How to Setup and Configure a Dedicated Terraria Server (Vanilla & TShock)

#The Benefits of a Dedicated Terraria Server

Terraria is one of the most engaging sandbox exploration games ever created. However, playing via Steam peer-to-peer means that if the host closes their game or experiences an internet drop, all connected friends are immediately kicked out.

A dedicated server running on CoalByte Cloud keeps your Terraria world persistent 24/7. Friends can join, build, and progress independently whenever they want, with low network ping and DDoS mitigation.

1. Choosing Your Server Type

When creating your instance on CoalByte, you can choose between:

1. Vanilla Dedicated Server: The purest official Terraria experience. Ideal for private play with close friends.
2. TShock: The premier multiplayer management framework. Adds user accounts, permission groups, region protection, anti-cheat checks, and administrative commands.
3. tModLoader: The dedicated server for large content mods like Calamity, Thorium, or Fargo's Souls.

2. Configuring serverconfig.txt

For Vanilla and tModLoader servers, configuration is handled via serverconfig.txt in your root directory. Open it in the CoalByte File Manager:

# World file location
world=/home/container/saves/Worlds/CoalByteWorld.wld

# Auto-create a new world if one does not exist
autocreate=3

# 1 = Small (4200x1200), 2 = Medium (6400x1800), 3 = Large (8400x2400)
worldsize=2

# 0 = Classic, 1 = Expert, 2 = Master, 3 = Journey
difficulty=2

# Maximum player slots
maxplayers=8

# Port (default is 7777)
port=7777

# Set a password for private community play
password=YourSecretPassword

# World name displayed in server list
worldname=CoalByte Adventure World

# Custom seed (leave blank for random)
seed=for the worthy

# Auto-save interval in minutes (essential to protect boss progression)
autosave=10

# Message of the Day
motd=Welcome to our 24/7 Terraria server!

3. Advanced Administration with TShock

If you run TShock, configuration is managed in tshock/config.json:

• Admin Setup: On your very first boot, watch the CoalByte Live Console. TShock will output a one-time setup code (e.g. 784920). In-game, type /setup 784920 to register yourself as super-admin.
• Spawn Protection: Protect your starter houses from accidental boss summons or dynamite explosions using:

  /protectspawn

• User Groups: Create permissions for trusted builders or guests using the /group and /user commands.

4. Automated Cloud Backups

Terraria world files (.wld) can occasionally corrupt if an abrupt server shutdown occurs during world saving.

On CoalByte, you can schedule automated snapshots in the Backups tab of your dashboard. Set backups to run every 12 or 24 hours so you can roll back your world with a single click if disaster strikes.