Self-Hosting vs Renting a Soulmask Server: Which Is Better?

For most small Soulmask communities that expect players to connect at any time, renting a managed server is the simpler choice. The provider supplies the always-on machine and network environment, while you focus on configuration and play. Self-hosting is worthwhile when you already have a dependable computer, at least 16 GB of memory (24 GB or more is safer), fast storage, a reachable internet connection and time for updates, backups and troubleshooting. The decision is therefore less about a universal “best” option than about whether you want maximum control or minimum server administration.

Is it better to host a Soulmask server or rent one?

Renting reduces the hardware, connectivity and maintenance work. Self-hosting gives you direct control over the files, launch arguments, save locations and configuration, but you become responsible for every operational detail.

Decision axis	Self-hosting	Renting a managed server
Up-front cost	Uses existing hardware if it is suitable; buying a machine, memory or storage can be expensive.	Normally a recurring plan charge. A current total depends on region, resources and provider terms.
Control	Direct access to server files, launch arguments, saves and configuration.	Access depends on the provider panel and whether file, console or RCON access is included.
Uptime	Depends on the host computer, electricity and home internet connection remaining available.	The provider runs the environment continuously; DatHost, for example, describes 24/7 monitoring, but its current service terms should be checked.
Setup effort	You install with SteamCMD, configure the firewall and router, update files, back up saves and shut down safely.	A control panel can handle much of the installation and networking. Confirm what updates, backups and support actually include.
Scaling	You must add RAM, CPU capacity, storage or another instance yourself.	VPS, cloud and dedicated-server plans can be changed or replaced, subject to the provider’s Soulmask resource allocation.
Multiple maps	Linked maps require separate instances, unique IDs, additional ports and more backup planning.	The host must support a multi-instance cluster and expose the required ports.

Survival Servers describes creating a Soulmask server from either a dedicated machine or a home computer. That flexibility is real, but a home computer only works as a public server when its resources and network are adequate.

How much RAM does a Soulmask server need?

Memory is the first practical gate for self-hosting. The server process is reported to use more than 12 GB of RAM, so the 16 GB minimum cited by 2026 setup guides leaves limited headroom. Games.gg recommends 24 GB or more, particularly when you need room for the operating system, administration tools or more than one map.

• 16 GB: Treat this as the practical minimum for a small, single-instance setup, not a guaranteed player-count specification.
• 24 GB or more: A safer target for background services, larger worlds and linked-map arrangements.
• More memory is not a player guarantee: The cited figures come from server guides rather than a controlled benchmark that maps RAM to concurrent players.

Do not size the machine from Steam’s Soulmask client requirements. The client and dedicated server have different workloads, and the setup guidance specifically warns that client requirements are not a server-sizing guarantee.

Can I run a Soulmask server on my PC?

Yes, provided the computer is supported by the current dedicated-server files, has enough memory and storage, and can accept the required inbound connections. Running the server on the same PC used for playing is possible, but the server, game client and other applications will compete for resources.

Supported operating-system choices

• Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit
• Windows Server
• Linux

Use a machine that can remain powered on whenever the community expects access. A desktop that sleeps, a laptop that closes its lid or a connection that changes address can make the world appear offline even when the server software itself is healthy.

Storage requirements

SSD storage is strongly preferred. DatHost describes NVMe or SATA SSD infrastructure for Soulmask, and Games.gg also marks SSD storage as preferable. Fast storage helps the server read and write world data and saves; a 1 TB NVMe SSD is a reasonable upgrade when an existing drive is slow or nearly full. Capacity alone does not compensate for insufficient RAM.

How do I self-host a Soulmask dedicated server?

Set up the machine first, then install the dedicated files, configure the network, test administration access and establish backups before inviting players.

