Back to Terraria Servers

Configuring Your Terraria Server

Learn how to configure server settings, world parameters, and manage players using the OCN Panel

OCNetworks Team
10 min read
Updated November 2025
—

This comprehensive guide will walk you through configuring your Terraria server using the OCN Panel. From basic server settings to advanced world parameters, this article covers everything you need to create the perfect Terraria environment for your community.

Accessing the Control Panel

After ordering your Terraria server from OCNetworks, you'll receive access to the OCN Panel - a powerful web-based interface for managing your server.

Console View

The main console view provides real-time server status and control:

  • Server Controls: Start, Restart, and Stop buttons in the top-right corner
  • Server Status: View CPU, Memory, and Disk usage in real-time
  • Live Console: See server output as it happens
  • Server Address: Your connection IP and port displayed prominently

💡 Panel Navigation

Use the left sidebar to navigate between Console, Files, Backups, Schedules, Users, Databases, Network, Activity, Startup, and Settings sections. Each section provides specific management tools for different aspects of your server.

Server Startup Configuration

The Startup tab is where you'll configure most of your Terraria server settings. This is the most important section for customizing your server experience.

Accessing Startup Settings

  1. Click "Startup" in the left sidebar
  2. You'll see all configurable server variables
  3. The startup command is shown at the top
  4. Each variable has a description explaining its purpose

Core Server Variables

Terraria Version

Variable: {{TERRARIA_VERSION}}
Default: latest

Specifies which version of Terraria to install. Options:

  • latest - Automatically use the newest stable version (recommended)
  • 1.4.4.9 - Specific version number for compatibility

⚠️ Version Compatibility

Players must be on the same Terraria version as your server to connect. If you specify an older version, inform your players so they can downgrade their game client.

World Name

Variable: {{WORLD_NAME}}
Default: MyWorld

The name of your Terraria world. This appears when players connect and in the world selection menu.

  • Use descriptive names like "AdventureRealm" or "BuildingServer"
  • Avoid special characters - stick to letters, numbers, and spaces
  • Maximum 20 characters recommended

World Size

Variable: {{WORLD_SIZE}}
Default: 2

World size determines the map dimensions (1=Small, 2=Medium, 3=Large):

  • 1 - Small: 4200x1200 tiles - Perfect for 2-4 players, faster generation, easier to explore
  • 2 - Medium: 6300x1800 tiles - Ideal for 4-6 players, balanced gameplay
  • 3 - Large: 8400x2400 tiles - Best for 6-8+ players, epic adventures, requires more RAM

💡 Choosing World Size

Smaller worlds are great for new players or quick playthroughs. Larger worlds offer more content and exploration but require more server resources and take longer to explore fully.

Difficulty

Variable: {{DIFFICULTY}}
Default: 0

World difficulty affects enemy strength and loot quality:

  • 0 - Normal (Classic): Standard Terraria experience, great for beginners
  • 1 - Expert: Stronger enemies, exclusive boss items, more challenge
  • 2 - Master: Ultimate challenge, powerful unique drops, for veterans only
  • 3 - Journey: Creative mode with god-like powers, duplicate items, control difficulty

Max Players

Variable: {{MAX_PLAYERS}}
Default: 8

Maximum number of simultaneous players allowed on the server.

  • 2-8 players: Standard for most servers (official Terraria limit is 8)
  • 8-16 players: Supported on our servers with sufficient RAM
  • 16-255 players: Requires higher-tier plans and community mods

⚠️ Performance Consideration

More players = higher resource usage. Ensure your plan has adequate RAM. We recommend 1GB per 4-6 players as a baseline, with more for large worlds or intense gameplay.

Server Port

Variable: {{TERRARIA_PORT}}
Default: 7784

The network port your server listens on. Default Terraria port is 7777, but we use unique ports for each server.

  • Do not change unless you have a specific reason
  • Players connect using your IP + this port (e.g., 78.129.218.59:7784)
  • Port is automatically configured and displayed in your console

Server Password

Variable: {{SERVER_PASSWORD}}
Default: (empty)

Optional password to protect your server from unauthorized access.

  • Leave blank for public servers
  • Set a password for private servers with friends
  • Players must enter this password when connecting
  • Use a secure password - no spaces recommended

Message of the Day

Variable: {{MOTD}}
Default: Welcome to Terraria!

Message displayed when players connect to the server.

  • Welcome players and share server rules
  • Mention Discord, website, or community links
  • Keep it under 100 characters for best display
  • Example: "Welcome to Terraria! No griefing. Discord: discord.gg/yourserver"

Language

Variable: {{LANGUAGE}}
Default: en-US

Server language for system messages.

  • en-US - English (United States)
  • en-GB - English (United Kingdom)
  • de-DE - German
  • fr-FR - French
  • es-ES - Spanish
  • And more supported languages

Advanced Server Settings

UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)

Variable: {{UPNP}}
Default: 0 (disabled)

Enable Universal Plug and Play for automatic port forwarding.

  • 0 - Disabled (recommended for dedicated servers)
  • 1 - Enabled (usually not needed on hosted servers)

💡 UPnP on Hosted Servers

You don't need UPnP on OCNetworks servers - we handle all port forwarding automatically. Leave this disabled unless specifically troubleshooting connection issues.

