There is no Endnight-published RAM or CPU minimum for a Sons of the Forest dedicated server. The 12 GB minimum, 16 GB recommendation and 20 GB storage figure shown on Steam describe the playable client, not the server process. For planning, community deployment guidance points to 8 GB of RAM for a small two-to-four-player host and 16 GB or more for comfortable four-player headroom, with a modern four-core CPU and at least a 20 GB SSD volume.
Those figures are sizing recommendations, not guarantees. A conservative self-host uses 64-bit Windows 10 or newer, 16 GB of RAM, a high-clocked four-core processor and more than 20 GB of SSD space so saves, logs, updates and backups do not compete with the installation.
How much RAM does a Sons of the Forest dedicated server need?
Use 8 GB as a starting point for a small two-to-four-player deployment and 16 GB as sensible headroom for four players. Neither number is an official Endnight requirement; they come from current community deployment guidance and should be validated with your own save, mods and player count.
| Use case | Planning memory | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Small two-to-four-player host | 8 GB or more | Community minimum for that player range; leaves less room for the operating system and other services. |
| Four-player host with headroom | 16 GB or more | Community recommendation intended to reduce contention during play and maintenance. |
| Steam client reference | 12 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended | Steam/Valve figures for the playable game client, not a dedicated-server specification. |
Do not turn the client figures into a server requirement. A server normally has no rendered game scene, so copying the client’s graphics and memory specification gives a false sense of precision. At the same time, the machine still needs memory for Windows, Steam or SteamCMD, the server process, file caching, logs, security software and any other workloads running beside it.
For a machine that will host and play on the same installation, 16 GB is the safer baseline. If the host is also used for recording, browser tabs, voice software or other games, leave additional capacity rather than treating every gigabyte as available to the server. Watch memory use during a long session and test the intended save with the maximum number of regular players; that observation is more useful than a universal number that Endnight has not published.
What CPU do I need for a Sons of the Forest server?
Choose strong per-core performance first, then enough cores to leave room for the operating system. Community Docker/Wine guidance lists two to four cores at mid-range clocks as a minimum and four or more higher-clocked cores as recommended. An older 2023 Steam guide mentions a quad-core CPU and says the server can use up to two full cores, but it is not an authoritative current requirement.
Practical processor target
- Minimum planning point: two to four modern CPU cores at ordinary desktop or server clocks for a lightly loaded two-to-four-player world.
- Preferred target: four or more modern, high-clocked cores so simulation, networking, backups and the operating system do not fight for the same time slices.
- Priority: favor newer architecture and single-thread speed over a large count of slow cores. No Endnight document names a required model, clock speed or core count.
The older guide’s wording is also internally inconsistent about memory and includes outdated configuration directions. Use it only as historical context, not as the basis for buying hardware. A four-core processor with strong single-thread performance and 16 GB of RAM is a defensible general-purpose plan, while the only reliable way to size a busier or heavily shared machine is to monitor it under the expected load.
How much storage does the dedicated server use?
Allocate at least 20 GB on an SSD for a conservative installation, then add working space for saves, logs, updates and backups. Current community deployment guidance lists 12 GB or more as a minimum and 20 GB or more as recommended; Steam’s 20 GB client figure also makes a 20 GB server volume a practical floor rather than a promise of exact server size.
| Storage figure | What it represents | Planning decision |
|---|---|---|
| 12 GB or more | Community deployment minimum | Can be tight once updates, logs and backups are retained. |
| 20 GB or more | Community recommendation and Steam client reference | Use this as the minimum SSD volume for a small, maintained host. |
| 2 GB | Older 2023 guide’s installation claim | Obsolete for current capacity planning; do not size a new host around it. |
SSD storage is preferred for faster startup, save access and update operations. Keep backups outside the live data directory or on another disk so a failed update or damaged volume does not remove both the working save and its only copy. The directory also accumulates logs, so a host that runs continuously needs more than the initial installation allowance.
Does the dedicated server need a graphics card?
No dedicated-server GPU requirement is published. The GTX 1060 and RX 570 figures shown by Steam are client graphics requirements and should not be copied into a server buying guide. A Windows host with integrated graphics or a basic adapter is generally the relevant configuration, provided it can run the operating system and be administered reliably; the server documentation does not specify a model.
Which operating system and installation method should I use?
The documented path is a 64-bit Windows 10-or-newer machine using Steam or SteamCMD. The dedicated-server application ID is 2465200. SteamCMD can download it anonymously, so a personal Steam login is not required for that installation method.
Linux hosting is possible by running the Windows server files under Wine, commonly through a community Docker project. That adds a compatibility layer, container maintenance and another place for networking or file-permission problems to occur. Choose it when you already operate Wine/Docker confidently; choose the documented Windows path when minimizing variables is more important than using Linux.
How do I install and start the server on Windows?
Follow this sequence before inviting anyone. Launching once is important because it creates the configuration, owner list, save location and logs that later steps depend on.
