Hytale Server Hosting Guide

1. System Requirements

Before setting up your Hytale server, ensure your system meets these minimum requirements:

2. Server Installation

2.1 Download Server Files

Hytale uses the official hytale-downloader tool to download and update server files.

hytale-downloader.exe

./hytale-downloader

2.2 Directory Structure

After downloading, your server directory should look like this:

hytale-server/
├── assets.zip          ← Game assets (extract here)
├── server/
│   ├── config/         ← Server configuration files
│   ├── worlds/         ← World save data
│   └── mods/           ← Server-side mods
├── hytale-server.exe   ← Server executable (Windows)
└── hytale-server       ← Server executable (Linux)

2.3 Key Paths

Launcher install path (Windows):

C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Hytale\install

Pre-release version path:

...\install\pre-release\package\game\latest

3. Port Forwarding (UDP 5520)

Port forwarding allows players outside your local network to connect to your server. Hytale uses UDP port 5520 by default.

3.1 General Steps

1. 1Find your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
2. 2Log in to your router admin panel in a web browser
3. 3Navigate to Port Forwarding / NAT / Virtual Server settings
4. 4Add a new rule: Protocol = UDP, Port = 5520, IP = Your server's local IP
5. 5Save and apply the changes

3.2 Find Your Local IP

ipconfig

ip addr show

3.3 Verify Port Status

After configuring port forwarding, verify that the port is open using our diagnostic tool or online port checkers.

4. Firewall Configuration

Even with port forwarding, your system's firewall may block incoming connections. You need to allow UDP port 5520.

4.1 Windows Firewall

1. 1. Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
2. 2. Click Inbound Rules → New Rule...
3. 3. Select Port → Next
4. 4. Select UDP, enter 5520 → Next
5. 5. Select Allow the connection → Next
6. 6. Check all profiles (Domain, Private, Public) → Next
7. 7. Name it "Hytale Server" → Finish

Or use PowerShell (Run as Administrator):

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Hytale Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 5520 -Action Allow

4.2 Linux Firewall (ufw)

sudo ufw allow 5520/udp
sudo ufw reload

4.3 Linux Firewall (iptables)

sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 5520 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables-save > /etc/iptables/rules.v4

5. Performance Optimization

5.1 MaxViewRadius

The MaxViewRadius setting controls how far players can see. Higher values increase immersion but require significantly more RAM and CPU.

5.2 RAM Allocation

The RAM formula based on community testing:

For example: 20 players with view radius 36 ≈ 4 + 20 × (0.5 + 1 × 0.5) = 4 + 20 = 24 GB

6. Server Updates & Maintenance

6.1 Safe Update Process

1. 1Stop the server using the stop command in console
2. 2Backup your server/ folder (especially worlds and config)
3. 3Run the downloader to fetch new files
4. 4Extract and overwrite assets.zip and server files
5. 5Restart the server

6.2 Switching to Pre-release

To test experimental features, you can switch to the pre-release branch:

hytale-downloader -patchline pre-release

6.3 CLI Parameters Reference

7. Troubleshooting