Sons of the Forest Dedicated Server: Admin Commands & Configuration Guide
Data Verified: May 2026Comprehensive Sons of the Forest dedicated server guide. Configure dedicatedserver.cfg, manage adminlist via Steam IDs, open UDP ports, and size hardware for stable 8-player horror survival.
Commands & configuration database
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
ServerName | Sons of the Forest Server | Public server name shown in the in-game browser. | |
MaxPlayers | 8 | Maximum concurrent players. Hard cap is 8. | |
Password | (empty) | Password required to join the server. | |
GamePort | 8766 | Primary UDP gameplay port. | |
QueryPort | 27016 | UDP query port used by the Steam server browser. | |
GameMode | Normal | Difficulty preset: Peaceful, Normal, Hard, HardSurvival. | |
SaveSlot | 1 | Save slot used for the current world (1-5). | |
SaveInterval | 600 | Seconds between automatic saves. | |
EnableVAC | true | Enables Valve Anti-Cheat enforcement. | |
LogFilesEnabled | true | Writes detailed server logs to disk. |
Showing 10 of 10 configuration parameters.
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
/serverinfo | N/A | Displays server name, world, and uptime to the admin. | |
/save | N/A | Forces an immediate world save. | |
/shutdown | N/A | Saves and gracefully shuts the server down. | |
/kick <name> | N/A | Kicks the named player from the server. | |
/ban <steamid> | N/A | Bans the player by Steam64 ID. | |
/unban <steamid> | N/A | Removes a ban from the named Steam64 ID. | |
/list | N/A | Lists all currently connected players. | |
/setadmin <steamid> | N/A | Grants admin privileges to the named Steam64 ID for the current session. |
Showing 8 of 8 admin console commands.
Recommended hosting providers
Vetted hosts with one-click Sons of the Forest installs. Links are affiliate placeholders and marked rel="sponsored".
Official Endnight partner with one-click installs and integrated config editor.
Visit Nitrado →Pre-configured plans with web-based dedicatedserver.cfg editor and scheduled backups.
Visit GTXGaming →Dedicated Windows boxes with NVMe storage for stable 8-player worlds.
Visit Host Havoc →Hardware specifications
Sizing guidance for self-hosting a Sons of the Forest dedicated server.
| Tier | Specification | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Small (1-4 players) | 6 GB RAM / 2-core 3.5 GHz+ CPU | Co-op survival. Server idles around 3 GB. |
| Standard (4-8 players) | 10-12 GB RAM / 4-core 4.0 GHz+ CPU / NVMe SSD | Full 8-player active server with established base. |
| Long-Running World | 16 GB RAM / 6-core 4.5 GHz+ Dedicated Node | Late-game worlds with large explored areas; NVMe required for fast save cycles. |
Default file locations
Default installation paths for Sons of the Forest dedicated servers installed via SteamCMD.
Windows
C:\SonsOfTheForestDS\Linux
Wine/Proton recommended: /home/steam/sotfds/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 | 8766 |
| Query Port | UDP | 27016 |
| RCON / Telnet | - | N/A |
Frequently asked questions
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Host your own Sons of the Forest server
All hosting guides →Step-by-step install and deploy walkthroughs (panels, ports, RAM sizing). Pair these with the command reference above.