- Install the server files. In Steam, install the dedicated-server tool, or install SteamCMD and run
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir "c:/sons-dedicated/" +login anonymous +app_update 2465200 validate +quit. The anonymous method downloads the files without signing in to a Steam account. - Start it once. Run
StartSOTFDedicated.bator use the Steam launcher. Allow the first boot to finish so the default JSON configuration, saves directory, owner file and logs are generated. - Edit the configuration as JSON. Change only valid keys and values; a missing comma, extra comma or unescaped character can stop startup.
- Open the network ports. Permit the three UDP ports in Windows Firewall and forward the same ports from the public router to the host if the machine is on a home network.
- Set administrators. Keep
ownerswhitelist.txtprivate and put one administrator’s Steam ID on each line. - Run the self-test again. The startup checks configuration and network accessibility. A required failure stops the boot sequence, and the console or logs identify the issue to correct.
- Back up before updates. Copy the complete data directory before changing server files or applying an update.
Which configuration values and ports matter?
The default data directory is C:Users<user>AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDS. The -userdatapath option can move that directory when the system drive is too small or you want a separate backup volume.
| Setting | Default or documented value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
IpAddress |
0.0.0.0 |
Listen on the host’s available interfaces. |
GamePort |
UDP 8766 | Gameplay traffic. |
QueryPort |
UDP 27016 | Server query and discovery traffic. |
BlobSyncPort |
UDP 9700 | Blob synchronization traffic. |
MaxPlayers |
1 through 8 | Concurrent-player limit; eight is the documented ceiling. |
An official-style configuration can therefore contain IpAddress set to 0.0.0.0, ports 8766, 27016 and 9700, and MaxPlayers set to 8. Keep the file syntactically valid JSON and make firewall, router and server values agree. Opening a TCP rule instead of UDP, forwarding only one port, or forwarding to the wrong local address will fail even when the server itself is installed correctly.
Should I self-host or use managed hosting?
Self-hosting costs more administrative time but gives direct control over hardware, files and location. Managed hosting trades that control for provider automation and a recurring bill. The right choice depends on whether you want to maintain Windows, networking and backups yourself.
| Consideration | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Full control of configuration, save files and update timing. | Control is mediated by the provider’s panel and policies. |
| Administration | You install Windows/SteamCMD, apply updates, fix JSON and maintain firewall rules. | The provider usually automates installation and panel operations. |
| Cost pattern | One-time or existing-hardware cost, plus electricity and your time. | Recurring hosting charge; hardware maintenance is not yours. |
| Latency | Often best for players near your home or office connection. | Datacenter region may offer better geography for a distributed group. |
| Backups and uptime | You are responsible for backup copies, recovery and Internet availability. | Check exactly what backups, retention, regions and uptime the provider includes. |
Whichever model you choose, test the actual save and player count. Hardware tables are planning aids, not a substitute for observing CPU, memory, storage growth and network reachability during a real session.
What usually prevents a server from starting or appearing?
- Invalid JSON: restore the last known-good
dedicatedserver.cfg, then reapply one change at a time. Look for missing commas, mismatched braces and values typed as words instead of numbers. - Closed or mismatched ports: confirm UDP 8766, 27016 and 9700 in both the host firewall and router, and verify that forwarding targets the host’s current private IP address.
- Public-address failure: read the self-test output and logs for public-IP or reachability errors. A server can run locally while remaining invisible from the Internet if the router or upstream provider blocks inbound traffic.
- Insufficient disk space: check the volume containing the data directory, not only the installation folder. Leave room for logs, saves, update staging and backup copies.
- Permission or ownership problems: run the service under an account that can read and write the data directory, and keep
ownerswhitelist.txtprotected from casual edits. - Update-related breakage: stop the server, copy the complete data directory, validate or redownload the installation, then start it and inspect the self-test before restoring player access.
What is the safest all-around specification?
For a small private group, plan on 16 GB of RAM, a modern high-clocked four-core CPU, a 20 GB-or-larger SSD volume with additional free space, and 64-bit Windows 10 or newer. Treat that as a conservative capacity target assembled from community deployment guidance and the official client/storage context, not as an Endnight-certified minimum. If you need Linux, budget time for Wine and Docker troubleshooting; if you need the least maintenance, compare managed providers on region, backups, updates and uptime rather than RAM alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does installing the dedicated server require a Steam account?
No. SteamCMD supports an anonymous login for application 2465200, so you can download the server without signing in. Installing through the Steam client is another documented route if you prefer its interface.
Can I host and play Sons of the Forest on the same computer?
You can try, but the server recommendation does not reserve memory or CPU for the game client. Use the 16 GB plan as a starting point, close unrelated workloads, and monitor the machine with the intended save and player count before relying on it for a group session.
Why does my server run locally but friends cannot connect?
That pattern usually indicates reachability rather than installation: check all three UDP rules, router forwarding and the host’s current private address. The startup self-test and logs are designed to expose closed-port, public-IP or configuration failures before players join.
Can I move the server’s saves and logs to another drive?
Yes. The documented -userdatapath option overrides the default AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDS location. Move or copy the complete directory, confirm the service account can write there, and make a backup before changing the path.