1. Prepare the host. Use a supported 64-bit Windows or Linux installation, install current system updates and reserve at least 16 GB of RAM. Plan for 24 GB or more if you will run multiple instances or other services.
2. Install SteamCMD. Download and install SteamCMD for the host operating system. The cited Windows guide uses app ID 3017310; the cited Linux guide uses app ID 3017300. Keep the server files in a dedicated directory so saves and configuration are easy to back up.
3. Install or update the server files. Run SteamCMD with the appropriate app ID and let it finish downloading. Repeat the update process whenever a game update requires new server files, then check that your configuration and saves remain in the expected locations.
4. Choose a fixed local address. Give the host a stable address on your home network, either through a router reservation or equivalent configuration. Port-forwarding rules must continue to point to the same machine.
5. Configure the host firewall. Permit only the ports you actually use. Create rules for the game and Steam query traffic, and add administration ports only when you need them.
6. Forward the public ports on the router. Forward UDP 8777 for game traffic and UDP 27015 for Steam query and listing traffic. Forward TCP 18888 for Telnet and TCP 19000 for RCON only if those administration methods are enabled.
7. Protect administration access. Keep Telnet restricted to local access. Set a strong, unique RCON secret and avoid exposing administrative ports more broadly than necessary. Administration access should never be treated like an ordinary player connection.
8. Start the server and test from outside the host. Confirm that the server appears in the expected listing and that a player on a different connection can join. Testing from the same home network can miss router or firewall problems that outside players will encounter.
9. Create a backup routine before opening the server publicly. Copy the save and configuration data to a separate drive or location on a schedule that matches how much progress your group can afford to lose. Keep more than one restore point.
10. Document recovery details. Record the SteamCMD directory, launch settings, port assignments, administrator credentials and backup location. This turns a hardware or update failure into a repeatable recovery rather than a memory exercise.

Installation is only the first stage. A self-hosted server also needs monitoring, updates, backup checks and a safe operating procedure whenever you restart it.

What ports does Soulmask use?

The commonly documented defaults separate player traffic, Steam listing traffic and administration. Use the exact protocol shown below; forwarding the wrong protocol will not make the service reachable.

Port	Protocol	Purpose	How to handle it
8777	UDP	Game traffic	Forward to the server host and allow it through the host firewall.
27015	UDP	Steam query and listing	Forward when you want normal query or server-list visibility.
18888	TCP	Telnet administration	Enable only when needed and restrict it to local access.
19000	TCP	RCON administration	Use a strong secret and limit exposure to trusted administration.

If players cannot connect, check the server’s listening configuration, the operating-system firewall and the router rule in that order. A server can be running correctly while remaining invisible because one layer is blocking the port.

How should I shut down and back up a self-hosted server?

Use a graceful shutdown so the game can save world state before the process exits. Survival Servers and Games.gg both warn against simply closing the server window, because an abrupt termination can corrupt saves.

• Use Ctrl+C in the server console when the process supports it.
• Use Telnet or RCON to issue the supported administrative shutdown command.
• Use the in-game GM panel when that control is available to your administrator account.
• Wait for the process to finish saving before rebooting the operating system or powering off the machine.

Backups should include the world saves and the configuration needed to recreate the instance. A backup that contains only the executable files will not restore player progress. Periodically test a copy by restoring it to a separate directory or test instance so you know the files are usable.

Can I host both Soulmask maps together?

Cloud Mist Forest and Shifting Sands can be linked for cross-map travel, but they run as separate server instances. A two-map community therefore has two processes, distinct server IDs and compatible cluster settings, along with additional port and backup work.

What changes with two instances?

• Assign a unique server ID to each map; do not clone one identity across both instances.
• Give each instance its own non-conflicting port assignments while preserving the required game and query functions.
• Apply compatible cluster settings so the maps recognize one another for travel.
• Monitor and back up both save sets. A single-map backup cannot restore the complete linked world.
• Reserve additional memory and storage headroom. The 24 GB-or-more recommendation is more appropriate than treating 16 GB as comfortable for the entire arrangement.

Before renting, confirm that the provider’s panel supports multiple Soulmask instances, unique IDs and the port mappings required for the cluster. A plan that supports one server may not automatically support linked maps.

Is renting a Soulmask server worth it?

Renting is usually worth the recurring fee when uninterrupted availability and low maintenance matter more than direct machine control. It removes the need to leave a home computer powered on, configure a residential router and troubleshoot local connectivity, but it does not eliminate configuration decisions or the need to verify what the plan includes.

What types of rented infrastructure are available?

IONOS distinguishes VPS, cloud and dedicated-server models. A VPS gives you a virtual allocation on shared physical hardware; cloud arrangements can make changing resources or replacing an instance easier; a dedicated server gives one customer the physical machine. Requirements rise with concurrent players, so the label alone does not establish that a plan has enough Soulmask memory or CPU capacity.

What managed hosting can provide

DatHost describes enterprise hardware, DDoS-protected networks and 24/7 monitoring for its Soulmask service. Those are provider claims, not a universal feature of every host, so check the current plan terms before relying on them. A panel may simplify installation and restarts, while file or RCON access determines how much of the server you can still customize.

