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Valheim Dedicated Server on Proxmox (Debian 13 CT)

with LinuxGSM + Valheim Mod Manager (fork)

This repository documents how to set up a modded Valheim server. It has been tested on Proxmox 9 with a Debian 13 container, but it works on any Linux that the LGSM supports.

Features

  • Fully automated server management with LinuxGSM
  • Mod support using BepInEx via Valheim Mod Manager (fork)
  • Clean separation of configs and update-proof BepInEx wrapper
  • Easy world backups and client mod export
  • Cron jobs for health monitoring and automatic updates

1. Base System Setup

Run as root:

dpkg --add-architecture i386
apt update && apt -y upgrade

apt install -y \
  bc binutils bsdmainutils distro-info jq \
  lib32gcc-s1 lib32stdc++6 libatomic1 libc6-dev libc6:i386 \
  libpulse-dev libsdl2-2.0-0:i386 \
  netcat-openbsd pigz tmux unzip uuid-runtime \
  curl wget ca-certificates file xz-utils bzip2 python3 \
  mc nano \
  python3-packaging python3-magic python3-paramiko python3-dateutil git

# Create a dedicated user
adduser vhserver

2. Install LinuxGSM & Valheim

Switch to the service user:

su - vhserver

Download LinuxGSM and install Valheim server:

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

./vhserver install

3. Install the Mod Manager

Clone my fork:

git clone https://github.com/triuk/Valheim-Mod-Manager.git

Create a launcher:

printf '%s\n' '#!/bin/sh' 'SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd -- "$(dirname -- "$(readlink -f -- "$0")")" && pwd -P)/Valheim-Mod-Manager"' 'cd "$SCRIPT_DIR" || exit 1' 'exec python3 ./cli.py "$@"' > vhserver-mods && chmod +x vhserver-mods

Install BepInEx:

./vhserver-mods

Choose:

2: Install New Mod → BepInExPack_Valheim (denikson)
Q: Quit

4. Make BepInEx Update-Proof

Copy and fix the startup wrapper:

cp -p serverfiles/start_server_bepinex.sh       serverfiles/start_server_bepinex_local.sh

sed -i 's|^exec ./valheim_server\.x86_64.*|exec ./valheim_server.x86_64 "$@"|'   serverfiles/start_server_bepinex_local.sh

5. Configure the Server

Edit config:

nano lgsm/config-lgsm/vhserver/vhserver.cfg

Example:

servername="MyAwesomeServer"
serverpassword="strongPassword"
worldname="MyNeatWorld"
port="2456"
# public="1"
# maxplayers="10"
executable="./start_server_bepinex_local.sh"

6. Running the Server

Start:

./vhserver start

Details:

./vhserver details

Debug:

./vhserver debug

7. Cron Automation (Optional)

Edit crontab as vhserver user:

crontab -e

Add:

@reboot /home/vhserver/vhserver start >/dev/null 2>&1
#*/5 * * * * /home/vhserver/vhserver monitor > /dev/null 2>&1
#*/30 * * * * /home/vhserver/vhserver update > /dev/null 2>&1
#0 0 * * 0 /home/vhserver/vhserver update-lgsm > /dev/null 2>&1

The first option launches the server after boot. The next three are supposed to keep the server alive and regularly update it, but they made my server unstable, so I commented them out.

8. Mod Management (for details see the original)

  • Manage mods:

    ./vhserver-mods

  • You must run the server at least once with the new mod to show up its config in: ~/serverfiles/BepInEx/config

    • Apply mod changes and create new mod configs with:
    ./vhserver restart

  • Export client modpack with 7: Export/Package Mods:

    • The pack location is in Valheim-Mod-Manager/exports/.
    • There are many archives, but I recommend copy content of the newest *-configs.zip to client's game folder to have a maximum sync.
    • If you are on client Linux Steam, set Valheim launch options: ./start_game_bepinex.sh %command% and do not forget make the sh script executable (+x)!

9. Worlds, Saves & Backups

  • Save directory (you can copy existing world's flw+db here, just change the name in STEP 5): 
    ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/
  • Backup the whole server (archive): 
    ./vhserver backup

10. Server admin (Optional)

Add you SteamID to the

nano ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/adminlist.txt

This is great with the Server_devcommands mod, which allows you to use admin console in the game. You must add -console to the end you your game launch options to activate in-game console (~). Enter devcommands to access the admin mode.

11. Networking

Forward UDP 2456–2457 (always defined port and port+1) to your container IP.

12. Useful Commands

./vhserver                # Show commands
./vhserver details        # Server info
./vhserver debug          # Verbose run
./vhserver validate       # Validate Steam files
tail -f log/console/vhserver-console.log   # Live log

13. Troubleshooting

  • Mods not loading (isModded: False during ./vhserver debug)

    (STEP 5) Ensure line executable="./start_server_bepinex_local.sh" is in lgsm/config-lgsm/vhserver/vhserver.cfg

    (STEP 4) Ensure file serverfiles/start_server_bepinex_local.sh has exec ./valheim_server.x86_64 "$@"

  • Wrong world loads, wrong password

    Do the above (STEP 5) and (STEP 4) and check the name in the file too:

    worldname="MyNeatWorld"

  • Server not listed / can’t join

    (STEP 10) Check UDP ports 2456–2457 forwarding and firewall rules. Also wait like ~5 mins after the first start to let the server generate all necessary stuff.

  • Client not launching after I extracted the modpack archive in Linux

    (STEP 8) Confirm the start_game_bepinex.sh in client game folder is executable (+x).

  • Server disconnects after a while, unstable

    (STEP 7) remove or comment out all except the @reboot line from cron.

14. Creating HTTP server for modpack download (Optional)

Everything as a root.

  • Create the service:

    nano /etc/systemd/system/valheim-mods.service
    [Unit]
Description=Simple HTTP server for Valheim mods
After=network.target

[Service]
WorkingDirectory=/home/vhserver/Valheim-Mod-Manager/exports
ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 -m http.server 8080
Restart=always
User=vhserver

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

  • Load the service:

    systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl enable --now valheim-mods.service

  • Allow firewall if needed:

    ufw allow 8080/tcp

  • The server is accessible at http://<server_ip>:8080. I advise to download the newest *-configs.zip every time.

15. Running multiple servers (Optional)

Follow the same instructions, just:

  • Create different user e.g. adduser vhserver2

  • STEP 3 before running the script you must change gamedir in

    nano Valheim-Mod-Manager/config.yml

    to the new user e.g.

    gamedir: '/home/vhserver2/serverfiles/'

  • STEP 5 define different port. Remember, the server always uses two: port and port+1, so if the first server was port="2456" (2457), this one must be e.g. port="2458" (2459)

  • STEP 7 change the path to the new user

  • STEP 11 include new ports in the firewall

  • STEP 14 pay attention to WorkingDirectory

  • If you copy something e.g. BepInEx plugins from different server, do not forget to set the owner, e.g. chown -R vhserver2:vhserver2 /home/vhserver2/serverfiles

Changelog to the original Valheim Mod Manager

  • ready to use config.yml, no changes needed for LGSM, unless you make multiple-instances server.

  • added configs export function to have mod configs in sync with the client (the server config does not always prevails).