comment "Unturned Query"

Path Panel Firewall

From the REXE Path Panel:

  1. Unturned UDP: Protocol: UDP, Port: 27015-27016

Starting the Server

Startup Script

hljs bash
nano ~/unturned-server/start.sh
hljs bash
#!/bin/bash
cd ~/unturned-server

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=~/unturned-server/linux64:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH

./Unturned_Headless.x86_64 \
  -nographics \
  -batchmode \
  +secureserver/MyServer
hljs bash
chmod +x ~/unturned-server/start.sh

Running with Screen

hljs bash
screen -S unturned
~/unturned-server/start.sh

Auto-Start with systemd

hljs bash
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/unturned.service
hljs ini
[Unit]
Description=Unturned Dedicated Server
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=unturned
Group=unturned
WorkingDirectory=/home/unturned/unturned-server
Environment=LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/home/unturned/unturned-server/linux64
ExecStart=/home/unturned/unturned-server/Unturned_Headless.x86_64 -nographics -batchmode +secureserver/MyServer
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=15

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
hljs bash
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable unturned
sudo systemctl start unturned

Rocket Mod Framework

Rocket (LDM - Legally Distinct Missile) is the most popular mod framework for Unturned servers:

Installation

hljs bash
cd ~/unturned-server
mkdir -p Modules
cd Modules

wget https://github.com/SmartlyDressedGames/Legally-Distinct-Missile/releases/latest/download/Rocket.Unturned.zip
unzip Rocket.Unturned.zip -d Rocket.Unturned
rm Rocket.Unturned.zip

Rocket Configuration

Start and stop the server once, then edit the configuration:

hljs bash
nano ~/unturned-server/Servers/MyServer/Rocket/Rocket.Unturned.config.xml
hljs xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RocketConfiguration>
  <RCON Enabled="true" Port="27014" Password="RCON_PASSWORD" />
  <AutomaticSave Enabled="true" Interval="300" />
  <MaxFrames>60</MaxFrames>
</RocketConfiguration>

Popular Rocket Plugins

PluginDescription
KitsKit distribution system
TPAPlayer-to-player teleportation
HomeHome point system
WarpWarp point creation
ShopIn-game shop system
VaultSecure storage

Plugin installation:

hljs bash
cp PluginName.dll ~/unturned-server/Servers/MyServer/Rocket/Plugins/

Workshop Mod Support

Add Steam Workshop mods by editing WorkshopDownloadConfig.json:

hljs bash
nano ~/unturned-server/Servers/MyServer/WorkshopDownloadConfig.json
hljs json
{
  "File_IDs": [
    123456789,
    987654321,
    111222333
  ]
}

Get Workshop mod IDs from the URL on the Steam Workshop page.

Permission System

Adding Admins

Edit the Rocket permissions file:

hljs bash
nano ~/unturned-server/Servers/MyServer/Rocket/Permissions.config.xml
hljs xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RocketPermissions>
  <DefaultGroup>default</DefaultGroup>
  <Groups>
    <Group>
      <Id>admin</Id>
      <DisplayName>Admin</DisplayName>
      <Prefix>[Admin]</Prefix>
      <Color>Red</Color>
      <Members>
        <Member>76561198XXXXXXXXX</Member>
      </Members>
      <Permissions>
        <Permission>*</Permission>
      </Permissions>
    </Group>
    <Group>
      <Id>default</Id>
      <DisplayName>Player</DisplayName>
      <Prefix></Prefix>
      <Color>White</Color>
      <Members />
      <Permissions>
        <Permission>tpa</Permission>
        <Permission>home</Permission>
      </Permissions>
    </Group>
  </Groups>
</RocketPermissions>

Auto-Update and Backup

Update Script

hljs bash
nano ~/update_unturned.sh
hljs bash
#!/bin/bash
sudo systemctl stop unturned
~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir ~/unturned-server +login anonymous +app_update 1110390 +quit
sudo systemctl start unturned

Backup Script

hljs bash
nano ~/backup_unturned.sh
hljs bash
#!/bin/bash
BACKUP_DIR="/home/unturned/backups"
SERVER_DIR="/home/unturned/unturned-server/Servers/MyServer"
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)

mkdir -p $BACKUP_DIR
tar -czf $BACKUP_DIR/unturned_$DATE.tar.gz -C $SERVER_DIR .
find $BACKUP_DIR -name "unturned_*.tar.gz" -mtime +7 -delete
echo "$(date): Backup completed"
hljs bash
chmod +x ~/backup_unturned.sh
crontab -e
0 */4 * * * /home/unturned/backup_unturned.sh >> /home/unturned/backup.log 2>&1

Troubleshooting

Server won't start

hljs bash
tail -50 ~/unturned-server/Servers/MyServer/Logs/Server.log
sudo ss -tulnp | grep -E '27015|27016'

Rocket plugins not working

hljs bash
tail -50 ~/unturned-server/Servers/MyServer/Rocket/Logs/Rocket.log

Conclusion

Unturned dedicated server setup can be completed quickly with SteamCMD. With Rocket mod framework for plugin support, Workshop mods, and a detailed permission system, you can provide a professional server experience. REXE VDS reliable infrastructure provides ideal performance for your Unturned server.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Unturned server free?

Yes, Unturned and the dedicated server software are completely free. You only need to pay for server hosting.

How do I install Rocket mod framework?

Download the Rocket module from GitHub and extract it to the Modules folder. Configuration files are automatically created on first server start.

How do I add Workshop mods?

Add mod IDs to the WorkshopDownloadConfig.json file. Mods are automatically downloaded when the server starts.

Which map should I choose?

PEI is recommended for beginners. For larger servers, Washington or Russia maps are suitable.

How do I add admins to the server?

Add Steam IDs to the admin group in Rocket's Permissions.config.xml file, or use the owner command in Commands.dat.

How much RAM does an Unturned server use?

A basic server uses 2-3 GB RAM. Depending on mods and plugins, 4-8 GB is recommended.

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