Hosting a Raft Server – A Comprehensive Guide for Devs

Welcome, Devs, to our comprehensive guide on how to host a Raft server. Raft is a popular multiplayer survival game, and hosting your server can improve your gaming experience. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process step-by-step and provide you with all the necessary information to host your Raft server smoothly. Let’s get started!

What is Raft?

Raft is a survival game where you are lost in the middle of an endless ocean, and you have to survive with only a hook and a raft. As you progress through the game, you can build a base, gather resources, and craft weapons and tools to defend yourself against sharks and other sea creatures. The game is more fun when played with friends, and that’s where hosting your Raft server comes in handy.

The Benefits of Hosting Your Raft Server

Hosting your Raft server allows you to customize your gameplay, invite your friends, and play without any lag or interruptions. When you host your server, you have control over the game’s settings, such as the difficulty level, resource availability, and enemy strength. You can also manage the players who join your server and make sure your gameplay is safe and enjoyable.

Prerequisites for Hosting a Raft Server

Before we begin, let’s go over the prerequisites for hosting your Raft server:

Step-by-Step Guide to Host a Raft Server

Step 1: Install the Server Hosting Software

The first step in hosting your Raft server is to install the server hosting software. For this guide, we’ll be using SteamCMD, which is a command-line interface for Steam.

Here’s how to install SteamCMD:

1. Go to the SteamCMD website and download the software.
2. Extract the downloaded file to a new folder on your computer.
3. Open the extracted folder and run the steamcmd.exe file.
4. Enter the following command to log in to your Steam account:

login anonymous

5. Enter the following command to download the Raft server files:

app_update 346110 validate

6. Wait for the download to complete.

Step 2: Configure the Server Settings

After downloading the server files, it’s time to configure the server settings. You can customize various aspects of your server, such as the server name, difficulty level, and resource availability.

To configure the server settings, follow these steps:

1. Open the server files folder and find the serverconfig file.
2. Open the serverconfig file in a text editor, such as Notepad.
3. Edit the settings to your liking. Here are some of the commonly edited settings:
• hostname – the name of your server.
• maxplayers – the maximum number of players who can join your server.
• difficulty – the difficulty level of the game.
• worldsize – the size of the game world.
• landsize – the size of the land area.
• raftspeed – the speed of your raft.
4. Save the file.

Step 3: Run the Server

Now that you’ve configured the server settings, it’s time to run the server. Here’s how to run the server:

1. Open SteamCMD.
2. Enter the following command to navigate to the server files folder:

cd <server files folder>

3. Enter the following command to start the server:

raft_Server.exe

4. Wait for the server to start. You can check the server logs for any errors or warnings.

Step 4: Invite Your Friends

After successfully hosting your Raft server, it’s time to invite your friends to play with you.

To invite your friends, follow these steps:

1. Share your server IP address with your friends. They can find the IP address by opening the serverconfig file and looking for the serverip setting.
2. Ask your friends to open the Raft game and go to the multiplayer menu.
3. Enter the server IP address and click on join.
4. Wait for your friends to join the server.

FAQ

Q. Can I host a Raft server on my own computer?

A. Yes, you can host a Raft server on your own computer. However, it’s recommended to use a dedicated server or VPS to ensure better performance and stability.

Q. How many players can join my Raft server?

A. The maximum number of players who can join your Raft server depends on your server settings. You can set the maximum number of players in the serverconfig file.

Q. Can I customize the Raft game settings on my server?

A. Yes, you can customize various aspects of the Raft game, such as the difficulty level, resource availability, and enemy strength, on your server. You can edit the settings in the serverconfig file.

Q. How much does it cost to host a Raft server?

A. The cost of hosting a Raft server depends on the hosting provider and the server specifications. You can find hosting providers that offer Raft server hosting for as low as $5 per month.

Q. Are there any mods available for Raft servers?

A. Yes, there are several mods available for Raft servers that offer new gameplay mechanics, items, and features. You can find and install mods from the Steam Workshop.

Conclusion

Hosting your Raft server can improve your gaming experience and allow you to play with your friends without any lag or interruptions. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily host your Raft server and start playing with your friends. We hope you found this guide useful and informative. Happy gaming!