Managing Servers

Server Control Panel

Your Game Lords control panel provides comprehensive tools for managing your servers. Access it by logging into your account and selecting your server.

📊 Service Status: If you’re experiencing issues with server management, control panel access, or server responsiveness, first check status.gamelords.gg for any platform-wide issues.

Basic Server Controls

Starting and Stopping

• Start: Click the green play button to start your server
• Stop: Click the red stop button to gracefully shut down
• Restart: Use the restart button to reboot your server
• Force Stop: Emergency stop if the server becomes unresponsive

Caution

Always use the “Stop” button instead of “Force Stop” when possible to prevent data loss.

Server Status

Monitor your server’s current state:

• Online: Server is running and accepting connections
• Starting: Server is in the process of starting up
• Stopping: Server is shutting down
• Offline: Server is not running
• Error: Server encountered an issue

Resource Monitoring

Real-Time Stats

Monitor your server’s performance:

CPU Usage

• View current CPU utilization
• Historical graphs show usage over time
• Alerts when usage consistently exceeds 80%

Memory (RAM) Usage

• Current memory consumption
• Available memory remaining
• Memory leak detection

Storage Usage

• Disk space used vs. available
• File breakdown by category
• Storage usage trends

Network Activity

• Bandwidth usage (in/out)
• Current player connections
• Network latency monitoring

Performance Optimization

When you notice performance issues:

1. Check Resource Usage: Identify bottlenecks
2. Review Player Count: Ensure it’s within server limits
3. Examine Mods/Plugins: Disable problematic add-ons
4. Consider Upgrading: Increase server resources if needed

File Management

File Manager Interface

Access your server files through the web-based file manager:

1. Navigate to “Files” in your control panel
2. Browse folders and files
3. Upload, download, edit, and delete files
4. Create new folders and files

Common File Operations

Uploading Files

1. Click “Upload”
2. Select files from your computer
3. Wait for upload to complete
4. Files appear in the current directory

Editing Configuration Files

1. Locate the configuration file
2. Click the “Edit” button
3. Make your changes
4. Save the file
5. Restart the server to apply changes

Downloading Files

• Single files: Click the download icon
• Multiple files: Select files and use bulk download
• Entire server: Use the backup feature

FTP/SFTP Access

For advanced users, FTP access is available:

• Host: Your server’s FTP address
• Username: Provided in your control panel
• Password: Generated or custom password
• Port: Usually 21 (FTP) or 22 (SFTP)

Console and Logs

Server Console

The console provides real-time server output and command input:

Viewing Logs

• Live Console: Real-time server messages
• Scroll Back: View previous messages
• Search: Find specific log entries
• Download Logs: Save logs for analysis

Running Commands

Execute server commands directly:

1. Type command in the console input
2. Press Enter to execute
3. View command output in the console

Common commands vary by game:

• Minecraft: /op username, /gamemode creative
• Rust: giveid playerid itemid amount
• ARK: cheat giveitemnum 1 1 0 false

Log Analysis

Understanding log messages:

Error Messages

• Red text: Critical errors requiring attention
• Yellow text: Warnings that should be investigated
• White text: Normal operational messages

Common Log Patterns

• Player connections/disconnections
• Plugin/mod loading messages
• Performance warnings
• Error stack traces

Backups and Restoration

Automatic Backups

Configure automated backups:

1. Go to “Backups” section
2. Set backup frequency:
   • Hourly: For active development
   • Daily: Recommended for most servers
   • Weekly: For stable, low-activity servers
3. Choose retention period (how long to keep backups)
4. Enable compression to save storage space

Manual Backups

Create backups on-demand:

1. Click “Create Backup”
2. Add a description for the backup
3. Wait for backup completion
4. Backup appears in your backup list

Restoring from Backup

To restore a previous backup:

1. Stop your server (important!)
2. Go to “Backups” section
3. Find the desired backup
4. Click “Restore”
5. Confirm the restoration
6. Wait for completion
7. Start your server

Restoring a backup will overwrite all current server data. This action cannot be undone.

Player Management

Player List

View and manage connected players:

• Current online players
• Player connection times
• Kick or ban players
• Send messages to players

Admin Tools

Manage player permissions:

Granting Admin Rights

Game-specific methods:

• Minecraft: Use /op playername command
• Rust: Add Steam ID to admin list
• Valheim: Use console commands for admin rights

Player Moderation

• Kick: Temporarily remove disruptive players
• Ban: Permanently block players by IP or ID
• Whitelist: Allow only approved players
• Blacklist: Block specific players

Server Settings

Game Configuration

Modify game-specific settings:

Minecraft

• Server properties (server.properties)
• Plugin configurations
• World settings
• Performance optimizations

Rust

• Server configuration (server.cfg)
• Map settings and wipe schedules
• PvP/PvE settings
• Oxide plugin configurations

Valheim

• World settings and difficulty
• Player limits and passwords
• Mod configurations

Network Settings

Configure connection settings:

• Server Port: Usually auto-assigned
• Query Port: For server browsers
• RCON: Remote console access
• Custom Domain: Link your own domain

Scheduled Tasks

Automated Actions

Set up recurring tasks:

Server Restarts

• Daily Restarts: Improve performance and stability
• Maintenance Windows: Schedule downtime for updates
• Conditional Restarts: Restart if certain conditions are met

Automated Commands

Execute commands on schedule:

• Broadcast server messages
• Clean up old files
• Update player statistics
• Run maintenance scripts

Task Management

1. Navigate to “Scheduled Tasks”
2. Click “Create New Task”
3. Configure:
   • Task type (restart, command, etc.)
   • Schedule (time and frequency)
   • Additional parameters
4. Save and activate the task

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Server Won’t Start

1. Check console for error messages
2. Verify configuration files are valid
3. Ensure sufficient resources are available
4. Review recent file changes

High Resource Usage

1. Monitor resource graphs
2. Check for memory leaks
3. Review active mods/plugins
4. Consider server optimization

Connection Issues

1. Verify server is online
2. Check firewall settings
3. Test from different networks
4. Validate server port configuration

File Corruption

1. Stop the server immediately
2. Restore from recent backup
3. Check for storage issues
4. Contact support if problems persist

Getting Help

If you encounter issues while managing your server:

• Documentation: Check game-specific guides
• Support Tickets: Submit detailed issue reports
• Discord Community: Get help from other users
• Console Logs: Include relevant log information when seeking help

Remember to always backup your server before making significant changes!