RuneScape: Dragonwilds – Complete Guide to Hosting a Server on Ubuntu

How to Host Your Own Server (Rental Service Provider)

You can host a server at game server hosting provider:

• RuneScape: Dragonwilds Server!

Note: Every gaming server goes online immediately! A welcome email including your connection information (guide) will be sent to you when your gaming server is created.

Phase 1: Prepare Ubuntu

SteamCMD is an older 32-bit application, so Ubuntu needs support for the 32-bit architecture and the required library.

Run these commands one at a time:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install lib32gcc-s1

Linux is case-sensitive, so enter commands and file paths exactly as shown. For example, Downloads and downloads are different folders.

Phase 2: Create a Dedicated Server User

Do not run the game server using an administrator account. Create a separate user for DragonWilds:

sudo adduser dragonwilds

Follow the prompts to set a password. The questions about room numbers, phone numbers, and similar information can be skipped by pressing Enter.

Switch to the new user:

sudo su - dragonwilds

The - ensures that you load into the new user’s home directory, /home/dragonwilds.

Phase 3: Install SteamCMD

Create a directory for SteamCMD and download it:

mkdir ~/steamcmd
cd ~/steamcmd
wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
./steamcmd.sh

SteamCMD will download its updates and eventually display the Steam> prompt.

Type:

quit

Then press Enter to return to the normal command line.

Phase 4: Install the DragonWilds Server

Install the DragonWilds dedicated server with SteamCMD:

./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir ~/rs_server +login anonymous +app_update 4019830 validate +quit

This forces the server files to be installed into ~/rs_server, logs into Steam anonymously, downloads the game server using App ID 4019830, validates the files, and then exits SteamCMD.

Important: Use the validate option only during this first installation. Do not use validate for future updates, as it will completely wipe the server configuration file.

Phase 5: Generate and Edit the Server Configuration

The server needs to run once to generate its configuration files.

Start the server:

cd ~/rs_server
./RSDragonwildsServer.sh -log -Port=7777

Wait approximately 30 to 60 seconds until the text stops moving rapidly, indicating that the server has fully booted. Then stop it with:

Ctrl+C

Open the generated configuration file with Nano:

nano ~/rs_server/RSDragonwilds/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/DedicatedServer.ini

Add your Owner ID and set the server name as required.

To save the file in Nano:

1. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor.
2. Make the required changes.
3. Press Ctrl+O to save.
4. Press Enter to confirm the filename.
5. Press Ctrl+X to exit Nano.

Phase 6: Create a Systemd Service

The server can be configured as a system service so it continues running in the background, starts automatically after the machine restarts, performs automatic configuration backups, uses safe updates without the destructive validate option, and automatically restarts if the server crashes.

First, return to the administrator account:

exit

Create the service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/dragonwilds.service

Add the following configuration exactly as shown:

[Unit]
Description=RuneScape Dragonwilds Dedicated Server
Wants=network-online.target
After=network-online.target

[Service]
# Run as the server user, not root
Type=simple
User=dragonwilds
Group=dragonwilds
TimeoutStartSec=10min

# The directory where the files live
WorkingDirectory=/home/dragonwilds/rs_server

# 0. Ensure our safe, isolated backup directory exists
ExecStartPre=/bin/mkdir -p /home/dragonwilds/dragonwilds_backups

# 1. Backup the config to the safe folder
ExecStartPre=/bin/bash -c "cp /home/dragonwilds/rs_server/RSDragonwilds/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/DedicatedServer.ini /home/dragonwilds/dragonwilds_backups/DedicatedServer.ini.bak || true"

# 2. Run SteamCMD update without the destructive 'validate' flag
ExecStartPre=/home/dragonwilds/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir /home/dragonwilds/rs_server +login anonymous +app_update 4019830 +quit

# 3. Restore the saved config file from the safe folder
ExecStartPre=/bin/bash -c "cp /home/dragonwilds/dragonwilds_backups/DedicatedServer.ini.bak /home/dragonwilds/rs_server/RSDragonwilds/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/DedicatedServer.ini || true"

# 4. Guarantee script is executable (in case SteamCMD wipes the permissions)
ExecStartPre=/bin/bash -c "chmod +x /home/dragonwilds/rs_server/RSDragonwildsServer.sh"

# The command to start the server
ExecStart=/home/dragonwilds/rs_server/RSDragonwildsServer.sh -log -NewConsole -Port=7777

# If the server crashes or is killed, restart it after 15 seconds
Restart=always
RestartSec=15

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save and exit Nano with Ctrl+O, Enter, and Ctrl+X.

Phase 7: Enable and Start the Server

Reload systemd so Ubuntu detects the new service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Enable the service so it automatically starts whenever the VM turns on:

sudo systemctl enable dragonwilds

Start the server:

sudo systemctl start dragonwilds

Check the server status at any time with:

sudo systemctl status dragonwilds

Press q to exit the status screen.

Open UDP Port 7777

Players need access to UDP port 7777 to connect to the server.

If the Ubuntu firewall is being used, allow the port with:

sudo ufw allow 7777/udp

Also ensure that UDP port 7777 is open on your router so players can connect.