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Game server guide

Set up and manage your game server: free custom subdomains, the game panel, SFTP file access, and setup notes for Minecraft, Palworld, Rust, Valheim, CS2 and Hytale.

Game Hosting Overview

Piedmont game servers run on hardware we own and operate in Durham, NC. Manage yours from your Piedmont dashboard — live status, start/stop/restart, console, backups and restart schedules — or in the full Pterodactyl game panel. Every server includes SFTP access. Setup usually takes a few minutes, and the first install of a larger game such as Rust or CS2 can take up to 15 minutes. We email you once the server has actually started — except Hytale, which finishes setting up after its one-time sign-in.

Supported Games

All Plans Include

• Live status, start/stop/restart and a console in your Piedmont dashboard
• On-demand backups you can download or restore yourself
• Scheduled restarts
• Full Pterodactyl panel access (console, files, startup settings, backups, schedules)
• SFTP file access for direct file management
• Free custom subdomain (e.g., my-server.piedmonthosting.com)
• RAM, CPU and storage limits sized to your plan
• Automated 24/7 monitoring of the game platform, with a public status page

Managing Your Server in the Dashboard

Your game service in the Piedmont dashboard has these tabs:

Custom Subdomains

Every game server can have a free custom subdomain like my-server.piedmonthosting.com. This gives your server a memorable, branded address instead of a raw IP and port number.

How It Works

During checkout, you can choose an optional subdomain for your server. A DNS record is automatically created pointing your subdomain to the game server. Each server gets its own port from its game's range, so your port may differ from the examples below — your exact address is on the service's Overview tab.

Subdomain Rules

• 3-32 characters, lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens
• Cannot start or end with a hyphen
• No consecutive hyphens (e.g., my--server)
• Reserved names are blocked (www, mail, api, admin, etc.)
• Must be unique across all Piedmont Hosting customers

Setting Up

1. 1
   On the game checkout page, enter your desired subdomain in the Custom Subdomain field.
2. 2
   The system checks availability in real time — a green checkmark confirms it's available.
3. 3
   Complete checkout. Your subdomain DNS records are created automatically during provisioning.
4. 4
   Share the address with your players. Your subdomain and server address are on the service's Overview tab.

Pterodactyl Panel

Everyday tasks are in your Piedmont dashboard, but every game server can also be managed in the Pterodactyl panel at game.piedmonthosting.com — that's where you edit files and change startup settings. Your panel login is your email address and a generated password, sent once in the server-ready email for your first game server — keep that email. Later game servers use the same panel account, and you can change the password after you sign in.

Panel Features

• Console — Real-time server console with command input
• File Manager — Browse, edit, upload, and download server files in your browser
• Schedules — Set up automated tasks like restarts, backups, and custom commands
• Backups — The same backups as the Backups tab in your dashboard
• Network — View your server's IP address and port allocation
• Startup — Configure startup parameters and server variables
• Settings — SFTP details, server name and description
• Activity — Server event log

Accessing the Panel

1. 1
   Open your game service in the Piedmont dashboard.
2. 2
   On the Overview tab, click Open Game Panel (or Panel Dashboard).
3. 3
   Sign in with your email address and the panel password from your server-ready email.
4. 4
   Your server appears on the panel dashboard.

SFTP File Access

Every game server includes SFTP access for direct file management. This is useful for uploading mods, plugins, world files, or custom configurations.

Connecting via SFTP

Use any SFTP client (FileZilla, WinSCP, Cyberduck) with these settings:

Minecraft

Choose Java Edition or Bedrock Edition at checkout. Java servers run Paper (new servers currently get Minecraft 26.1.2 on Java 25), which supports Bukkit, Spigot and Paper plugins. Bedrock servers run Mojang's official Bedrock Dedicated Server, which doesn't support plugins. A Java server can also let Bedrock players join with GeyserMC (see below).

Plans

The plan cards show Java Edition. On Bedrock Edition, Standard has 4 GB of RAM instead of 6 GB.

Getting Connected

After your server is provisioned, connect from Minecraft:

1. 1
   Find your server address on your service's Overview tab (it's also in your server-ready email).
2. 2
   Java Edition: go to Multiplayer > Add Server and enter your subdomain (e.g., my-server.piedmonthosting.com) — no port needed — or the server address from the Overview tab.
3. 3
   Bedrock Edition: go to Play > Servers > Add Server. Enter your subdomain (or the IP address from the Overview tab) as the Server Address, and your server's port — the number after the colon in your address — in the Port field.
4. 4
   Save the server and join.

