Hello Dev! Welcome to our ultimate guide to Valheim server hosting on Raspberry Pi. In this article, we will walk you through all the steps necessary to set up your own Valheim server on a Raspberry Pi, including hardware and software requirements, installation, configuration, and troubleshooting. By the end of this guide, you will have a fully functional Valheim server that you can access from anywhere and play with your friends. So, let’s get started!
Hardware Requirements
The first thing you need to consider before setting up your Valheim server on Raspberry Pi is the hardware requirements. Here are the minimum hardware specifications that you should have:
Hardware |
Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
Raspberry Pi Model |
3B+ or higher |
RAM |
4GB or higher |
Storage |
16GB or higher microSD card |
Network |
Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi dongle |
It is important to note that these are the minimum requirements, and you may need a more powerful Raspberry Pi model with higher RAM and storage if you plan to host a large Valheim server with many players. You should also make sure that your Raspberry Pi is running the latest version of Raspbian operating system.
Software Requirements
Once you have the hardware requirements sorted, the next thing you need to do is install the necessary software on your Raspberry Pi. Here are the software requirements:
- Raspbian operating system
- Valheim server software
- SteamCMD (Steam Console Client)
- OpenSSH server
- Firewall (ufw)
These software packages can be installed using the terminal on your Raspberry Pi. We will explain the installation process in the next section.
Installation
Before starting the installation process, make sure your Raspberry Pi is connected to the internet and has enough storage space on the microSD card.
Step 1: Install Raspbian Operating System
The first step is to install Raspbian operating system on your Raspberry Pi. You can download the latest version of Raspbian from the Raspberry Pi website, and then use a tool like Etcher to flash the image onto the microSD card. Insert the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi and power it on to boot into Raspbian.
Step 2: Install Valheim Server Software
The next step is to download and install the Valheim server software on your Raspberry Pi. You can download the server files from the official Valheim website. Once downloaded, extract the files and copy them to a directory on your Raspberry Pi. You may want to create a separate user for the Valheim server for security reasons.
Step 3: Install SteamCMD
To download and update the Valheim server software, you need to have SteamCMD (Steam Console Client) installed on your Raspberry Pi. You can install SteamCMD by running the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt-get install steamcmdStep 4: Install OpenSSH Server
OpenSSH server allows you to remotely access your Raspberry Pi using SSH (Secure Shell) protocol. You can install OpenSSH server by running the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt-get install openssh-serverStep 5: Configure Firewall
Finally, you need to configure the firewall on your Raspberry Pi to allow incoming traffic on the Valheim server port (2456 UDP). You can use the ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall) tool to configure the firewall by running the following commands in the terminal:
sudo ufw allow 22/tcpsudo ufw allow 2456/udpsudo ufw enableNow, your Raspberry Pi is ready to host the Valheim server.
Configuration
Once you have installed the necessary software and configured the firewall, the next step is to configure the Valheim server.
Step 1: Create a Steam Account and Login
If you don’t have a Steam account already, you need to create one from the official Steam website. Then, login to the Steam account on your Raspberry Pi using the SteamCMD tool by running the following command:
steamcmd +login <username> <password>Replace <username> and <password> with your Steam account credentials.
Step 2: Download and Update Valheim Server Software
Once you are logged in to the Steam account, you can download and update the Valheim server software by running the following commands:
app_update 896660 validatequitThis will update the Valheim server to the latest version and validate the files.
Step 3: Configure Valheim Server Settings
Next, you need to configure the Valheim server settings by editing the configuration file located at /home/<username>/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/server_name/worlds/<world_name>.fwl. You can use a text editor like nano to edit the file.
The configuration file contains various settings such as server name, password, world seed, difficulty, and more. You can customize these settings according to your preferences. Make sure to save the changes before exiting the editor.
Step 4: Start the Valheim Server
Finally, you can start the Valheim server by running the following command in the terminal:
./valheim_server.x86_64 -name <server_name> -password <password> -world <world_name> -port 2456 -nographicsReplace <server_name>, <password>, and <world_name> with the appropriate values that you have configured in the previous steps. The -nographics option disables the graphical interface of the Valheim server, which is not necessary for a headless Raspberry Pi server.
Now, your Valheim server is up and running on your Raspberry Pi.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter any issues during the installation or configuration process, here are some troubleshooting tips that may help:
Issue: SteamCMD Not Installing
Solution: Make sure your Raspberry Pi is connected to the internet and try running the installation command again.
Issue: Valheim Server Not Starting
Solution: Make sure you have configured the server settings correctly, and you are running the server command with the appropriate options. You can also check the server logs for any error messages.
Issue: Firewall Blocking Incoming Traffic
Solution: Make sure you have enabled the firewall and allowed incoming traffic on the Valheim server port (2456 UDP). You can check the firewall status by running the following command:
sudo ufw statusFAQ
Q: Can I host a Valheim server on Raspberry Pi Zero?
A: No, Raspberry Pi Zero does not have enough processing power and RAM to handle a Valheim server. You need at least Raspberry Pi 3B+ or higher.
Q: How many players can join a Valheim server hosted on Raspberry Pi?
A: The number of players that can join a Valheim server hosted on Raspberry Pi depends on the hardware specifications of your Raspberry Pi, the network bandwidth, and the server settings. A Raspberry Pi 3B+ with 4GB RAM can comfortably host up to 4-6 players, while a more powerful Raspberry Pi model with higher RAM and storage can host more players.
Q: Can I run other services on my Raspberry Pi along with the Valheim server?
A: Yes, you can run other services on your Raspberry Pi along with the Valheim server, as long as they do not interfere with the server performance and network bandwidth. However, it is recommended to dedicate a separate Raspberry Pi for the Valheim server for better performance and stability.
Q: Do I need a dedicated IP address to host a Valheim server on Raspberry Pi?
A: No, you do not need a dedicated IP address to host a Valheim server on Raspberry Pi. You can use a dynamic IP address or a domain name to access your server from anywhere.
That’s it, Dev! We hope this ultimate guide to Valheim server hosting on Raspberry Pi was helpful for you. Happy gaming!