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Performance requirementsLocal vs rented serverSetting up hosted15 building tipsSetting up localNext stepsFAQs

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How to set up an Enshrouded dedicated server

Enshrouded is a popular survival action RPG (Role-Playing Game) where players explore a vast fantasy world called Embervale, craft items, build structures, and battle enemies. If you’re diving into this exciting game with your friends and want the best possible multiplayer experience, setting up your own dedicated server is the way to go.

Simply put, an Enshrouded dedicated server is a standalone machine, whether physical hardware or a virtual setup, that hosts your Enshrouded game world 24/7. Instead of relying on shared servers that juggle multiple games and players, a dedicated server is all yours and operates independently from any player’s machine. This will give you better performance, more control, and a smoother gaming experience.

But let’s be honest – setting up an Enshrouded dedicated server can feel like a complex task if you’ve never done it before. You’ll want to understand what kind of hardware power is needed, whether it makes sense to self-host or go with a professional hosting provider, and how to actually get it all set up without headaches.

Well, that’s exactly what we’ll cover here, so let’s get right into it!

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Performance requirements for Enshrouded dedicated servers

Before you dive into setting up your Enshrouded dedicated server, it’s important to understand what kind of performance your server needs to deliver a smooth, lag-free experience. Enshrouded is a rich, immersive game that can put a decent load on your server’s CPU, memory, and network – especially as your world grows and more players join in.

CPU

The CPU is the heart of your server’s performance:

For smaller groups of around 4 to 6 players, a CPU with 6 cores and 12 threads, like Intel Core i7 running at 3.2 GHz or a comparable AMD processor, will do the job nicely.
If you’re planning to host larger groups, say up to 16 players, you’ll want a beefier 8-core, 16-thread CPU like an Intel Core i7 at 3.7 GHz to keep everything running smoothly.

So, if you want good performance and room to scale, prioritize core count over just raw clock speed.

RAM

Memory is just as crucial. Official recommendations suggest at least 16GB of RAM, no matter the size of your group. Even though an idle Enshrouded server uses around 4.4GB of RAM, each additional player adds about 100MB.

For example, a 16-player server typically requires roughly 6GB total – so 16GB gives you plenty of breathing room to avoid slowdowns or crashes during heavy gameplay.

Storage

Enshrouded servers require at least 30GB of SSD storage. Most hosting providers prioritize NVMe SSDs, which offer much faster read/write speeds, meaning quicker world saves and load times – important when your players are diving into the game. Traditional hard drives (HDDs) aren’t banned but can cause slowdowns, especially in large worlds or with more players.

Network

A good rule of thumb is about 2 Mbps upload and download per player. So for a 16-player server, you’d want at least 32 Mbps. This is well within the range of many hosting providers, who often offer connections of 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps, giving you plenty of headroom for stable, lag-free gameplay.

Additional considerations

Port forwarding: To get your server accessible, you’ll need to open TCP and UDP ports 15367 or 2456-2458 on your router or firewall.
Operating system: If you’re self-hosting on Linux, you’ll likely be using Docker or SteamCMD tools, while Windows servers can run Enshrouded natively.
Server scaling: Remember, the number of CPU cores impacts performance more than just clock speed. Hosting providers often have scalable plans so you can start small and upgrade as your community grows.

Self-hosting vs. professional hosting

Self-hosting means you run the server from your own computer or a dedicated machine at home. This gives you absolute control over every aspect – from hardware choices to software tweaks and custom configurations. It’s a great option if you love tinkering, want to save some money, or have specific hardware already on hand.

The benefits of self-hosting include:

Control over your server environment.
No ongoing hosting fees (beyond electricity and internet).
Great learning experience if you want to deepen your server management skills.

But keep in mind, self-hosting requires a reliable internet connection, hardware that meets Enshrouded’s demands, and the willingness to troubleshoot issues on your own. Also, power outages, hardware failures, or network hiccups can mean downtime, and fixing those problems is on you.

On the other hand, using a professional hosting provider means renting server space from a company that specializes in managing dedicated machines. These providers handle hardware maintenance, network stability, security, and often offer tools that make server management easier. It’s a solid choice if you want a “set it and forget it” solution that keeps your server running smoothly 24/7.

Professional hosting offers benefits such as:

High uptime guarantees and fast, stable connections.
Hardware optimized for gaming servers, often with SSDs and powerful CPUs.
Expert support teams available to help with technical issues.
Easy scalability if you need to upgrade resources as your community grows.

So, if you want to focus on enjoying your Enshrouded world instead of worrying about server upkeep, professional hosting is usually the way to go.

Option 1: Using a professional hosting provider

If you want the power of an Enshrouded dedicated server but don’t want the hassle of managing hardware, network settings, or uptime worries, opt for a professional hosting provider.

