Setting up Valheim Dedicated Server on Slackware64

Posted on Apr 11, 2021 by kingbeowulf

This guide will assist in setting up a Valheim Dedicated Server (VHDS) on Slackware64-current. This procedure should also work on Slackware6-14.2, although additional prerequisites may be required. The process is similar to setting up a Half-Life Dedicated Server (HLDS) with one important simplification. We will be using LinuxGSM: the Linux Game Server Manager.

LinuxGSM is a command line tools written in BASH to greatly simplify and streamline the installation of Linux dedicated game servers. The instructions are easy and straightforward.

Prerequisites

---------------

Slackware64 multilib
steamCMD (32-bit only)
LinuxGSM (bash) [NOTE: LinuxGSM will install steamCMD.]

The VHDS is x86_64 while SteamCMD is 32-bit. Thus, we need to convert Slackware64 to Slackware64-multilib. Instructions for doing so are described in "Adding Multilib Capability to Slackware on x86_64 Architecture". If you've set up the Steam Client on Slackware64, then you are familiar with this process.

As the 'root' user, you first create a dedicated user account under which SteamCMD ann VHDS will run.

1# groupadd steam
2# useradd -g steam -m -d /home/steam -c "Steam server account" -s /bin/bash steam

Then set a password for the new “steam” account:

1# passwd steam

For convenience, symlink 'ip' and 'ethtool' so that the steam user can access these tools, since we are not going to use 'sudo', and to squash the resulting errors and warnings. For some reason the LinuxGSM scripts to not use the full file path which would make this step necessary. I might submit a bug/feature request about this.

1# ln -s /sbin/ip /bin/ip
2# ln -s /usr/sbin/ethtool /usr/bin/ethtool

Valheim server uses anonymous login. Other servers will prompt for a Steam login. You can create a new Steam user dedicated to running servers. Recommended. Do not use your current Steam Client login. You can place the Steam login credentials into $HOME/lgsm/config-lgsm/<servername>/secrets-{common|<servername>}.cfg, but note that these credentials are stored in plain text.

1## SteamCMD Login
2steamuser="username"
3steampass="password"

Now we are ready to Install LinuxGSM. This will install SteamCMD automatically as needed. Login as our 'steam' user, and download LinuxGSM, and install:

1$ cd $HOME
2$ wget -O linuxgsm.sh https://linuxgsm.sh
3$ chmod +x linuxgsm.sh

You can get a list of all available servers with:

1$ ./linuxgsm.sh list

Now to install out Valheim server:

1$ ./linuxgsm.sh vhserver
2$ ./vhserver install

Now you have the following in your 'steam' user home directory, as well as a '.steam' for the SteamCMD files:

 1$ tree -d -L 3
 2.
 3├── lgsm
 4│   ├── backup
 5│   │   └── script
 6│   ├── config-default
 7│   │   └── config-lgsm
 8│   ├── config-lgsm
 9│   │   └── vhserver
10│   ├── data
11│   ├── functions
12│   ├── lock
13│   └── tmp
14├── log
15│   ├── console
16│   ├── script
17│   └── server -> /home/steam/serverfiles/Saved/Logs
18└── serverfiles
19    ├── Saved
20    │   └── Logs
21    ├── linux64
22    ├── steamapps
23    │   ├── downloading
24    │   ├── shadercache
25    │   └── temp
26    └── valheim_server_Data
27        ├── Managed
28        ├── MonoBleedingEdge
29        ├── Plugins
30        └── Resources

Next, You'll want to adjust the default configuration to set up the server parameters. '~/lgsm/config-default/config-lgsm/' contains the default and example configurations. Leave the _default.cfg alone as they will be overwritten on updates. Each lower layer overrides the previous one. This is so that you can set up multiple independent servers.

In the '~/lgsm/config/lgsm/vhserver' directory, copy _default.cfg to common.cfg and customize as needed. Since we are running just one Valheim server, we can stuff everyting into common.cfg. Whan runnign multiple servers, the common parameters are here, and parameters specific to each server is on secrets-<server name>.cfg and <server name>.cfg. Set up the server parameters (customize as needed):

1#### Game Server Settings ####
2
3## Predefined Parameters | https://docs.linuxgsm.com/configuration/start-parameters
4servername="<Server name>"
5serverpassword="<server password>"
6port="2456"
7gameworld="${selfname}"
8public="1"
9ip=<server local LAN IP>

The rest you can leave at the defaults, or customize as needed.

I recommend setting the PC running the server to a fixed IP on your home network. Port=2456 (UDP) is the default; change as needed. Next, open your router's firewall or use port forwarding for port range 2456-2458 (UDP). Note that the port specified in the configuration is the start of a port triplet. When connecting via the Steam client, the Valheim in game community browser can be a bit finicky. You can explicitly set the server IP via the Steam Client View -> Servers -> Favorites -> Add a Server and enter the <server IP>:<port+1>

NOTE: This is the external, or direct, IP from your internet service provider. This will not necessarily be the IP in config.cfg if you are behind a router/cable modem etc.

[Update: The in-game server browser has improved a bit, but can still take some time to find your server. There is now a button for direct IP entry.]

Now run the server:

1$ ./vhserver start

Just running 'vhserver' will provide a list of commands. View server information with:

1$ ./vhserver details

This will provide your external IP. A number of server commands are available (see References). Valheim specific information is located: ~/serverfiles/Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf

References:

https://linuxgsm.com

https://docs.linuxgsm.com/

https://docs.linuxgsm.com/steamcmd

https://linuxgsm.com/lgsm/vhserver/

https://docs.linuxgsm.com/commands

https://docs.slackware.com/howtos:games:halflife_dedicated_server

https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD

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Related Topics:
dedicated
linuxgsm
steam
valheim
server

Setting up Valheim Dedicated Server on Slackware64

References:

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