Questions to ask before paying

• How much RAM is allocated to the instance, and is it dedicated or shared?
• What CPU policy applies under load, and what player-slot assumptions were used to size the plan?
• What storage type is used, and how much space is included for saves and additional map instances?
• Where is the server located, and what latency should players in your region expect?
• How often are backups made, how long are they retained, and can you download them?
• Are DDoS and network protections included, and what limits apply?
• Do you receive file access, console access and RCON access?
• Who performs Soulmask updates, and can you delay an update while testing compatibility?
• Does the plan support Cloud Mist Forest and Shifting Sands as a linked cluster?
• What are the cancellation, migration and data-export terms?
• What is the complete monthly price for your region, including any setup, storage or backup charges?

How much does self-hosting cost compared with renting?

There is no reliable current price parity in the available guides. A rental quote is only one part of the comparison; self-hosting may use existing equipment, but a fair calculation also includes new hardware, SSD upgrades, electricity, bandwidth, replacement risk and backup storage. Conversely, a rental plan may bundle monitoring or network protection that would require separate work at home.

Do not treat an old advertised plan price as a current benchmark. Get a regional quote for the exact memory, storage, map count and player capacity you need, then compare it with the marginal cost of keeping your own machine online.

Which option fits different Soulmask communities?

Choose self-hosting when:

• You already own an always-on machine with at least 16 GB of RAM and preferably 24 GB or more.
• You can configure router forwarding and firewall rules and can receive inbound traffic.
• You want unrestricted access to files, saves, launch arguments and administration tools.
• You are comfortable scheduling updates, testing backups and diagnosing outages.
• You need a custom multi-instance arrangement and are prepared to manage its IDs, ports and saves.

Choose a managed rental when:

• Your group expects the world to be available without leaving a home PC running.
• No one wants to maintain SteamCMD, router rules, operating-system updates and recovery procedures.
• You prefer a provider panel, monitoring and a support channel over direct hardware control.
• Your community may grow and you want a documented path to a larger VPS, cloud or dedicated allocation.
• You can verify that the plan supplies enough memory, SSD storage, backups and multi-map support.

Use a staged decision if you are uncertain

1. Measure the machine you already have rather than assuming the client’s requirements apply.
2. Confirm that your internet connection and router can deliver the required UDP and TCP traffic.
3. Price the missing RAM, SSD storage, backup destination and electricity.
4. Request a rental quote with the same memory, storage, map count and expected concurrency.
5. Pick the option whose recurring administrative effort you can sustain, not merely the one with the lower first payment.

What are the most common self-hosting failures?

Symptom	Likely area to check	Corrective action
Players cannot see or join the server	Router forwarding, host firewall or wrong protocol	Verify UDP 8777 and UDP 27015 point to the fixed host address and are allowed through the firewall.
Administration works locally but not remotely	Telnet or RCON exposure	Check the relevant TCP rule, then restrict access and confirm the configured secret.
World progress disappears after a crash	No recent backup or abrupt termination	Restore the newest valid save, establish scheduled backups and use a graceful shutdown method.
Two maps do not connect	Duplicate IDs, conflicting ports or incompatible cluster settings	Give each instance a unique identity and non-conflicting ports, then compare cluster configuration.
Performance degrades as the community grows	Insufficient RAM, CPU or storage capacity	Measure resource use, add capacity or move to a larger allocation; do not infer capacity from client specifications.

These checks are the operational trade-off behind the hosting decision. Renting moves many of them to a provider, but you still need enough allocated resources and access to recover your world if an update or configuration change causes trouble.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Steam’s Soulmask system requirements enough to size a dedicated server?

No. The client requirements describe running the game, while the dedicated process is reported to consume more than 12 GB of memory by itself. Use server-specific guidance and leave capacity for the operating system and administration tools.

Should I expose Telnet to the public internet?

No. The setup guidance recommends restricting Telnet to local access. If you use RCON, protect it with a strong secret and limit the network exposure to the administrators who need it.

Does a rented server automatically include backups?

Not necessarily. Backup frequency, retention and download access vary by plan, so obtain those details in writing rather than assuming that a control panel or monitoring service preserves your saves.

Can a provider support a linked Cloud Mist Forest and Shifting Sands world?

Only if its service supports multiple Soulmask instances, distinct server identities and the necessary port mappings. Ask specifically about cluster support before purchasing a single-server plan.