Select your operating system – Windows Server 2025 for native Enshrouded support or Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with Wine if you prefer Linux.
Install Enshrouded server files:
- For Windows, use Remote Desktop. Then install SteamCMD:
  # Download SteamCMD
  Invoke-WebRequest -Uri “https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip” -OutFile “$env:USERPROFILE\steamcmd.zip”
  Expand-Archive -Path “$env:USERPROFILE\steamcmd.zip” -DestinationPath “C:\SteamCMD”
  # Install Enshrouded
  C:\SteamCMD\steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir “C:\Enshrouded_Server” +app_update 2278520 validate +quit
- For Linux, connect via SSH and install SteamCMD and Wine:
  ssh root@your-server-ip
  sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y steamcmd wine64
  steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +login anonymous +force_install_dir ~/enshrouded +app_update 2278520 validate +quit
Edit your enshrouded_server.json to customize your server
{
  “name”: “LiquidWeb_Server”,
  “password”: “your_password”,
  “slotCount”: 16,
  “gamePort”: 15636,
  “queryPort”: 15637
}
If you want to run mods, simply upload them to C:\Enshrouded_Server\mods (Windows) or ~/enshrouded/mods (Linux).
If you’re using Liquid Web, it automatically opens TCP and UDP ports 15636–15637. If not, check your host’s network configurations via the firewall manager. Confirm that TCP and UDP 15636–15637 and TCP 27015 are allowed.
Start the server:
- For Windows
  Start-Process -FilePath “C:\path\enshrouded_server.exe”
- For Linux:
  wine ~/path/enshrouded_server.exe

And congratulations – you and your friends can now enjoy Enshrouded without worrying about lag issues or bad performance!

A break for some Enshrouded building tips

… by KetMol. Not a sponsor. Just really good stuff:

Option 2: Setting up a self-hosted Enshrouded server

If you want to take full control and host your own Enshrouded server, here’s a basic, high-level overview to get started – you might need more tweaks or tools to tune things exactly how you want:

On Windows (official method):

Open Steam, head over to your Library, and then click on Tools. Search for “Enshrouded Dedicated Server” and install it like any other game tool.
Once installed, navigate to the installation folder.
Run enshrouded_server.exe once to automatically generate the initial configuration file, enshrouded_server.json.
Open enshrouded_server.json with any text editor. Here you can tweak your server’s details – name, password, save location, ports, and more. A simple example looks like this:
{
  “name”: “My Server”,
  “password”: “secret123”,
  “saveDirectory”: “./savegame”,
  “logDirectory”: “./logs”,
  “ip”: “0.0.0.0”,
  “gamePort”: 15636,
  “queryPort”: 15637
}
Quick tip: Avoid spaces in your server name to prevent connection issues.
Make sure your router forwards TCP and UDP ports 15636–15637 to your server’s local IP address. Also, don’t forget to allow enshrouded_server.exe through the Windows Defender Firewall so your server can communicate properly.
Run enshrouded_server.exe again. Your server will now show up in Enshrouded’s Join Game menu under the LAN tab or can be accessed directly by IP.

On Linux (community-driven method)

Running a self-hosted Enshrouded server on Linux takes a few extra steps, but it’s totally doable. Wine is absolutely required. However, that might not be the only thing. You might need to install multiple other supporting libraries depending on your setup. So, keep in mind that this is a high-level, simplified walkthrough:

On Ubuntu/Debian systems, open your terminal and run:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y wine64 steamcmd lib32gcc-s1
Create a directory for your server files, then download them using SteamCMD:
mkdir -p ~/enshrouded-server
steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +login anonymous +force_install_dir ~/enshrouded-server +app_update 2278520 validate +quit
Set up Wine (a Windows compatibility layer) to run the server executable:
export WINEPREFIX=~/enshrouded-wine
winecfg
In the Wine configuration window that opens, set the Windows version to Windows 10 for best compatibility.
Navigate to your server folder and start the server with Wine:
cd ~/enshrouded-server
wine enshrouded_server.exe
On the first launch, Wine will generate configuration files, where you can customize your server settings just like on Windows.

Getting started with a dedicated Enshrouded server

Next step? Decide if you’re going local or renting, then get that server spun up before the anomalies do.

If you decide to rent, Liquid Web can help. Our dedicated server hosting options have been leading the industry for decades, because they’re fast, secure, and completely reliable. Choose your favorite OS and the management tier that works best for you.

Click below to explore dedicated server options or start a chat with one of our experts to learn more.

Ready to jump into the Shroud?

If you already know what you need, you can get started right now. Our dedicated servers combine the best hardware with industry-leading support. Start your own, private quest today.

Explore dedicated servers

Build now

Enshrouded dedicated server FAQs

A dedicated server is a standalone machine that hosts your Enshrouded game world 24/7, offering better performance, stability, and control compared to shared servers.

The official developer recommendations advise a CPU with 6 cores and 12 threads (like Intel Core i7 running at 3.2 GHz or a comparable AMD processor) for four to six players.

If your group is bigger than that, you’ll need a CPU with 8 cores and 16 threads.

Yes. Linux hosting requires using Wine and SteamCMD to run the Windows version of the server. It’s more complex than Windows, but fully possible with the right setup.

The game engine currently supports up to 16 players per server, depending on your hardware.

You’ll need about 2 Mbps upload and download per player. So, for 16 players, around 32 Mbps is sufficient.

Absolutely. You can edit configuration files to change the server name, password, game rules, and more.