NPC Stream

Variable: {{NPC_STREAM}}
Default: 60

Reduces enemy skipping but increases bandwidth usage. Higher value = smoother NPC movement but more data transfer.

  • 30-60: Low bandwidth usage, some NPC stuttering possible
  • 60: Balanced (recommended default)
  • 60+: Smooth NPC movement, higher bandwidth requirements

Server Priority

Variable: {{PRIORITY}}
Default: 1

Server process priority determines CPU scheduling:

  • 0: Realtime (not recommended - can cause system instability)
  • 1: High (recommended for dedicated servers)
  • 2: Above Normal
  • 3: Normal
  • 4: Below Normal
  • 5: Idle

⚠️ Priority Settings

Keep priority at 1 (High) for best performance. Setting priority too high (0) can cause system issues, while setting it too low (4-5) may result in lag during peak usage.

Journey Mode Permission

Variable: {{JOURNEY_PERMISSION}}
Default: 2

Who can use Journey Mode powers (if world is Journey difficulty):

  • 0: Locked - nobody can use powers
  • 1: Can use, but cannot change time
  • 2: Can use and can change time (recommended)

Secure Mode

Variable: {{SECURE}}
Default: 1 (enabled)

Enable additional cheat protection:

  • 0 - Disabled (allows some client modifications)
  • 1 - Enabled (recommended - prevents inventory hacking and cheats)

Applying Configuration Changes

Saving Changes

  1. After editing any variables in the Startup tab
  2. Changes are automatically saved when you click out of the field
  3. A green checkmark appears when saved successfully
  4. Restart your server for changes to take effect

Restarting the Server

  1. Click the "Restart" button in the top-right corner
  2. Confirm the restart action
  3. Server will stop, reload configuration, and start again
  4. Wait 10-20 seconds for full restart
  5. New settings are now active

⚠️ World-Specific Settings

World size and difficulty are set when a world is created and cannot be changed afterward. To change these, you must create a new world or upload a different world file with your desired settings.

File Management

Accessing Server Files

Click "Files" in the left sidebar to access the file manager.

Important Directories

  • /worlds/ - Contains your Terraria world files (.wld)
  • /.local/ - Terraria player data and configurations
  • /lib64/ - System libraries (don't modify)

World Files

World files have the extension .wld and are located in the /worlds/ folder:

  • Backup worlds: Download .wld files to your computer
  • Upload worlds: Use the upload button to add custom worlds
  • Delete worlds: Remove unused worlds to save disk space

Managing Backups

Automatic Backups

Click "Backups" in the sidebar to manage server backups.

  • Backups include your entire server directory (worlds, config, etc.)
  • Automatic daily backups are created and stored for 7 days
  • Manual backups can be created anytime

Creating a Manual Backup

  1. Go to the Backups tab
  2. Click "Create Backup"
  3. Enter a name (e.g., "Pre-Hardmode-Backup")
  4. Backup will be created and stored

Restoring from Backup

  1. Stop your server first
  2. Go to Backups tab
  3. Find the backup you want to restore
  4. Click the three dots (⋮) next to the backup
  5. Select "Restore"
  6. Confirm the restoration
  7. Start your server

✅ Backup Best Practices

  • Create manual backups before major events (entering Hardmode, boss fights)
  • Download critical backups to your computer for extra safety
  • Name backups descriptively (include date and world state)
  • Keep at least 3-5 recent backups for rollback options

Monitoring Server Performance

Resource Usage

The Console view shows real-time resource usage:

  • CPU: Should be under 80% during normal gameplay
  • Memory: Increases with more players and world size
  • Disk: Monitor available space (Terraria uses ~100-500MB per world)

Performance Optimization

If you experience lag or performance issues:

  • Reduce max players if server is overloaded
  • Lower NPC Stream to reduce bandwidth usage
  • Upgrade your plan if consistently hitting resource limits
  • Remove unused worlds to free disk space
  • Check Activity tab for CPU/memory usage patterns

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Server Won't Start

  • Check console for error messages (look for red/yellow text)
  • Ensure world name doesn't contain special characters
  • Verify enough disk space is available (minimum 500MB free)
  • Try deleting serverconfig.txt in Files to regenerate configuration

Players Can't Connect

  • Verify server status shows "Online" in console
  • Double-check the IP address and port
  • Ensure players are using the same Terraria version
  • Check if server password is set correctly
  • Try restarting the server

World Not Loading

  • Check that .wld file exists in /worlds/ folder
  • Verify world name in Startup settings matches the file name exactly
  • Ensure world file isn't corrupted (restore from backup if needed)
  • Check console logs for world loading errors

High Memory Usage

  • Large worlds (size 3) naturally use more RAM
  • Many online players increase memory usage
  • Consider upgrading to a plan with more RAM
  • Restart server periodically to clear memory leaks

Next Steps

Now that you understand server configuration, explore these advanced topics:

Getting Help

If you encounter issues or need assistance:

Related Articles

Terraria Server Startup Options

Comprehensive guide to all startup parameters

Managing Terraria Worlds & Backups

Upload custom worlds and manage automatic backups