Terraria server

Run with Docker

First install Docker Engine and the Compose plugin on your Linux host. Run the commands below from your project directory with a user allowed to access Docker; otherwise prefix Docker commands with sudo. The container manages its own linuxgsm user.

The terraria image has LinuxGSM and every dependency for Terraria already installed on Ubuntu 26.04. On first start it downloads the game server, then keeps it updated.

1. Create compose.yaml

services:
  terrariaserver:
    image: ghcr.io/gameservermanagers/gameserver:terraria
    container_name: terrariaserver
    restart: unless-stopped
    network_mode: host
    volumes:
      - ./terrariaserver:/data
    environment:
      - UPDATE_CHECK=60

Also published on Docker Hub as gameservermanagers/gameserver:terraria. Prefer docker run? See Docker help.

2. Add your Steam login before the first start

Create the LinuxGSM config file inside the data directory. LinuxGSM reads it on first start and keeps it on updates.

mkdir -p terrariaserver/config-lgsm/terrariaserver
nano terrariaserver/config-lgsm/terrariaserver/common.cfg

steamuser="username"
steampass='password'

3. Start it

docker compose up -d
docker compose logs -f

The first start installs the server, which can take a while for large games. When it is ready the log shows the server details, including ports and passwords.

Ports

With network_mode: host the server uses the host's ports directly, so there is nothing to map. Open them in your firewall.

Defaults from LinuxGSM and the game's own config. Ports you change in your config will differ: run details to see the ones in use.

Manage the server

Show details, ports and passwords

docker exec -it --user linuxgsm terrariaserver ./terrariaserver details

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Open the live console (leave with CTRL+b then d)

docker exec -it --user linuxgsm terrariaserver ./terrariaserver console

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Restart the game server

docker restart terrariaserver

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Check for a game update now

docker exec -it --user linuxgsm terrariaserver ./terrariaserver update

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Update the image

docker compose pull && docker compose up -d

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Server files, configs and logs live in ./terrariaserver on the host: back up that directory. Docker help below covers permissions, environment variables and bridge networking.

docker run -d \
  --name terrariaserver \
  --network host \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -v "$PWD/terrariaserver:/data" \
  -e UPDATE_CHECK=60 \
  ghcr.io/gameservermanagers/gameserver:terraria

environment:
      - UID=1001
      - GID=1001

ports:
      - "PORT:PORT/udp"
      - "PORT:PORT/tcp"

Install on Linux

Install directly on a server running Ubuntu 26.04, Debian 11 or Enterprise Linux 8.

1. Create a user and log in

Creating users and installing system packages require administrator privileges. From your administrator account, use sudo below (omit it if already root). Install curl, tar and an editor such as nano with your distribution's package manager first.

sudo adduser terrariaserver

Give the user a strong password, then switch to its login shell:

sudo su - terrariaserver

Run all remaining commands as terrariaserver from its home directory, without sudo. On Enterprise Linux, create the account with sudo useradd -m terrariaserver and set its password with sudo passwd terrariaserver instead of adduser.

2. Download LinuxGSM

curl -Lo linuxgsm.sh https://linuxgsm.sh && chmod +x linuxgsm.sh && bash linuxgsm.sh terrariaserver

3. Add your Steam login

Create lgsm/config-lgsm/terrariaserver/common.cfg relative to the game-server user's home directory and add your dedicated Steam account:

mkdir -p lgsm/config-lgsm/terrariaserver
nano lgsm/config-lgsm/terrariaserver/common.cfg

steamuser="username"
steampass='password'

4. Install

./terrariaserver install

LinuxGSM checks dependencies and installs the game files. If this user has sudo access, it can install missing packages when prompted. Otherwise, ask an administrator to install the packages listed by LinuxGSM, then rerun this command as terrariaserver. Running ./terrariaserver install as root only installs dependencies, not the game server.

5. Configure and start the server

Review your LinuxGSM settings in lgsm/config-lgsm/terrariaserver/terrariaserver.cfg (instance settings) or lgsm/config-lgsm/terrariaserver/common.cfg (shared settings). Do not edit _default.cfg, which LinuxGSM updates automatically. Game settings use a separate config file; run ./terrariaserver details to find its path. Once configured, start the server explicitly:

./terrariaserver start

Common commands

Start the server

start

./terrariaserver start

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Stop the server

stop

./terrariaserver stop

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Restart the server

restart

./terrariaserver restart

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Show details, ports and passwords

./terrariaserver details

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Open the live console (leave with CTRL+b then d; CTRL+c stops the server)

./terrariaserver console

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Update the game server

./terrariaserver update

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Run in the foreground to debug

./terrariaserver debug

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Back up the whole server

./terrariaserver backup

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List every command

./terrariaserver

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Automate with cron

Restart the server if it crashes, apply game updates and keep LinuxGSM current. Add these with crontab -e.

*/5 * * * * /home/terrariaserver/terrariaserver monitor > /dev/null 2>&1
*/30 * * * * /home/terrariaserver/terrariaserver update > /dev/null 2>&1
0 0 * * 0 /home/terrariaserver/terrariaserver update-lgsm > /dev/null 2>&1

Deploy from a cloud marketplace

LinuxGSM is available as a one-click app on two cloud providers. You get a fresh Ubuntu server with LinuxGSM ready to use, then install Terraria on it.

Akamai (Linode) Marketplace

1. Open LinuxGSM on the Akamai Marketplace and start a deploy.
2. Choose a limited sudo username and, under the advanced options, set the game server name to terrariaserver.
3. Pick any plan with enough CPU, memory and disk for Terraria, then create the instance.
4. When it has finished setting up, log in over SSH or the Lish console and read the generated passwords, then switch to the linuxgsm user and install:

cat /home/YOUR_USERNAME/.credentials
su linuxgsm
cd /home/linuxgsm
./terrariaserver install

Akamai does not keep this app updated for you, so run ./terrariaserver update-lgsm now and then. Details are in the Akamai guide.

DigitalOcean Marketplace

Create a Droplet from the LinuxGSM 1-Click App, choosing a size with enough resources for Terraria. Log in over SSH and follow the Linux install steps for terrariaserver.

Remember to open the game's ports in the provider's cloud firewall as well as on the server.