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The most common issues with your Citadel server on a VPS and how to fix them quickly, from crashes to lag → Learn more
Running your own Citadel server on a VPS is great fun, but it also means taking responsibility when something goes wrong. Crashes, lag, and configuration issues are common challenges that every server owner encounters sooner or later.
To help you spend less time troubleshooting, we’ll show you the most common issues and how to fix them quickly on your VPS.
FAQ
C:\ZapX-GameServers\citadel-forged-with-fire\logs\server.log. Restarts after crashes are recorded in logs\supervisor.log, and additional game logs are in server\Citadel\Saved\Logs.Citadel Forged With Fire (citadel-forged-with-fire) - Start shortcut.Citadel Forged With Fire (citadel-forged-with-fire) - Backup shortcut on your VPS. Your entire VPS is also backed up daily. With an active ZapX Pass, you can restore these backups yourself.Feedback
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The cause of server issues isn’t always immediately obvious. The best place to start is the server output: If you set up Citadel: Forged With Fire using the Game Server Installer, you’ll find it at C:\ZapX-GameServers\citadel-forged-with-fire\logs\server.log. The installer logs restarts after crashes in logs\supervisor.log. The game itself writes additional logs to server\Citadel\Saved\Logs.
If your server doesn’t appear in the server list, first check whether it’s running. To do this, check server.log. The server connects to Steam about 30 seconds after startup. Then check that the game, Steam, and query ports are open in the Windows Firewall and your VPS’s network firewall. For details, see Citadel Forged With Fire: Set up a server on your VPS. Also make sure that no filters are active in the server list that could hide your server.
Start the server via Remote Desktop using the Citadel Forged With Fire (citadel-forged-with-fire) - Start shortcut and monitor server.log. Common causes include a typo in Game.ini or Engine.ini, a port already being used by another program, or insufficient memory. If you changed the configuration, try reverting the change.
Nothing ends a great session faster than an unexpected crash. Possible causes include an outdated server version, faulty additional content, an overloaded VPS, or a misconfiguration. The installer automatically restarts your server after a crash. If it crashes several times in a short period, the installer gives up. You’ll then need to fix the cause and restart the server yourself.
An outdated server can cause crashes, unexpected behavior, or startup issues, and often prevents players from connecting with a newer game version. Updates aren’t installed automatically. Open the Game Server Installer again and select Citadel: Forged With Fire; it will then show Update. Alternatively, use the Citadel Forged With Fire (citadel-forged-with-fire) - Update shortcut on your VPS.
Crashes are often caused by faulty or outdated additional content, such as mods or custom maps, especially after a game update. Try removing additional content and starting with a minimal configuration. If the problem goes away, add the content back step by step, testing after each step. This helps you pinpoint what’s causing the issue.
Issues such as lag or delays often occur when the configuration isn’t suitable, the VPS doesn’t have enough resources, or additional content overloads the system.
Unsuitable settings can increase resource usage and cause lag. Check the values in server\Citadel\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\Game.ini, such as the number of player slots. Stop the server before editing the file. Many structures and players also increase memory requirements.
Citadel: Forged With Fire requires at least 4 GB of memory. The operating system and other programs on the VPS need additional resources. You can check how heavily your VPS is being used in the ZapX dashboard under Monitoring. If memory or CPU usage is consistently maxed out, upgrading your VPS can help. For more information, see Upgrade, downgrade, renewal, and cancellation.
Ping spikes and lag are usually caused by limited VPS resources, a high number of players, or a server location far from your players. First, check resource usage under Monitoring. If you suspect routing issues, see Identify network issues with WinMTR/MTR. If you still need help, contact our support team.
Game servers are occasionally targeted by DDoS attacks, which flood the server with traffic. Your VPS is protected by our DDoS protection. You can view past attacks in the ZapX dashboard under your VPS’s DDoS Manager, if it’s available at your location. If you suspect an attack is causing issues, contact our support team.
Regular backups can save you a lot of stress. Use the Citadel Forged With Fire (citadel-forged-with-fire) - Backup shortcut to back up your world and settings as a ZIP file at any time. Use Citadel Forged With Fire (citadel-forged-with-fire) - Restore to restore a backup. Your entire VPS is also backed up automatically every day. With an active ZapX Pass, you can restore these backups yourself and create your own. Learn more in Daily backups, restoration, and restricted actions.
These steps should help you resolve your issue. If they don’t, don’t hesitate to contact our support team: Just start a support chat in your ZapX customer account. We’re here for you every day and happy to help! 🙂
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