A complete introduction to how to set up a Palworld online game server

How do I set up a stable and low-latency Palworld server?

In this step-by-step technical guide, we'll show you how to set up, configure network and security, and optimize a Palworld dedicated server on Linux distributions such as Ubuntu 22.04 This article is for server administrators, DevOps, gamers, and anyone who wants to host a game server with low latency, high stability, and protection against DDoS attacks.

Prerequisites and Server Selection (Hardware & Location)

Recommended hardware for Palworld server

CPU: 4 to 8 vCPU cores (4 cores are sufficient for small to medium groups; 8+ cores are recommended for public servers and high player counts).

RAM: Minimum 8 GB, 16 GB recommended for a smooth experience.

Disk: NVMe SSD with high IOPS; 50–100 GB of space for logs and backups.

Network: 1 Gbps with unlimited ports and low latency.

GPU: Dedicated Servers do not require GPUs; use GPU servers if hosting clients inside the server or rendering.

Choose a location

For low ping, choose the data center closest to the majority of players. From 85+ global locations, you can choose from popular locations like Europe (Amsterdam, Frankfurt), America (New York, Washington, Los Angeles), and Asia (Tokyo, Singapore, Mumbai).

If you have global players, use a CDN and Regional Balancer or set up multiple servers in different locations so that clients are directed to the closest server.

To prevent attacks and increase stability, use servers with Anti-DDoS and use a supported BGP network.

Installing a Dedicated Server with SteamCMD (General Method)

If Palworld has released the Dedicated Server tool on Steam, the general process is similar to other Steam-based games. This section describes a general example of installation with SteamCMD.

1. Create a user and install prerequisites

sudo adduser --disabled-login palserver

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 steamcmd wget unzip

2. Run SteamCMD and download the server (example with alternative AppID)

Check the server AppID from SteamDB or the official developer tools page. In the following command, use Used as an identifier.

sudo -u palserver bash -c 'steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /home/palserver/palworld_server +app_update <APPID> validate +quit'

Important points:

• If the tool is Windows-only, you can use a Windows server or Wine/Proton, but it is best to use an official Linux server or a dedicated Windows server.
• After downloading, check the Dedicated Server executable files in the installation folder (e.g. palworld_server/Binaries/).

3. Run the server (example command to run an Unreal Engine server)

The exact command may vary depending on the released package — refer to the official documentation.

cd /home/palserver/palworld_server/Binaries/Linux
./PalworldServer-Linux-Shipping -log -server -Port=7777 -QueryPort=27015 -MaxPlayers=32

Explanation of parameters: Port The main game port (UDP), QueryPort Server query port, MaxPlayers Maximum number of players.

If the executable file has the extension .exe (Windows) and you have Linux, use a Windows server or Windows virtual machine.

Configuring Firewall and Ports

Palworld is based on Unreal; it usually requires opening a few UDP/TCP ports. Common ports (example based on UE games):

• UDP 7777 (Gameplay)
• UDP 7778 (additional features)
• UDP/TCP 27015 (Steam Query / RCON)
• UDP 27020 (in some implementations)

Open ports with UFW (Ubuntu):

sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
sudo ufw allow 7777/udp
sudo ufw allow 7778/udp
sudo ufw allow 27015/udp
sudo ufw allow 27015/tcp
sudo ufw enable

Note: Set the port restrictions based on official documentation or server output. Opening only the required ports reduces the attack surface.

Starting the systemd service for automatic management

Create a systemd unit file to run the server as a service and restart it if it crashes. The following example file is in /etc/systemd/system/palworld.service Place:

[Unit]
Description=Palworld Dedicated Server
After=network.target

[Service]
User=palserver
WorkingDirectory=/home/palserver/palworld_server/Binaries/Linux
ExecStart=/home/palserver/palworld_server/Binaries/Linux/PalworldServer-Linux-Shipping -log -server -Port=7777 -QueryPort=27015 -MaxPlayers=32
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10
LimitNOFILE=100000

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now palworld.service
sudo journalctl -u palworld -f

