This guide covers admin setup, player management, world management, backups, resets, and troubleshooting for your Sunkenland dedicated server. For initial server setup and configuration, see Sunkenland Server Setup Guide.
1. Admin Setup
Setting Up Admin Access
Admin access in Sunkenland is managed through the AdminSteamIDs.txt file. Add your Steam64 ID to this file to gain admin privileges:
- Log in to GPanel and select your Sunkenland server.
- Stop the server if it is running.
- Open the Files tab and navigate to your world folder.
- Open
AdminSteamIDs.txtand add your Steam64 ID (one per line). - Save the file and start the server.
Logging In as Admin In-Game
- Connect to your server.
- Open the in-game chat or console.
- Enter the admin login command:
/admin YourAdminPassword - A confirmation message will appear if authentication is successful.
2. Admin Commands
After authenticating as admin, the following commands are available via the in-game chat. Prefix all commands with /.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/admin <password> |
Authenticate as admin with the configured password. |
/kick <player_name> |
Kick a player from the server. |
/ban <player_name> |
Ban a player from the server. They cannot rejoin until unbanned. |
/unban <player_name> |
Remove a player's ban. |
/save |
Force an immediate world save. |
/time <value> |
Set the in-game time of day (e.g., /time 12 for noon). |
/weather <type> |
Change the current weather (e.g., clear, rain, storm). |
/players |
List all currently connected players. |
/announce <message> |
Send a server-wide announcement visible to all players. |
3. Player Management
Kicking Players
To remove a player from the current session:
/kick PlayerName
The player is disconnected immediately but can rejoin unless banned.
Banning Players
To permanently block a player:
/ban PlayerName
Bans persist across server restarts. To remove a ban:
/unban PlayerName
Using a Server Password
For private sessions, set a server password in the GPanel Startup tab or the server configuration file. This is the most reliable way to control access, as only players with the password can connect.
Viewing Connected Players
Use the /players command to see a list of all connected players, including their names and connection status.
4. World Management
Forcing a Save
To trigger an immediate world save without waiting for the auto-save interval:
/save
This is useful before performing maintenance, changing settings, or shutting down the server.
Backing Up Your World
- Run
/savein-game to ensure all data is written, or stop the server from GPanel. - Connect via SFTP (see How to Upload Files via SFTP).
- Navigate to the
saves/directory. - Download the entire world folder to your local machine.
- Store the backup with a descriptive name and date (e.g.,
default_backup_2026-02-26).
Restoring a Backup
- Stop the server from GPanel.
- Connect via SFTP and navigate to
saves/. - Delete or rename the current world folder.
- Upload your backup folder, ensuring the name matches the
world_namesetting. - Start the server from GPanel.
Resetting the World
To completely wipe your world and start fresh:
- Stop the server from GPanel.
- Connect via SFTP and navigate to
saves/. - Back up the world folder first if you want to preserve it.
- Delete the world folder matching your
world_namesetting. - Start the server. A new world will be generated with your current configuration settings.
Switching Worlds
To switch to a different world without deleting the current one:
- Stop the server from GPanel.
- Change the
WORLD_NAMEstartup variable in the Startup tab to a different name. - Start the server. If the world does not exist, a new one will be generated.
- To switch back, change
WORLD_NAMEback to the original name and restart.
5. Adjusting Game Settings
Changing Difficulty
Edit the configuration file to adjust difficulty:
difficulty=Hard
Options: Easy, Normal, Hard. Restart the server after changes.
Toggling PvP/PvE
Switch between cooperative and competitive modes:
game_mode=PvP
Set to PvE for cooperative play or PvP for competitive. Restart required.
Loot Respawn
Control how quickly loot containers refill:
loot_respawn_time=1800
Value is in seconds. Lower values make loot more abundant; higher values create scarcity.
6. Troubleshooting
Admin Commands Not Working
- Verify you have authenticated with
/admin YourPasswordfirst. - Check that your Steam64 ID is listed in
AdminSteamIDs.txtin your world folder. - Ensure you are typing the player name exactly as it appears (case-sensitive).
World Not Loading After Restore
- Verify the restored folder name matches the
world_namesetting exactly. - Ensure the backup is from a compatible game version. Major updates may change save formats.
- Check the GPanel console for specific error messages during load.
Server Crashes
- Check the GPanel console for error messages before the crash.
- Delete the configuration file and restart to regenerate defaults.
- If a corrupted save is suspected, try loading a different world name or restoring from backup.
- If crashes persist, open a support ticket with error messages from the console.
Players Cannot Connect After Reset
- Verify the server has fully started and finished world generation (check the console).
- Confirm the server password has not changed.
- Check server IP and port in GPanel Network tab.
Related Articles
- Sunkenland Server Setup Guide
- How to Find Your Server IP and Port
- How to Upload Files via SFTP
- Server Startup Guide
Need Help?
If you encounter issues not covered here, open a support ticket and include your server IP, a description of the problem, and any error messages from the GPanel console.