This comprehensive reference guide documents every available startup parameter for Terraria servers on OCNetworks. Use this as a complete reference when configuring your server for optimal performance and gameplay experience.
Quick Reference Table
| Parameter | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
TERRARIA_VERSION |
latest |
Terraria version to install |
WORLD_NAME |
MyWorld |
Name of the world |
WORLD_SIZE |
2 |
World size (1-3) |
DIFFICULTY |
0 |
World difficulty (0-3) |
MAX_PLAYERS |
8 |
Maximum players (2-255) |
TERRARIA_PORT |
7784 |
Server port |
SERVER_PASSWORD |
(empty) | Server password |
MOTD |
Welcome! |
Message of the day |
LANGUAGE |
en-US |
Server language |
UPNP |
0 |
UPnP enable/disable |
NPC_STREAM |
60 |
NPC network streaming |
PRIORITY |
1 |
Server process priority |
JOURNEY_PERMISSION |
2 |
Journey mode permissions |
SECURE |
1 |
Anti-cheat protection |
Core World Parameters
Terraria Version
Variable: {{TERRARIA_VERSION}}
Type: String
Default: latest
Valid Values: latest, 1.4.4.9, 1.4.3.6, etc.
Specifies the exact Terraria server version to install and run. Using latest automatically pulls the newest stable release from Steam. Specify exact version numbers for compatibility with modded clients or to stay on a specific update.
Version Matching: Players must use the exact same Terraria version as your server. If you lock to version 1.4.4.9, players on 1.4.5.0 cannot connect.
World Name
Variable: {{WORLD_NAME}}
Type: String
Default: MyWorld
Max Length: 27 characters
The display name of your Terraria world. This appears when players connect and in the server browser. Use descriptive names that reflect your server's purpose.
Best Practices:
- Use alphanumeric characters and spaces only
- Avoid special characters:
!@#$%^&*() - Keep under 20 characters for best display
- Examples: "BuildTown", "PvP Arena", "Expert Adventure"
World Size
Variable: {{WORLD_SIZE}}
Type: Integer
Default: 2 (Medium)
Valid Values: 1, 2, 3
| Value | Size Name | Dimensions | Recommended Players | RAM Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Small | 4200x1200 | 2-4 | 512MB-1GB |
2 |
Medium | 6300x1800 | 4-6 | 1-2GB |
3 |
Large | 8400x2400 | 6-8+ | 2-4GB |
Note: World size is permanent once created. You cannot resize existing worlds - you must generate a new world or upload a different one.
Difficulty
Variable: {{DIFFICULTY}}
Type: Integer
Default: 0 (Classic)
Valid Values: 0, 1, 2, 3
| Value | Mode | Enemy Health | Damage | Exclusive Drops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
0 |
Classic/Normal | 100% | 100% | No |
1 |
Expert | Double | Double | Yes |
2 |
Master | Triple | Triple | Yes |
3 |
Journey | Variable | Variable | Varies |
Journey Mode Special Features:
- Research and duplicate items infinitely
- Control time speed and weather
- Adjust difficulty dynamically (0-3x)
- Godmode available to all players
- Spawn rate control
Server Connection Parameters
Max Players
Variable: {{MAX_PLAYERS}}
Type: Integer
Default: 8
Valid Range: 1-255
Maximum number of simultaneous players allowed on the server. Official Terraria supports up to 8, but dedicated servers can handle more with adequate resources.
Recommended Configuration:
- 1GB RAM: 2-4 players maximum
- 2GB RAM: 4-8 players
- 4GB RAM: 8-16 players
- 8GB RAM: 16-32 players
- 16GB+ RAM: 32-255 players (with mods)
Server Port
Variable: {{TERRARIA_PORT}}
Type: Integer
Default: 7784 (varies per server)
Valid Range: 1024-65535
Network port the server listens on. Default Terraria port is 7777, but OCNetworks assigns unique ports automatically. Players connect using: IP:PORT
Important: Port forwarding is handled automatically - you don't need to configure firewall rules.
Server Password
Variable: {{SERVER_PASSWORD}}
Type: String
Default: (empty/none)
Max Length: Unlimited
Optional password to restrict server access. Leave blank for public servers.
Password Guidelines:
- Use alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9)
- Avoid spaces and special characters
- Case-sensitive
- Share only with trusted players
- Change regularly for security
Display & Messaging Parameters
Message of the Day
Variable: {{MOTD}}
Type: String
Default: Welcome to Terraria!