Network and kernel optimization for online gaming

To improve UDP network performance and reduce packet loss, apply a few important kernel settings:

sudo tee /etc/sysctl.d/99-palworld.conf <<EOF
net.core.rmem_max = 16777216
net.core.wmem_max = 16777216
net.core.rmem_default = 262144
net.core.wmem_default = 262144
net.core.netdev_max_backlog = 5000
net.ipv4.udp_mem = 262144 327680 524288
net.ipv4.udp_rmem_min = 8192
net.ipv4.udp_wmem_min = 8192
net.ipv4.tcp_fin_timeout = 15
net.ipv4.tcp_tw_reuse = 1
EOF

sudo sysctl --system

In addition, consider the following:

• IRQ affinity And isolation for cores: Allocating cores for network processing can reduce latency.
• Turn off unnecessary services and determine CpuShares/CPUsets For server processing.

Security and DDoS protection

To protect a game server, a combination of local settings and network services is required.

• Using servers with Anti-DDoS and traffic filtering.
• Restrict administrative access: SSH with public key, change SSH port, and use Fail2ban.
• Logging and attack monitoring: Checking traffic spikes with iftop, nload, vnstat and use of tcpdump For analysis.
• Use private networks (VPC) for internal services, and NAT or Load Balancer for player access.
• For larger scale, consider DDoS Scrubbing services or gaming-specific CDNs.

Monitoring, backup and maintenance

Regular monitoring and maintenance is vital:

• Resource monitoring: htop, glances For CPU/RAM, Prometheus + Grafana For long-term monitoring.
• Network monitoring: iftop, nethogs, bmon.
• Logs with logrotate Rotate until the disc is full.
• Periodic backup of save/config files: from rsync Or use disk snapshot.
• Controlled and scheduled updates when updating the game; informing players of maintenance times is essential.

User Experience: Reduce ping and improve performance for players

Some practical steps to reduce ping and improve player experience:

• Suitable location: For regional players, placing the server in the same region has the greatest impact.
• BGP and Peering: Selecting routes with local peering is better than long, multi-hop routes.
• QoS and shaping: If the server is shared with other traffic, QoS can prioritize gaming traffic.
• DNS: Use Anycast DNS or resolvers close to players to reduce DNS response times.

Configuration for a variety of applications

Dedicated gaming server (gaming VPS)

Recommended resources: 4vCPU, 8–16GB RAM, NVMe, 1Gbps port. Comes with active Anti-DDoS and real-time monitoring. Suitable for tournaments and small to medium public servers.

Server for streaming or cloud gaming

Resources: GPU (like NVIDIA A10/A100 or similar for rendering), high-bandwidth network. Used when clients render and stream from the server.

Server for public and competitive hosting

Resources: 8+ vCPUs, 16–32GB RAM, NVMe SSD, multiple network links with BGP and DDoS protection. Suitable for servers with high player counts or tournaments.

Debugging and useful tools

• Process review: ps aux | grep Palworld
• View log: journalctl -u palworld -n 200 --no-pager
• Check network usage: sudo iftop -i eth0
• Packet analysis: sudo tcpdump -i eth0 port 7777 -vv
• Ping and route test: ping, mtr — Help identify latency spikes (ISP, server configuration, BGP route).

Final practical tips and setup checklist

• Taking a Snapshot or Image before each update.
• Running the server under a non-root user with minimal access.
• Documenting command line parameters, sysctl changes, and startup scripts.
• Backup scheduling and notification of maintenance times to players.
• Stress test before public launch: Simulating multiple clients to check CPU and network usage.

Summary and recommendations of related services

Setting up a stable, low-latency Palworld server requires choosing the right location, the right hardware, DDoS protection, kernel settings for UDP, and service management.

A service that offers over 85 global locations, GPU options, high-performance computing servers, DDoS protection, gaming VPS, CDN, and BGP networking solutions will be a good choice for hosting.

To get started quickly: For dedicated hosting with Anti-DDoS, use dedicated server plans with high bandwidth. For small to medium servers, VPS with NVMe and 4–8 vCPUs is suitable. For managed and snapshot environments, cloud servers will be reliable.