How many players can join a Portal Knights server?

A Portal Knights Dedicated Server provides a shared world for up to 4 players.

How do I transfer my own world to the server?

On your PC, copy all the files from Steam\userdata\[STEAM-ID]\374040\remote to the server’s saved-game folder, for example, savedata, and start the server.

Portal Knights: Set Up a Server on Your VPS

Q: Where can I get the Portal Knights server files?

The file dedicated_server.zip is in your Steam installation of Portal Knights. In Steam, open the game’s Properties, go to Installed Files, and click Browse.

Q: Does the Portal Knights server run on Linux?

No. The server pk_dedicated_server.exe runs on Windows. If you have a Linux VPS, first install a Windows Server template via Settings > Reinstallation. This deletes all data.

Q: Which port does the Portal Knights server use?

The default is 16365 (UDP). You can change it in the port entry in server_config.json.

Learn how to set up the Portal Knights Dedicated Server on your Windows VPS, transfer your world, and connect with your friends → Learn more

10 November 20264 min read0 Views0 helpful

Introduction

You can host a Portal Knights server on your own VPS with ZapX. The Dedicated Server is included with the PC version of Portal Knights and runs on Windows. This guide explains what you need, how to set up the server on your VPS, and how your friends can connect.

Info

Portal Knights is not (yet) available in the Game Server Installer. You’ll need to set up the server manually, as described in this guide. The steps are based on the official guide from 505 Games in the Portal Knights Steam forum.

Portal Knights: Set Up a Server on Your VPS

Requirements

Requirement	Portal Knights
Operating system	Windows
Server files	`dedicated_server.zip` from your Portal Knights installation
Game copy	A purchased PC version of Portal Knights (Steam)
Access	Remote Desktop

Info

The Portal Knights server only runs on Windows. If your VPS runs Linux, install a Windows Server template via Settings > Reinstallation. This deletes all data on the VPS. Learn more in Server Reinstallation.

A Dedicated Server provides a shared world for up to 4 players, without any of you needing to keep the game open.

Install Portal Knights

On your own PC, open the Properties for Portal Knights in Steam, go to Installed Files, and click Browse. Copy the file dedicated_server.zip.
Connect to your VPS using Remote Desktop and copy the ZIP file there, for example, using the Remote Desktop connection’s clipboard.
Extract the file to a folder of your choice, for example, C:\PK Dedicated Server\.
Run pk_dedicated_server.exe. The first time it starts, the server creates a log file, the configuration file server_config.json, and a folder for saved games.
Close the server so you can edit the configuration.

Configuration

Open server_config.json in a text editor. All entries must use ASCII or UTF-8. The most important settings are:

Setting	Description
`name`	Server name
`ipv4`	IP address the server listens on; `0.0.0.0` means all addresses
`port`	Server port; default is `16365`
`saveFolderPath`	Folder for saved games
`universeSize`	World size: `Small`, `Normal`, or `Large`
`hideConsoleWindow`	`true` hides the console window

For each of the admins, users, and guests groups, set a password (credentials.password) and permissions. For example, you can set whether the group can log in (canLogin), kick players (canKickPlayers), or build and destroy (canModifyWorld). Keep the admin password secret.

Save the file and run pk_dedicated_server.exe again for the settings to take effect.

Warning

If you set hideConsoleWindow to true, you can only stop the server using Task Manager.

Transfer your own world

To continue playing in an existing world, copy it to the server:

On your PC, open the folder Steam\userdata\[STEAM-ID]\374040\remote.
Copy all the files from there to the server’s saved-game folder, for example, C:\PK Dedicated Server\savedata.
Start the server.

The server does not use Steam Cloud. Changes to the world are saved in the saved-game folder on the VPS.

Start the server and set up autostart

Start the server with pk_dedicated_server.exe. To have it start automatically after the VPS restarts, create a task in Task Scheduler with the trigger At startup that runs pk_dedicated_server.exe in the server folder.

You can run multiple servers on one VPS. Each server needs its own configuration file, port, and saved-game folder. Select the configuration file at startup with -config and the log file with -log, for example, pk_dedicated_server -config myOwnConfig.json -log testServer.log.

Connect to the server

Give your fellow players your VPS IP address from Overview in the ZapX dashboard, the port, and the password for their user group. In the game, they can add the server to the server list from the multiplayer menu under Join. Public servers and matchmaking are not available, and the server and game must be on the same version.

Ports and firewall

Port	Protocol	Use
16365	UDP	Game (value from `server_config.json`)

Open the port in Windows Firewall. Learn more in Manage Windows Defender Firewall rules. If you use your VPS’s Network Firewall in the ZapX dashboard, open the port there too.

Update the server

Updates are not installed automatically. When Portal Knights is updated, copy the new dedicated_server.zip from your updated game installation to the VPS and extract it over the old server files. Back up server_config.json and the saved-game folder first.

Backups

Back up the saved-game folder (for example, savedata) and server_config.json regularly, preferably while the server is stopped. 505 Games expressly recommends making regular manual backups.

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 backups. Learn more in Daily backups, restoring data, and restricted actions.

Conclusion

Your Portal Knights server is now running on your VPS. If something isn’t working as expected, see Portal Knights: Common Issues. If you have questions or need help, our support team is here for you every day! 🙂

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The file dedicated_server.zip is in your Steam installation of Portal Knights. In Steam, open the game’s Properties, go to Installed Files, and click Browse.

No. The server pk_dedicated_server.exe runs on Windows. If you have a Linux VPS, first install a Windows Server template via Settings > Reinstallation. This deletes all data.

The default is 16365 (UDP). You can change it in the port entry in server_config.json.

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Portal Knights: Set Up a Server on Your VPS

Introduction

Requirements

Install Portal Knights

Configuration

Transfer your own world

Start the server and set up autostart

Connect to the server

Ports and firewall

Update the server

Backups

Conclusion

Frequently asked questions

Portal Knights

Install Portal Knights

Transfer your own world

Start the server and set up autostart

Connect to the server

Update the server

Backups

Conclusion

Game Server

Servers & Hosting

ZAPX

Resources

ZAP-Hosting