# Can I host game servers on a rented dedicated server?

> Can you host game servers on a rented dedicated server? Yes on Linux: Minecraft, Valheim, CS2, Palworld, Rust. Not ARK: SA. No KYC, paid in crypto.

- URL: https://ironatoll.com/dedicated-server-for-game-servers/
- Last updated: 2026-10-30
- Publisher: Ironatoll (https://ironatoll.com)

Which games publish a Linux dedicated server, which ports to open, why single-core speed matters, and what to do about DDoS on a rented Ironatoll machine.

**Quick answer — Can I host game servers on a rented dedicated server?**

Yes, you can host game servers on a rented dedicated server from **Ironatoll** when the game publishes a Linux dedicated server. Minecraft Java, Valheim, Counter-Strike 2, Palworld and Rust do; ARK: Survival Ascended is Windows-only. Open the game's ports, favour fast single-core CPUs, and plan DDoS filtering yourself. Plans start at $63.68 per 30 days, no KYC, paid in crypto.

## Game servers on Ironatoll: the facts

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Systems | Linux only: Debian, Ubuntu, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, and Proxmox VE to run your own virtual machines. No Windows |
| Linux game servers (checked 30 October 2026) | Minecraft Java, Valheim, Counter-Strike 2, Palworld, Rust |
| Windows-only, so not here | ARK: Survival Ascended |
| Access | Root access over SSH: add your own public key at checkout and password login stays off, or leave it empty and get a temporary root password with your server, to change at first login |
| Network | Every server has one dedicated IPv4 address and an IPv6 /64. The port speed and the monthly traffic are listed with each plan; traffic counts outgoing data per 30-day period, and over the quota there is never an automatic extra charge |
| DDoS | Against DDoS attacks we promise nothing beyond the default handling of the datacenter network |
| Price | Atoll 16 $63.68, Atoll 32 $72.15, Atoll 64 $72.62, Atoll 128 $205.27, Atoll 256 $406.37 per 30 days |

## Which "dedicated server" does this page mean?

**In games, a "dedicated server" is a program that hosts the world with no player attached. In hosting, it is a whole physical machine you rent.** This page is about the second: renting a machine to run the first.

Palworld, Valheim or Counter-Strike 2 ship their dedicated server as separate software, usually installed with SteamCMD. You can run it on a home PC. A rented server keeps the world online when your PC is off, with a fixed public IP and no home router to configure.

## Which games publish a Linux dedicated server?

We checked each game's own documentation on 30 October 2026. Ironatoll installs Linux only, so a game needs a native Linux server to run here.

### Linux support and default ports, from each game's documentation

| Game | Linux server | Default port | Official notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Minecraft: Java Edition | Yes: runs wherever Java runs | 25565 | Paper needs Java 25; its start example uses a 4 GB heap |
| Valheim | Yes: `start_server.sh` | 2456 and 2457 (port and port + 1) | Needs libatomic1, libpulse-dev, libpulse0 and GLIBC 2.29 |
| Counter-Strike 2 | Yes: Linux build via SteamCMD (app 730) | 27015 (`-port`) | Glibc needs Ubuntu 20.04, Debian 11 or Enterprise Linux 9 or newer |
| Palworld | Yes: "Linux 64bit (Ubuntu, AlmaLinux etc...)" | 8211 UDP | 4 cores or more; 16 GB RAM, 32 GB or more for larger servers |
| Rust | Yes: Windows, Linux or OSX | 28015 UDP | 12 GB free RAM, 15 GB disk, SSD or NVMe preferred |
| ARK: Survival Ascended | No: Windows or a Windows-like environment only | 7777 UDP | 4 logical cores per instance, single-thread speed preferred |

**ARK: Survival Ascended does not fit a Linux-only host: its official community wiki says it "does not support Linux natively".** The same wiki adds a licence rule: without a Nitrado licence, servers are for personal, non-commercial use. Every other game in the table has a native Linux server.

## How do I open the game's ports in the firewall?

**Open only the game port, keep SSH, and drop everything else.** Admin consoles such as RCON stay closed, or open to your own IP only. Run each game under its own unprivileged user, never as root, and install it with the SteamCMD command from the game's own guide.

The nftables ruleset below opens the defaults from the table. Delete the lines for games you do not run. Where the documentation we read names no protocol, the rule opens both TCP and UDP.

*/etc/nftables.conf for game servers*

```bash
#!/usr/sbin/nft -f
flush ruleset

table inet filter {
  chain input {
    type filter hook input priority 0; policy drop;
    ct state established,related accept
    iif "lo" accept
    meta l4proto ipv6-icmp accept
    tcp dport 22 accept
    tcp dport 25565 accept                                   # Minecraft Java
    meta l4proto { tcp, udp } th dport { 2456-2457 } accept  # Valheim
    meta l4proto { tcp, udp } th dport 27015 accept          # Counter-Strike 2
    udp dport 8211 accept                                    # Palworld
    udp dport 28015 accept                                   # Rust
  }
}
```

## Does CPU single-thread speed matter for a game server?

**Yes: for a game server, one fast core usually beats many slow ones.** The ARK wiki states the rule for its own server: single-thread performance is "preferred over having more cores". Facepunch's Rust wiki says that the more players you have, the faster the CPU needs to be.

Check the CPU model before you rent. **According to Ironatoll's check of 30 October 2026, 27 of 34 active hosts sold their cheapest dedicated server on a CPU launched before 2018.** Old server chips have many cores but slow ones. Our [Ryzen or EPYC comparison](https://ironatoll.com/ryzen-vs-epyc-dedicated-server/ "Ryzen or EPYC: which dedicated server CPU should I choose?") explains which platform has the faster single core.

