RuneScape: Dragonwilds Dedicated Server Setup: Owner ID, Ports & Saves
Dragonwilds has a free first-party dedicated-server tool, but a server can be running and still be impossible to find. The repeat offenders are a missing Owner ID, a closed UDP port, a world-name typo, or a hotfix that updated the client before the server. Work through the checks below in that order.
Install the official server tool
Jagex distributes the dedicated server as Steam app 4019830. It does not require a paid server product or a Steam account that owns the game:
steamcmd +force_install_dir /opt/rsdragonwilds \
+login anonymous +app_update 4019830 validate +quitLaunch the server executable with -log -NewConsole while diagnosing it. The console tells you which build is running and which port is listening; keep that output in the service log instead of debugging a silent background process.
Set the mandatory configuration first
On Linux, the official path is:
RSDragonwilds/Saved/Config/Linux/DedicatedServer.iniWindows uses the corresponding WindowsServer directory. Before the first start, set all of these values:
| Value | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Owner ID | Your in-game Dragonwilds Player ID. The server will not start without it. |
| Server Name | The name shown for the dedicated server. |
| Default World Name | The world created when no save is present. |
| Admin Password | Lets trusted players open the in-game Server Management screen. |
| World Password (optional) | Overrides the password stored in the world when you need a quick access change. |
Changing these values while the server is running can be lost on shutdown. Stop the process, edit the file, then start it again.
Open the right UDP ports
The first dedicated server uses UDP 7777; additional instances use the next ports, such as 7778. Forward the port from the router to the server and allow it through the host firewall. Every router in the path and the ISP's policy can block forwarding, so a server that appears in the list but cannot be joined usually has a NAT or firewall problem.
| Instance | Default UDP port | Use |
|---|---|---|
| First server | 7777 | World traffic and browser reachability. |
| Second server | 7778 | Only if you run another instance; forward it separately. |
Find the world and match versions
In the game's Worlds screen choose the Public tab and search the exact world name, including capitalization. If it disappeared after a patch, compare the version at the top of the server log with the version in the client's top-left corner. Restart Steam and update the server before changing config; a client/server build mismatch is expected after hotfixes.
Move an existing world safely
- Stop the dedicated server and make a copy of its entire
RSDragonwilds/Saved/Savegamesdirectory. - Copy the desired
.savfrom the local client’sRSDragonwilds/Saved/SaveGamesfolder. - Place it in the server's
Saved/Savegamesdirectory. Do not delete the backup until the world has loaded and a player has joined. - Start the server and search for the exact world name.
Size for the game's six-player ceiling
The official guide documents a maximum of six players as of version 0.11. Its practical memory rule is 2 GB plus 1 GB per player:
| Players | RAM baseline | Good fit |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 GB | Private co-op world. |
| 4 | 6 GB | Regular group with a growing base. |
| 6 | 8 GB | The supported maximum; leave headroom for the OS and backups. |
Fast diagnosis
| Symptom | First check |
|---|---|
| Server will not start | Owner ID and the path/case of DedicatedServer.ini. |
| Not in the Public list | Exact world name, current build, and UDP 7777 forwarding. |
| Listed but not joinable | Firewall, router/ISP NAT, then the server log for bind errors. |
| Worked yesterday, gone after hotfix | Update both client and server; compare their displayed versions. |
| World reset or missing | Stop first and verify the Savegames path; restore the pre-copy backup. |
Sources
- Jagex: Dedicated Servers - How-to Guide
- SteamDB: RuneScape: Dragonwilds Dedicated Server app 4019830
- RuneScape: rsdw-dedicated reference image
Want the six-player cap, backups, updates and port setup handled for you? Reserve a RuneScape: Dragonwilds server plan; the hosting page explains the current launch status and takes no payment before the door opens.