Installing Plugins (Java Edition)

Java servers run Paper, which supports Bukkit, Spigot and Paper plugins:

1. 1
   Download your desired plugin (.jar file) from a trusted source like SpigotMC, Modrinth, or Hangar. Make sure it supports your server's Minecraft version.
2. 2
   Upload the .jar file to the /plugins folder via SFTP or the panel's File Manager.
3. 3
   Restart your server from the Overview tab in your dashboard (or the panel).
4. 4
   The plugin will generate its config files in /plugins/PluginName/ which you can edit.

Installing Mods (Java Edition)

Paper runs plugins, not mods. To run Fabric mods instead (take a backup first):

1. 1
   Download the Fabric server launcher .jar for the Minecraft version your mods need and upload it to the server's root folder.
2. 2
   On the panel's Startup tab, set Server Jar File to that file's name.
3. 3
   Upload your mods to the /mods folder and restart the server. Every player needs the same mods and versions.

Server Configuration

Key configuration files on a Java server:

Bedrock servers use server.properties, permissions.json and allowlist.json. New Bedrock servers start with the allowlist off, so anyone with your address can join. To limit it to people you choose, run allowlist on in the console and add players with allowlist add PlayerName.

Palworld

Host your Palworld dedicated server with auto-saves and admin commands from the console.

Plans

Getting Connected

1. 1
   Find your server address on your service's Overview tab (subdomain or IP:PORT).
2. 2
   In Palworld, select Join Multiplayer Game and go to the Community Servers tab.
3. 3
   Click Connect by IP at the bottom and enter your server address (e.g., my-server.piedmonthosting.com:8211).
4. 4
   If you set a server password, enter it when prompted.

Server Configuration

Set the server name, join password, admin password, max players and base raids (bEnableInvaderEnemy) on the panel's Startup tab. They're written into PalWorldSettings.ini each time the server starts, so changing those keys in the file doesn't stick. Other settings — such as ExpRate and PalCaptureRate — go in Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini, which you can edit in the File Manager or over SFTP. Restart the server after a change.

Admin Commands & RCON

Type admin commands in the Console tab of your dashboard or the panel console — they're sent to the server over RCON for you. RCON isn't reachable from outside your server, so external RCON tools can't connect. In game, use /AdminPassword with the admin password from your server-ready email (it's also on the Startup tab).

Installing Mods

Your server runs Palworld's Linux dedicated server, so check that a mod supports it before you install it. Upload mod files via SFTP or the File Manager, then restart the server. If players need the mod too, everyone must have the same version.

Rust

Host your Rust server with Oxide/uMod plugin support, custom maps, and admin commands from the console.

Plans

Getting Connected

1. 1
   Find your server address on your service's Overview tab (subdomain or IP:PORT).
2. 2
   In Rust, press F1 to open the console.
3. 3
   Type client.connect my-server.piedmonthosting.com:28015 (with your own address and port) and press Enter.

Installing Oxide/uMod Plugins

Rust servers start as vanilla. To use Oxide (uMod) plugins, set Modding Framework to oxide on the panel's Startup tab and restart — Oxide is downloaded when the server starts. Then:

1. 1
   Download plugins (.cs files) from umod.org.
2. 2
   Upload them to the /oxide/plugins folder via SFTP or the File Manager.
3. 3
   Plugins load automatically — no restart needed. Check the console for confirmation.
4. 4
   Configure plugins in /oxide/config/PluginName.json.

Custom Maps

To use a custom map:

1. 1
   Upload your .map file somewhere that gives a direct download link.
2. 2
   On the panel's Startup tab, paste that link into Custom Map URL.
3. 3
   Restart the server to download and load the map. (Level, World Size and World Seed on the same tab control procedural maps.)

Map Wipes

Schedules can send console commands, restart the server and create backups, but they can't delete files, so a wipe is a manual job:

1. 1
   Take a backup, then stop the server.
2. 2
   In the File Manager or over SFTP, open server/rust/ and delete the map and save files (the .map and .sav files). For a blueprint wipe, also delete the player.blueprints files.
3. 3
   For a new map, change World Seed on the panel's Startup tab.
4. 4
   Start the server.