Max Length: ~100 characters
Message displayed when players join the server. Use this to welcome players and share important information.
Example Messages:
- "Welcome to BuildersTown! No griefing. Discord: discord.gg/builders"
- "PvP Arena - Gear provided. Type /rules for info"
- "Expert Mode Server - Good luck!"
- "Journey Mode Creative Building - Have fun!"
Language
Variable: {{LANGUAGE}}
Type: String
Default: en-US
Supported Languages:
en-US- English (United States)en-GB- English (United Kingdom)de-DE- German (Germany)it-IT- Italian (Italy)fr-FR- French (France)es-ES- Spanish (Spain)ru-RU- Russian (Russia)zh-CN- Chinese (Simplified)pt-BR- Portuguese (Brazil)pl-PL- Polish (Poland)
Performance & Optimization Parameters
NPC Stream
Variable: {{NPC_STREAM}}
Type: Integer
Default: 60
Valid Range: 30-120
Controls NPC (enemy and friendly) network update frequency. Higher values = smoother movement but more bandwidth usage.
Configuration Guide:
- 30-45: Low bandwidth mode (noticeable stuttering)
- 60: Balanced (recommended default)
- 80-100: Smooth mode (higher bandwidth)
- 120: Ultra-smooth (high bandwidth requirements)
Server Priority
Variable: {{PRIORITY}}
Type: Integer
Default: 1 (High)
Valid Values: 0-5
| Value | Priority | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
0 |
Realtime | Not recommended (system instability) |
1 |
High | Recommended for dedicated servers |
2 |
Above Normal | Shared hosting environments |
3 |
Normal | Testing/development |
4 |
Below Normal | Background processing only |
5 |
Idle | Minimal CPU usage (not for gameplay) |
UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)
Variable: {{UPNP}}
Type: Integer
Default: 0 (Disabled)
Valid Values: 0, 1
Enables automatic port forwarding via UPnP protocol.
On OCNetworks Servers: Leave disabled (0). Port forwarding is handled automatically by our infrastructure. UPnP is only useful for home-hosted servers.
Game Mode Parameters
Journey Mode Permission
Variable: {{JOURNEY_PERMISSION}}
Type: Integer
Default: 2
Valid Values: 0, 1, 2
| Value | Permission Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
0 |
Locked | Nobody can use Journey powers (even in Journey world) |
1 |
Can Use, No Time | Journey powers allowed except time manipulation |
2 |
Full Access | All Journey powers including time control (recommended) |
Note: Only applies to Journey difficulty worlds. Has no effect on Classic/Expert/Master worlds.
Secure Mode
Variable: {{SECURE}}
Type: Integer
Default: 1 (Enabled)
Valid Values: 0, 1
Enables additional anti-cheat protection to prevent inventory hacking and item duplication.
Enabled (1):
- Prevents inventory editing tools
- Blocks impossible item stacks
- Validates player data
- Recommended for all servers
Disabled (0):
- Allows some client modifications
- Use only for private testing servers
- Higher risk of cheating
Best Practice Configurations
Casual/Friends Server
WORLD_SIZE=2 (Medium)
DIFFICULTY=0 (Classic)
MAX_PLAYERS=8
SERVER_PASSWORD=friendsonly123
SECURE=1
NPC_STREAM=60
PRIORITY=1
Expert PvE Server
WORLD_SIZE=3 (Large)
DIFFICULTY=1 (Expert)
MAX_PLAYERS=8
SERVER_PASSWORD= (none - public)
SECURE=1
NPC_STREAM=80
PRIORITY=1
Journey Creative Building
WORLD_SIZE=3 (Large)
DIFFICULTY=3 (Journey)
MAX_PLAYERS=16
JOURNEY_PERMISSION=2 (Full Access)
SERVER_PASSWORD= (none)
SECURE=0 (Allow mods)
NPC_STREAM=60
PRIORITY=1
Applying Changes
To apply startup parameter changes:
- Navigate to the Startup tab in OCN Panel
- Modify desired variables
- Changes auto-save when you click out of the field
- Restart your server for changes to take effect
- Monitor console for successful startup
World-Level Settings: Remember that WORLD_SIZE and DIFFICULTY are set when the world is first created. To change these, you must create a new world or upload a different world file.
Need More Help?
- Configuration Guide: Configuring Your Terraria Server
- 📧 Support: support@ocnetworks.co.uk
- 💬 Discord: Join our community