You decide which services we may enable for analytics, personalization, and external content.
We use cookies and similar technologies on our website to personalize content, embed external media, and better understand how individual areas are used.
Necessary cookies
These entries support essential functions such as security, stability, and form processing.
Optional sections
AnalyticsMarketingPersonalizationExternal media
Your data may be processed with your consent or on the basis of legitimate interests. In the cookie settings, you can reject or explicitly allow each optional category.
Some services process personal data in third countries. By consenting, you also agree to this transfer. You can find more information in our Privacy Policy.
You can reopen and change your selection at any time. · 1.0.2
Learn how to troubleshoot and fix common Core Keeper server issues for a smooth gaming experience → Find out more
10 November 20267 min read0 Views0 helpful
Introduction
Setting up and running your own Core Keeper game server can be exciting and a lot of fun. It’s a great way to build a custom gaming environment and community, but it also means taking responsibility when something goes wrong. Crashes, lag, and configuration issues are common challenges that every server owner will encounter sooner or later.
To help you spend less time troubleshooting and more time enjoying your server, we’ll cover the most common issues server owners face and share solutions to help you fix them quickly and effectively.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Initialization may not have completed successfully due to a misconfiguration or corrupted files. Check the server console or log files, and make sure there are no incorrect filters enabled in the server list.
Common causes include faulty server software, broken or incompatible extensions (frameworks, plugins, mods, or resources), system overload, or misconfigurations. Temporarily disable any extensions you suspect to help identify the cause.
Common causes include limited server resources (CPU, RAM, or bandwidth), overload from many players or resource-intensive extensions, routing issues, or a server location far from your player base. First, check whether your server meets or exceeds the recommended specs.
Most network threats are beyond your control, but ZAP-Hosting provides built-in protection and mitigation systems. If you suspect an attack, contact our support team for help and guidance on next steps.
Create regular backups so you can restore an older, working version if something goes wrong. We already back up your game server automatically every day. With the ZapX Pass, you can also create and restore your own backups at any time — and with ZapX Pass Pro, schedule them automatically.
Feedback
Was this article helpful?
Your feedback helps us prioritize and improve content.
0 of 0 Users found this article helpful.
Personal support
Need more help than the guide provides?
Our ZAP support team knows your product — briefly describe your issue and we'll help you personally.
Navigation
Core Keeper
Problems and Solutions
Server issues can have many different causes, which aren’t always immediately obvious. Learn how to analyze and resolve common problems step by step to keep everything running smoothly.
General
General issues can include all kinds of unexpected problems that don’t fit into a specific category. They’re often related to basic settings, missing files, or simple misconfigurations. These can usually be fixed quickly with a few checks and adjustments.
Server Not Visible
If your server isn’t visible, it may be because initialization didn’t complete successfully. This can be caused by a misconfiguration or corrupted files, for example. You can usually find more information in the server console or log files. You should also make sure there are no incorrect filters enabled in the server list that could prevent your server from appearing.
Crashes
Nothing cuts a great session short faster than an unexpected crash. Crashes can be caused by faulty server software, broken or incompatible extensions (such as plugins, mods, resources, or frameworks), system overload, or misconfigurations.
Keep Your Server Up to Date
Always running the latest version of your game server is essential for stability, security, and compatibility. Game updates, framework changes, or updates to third-party tools can cause serious problems if your server is out of date.
An outdated game server can cause crashes, unexpected behavior, or even startup issues.
Faulty or Problematic Extensions (Frameworks, Plugins, Mods, Resources)
Crashes are often caused by faulty or outdated extensions. Whether it’s a framework, plugin, mod, or resource, issues can occur when an extension isn’t compatible with the current game version or has bugs in its code.
This can lead to unexpected server crashes, freezes, or errors, especially when multiple problematic extensions interact. If you suspect an extension is causing the issue, temporarily disable it and check whether your server remains stable without it. This is a quick way to find out which extension is causing trouble.
Make sure all the extensions you use are up to date, actively maintained, and tested for compatibility with the current game version to avoid crashes and downtime.
To narrow down the cause of crashes, it often helps to temporarily disable additional content. Start with a minimal configuration and check whether the problem persists. If it goes away, add extensions, mods, or resources back one at a time, testing after each step. This helps you identify exactly what’s causing the issue. This approach saves time and helps you make decisions based on facts instead of assumptions.
