This guide covers admin setup, RCON access, Workshop mod installation, scenario mods, BattlEye anti-cheat configuration, and troubleshooting for your Arma Reforger dedicated server. For initial server setup, configuration, scenario selection, and connection instructions, see Arma Reforger Server Setup Guide.

1. Admin Setup

Arma Reforger uses an identity-based admin system. Admins are defined in the config.json file using their Bohemia Interactive (BI) identity IDs.

Finding Your Identity ID

1. Launch Arma Reforger and open the Profile section from the main menu.
2. Your Bohemia Interactive identity ID is displayed on your profile page. It is a long alphanumeric string.
3. Alternatively, you can find it on your Bohemia Interactive account page under your profile settings.

Adding Admins to config.json

1. Stop the server from GPanel.
2. Open config.json using the Files tab or via SFTP.
3. Locate or add the admins array inside the game object. Add the identity IDs of each admin player:

{
  "game": {
    "name": "My Server",
    "admins": [
      "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx",
      "yyyyyyyyyyyyyyy"
    ],
    ...
  }
}

• Each entry in the admins array is a string containing one player's Bohemia Interactive identity ID.
• You can add as many admins as needed. Separate entries with commas.
• Save the file and start the server. The listed players will have admin privileges when they join.

Admin Capabilities

Players listed in the admins array have access to:

• Kick/Ban players through the in-game server management menu.
• Game Master mode -- If running a Game Master scenario, admins can act as the GM, placing units, objectives, and controlling the scenario in real-time.
• Administrative commands through the in-game console when enabled.

2. RCON Access

RCON (Remote Console) allows you to execute server commands without joining the game. This is useful for automated management, scheduled restarts, and monitoring.

Setting Up RCON

1. Set the ADMIN_PASSWORD startup variable in GPanel, or set passwordAdmin in config.json. This is the RCON password.
2. Ensure the RCON port is accessible. By default, the RCON port is your game port plus 1 (e.g., game port 2001 = RCON port 2002). Check GPanel's Network tab for your allocated ports.

Connecting via RCON

You can use any BattlEye RCON-compatible client to connect. Popular options include:

• BattlEye RCon -- The official BattlEye RCON client.
• ArmA Reforger Server Tool -- Community tools designed for Reforger server management.

Connect using your server's IP, RCON port, and admin password.

3. Workshop Mod Installation

Arma Reforger supports mods through the Bohemia Interactive Workshop. Mods are added to the server by specifying their mod IDs in config.json.

Finding Mod IDs

1. Browse the Arma Reforger Workshop in-game or on the Bohemia Interactive website.
2. Find the mod you want to install and note its Mod ID (a long alphanumeric string) and Version number.
3. Some mods also have a Scenario ID if they include custom scenarios. You will need this if you want to run a modded scenario.

Adding Mods to config.json

1. Stop the server from GPanel.
2. Open config.json using the Files tab or via SFTP.
3. Locate the mods array inside the game object. Add each mod using the following format:

{
  "game": {
    "mods": [
      {
        "modId": "5965280B2B15DE67",
        "name": "Example Mod",
        "version": "1.0.0"
      },
      {
        "modId": "ABC123DEF4567890",
        "name": "Another Mod",
        "version": "2.1.0"
      }
    ],
    ...
  }
}

• modId -- The unique Workshop mod identifier.
• name -- A descriptive name for your reference. This does not affect loading but helps identify mods in the config.
• version -- The mod version to use. The server will download this version from the Workshop on startup.

Load Order

Mods are loaded in the order they appear in the mods array. If you have mods that depend on other mods (e.g., a mod that requires a framework mod), list the dependency first:

"mods": [
  { "modId": "FRAMEWORK_MOD_ID", "name": "Framework", "version": "1.0.0" },
  { "modId": "DEPENDENT_MOD_ID", "name": "Addon", "version": "1.0.0" }
]

4. Scenario Mods

Some Workshop mods include custom scenarios (game modes or maps). To use a modded scenario:

1. Add the mod to the mods array as described above.
2. Set the scenarioId to the scenario's resource ID, which is provided in the mod's Workshop description.

{
  "game": {
    "scenarioId": "{MOD_SCENARIO_RESOURCE_ID}Missions/CustomMission.conf",
    "mods": [
      {
        "modId": "SCENARIO_MOD_ID",
        "name": "Custom Scenario Mod",
        "version": "1.0.0"
      }
    ]
  }
}

5. BattlEye Anti-Cheat

Arma Reforger includes BattlEye anti-cheat protection. It is enabled by default and recommended for public servers.

The battlEye setting is located inside the gameProperties object in config.json:

"gameProperties": {
  "battlEye": true
}

6. Troubleshooting

Mods Not Loading

• Verify the modId and version in config.json are correct. Copy them directly from the Workshop listing to avoid typos.
• Check the server console log for download errors. The server may fail to download mods if the Workshop is temporarily unavailable.
• Ensure the mod is compatible with the current version of Arma Reforger. Mods may break after game updates.
• Try removing all mods and adding them one at a time to identify which mod is causing issues.
• Verify your JSON syntax is correct. A syntax error anywhere in config.json will prevent the entire file from loading.

Server Crashes

• Check the console for error messages before the crash. Common causes include incompatible mods and invalid configuration values.
• If the crash occurs after adding a mod, remove the mod and test again. Some mods may conflict with each other.
• Validate config.json with a JSON validator to rule out syntax errors.
• Try reducing maxPlayers or serverMaxViewDistance if the server crashes under load.
• If crashes persist, open a support ticket with your server IP, the content of config.json (redact passwords), and any error messages from the console.

Connection Issues

• If players cannot connect after adding mods, confirm they have the same mods installed. Arma Reforger will prompt players to download required mods when joining, but this can fail if the mod version does not match exactly.
• Verify the version field in your mod entries matches the version available on the Workshop. Outdated version numbers will cause a mismatch.
• Check that battlEye settings are consistent -- if enabled on the server, players must have BattlEye running.
• If the server is not visible in the browser, check that visible is true and a2sQueryEnabled is true in config.json.
• Ensure both the server and all clients are running the same game version. Arma Reforger updates can temporarily break compatibility.

Admin Privileges Not Working

• Confirm your Bohemia Interactive identity ID is correctly listed in the admins array in config.json.
• Identity IDs are case-sensitive. Copy them exactly as shown in your Bohemia profile.
• Ensure config.json is properly formatted. A JSON syntax error will prevent the admins list from loading.
• Restart the server after making changes to config.json. Changes are only read on startup.

Related Articles

• Arma Reforger Server Setup Guide
• How to Find Your Server IP and Port
• How to Upload Files via SFTP
• Server Startup Guide

Need Help?

If you run into issues with your Arma Reforger 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.