Arma 3 Dedicated Server: server.cfg & Admin Commands Guide
Data Verified: May 2026Complete Arma 3 dedicated server admin reference. Configure server.cfg & basic.cfg, headless clients, BattlEye RCON commands, mod loading, and hardware sizing for milsim servers.
Commands & configuration database
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
hostname | Arma 3 Server | Public server name in the browser. | |
password | (empty) | Password required to join the server. | |
passwordAdmin | (empty) | Password used with `#login` to gain admin in-game. | |
serverCommandPassword | (empty) | Password for the `#serverCommand` family of RCON-like commands. | |
maxPlayers | 32 | Concurrent player cap (excluding headless clients). | |
motd[] | {} | Array of strings shown on connect. | |
voteMissionPlayers | 1 | Min players required to start the mission vote. | |
voteThreshold | 0.33 | Fraction of players whose votes are needed to pass. | |
kickDuplicate | 1 | Kicks duplicate IDs (1) or allows them (0). | |
verifySignatures | 2 | Mod signature check level. 2 enforces full signed-mod policy. | |
BattlEye | 1 | Enables the BattlEye anti-cheat client. | |
headlessClients[] | {} | IPs allowed to connect as headless clients for AI offload. | |
localClient[] | {} | IPs treated as LAN clients (bypass bandwidth throttling). | |
persistent | 1 | Keeps the mission running even when the last player leaves. | |
MaxMsgSend | 128 | basic.cfg: max network messages per simulation step. Tune for high-traffic ops. | |
MaxSizeGuaranteed | 512 | basic.cfg: max guaranteed message size in bytes. |
Showing 16 of 16 configuration parameters.
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
#login <password> | N/A | Authenticates the calling player as admin. | |
#logout | N/A | Drops admin privileges from the current session. | |
#mission <name> | N/A | Loads the named mission from the MPMissions folder. | |
#missions | N/A | Returns to the mission selection screen. | |
#restart | N/A | Restarts the current mission with the same parameters. | |
#reassign | N/A | Returns all players to the slot selection screen. | |
#kick <player> | N/A | Disconnects the named player. | |
#shutdown | N/A | Gracefully stops the server. | |
#monitor <interval> | N/A | Streams server FPS / bandwidth stats every <interval> seconds. |
Showing 9 of 9 admin console commands.
Recommended hosting providers
Vetted hosts with one-click Arma 3 installs. Links are affiliate placeholders and marked rel="sponsored".
Arma 3 plans with mod manager, headless-client provisioning and 5.0 GHz+ CPU options.
Visit GTXGaming →Dedicated boxes ideal for milsim with multiple HCs co-located on one host.
Visit Host Havoc →Official Bohemia partner with one-click Arma 3 installs and Workshop mod sync.
Visit Nitrado →Hardware specifications
Sizing guidance for self-hosting a Arma 3 dedicated server.
| Tier | Specification | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Small Coop (1-15 players) | 8 GB RAM / 4-core 4.5 GHz+ CPU | Light missions with <30 AI. No HC needed. |
| Standard Milsim (15-40 players) | 16 GB RAM / 6-core 5.0 GHz+ CPU / NVMe | Liberation/Antistasi with 1 headless client co-located. |
| Large Op (40-80 players) | 32 GB RAM / 8-core 5.0 GHz+ Dedicated / NVMe | Big ops with 2+ headless clients; clock speed is the only thing that matters. |
Default file locations
Default installation paths for Arma 3 dedicated servers installed via SteamCMD.
Windows
C:\arma3server\Linux
/home/steam/arma3server/Pro-Tip: Always stop the server completely before editing configuration files, or the server will overwrite your changes upon restart.
Default ports for port forwarding
Open these on your router and firewall before exposing the server to the internet.
| Service | Protocol | Port |
|---|---|---|
| Game Port | UDP | 2302 |
| Query Port | UDP | 2303 |
| RCON / Telnet | UDP | 2306 (BattlEye) |
Frequently asked questions
Other dedicated servers you might run
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Host your own Arma 3 server
All hosting guides →Step-by-step install and deploy walkthroughs (panels, ports, RAM sizing). Pair these with the command reference above.