Sons of the Forest Server RAM & Hardware Requirements
Sizing a dedicated server from a made-up player-to-RAM table is a quick way to overspend or create a bad expectation. Endnight documents an eight-player maximum and the server configuration, but does not publish an official RAM guarantee for every player count. Start from the workload, then measure the process during a real co-op session.
Practical starting point: choose a reputable plan with at least 8 GB RAM for a full eight-player test, fast local storage, and a CPU with headroom. Treat that as an operational starting point, not an official minimum or a promise that every host behaves the same.
What is documented
| Item | Reliable answer |
|---|---|
| Maximum players | MaxPlayers is documented as an integer from 1 through 8. |
| Server configuration | dedicatedserver.cfg is JSON in the Endnight user-data path. |
| Performance controls | The generated config documents idle/active target framerates and save interval; it does not expose a universal RAM slider. |
| Modded-server sizing | Do not promise mod support or extra player capacity without a specific, maintained toolchain and reproducible tests. |
Choose hardware by workload
- Small private group: prioritize a current CPU, SSD/NVMe storage, backups, and enough RAM to keep the OS and server comfortable.
- Full eight-player group: start with an 8 GB class plan, then watch memory, CPU, tick/update behaviour, and reconnects during building and exploration.
- Long-running public server: buy operational headroom, reliable backups, DDoS protection, and support. Player slots alone do not describe performance.
What increases resource pressure
- More concurrent players and simultaneous building or combat.
- Long-lived worlds with large bases and lots of persisted state.
- Frequent saves, backups, antivirus scans, or other workloads on the same machine.
- Slow or oversubscribed storage and noisy neighbours on a shared host.
Measure before upgrading
- Record idle CPU and memory after a clean start.
- Have the real group explore, build, fight, save, reconnect, and load the world.
- Record peak memory, sustained CPU, disconnects, save duration, and whether the process restarts.
- Increase the plan only when the measurement shows a bottleneck; do not add guessed config keys.
The official config includes IdleTargetFramerate, ActiveTargetFramerate, and SaveInterval. See the configuration reference and the performance guide for the supported levers.
Provider sizing claims
Some providers advertise an 8 GB or larger SOTF tier. That is a published plan description, not an independent benchmark. Compare CPU generation, storage, location, backup policy, renewal price, and whether the provider respects the documented eight-player limit. See the SOTF pricing guide for a dated shortlist.
Official reference
Use the official dedicated-server guide for the current configuration and limits. It is more defensible than recycled “9–20 player” tables that belong to no documented SOTF setting.
Want headroom without sizing the machine yourself? Compare Supercraft Sons of the Forest plans.