Admin Commands

Run admin commands from the Console tab in your dashboard or the panel console — for example ownerid YOUR_STEAM_ID "YourName" followed by server.writecfg. External RCON tools such as RustAdmin can't connect, because the RCON port isn't opened for your server.

Valheim

Host your Valheim server for friends on PC and Xbox — crossplay is on by default.

Plans

Getting Connected

1. 1
   Open the Console tab for your server. Once the world has loaded, the log shows a join code.
2. 2
   In Valheim, choose your character, open Join Game, click Join Code and enter the code.
3. 3
   Enter the server password — it's the Server Password on the panel's Startup tab. Valheim passwords must be 5–20 characters and can't appear inside the server name or world name.

Custom World Seed

Valheim's dedicated server has no seed setting — a new world gets a random seed the first time the server starts. If you want a particular seed, or want to bring over a world you've already played, open a support ticket and we'll help you move it onto your server.

Installing Mods (BepInEx)

Modded (BepInEx) servers need a different startup command from the standard one — open a support ticket and we'll switch your server over. Most Valheim mods must also be installed by every player, which Xbox players can't do, so modded servers usually run with crossplay off.

Crossplay

Valheim crossplay (PC and Xbox) is on by default. While it's on, players join with the join code, and the server doesn't appear in the Steam server browser. New servers are also unlisted, so share the join code (or, with crossplay off, your address) with your players.

Counter-Strike 2

Host your CS2 server with custom configs and RCON on your game port. CS2 servers run Valve's fixed 64-tick with sub-tick updates — there's no 128-tick option in CS2.

Plans

Getting Connected

1. 1
   Find your server address on your service's Overview tab (subdomain or IP:PORT).
2. 2
   In CS2, enable the developer console in Settings → Game.
3. 3
   Press ~ (tilde key) to open the console.
4. 4
   Type connect my-server.piedmonthosting.com:27015 (with your own address and port) and press Enter.

Workshop Maps

Load custom maps from the Steam Workshop:

1. 1
   Copy the map's ID from its Steam Workshop URL (the number after ?id=).
2. 2
   In the Console tab, run host_workshop_map ID with that number. The server downloads the map and switches to it.
3. 3
   After a restart, the server starts on the map set as Map on the panel's Startup tab.

Server Configuration

Key configuration files, in game/csgo/cfg/:

Game Modes

Your server starts in Casual. To switch, set game_type and game_mode in the console and then change map — for example game_type 0; game_mode 1; changelevel de_dust2 for Competitive. The values (game_type / game_mode) are:

• Casual (0 / 0) — Relaxed rules, larger teams
• Competitive (0 / 1) — 5v5, standard competitive rules
• Wingman (0 / 2) — 2v2 competitive
• Deathmatch (1 / 2) — Free-for-all or team deathmatch

The server starts in Casual again after a restart — open a support ticket if you want a different default. CS2 plugins are built on Metamod:Source and CounterStrikeSharp; SourceMod doesn't support CS2.

Hytale

Host your Hytale server with mod and plugin support, custom worlds, and low-latency QUIC protocol.

Plans

First-Time Setup (Required)

Your Hytale server requires a one-time authentication process. Do these steps in the Console tab of your dashboard (or the panel console). After that, restarts are fully automatic.

1. 1
   Authorize Server File Download: When your server first starts, the console will display an authentication URL. Open it in your browser and sign in with your Hytale account to authorize the server file download (~3.4 GB). The server will boot automatically after the download completes.
2. 2
   Authenticate the Server: Once you see Hytale Server Booted! in the console, type /auth login device in the console. A new URL will appear — visit it and sign in again to authorize your server to accept player connections.
3. 3
   Save Credentials: Type /auth persistence Encrypted so you don't need to re-authenticate on every restart.

Getting Connected

After completing setup, players connect via the Hytale client:

1. 1
   Find your server address on your service's Overview tab (subdomain or IP:PORT).
2. 2
   In Hytale, navigate to the Multiplayer menu.
3. 3
   Enter the server address (e.g., my-server.piedmonthosting.com:5520) and connect.

Mod & Plugin Support

Hytale supports both mods and plugins. Upload them via SFTP or the File Manager to the appropriate directories, then restart your server.

Custom Worlds

Create and load custom worlds through the server configuration. The Premium plan has the most memory and CPU, for heavier modpacks.