Performance
Smooth server performance is essential for a good gaming experience. Problems such as lag, delays, or sudden crashes often occur when the server configuration isn’t optimal, the hardware doesn’t meet the game’s requirements, or installed extensions overload the system.
Common causes include poor configuration, insufficient resources, or unoptimized plugins and mods. Checking and adjusting these areas can resolve most performance issues and keep your game stable and responsive.
Poor Server Configuration
Incorrect or poorly adjusted server settings can increase resource consumption and cause performance issues such as lag or stuttering. Make sure your configuration values match the recommended settings for your game and server size. Review and adjust them as needed to help your server run as efficiently as possible.
You can easily adjust your configuration in the Configuration tab — an AI will automatically show you the relevant settings as form fields, or you can edit the raw text of the config file directly.
Game Requirements Not Met
To keep your game server running smoothly and reliably, it’s important to choose a configuration that suits your project. Requirements vary significantly depending on the game, your use of extensions such as mods, plugins, or resources, and the expected number of players.
During checkout, ZAP-Hosting provides a recommended minimum configuration. This is based on typical use cases and is intended to help you avoid common performance issues such as lag, crashes, or long loading times.
Please follow these recommendations or upgrade if needed to ensure optimal stability and the best experience for you and your players. This is a minimum recommendation.
Depending on the scope of your project and the amount of additional content, you may need more resources from the start, or your needs may increase over time. In these cases, upgrading your game server plan is the easiest way to ensure performance and stability.
Not all extensions are optimized for performance. Whether it’s a framework, plugin, mod, or resource, poor implementation can cause significant performance issues on your server. The functionality may work, but it can be inefficient, overly complex, or put unnecessary strain on server resources.
This can lead to high CPU usage, memory leaks, lag, or even crashes, especially when multiple unoptimized components interact. Make sure extensions are actively maintained, well documented, and tested for performance. If you’re unsure, community feedback or monitoring your server’s performance can help you identify problematic components.
To narrow down the cause of performance issues, it often helps to temporarily disable additional content. Start with a minimal configuration and check whether the problem persists. If it goes away, add extensions, mods, or resources back one at a time, testing after each step. This helps you pinpoint exactly what’s causing the issue — whether it’s a conflict, memory leak, or excessive resource usage.
This approach saves time and helps you make decisions based on facts instead of assumptions.
Network
Network issues can cause lag, delays, or dropped connections. There are many possible causes, but they can usually be addressed with the right settings and security measures.
Ping Spikes, Lag, and Network Delays
Ping spikes, lag, and network delays are usually caused by limited server resources, such as insufficient CPU power, RAM, or bandwidth.
They can also occur when the server is overloaded by a large number of players or resource-intensive scripts and plugins. Network issues such as poor routing, external congestion, or a server location far from your player base can further increase latency.
Background processes, unstable internet connections, packet loss, and outdated or misconfigured server software can also cause noticeable performance issues in-game.
If you’re experiencing lag or high ping on your server, there are a few simple steps you can take to improve performance. First, make sure your server meets or exceeds the recommended specs for your game and project. Choosing a server location close to your player base can also help reduce latency.
If you suspect routing issues or external network disruptions are the cause, don’t hesitate to contact our support team. We’ll help you analyze the situation and find the best solution.
DDoS and Other Network Threats
Game servers can sometimes be targeted by malicious network attacks, especially Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. These flood the server with a huge amount of traffic, causing lag, lost connections, or even complete downtime. In other cases, attackers may try to exploit network vulnerabilities or disrupt server stability with repeated connection attempts or unusual data patterns.
Most of these threats are beyond the control of a typical user, but ZAP-Hosting offers built-in protection and mitigation measures to help protect your server from common and advanced attacks. If you suspect your server is under attack and it’s causing problems, contact our support team for help and guidance on next steps.
Preventive Measures
Regular backups can save you a lot of stress and worry. Create backups regularly so you always have an older version to fall back on if something goes wrong. We already back up your game server automatically every day. With the ZapX Pass, you can also create your own backups and restore them with a single click at any time — with ZapX Pass Pro, you can even schedule automatic backups. Learn more in our guide to backups.
Conclusion
These steps should help you solve your problem. If your issue is listed here, the suggested solution will usually point you in the right direction and get your server running again quickly.
If not, don’t hesitate to contact our support team — we’re here every day and will be happy to help! 🙂
Server hosting from €2.49 / month, online instantly, DDoS protection included.
Preferred source on Google