## Do game servers need DDoS protection?

**A public game server is the most exposed thing you can run: every player who joins learns its IP address.** And a web CDN does not help here. Cloudflare's proxied records carry HTTP and HTTPS only; covering every TCP and UDP port through Spectrum needs its Enterprise plan.

Ironatoll's rule: Against DDoS attacks we promise nothing beyond the default handling of the datacenter network. For a private server with friends, a firewall and a server password are usually enough. For a large public server, add a filtering service in front of the machine, or compare hosts in our [ranking of offshore dedicated server providers](https://ironatoll.com/best-offshore-dedicated-server/ "Offshore dedicated server providers compared on price, KYC and policies"). Our page on [whether you need DDoS protection on a dedicated server](https://ironatoll.com/ddos-protected-dedicated-server/ "DDoS protection on a dedicated server: who needs it and what to add") covers the options.

## Which Ironatoll plan fits my game server?

Size RAM from the game's own figures, then add room for the system. Several servers fit on one machine, each on its own port. To isolate them, run one VM per game: see [how to install Proxmox on a dedicated server](https://ironatoll.com/install-proxmox-on-dedicated-server/ "Proxmox VE on a rented dedicated server, step by step"). Every plan is on [how much an Ironatoll dedicated server costs](https://ironatoll.com/pricing/ "Ironatoll plans and prices per 30 days").

### Ironatoll plans for game servers

| Plan | CPU | Cores | RAM | Price per 30 days | Fits |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Atoll 16 | Intel Xeon E-2236 | 6 cores / 12 threads | 16 GB | $63.68 | One Minecraft or Rust server |
| Atoll 32 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600 | 6 cores / 12 threads | 32 GB | $72.15 | Palworld at its 16 GB figure, or two smaller servers |
| Atoll 64 | Intel Xeon E-2288G | 8 cores / 16 threads | 64 GB | $72.62 | Palworld at 32 GB or more, or several games |
| Atoll 128 | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | 16 cores / 32 threads | 128 GB | $205.27 | A Proxmox host with one VM per game |
| Atoll 256 | AMD EPYC 7443P | 24 cores / 48 threads | 256 GB | $406.37 | Many worlds for a large community |

## Game servers on a rented dedicated server: FAQ

### What is the best OS for a dedicated Minecraft server?

Any system with a recent Java works, and Linux is the usual choice for a rented machine. Paper, the common server software, needs Java 25. Every Ironatoll image is Linux.

### Can I host ARK: Survival Ascended on Ironatoll?

No. Its official community wiki says the server needs Windows and has no native Linux build, and Ironatoll installs no Windows. Without a Nitrado licence, ARK servers are also limited to personal, non-commercial use.

### Can I run several game servers on one dedicated server?

Yes. Give each server its own port and its own user, and check that the RAM adds up. For full isolation, run each game in its own Proxmox VM behind NAT.

### Can console players join a Valheim server on Linux?

Yes. Iron Gate's guide says the `-crossplay` launch option runs the server on the PlayFab backend, so players from any platform can join. Without it, only Steam players can connect.

### Is a VPS enough for a game server?

For a few friends on a light game, often yes. A dedicated server gives every core and all the RAM to your worlds, with no neighbours. Our [dedicated server or VPS comparison](https://ironatoll.com/dedicated-server-vs-vps/ "Dedicated server or VPS: which one do I need?") explains the trade-off.

**Rent a Linux machine for your game servers** Whole servers from $63.68 per 30 days, root over SSH. No KYC, paid in crypto. [Order Atoll 32](https://ironatoll.com/app/checkout/?plan=atoll-32&lang=en) · [Compare plans](https://ironatoll.com/pricing/ "How much does an Ironatoll dedicated server cost?")

## Sources

1. [Download the Minecraft: Java Edition server (setup notes, port 25565)](https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/download/server) — Mojang / minecraft.net (read 2026-10-30)
2. [Getting started (Java 25, start command)](https://docs.papermc.io/paper/getting-started) — PaperMC docs (read 2026-10-30)
3. [A guide to dedicated servers](https://valheimgame.com/support/a-guide-to-dedicated-servers/) — Iron Gate / valheimgame.com (read 2026-10-30)
4. [Counter-Strike 2 Dedicated Servers](https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Counter-Strike_2/Dedicated_Servers) — Valve Developer Community (read 2026-10-30)
5. [Requirements (dedicated server)](https://docs.palworldgame.com/getting-started/requirements) — Pocketpair / Palworld docs (read 2026-10-30)
6. [Creating a server](https://wiki.facepunch.com/rust/Creating-a-server) — Facepunch Rust wiki (read 2026-10-30)
7. [Dedicated server setup](https://ark.wiki.gg/wiki/Dedicated_server_setup) — ARK Official Community Wiki (read 2026-10-30)
8. [Network ports (proxied HTTP/HTTPS ports, Spectrum)](https://developers.cloudflare.com/fundamentals/reference/network-ports/) — Cloudflare Docs (read 2026-10-30)

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Ironatoll: Ironatoll rents offshore dedicated servers (bare metal) in Amsterdam, Reykjavik, Zurich and Bucharest, paid in crypto with no KYC: no ID, no selfie, no documents. Each server is a whole physical machine for one customer, with root access over SSH. It is run by DomaineGoat LLC, a company registered in Panama that ignores DMCA notices, answers only to Panamanian law, allows Tor exit relays and keeps no logs. On the 30-day term, each plan is priced at least 25% under a named comparable dedicated server from 17 no-KYC crypto hosts, read on 30 October 2026.