Essential Server Setup Checklist

Going Further: Hardening, Monitoring and Maintenance After Launch

Getting a server online is only the first milestone. The weeks after launch are when most private MMO projects either stabilise or fall apart, so it pays to plan for the routine work that keeps a server healthy once players arrive.

Lock down administrative access

Disable password logins for SSH where possible and use key-based authentication instead. Change default database ports only as a minor deterrent, and rely on firewall rules that allow database connections from localhost or trusted IPs alone. Never run game server processes as root or as a Windows administrator account; a dedicated low-privilege user limits the damage if an emulator or plugin has an exploitable bug. Keep admin panels and GM tools behind separate credentials, and remove any sample accounts that ship with leaked or community server files.

Treat downloaded files with caution

Server packs circulating in the community vary widely in quality. Before running anything, scan binaries, read through scripts and SQL dumps for hardcoded accounts or remote calls, and compare checksums against those posted by the original releaser. Our releases section is a good place to check whether others have reported problems with a particular build.

Monitor before problems become outages

• Resource usage: track CPU, RAM and disk I/O so memory leaks in long-running emulators are spotted early.
• Logs: rotate logs to avoid filling the disk, and review error logs after each update.
• Uptime checks: a simple external ping or port check alerts you when the login or world server stops responding.

Test your backups, not just your backup script

A backup that has never been restored is an assumption. Periodically restore a recent database dump onto a test machine and confirm characters, inventories and accounts load correctly. Keep at least one copy off the main server, and schedule dumps during low-traffic hours to reduce lag.

Use a staging environment for updates

Apply patches, new content and configuration changes to a separate test instance first. This catches broken item tables or script errors before they reach live players. For step-by-step walkthroughs on specific emulators and databases, browse the tutorials, and check the tools page for utilities that help with editing and diagnostics.