Install a Red Dead Redemption 2 server

Step-by-step installation

1. 1

   Create an account on portal.cfx.re and generate a license key for your server.

2. 2

   Download the latest recommended/master server build (Windows or Linux) from the download page linked in the documentation.

3. 3

   Extract it into a "server" folder and clone cfx-server-data into a separate "server-data" folder.

4. 4

   Create server.cfg in server-data (use the "RedM server.cfg generator" tool) with "set gamename rdr3" and your sv_licenseKey.

5. 5

   Start FXServer from the server-data folder with "+exec server.cfg".

6. 6

   In RedM, press F8 and type "connect 127.0.0.1:30120" to test locally.

7. 7

   On a VPS, open port 30120 for TCP and UDP (system firewall and provider firewall).

8. 8

   Set up automatic start (systemd service or Windows scheduled task).

9. 9

   Schedule backups and server updates, then add your server on game-rank.com/jeux/red-dead-redemption-2.

Requirements

The official documentation does not set minimum hardware; the values below are common rules of thumb to adjust to your resources (scripts, framework).

• OS: Windows 10/Server 2016+ or 64-bit Linux (Ubuntu/Debian); Linux needs xz-utils and git.
• Rule of thumb: 2 to 4 cores, 4 to 8 GB RAM and 10 GB disk for 32 slots (estimate, not official).
• Free license key (sv_licenseKey) from the Cfx.re portal; OneSync "on" is required above 64 slots.

Local install (Windows)

Extract the server .7z archive into C:\FXServer\server, clone cfx-server-data into C:\FXServer\server-data, create server.cfg, then start the server from server-data.

git clone https://github.com/citizenfx/cfx-server-data.git C:\FXServer\server-data
cd /d C:\FXServer\server-data
C:\FXServer\server\FXServer.exe +exec server.cfg

Install on a Linux VPS (Ubuntu/Debian)

Create a non-root user, download the Linux build from the official download page (fx.tar.xz) and extract it.

sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" redm
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y xz-utils git screen
sudo -iu redm
mkdir -p ~/FXServer/server && cd ~/FXServer/server
# placez ici fx.tar.xz (version Linux téléchargée) puis :
tar xf fx.tar.xz
cd ~/FXServer && git clone https://github.com/citizenfx/cfx-server-data.git server-data
# créez ~/FXServer/server-data/server.cfg, puis :
cd ~/FXServer/server-data && bash ~/FXServer/server/run.sh +exec server.cfg

Ports to open

The port is changed with the endpoint_add_tcp and endpoint_add_udp lines in server.cfg; open the same number in the firewall. On home hosting, forward this port (NAT) from your router to the server's local IP. Test from an outside network (mobile hotspot).

• 30120/TCP and 30120/UDP — player connections and server listing (default).
• 40120/TCP — txAdmin web interface, if you use it (do not expose it publicly without protection).

Linux firewall (ufw)

Allow SSH before enabling ufw. On OVH, Hetzner, Scaleway and others, also open the port in the provider's firewall / security group.

sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw allow 30120/tcp
sudo ufw allow 30120/udp
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw status

Windows firewall (netsh)

In an administrator command prompt:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="RedM TCP 30120" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=30120
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="RedM UDP 30120" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=30120

systemd service (Linux)

Save this file as /etc/systemd/system/redm.service, then run "sudo systemctl enable --now redm". If the service exits immediately (console without standard input), run the server in screen or tmux instead: "screen -S redm" then the start command.

[Unit]
Description=RedM server
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target

[Service]
User=redm
WorkingDirectory=/home/redm/FXServer/server-data
ExecStart=/bin/bash /home/redm/FXServer/server/run.sh +exec server.cfg
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Automatic start on Windows

Create C:\FXServer\start.cmd, then a scheduled task that runs it at machine startup.

REM C:\FXServer\start.cmd
cd /d C:\FXServer\server-data
C:\FXServer\server\FXServer.exe +exec server.cfg

REM Tâche planifiée / Scheduled task (invite administrateur)
schtasks /create /tn "RedM" /tr "C:\FXServer\start.cmd" /sc onstart /ru SYSTEM

Updates and backups

To update: stop the server, replace the contents of the server folder with the new build (server-data and server.cfg stay untouched), restart. Back up server-data (resources, server.cfg) and your framework's database (MySQL/MariaDB, if any). Scheduled restart: cron job or Windows scheduler.

# Sauvegarde / backup (cron : 0 4 * * *)
tar czf ~/backup-redm-$(date +%F).tar.gz -C ~/FXServer server-data

# Redémarrage planifié / scheduled restart (cron root : 0 5 * * *)
systemctl restart redm

List your server

A public server with a valid key appears in the RedM server list; fill in sv_projectName, sv_projectDesc and tags. Also add your server on game-rank.com/jeux/red-dead-redemption-2 for more visibility.

Troubleshooting

• Server starts as GTA V: "set gamename rdr3" is missing or not loaded; start with +exec server.cfg from server-data.
• "Invalid license key": sv_licenseKey missing, mis-copied or tied to another IP; regenerate it on portal.cfx.re.
• Players cannot connect from outside: port 30120 not open for BOTH TCP and UDP (system firewall, provider, router NAT).
• Game build error or client refused: align sv_enforceGameBuild (1491 is the only build listed in the official docs) with your framework's version.
• A resource does not load: fxmanifest.lua without game 'rdr3' or rdr3_warning; generate it with the dedicated tool and check "ensure" in server.cfg.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay to host a RedM server?

No: the server software and the Cfx.re portal license key are free according to the documentation. Only hosting (VPS, dedicated) and any paid scripts cost money.

Can I use txAdmin with RedM?

Yes, txAdmin ships with FXServer and provides a web interface (port 40120 by default). Pick RedM in its setup wizard or add "set gamename rdr3" to your server.cfg.

How many players can a RedM server hold?

sv_maxclients accepts 1 to 2048; from 32 slots OneSync must be "on" or "legacy", and above 64 only "on". The practical number depends on CPU and scripts.

Where are the server's data files?

The server itself only keeps server-data (resources, server.cfg, cache). Gameplay data (characters, inventories) live in your framework's database (often MySQL/MariaDB): back it up separately.