Aller au contenu principal

How to Host an Arma Reforger Dedicated Server

Running your own Arma Reforger dedicated server gives your community full control over scenarios, mods, and player slots. This guide covers everything from hardware requirements to configuration and ongoing maintenance.

Hardware Requirements​

Arma Reforger runs on the Enfusion engine, which is more optimized than the Real Virtuality engine from Arma 3 but still demands serious resources. Plan your hardware based on player count.

Minimum Specifications​

  • CPU: 4 cores at 3.0 GHz or higher
  • RAM: 8 GB for up to 32 players
  • Storage: 10 GB SSD (NVMe recommended)
  • Network: 100 Mbps with low latency
  • CPU: 6 cores at 3.5 GHz or higher
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 20 GB NVMe SSD
  • Network: 1 Gbps dedicated

Performance scales directly with player count and mod complexity. Heavily modded scenarios with destruction and many AI units will push CPU utilization significantly higher.

Network and Port Configuration​

Arma Reforger uses specific ports that must be forwarded through your router or firewall.

Required Ports​

PortProtocolPurpose
2001UDPGame traffic (default)
17777UDPSteam A2S query

If you plan to run RCON (Remote Console) for server administration, you will need an additional UDP port of your choosing.

Firewall Rules​

On Linux, allow the required ports through UFW:

sudo ufw allow 2001/udp
sudo ufw allow 17777/udp

On Windows, create inbound rules for both UDP ports through Windows Defender Firewall.

Installing the Server via SteamCMD​

The Arma Reforger dedicated server is distributed through Steam as a separate application.

Step 1: Install SteamCMD​

Download SteamCMD from the official Valve developer site and extract it to a directory such as /opt/steamcmd on Linux or C:\SteamCMD on Windows.

Step 2: Download the Server Files​

Run SteamCMD and install the Arma Reforger Server using App ID 1874900:

./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir /opt/arma-reforger-server +login anonymous +app_update 1874900 validate +quit

The server files do not require a paid Steam account to download.

Step 3: Create a Configuration File​

Arma Reforger uses a JSON configuration file. Create server.json in your server directory:

{
  "bindAddress": "0.0.0.0",
  "bindPort": 2001,
  "publicAddress": "YOUR_PUBLIC_IP",
  "publicPort": 2001,
  "a2s": {
    "address": "0.0.0.0",
    "port": 17777
  },
  "game": {
    "name": "My Reforger Server",
    "password": "",
    "scenarioId": "{ECC61978EDCC2B5A}Missions/23_Campaign.conf",
    "maxPlayers": 64,
    "visible": true,
    "crossPlatform": true
  }
}

Change the scenarioId to match your desired game mode. Common values include Conflict, Game Master, and community-created scenarios.

Step 4: Launch the Server​

Start the server with:

./ArmaReforgerServer -config server.json

The server should appear in the Arma Reforger server browser within a few minutes.

Mod Support and Workshop​

Arma Reforger supports server-side mods through the Workshop. Add mod entries to your configuration file under the mods array, specifying each mod's ID and name. Players connecting to a modded server will be prompted to download the required content automatically.

Cross-platform mod support arrived with Update 1.4 in May 2025, meaning your modded server can accept connections from PC, Xbox, and PlayStation players simultaneously.

Performance Tuning​

Tick Rate​

Higher tick rates improve hit registration and vehicle physics at the cost of CPU usage. For competitive or milsim gameplay, aim for a tick rate of 30 or higher.

AI Density​

Game Master scenarios with many AI units are the heaviest workload. Monitor CPU usage and reduce AI count if server performance drops below acceptable frame times.

Regular Updates​

Keep your server files current with SteamCMD. Bohemia pushes frequent hotfixes, and version mismatches will prevent players from connecting.

Summary​

Setting up an Arma Reforger dedicated server requires modest technical knowledge and hardware that matches your target player count. The key steps are installing SteamCMD, downloading App ID 1874900, configuring your server.json, forwarding UDP ports 2001 and 17777, and keeping the server updated. Once running, you have complete control over scenarios, mods, and who joins your battlefield.