Game Server Updates, Mods, and Backups
CFTools Architect deploys and automates game servers on your own machines (VPS or dedicated), including installation, updates, configuration, and backups.
Quick answer
CFTools Architect updates the dedicated-server build on a machine you control and can warn players before it shuts a server down. Notices cover a normal shutdown, a mod-update shutdown when the title supports modding, and a title-update shutdown. Steam Workshop mods appear in the Mods tab for DayZ, Squad, Palworld, and Project Zomboid. Arma Reforger mods come from the Arma Platform catalog in Manager. Rust, SCUM, ARK: Survival Evolved, ARK: Survival Ascended, Valheim, 7 Days to Die, Enshrouded, and Windrose have no Mods tab. Backups are per deployment and stay off until you configure them under Server Operations. DayZ can watch its ports and restart a process that stops answering. Other titles do not run that check.
Title updates and shutdown notices
When Architect shuts a server down, it can run the notification steps you configured for that shutdown type. The types are a normal requested shutdown, a shutdown because of a mod update if the title supports modding, and a shutdown because of a title update. Steps can include timed messages, a player-connect lock when the title supports it, and removing players when the title supports kicking. Turn notifications on under Server, Settings, Notifications. A volatile game branch updates often and restarts more often. Avoid volatile branches for a production server.
- Normal shutdown
- Mod update, when the title supports modding
- Title update
- Each type can use its own message, lock, and kick steps
Mods only where the title has them
Open the title's help page before you expect a Mods tab. Steam Workshop mods are installed per server. The Agent also keeps a shared cache so the same mod can be copied to another server without downloading it again. Local DayZ mod folders must start with @. Project Zomboid's Workshop layout changed in Build 42. Arma Reforger uses the Arma Platform catalog, and the dedicated server installs those mods.
- Steam Workshop in the Mods tab: DayZ, Squad, Palworld, Project Zomboid
- Arma Platform in the Mods tab: Arma Reforger
- No Mods tab: Rust, SCUM, ARK: Survival Evolved, ARK: Survival Ascended, Valheim, 7 Days to Die, Enshrouded, Windrose
Back up the deployment before you change it
Backups are configured per game server under Configuration, Server Operations. They stay off until you set them up. On Windows, locked files can be skipped unless you enable Volume Shadow Copy with backups_vss in the Agent config.toml, which requires an Agent restart. DayZ and DayZ Experimental can watch server ports and restart a process that is still running but has stopped answering. Other titles do not run that liveness check. A backup is the copy you restore. A restart is not a backup.
- Turn backups on for each deployment you care about
- Windows VSS is off until backups_vss is true
- DayZ port liveness is DayZ and DayZ Experimental only
Related
Quick answers
Does Architect update the dedicated server automatically?
Architect tracks the title build and can shut the server down for a title update, with the notification steps you enabled. A volatile branch updates and restarts more often. Use a stable branch for a production server.
Which games have a Steam Workshop Mods tab?
DayZ, Squad, Palworld, and Project Zomboid. Arma Reforger uses the Arma Platform catalog in the Mods tab. Rust, SCUM, ARK: Survival Evolved, ARK: Survival Ascended, Valheim, 7 Days to Die, Enshrouded, and Windrose have no Mods tab.
Are backups automatic for every server?
No. Each deployment has its own backup configuration, and backups must be turned on. Configure them under Configuration, Server Operations.
Will Architect restart any crashed game server?
DayZ and DayZ Experimental can watch ports and restart a process that is still running but has stopped answering. Other titles do not run that check. A scheduled task can run a script you provide. That script is not a built-in crash watcher.
Where do Workshop files go?
Workshop mods for a server stay in that deployment. The Agent also keeps a shared title and mod cache so another server on the same machine can reuse a mod without downloading it again.