The Forest Dedicated Server Setup Guide

This guide covers how to configure your The Forest dedicated server on Legion Hosting, including config.cfg settings, difficulty modes, save management, and how to connect.

Accessing Your Server Panel

All server management is done through GPanel at gpanel.legionhosting.net. Log in with your Legion Hosting credentials to access your file manager, console, and server controls.

Configuration File (config.cfg)

The main server configuration file is config.cfg, located at:

TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/forest/config/config.cfg

You can edit it directly through the GPanel file manager or via SFTP. After making changes, restart your server for them to take effect.

Server Identity

Setting	Example Value	Description
serverName	My Forest Server	The name displayed in the server browser. Keep it unique and descriptive.
serverPassword	secretpass	Password required to join. Leave blank for a public server.
maxPlayers	8	Maximum number of players allowed (1–8).
serverSteamAccount	(your token)	Steam Game Server Login Token (GSLT). Required for the server to appear in the Steam server browser. Generate one at steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers using App ID 242760.

Gameplay Settings

Setting	Values	Description
difficulty	0, 1, 2, 3	Difficulty mode. See the Difficulty Modes section below for details.
veganMode	true / false	Disables all enemies (cannibals and mutants) when set to true.
vegetarianMode	true / false	Enemies only appear at night when set to true.
allowBuildingDestruction	true / false	Whether enemies can destroy player-built structures.
allowEnemiesCreativeMode	true / false	Enables enemies even when creative mode is active.
allowTrees	true / false	Controls whether cut trees regrow over time.
enableSpawnRegion	true / false	Restricts player spawns to the crash site area.

Network Settings

Your assigned game port and query port are shown in GPanel's Network tab. Ensure the serverPort and serverQueryPort values in config.cfg match your assigned ports.

Setting	Description
serverPort	Primary game port (UDP). Must match the game port shown in GPanel's Network tab.
serverQueryPort	Steam query port (UDP). Must match the query port shown in GPanel's Network tab.
serverIP	IP to bind to. Leave as 0.0.0.0 to bind all interfaces (recommended).

Save Settings

Setting	Example Value	Description
saveFolderPath	TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/	Directory where save files are stored, relative to the server root. Defaults to TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/ if not set.
slot	1	Save slot number (1–5). Each slot is an independent world.
initType	New / Continue	Set to New to start a fresh world, or Continue to load an existing save.

Difficulty Modes

The difficulty setting controls the overall challenge level of the server:

Value	Mode	Description
0	Peaceful	No enemies. Ideal for building-focused servers.
1	Normal	Standard difficulty. Balanced survival experience.
2	Hard	Increased enemy aggression and fewer resources.
3	Hard Survival	Most challenging mode. Realistic survival mechanics, permadeath on some settings.

How to Connect to Your Server

Finding Your IP and Port

Before connecting, you will need your server's IP address and port. See our guide: How to Find Your Server IP and Port.

Your assigned game port and query port are shown in GPanel's Network tab. Ensure the serverPort and serverQueryPort values in config.cfg match your assigned ports.

Method 1: Steam Server Browser

1. In Steam, open View > Game Servers.
2. Click the Favorites tab, then click Add a Server.
3. Enter your server's IP and query port (from GPanel's Network tab) in the format your.ip.address:QueryPort and click Add This Address to Favorites.
4. Your server should appear in the list. Double-click it or select it and click Connect.
5. If the server has a password, you will be prompted to enter it.

Method 2: Direct Connect In-Game

1. Launch The Forest and select Multiplayer from the main menu.
2. Choose Join Game, then switch to the Friends / LAN tab.
3. If your server is not listed automatically, look for a Direct Connect or Enter IP option and enter your server IP and game port (from GPanel's Network tab).

Save File Management

Save File Location

Save files are stored in the directory defined by saveFolderPath in config.cfg. By default this is the TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/ folder within your server root. Each save slot is a numbered subfolder (e.g., TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/1/, TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/2/).

Backing Up a Save

1. Stop your server from GPanel to prevent data corruption during copy.
2. Navigate to the TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/ directory in the GPanel file manager or connect via SFTP.
3. Download the entire slot folder (e.g., TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/1/) to your local machine.
4. Restart your server when done.

Restoring a Save

1. Stop your server.
2. Upload your backup slot folder back to the correct path (e.g., TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/1/), overwriting the existing files.
3. Ensure initType is set to Continue and slot matches the slot number you restored.
4. Start your server.

Starting a New World

1. Stop your server.
2. Change the slot value in config.cfg to an unused slot number (e.g., 2), or delete the contents of the current slot folder to wipe it.
3. Set initType to New.
4. Start your server. Once the world has generated, set initType back to Continue.

Related Articles

• The Forest Server Admin and Host Controls — Admin list, whitelist, and in-game commands
• The Forest Server Troubleshooting — Common issues and solutions

Still Need Help?

If you have followed this guide and are still experiencing issues, our support team is available to assist. Open a support ticket and include your server ID, a description of the problem, and any relevant console output.