This guide covers server administration, ban management, mission rotation configuration, modding support, and troubleshooting for your Nuclear Option dedicated server. Nuclear Option is a near-future air combat game with tactical and strategic nuclear weapons. For initial setup, startup variables, and connection instructions, see Nuclear Option Server Setup Guide.

1. Server Administration

Nuclear Option server management is done through:

• DedicatedServerConfig.json: Main configuration file in the server root directory.
• GPanel Console: View server output and logs in the Console tab of GPanel.
• Ban List: Text-based ban system via ban_list.txt.

2. Ban Management

Nuclear Option uses a text-based ban list. The ban file path is configured in DedicatedServerConfig.json:

"BanListPaths": ["ban_list.txt"]

Banning a Player

1. Identify the player's Steam ID from the server logs.
2. Stop the server.
3. Open ban_list.txt in the server root (create it if it does not exist).
4. Add the Steam ID on a new line.
5. Start the server.

Unbanning a Player

1. Stop the server.
2. Open ban_list.txt and remove the player's Steam ID.
3. Start the server.

3. Mission Rotation

Configure mission rotation in DedicatedServerConfig.json:

"MissionRotation": [
  {
    "Key": { "Group": "BuiltIn", "Name": "Escalation" },
    "MaxTime": 7200
  },
  {
    "Key": { "Group": "BuiltIn", "Name": "Terminal Control" },
    "MaxTime": 7200
  }
],
"RotationType": 0

Custom Missions

Place custom mission files in the NuclearOption-Missions/ directory and reference them in the rotation:

{
  "Key": { "Group": "Custom", "Name": "MyMission" },
  "MaxTime": 3600
}

4. Modded Server

To run a modded server:

1. Set MODDED_SERVER to true in GPanel Startup variables.
2. Upload mod files to the server via SFTP (see How to Upload Files via SFTP).
3. Restart the server.

5. Server Settings via GPanel

6. Troubleshooting

Server Not Starting

• Check the GPanel console for error messages.
• Verify DedicatedServerConfig.json is valid JSON.
• Ensure the QUERY_PORT is assigned correctly in the Network tab.

Players Cannot Connect

• Verify the server is running in GPanel.
• Ensure players have the correct password.
• If modded, ensure players have matching mods installed.
• Check the correct IP and port from the Network tab.

Missions Not Loading

• Verify the MissionRotation array is properly formatted in DedicatedServerConfig.json.
• Ensure built-in mission names are spelled correctly (Escalation, Terminal Control).
• For custom missions, verify the files exist in NuclearOption-Missions/.

Related Articles

• Nuclear Option Server Setup Guide
• How to Find Your Server IP and Port
• How to Upload Files via SFTP

Need Help?

If you run into issues with your Nuclear Option server that are not covered here, open a support ticket and include your server IP, a description of the problem, and any relevant error messages from the GPanel console.