How to Create a Hytale Server Guide

Creating a Hytale game server is an easy process that can be done from either a dedicated server or your home computer. Alternatively, you can choose a Hytale server host that will fit your needs.

Option #1: Renting a Hytale server (see example control panel below!)

Renting from a professional game server provider is the fastest and easiest way to get online. Survival Servers handles hardware, network, DDoS protection, and updates for you.

With a rented Hytale server from Survival Servers you get:

• Custom control panel (start/stop/restart, config editor, backups)
• High-clock dedicated hardware (no VPS)
• NVMe SSD storage
• DDoS protection configured for UDP/QUIC traffic
• Full FTP / SFTP file access
• Multiple worldwide locations and the ability to switch locations at any time

Option #2: Creating a Hytale Server From Your Home Computer or Dedicated Server

This option is for advanced users who want to host Hytale directly on their own hardware.

Server Requirements

Software

• Java: OpenJDK 25 (64-bit) or equivalent. Java must be installed and on your PATH.
• Operating System:
  • Linux (modern 64-bit distribution recommended for dedicated servers)
  • Windows 10/11 64-bit
  • macOS support may be added later

Hardware (starting points)

Component	Small Private Server	Public/Modded Server
CPU	Modern 64-bit quad-core	6+ cores recommended
RAM	4-6 GB dedicated to server	6-10 GB dedicated to server
Storage	10-20 GB (SSD recommended)	20+ GB NVMe SSD

Networking

Important: Hytale uses QUIC over UDP for networking, not TCP.

• Ensure your firewall/router permits UDP traffic on the server port
• DDoS protection services must be configured to support UDP/QUIC traffic

Step 1: Getting the Server Files

When available, obtain HytaleServer.jar via:

1. Hytale Launcher - option to download the dedicated server
2. hytale-downloader CLI tool - command-line utility from the Hytale team
3. Direct CDN link - download URL provided in official documentation

Example download (placeholder URL):

curl -L https://cdn.hytale.com/HytaleServer.jar -o HytaleServer.jar

Step 2: First Launch

1. Verify Java 25 is installed:

java -version

You should see openjdk version "25.x" or similar.

1. Create a server directory:

mkdir hytale-server
cd hytale-server

1. Download HytaleServer.jar to this directory.

1. Run the server:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar

The server will:

• Generate default configuration files
• Bind to the default port
• Create an initial world

1. Stop the server (Ctrl+C), edit configuration files, then restart.

Step 3: Memory (RAM) Configuration

Allocate memory using JVM flags:

• -Xms - initial heap size
• -Xmx - maximum heap size

Tip: Keep -Xms and -Xmx equal for more predictable performance.

Plan RAM	Command
4 GB	java -Xms3G -Xmx3G -jar HytaleServer.jar
6 GB	java -Xms5G -Xmx5G -jar HytaleServer.jar
8 GB	java -Xms7G -Xmx7G -jar HytaleServer.jar

Reserve approximately 1 GB for OS overhead.

Start Script Examples

Windows (.bat file)

Create StartHytaleServer.bat:

@echo off
java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar HytaleServer.jar
pause

Linux (.sh file)

Create start-hytale-server.sh:

#!/bin/bash
java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar HytaleServer.jar

Make executable: chmod +x start-hytale-server.sh

Step 4: Port Forwarding and Firewall Rules

Hytale uses QUIC (UDP) networking. You must allow UDP traffic on your game port.

Linux (ufw)

sudo ufw allow 3000/udp

(Replace 3000 with actual Hytale port when confirmed)

Windows Firewall

1. Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
2. Add Inbound Rule > Port > UDP > your port number > Allow

Router Port Forwarding

1. Find your server's local IP (e.g., 192.168.1.50)
2. Log into your router admin panel
3. Add port forwarding rule: UDP on your chosen port to your local IP
4. Share your public IP and port with players

If you are unsure how to port forward, PortForward.com has guides for many router models.

Step 5: Running in Docker

The Hytale team has confirmed Docker container support.

Quick Test

docker run -it --rm openjdk:25-slim /bin/sh -c \
  "apt-get update && apt-get install -y curl && \
   curl -L https://cdn.hytale.com/HytaleServer.jar -o HytaleServer.jar && \
   java -jar HytaleServer.jar"

Production Dockerfile

FROM openjdk:25-slim

RUN apt-get update && \
    apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends curl ca-certificates && \
    rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*

RUN useradd -m -d /hytale hytale
USER hytale
WORKDIR /hytale

EXPOSE 3000/udp
VOLUME ["/hytale/data"]

ENTRYPOINT ["java"]
CMD ["-Xms2G", "-Xmx2G", "-jar", "HytaleServer.jar"]

Expected File Layout

After first run, typical structure:

hytale-server/
├─ HytaleServer.jar
├─ server.log
├─ config/
│  ├─ server.properties
│  ├─ networking.json
│  └─ gameplay.json
└─ worlds/
   └─ Orbis/
      ├─ region/
      ├─ playerdata/
      └─ level.dat

Edit config files while server is stopped, then restart to apply changes.

Configuring your Hytale Game Server

Configuration options you can expect to set:

• Server name / MOTD (how the server appears to players)
• Maximum players
• World seed and world settings
• Difficulty and gameplay rules
• Password protection
• Logging, backups, and performance settings

Survival Servers customers can edit most of these options directly via the web control panel.

Locating and Joining your Server

Direct IP

1. Start the Hytale client
2. Select the option to join by IP / direct connect
3. Enter your server's IP address and port
4. Connect

Server Browser (after implemented)

1. Open the in-game server browser
2. Search or filter by name, tags, or region
3. Click to join

If you cannot connect:

• Verify the server is running (check console for errors)
• Double-check your IP/hostname and port
• Ensure firewall and port-forwarding rules allow UDP traffic
• Have someone on a different network test to rule out local issues

Quick Reference

Task	Command
Minimal run	java -jar HytaleServer.jar
Run with 4GB RAM	java -Xms3G -Xmx3G -jar HytaleServer.jar
Show help/options	java -jar HytaleServer.jar --help

Tools

Hytale is being built with powerful creator tools:

• In-game world editing and prefabs for fast building and world design
• A Blockbench plugin for creating and animating models
• Server-side modding via plugins and asset packs
• Official documentation and examples planned by the Hytale team

See Also

• Official Hytale Website
• Rent a Hytale Server