Hytale Server Networking: Port Forwarding and Connection Setup

Getting your Hytale server accessible to players requires proper network configuration. This guide covers everything from basic port forwarding to troubleshooting connection issues.

Hytale Networking Basics

Protocol and Ports

Hytale uses QUIC over UDP for game connections:

• Primary port: UDP 5520 (default)
• Protocol: QUIC (UDP-based)
• No TCP required for game connections

Important: TCP port forwarding alone will NOT work. You must forward UDP.

How Connections Work

1. Player's game client sends UDP packets to your server IP
2. Packets travel through the internet to your network
3. Your router receives the packets
4. Port forwarding rules direct packets to your server
5. Hytale server processes the connection

Port Forwarding Setup

Step 1: Find Your Server's Local IP

Windows:

ipconfig

Look for "IPv4 Address" under your active adapter.

Linux/Mac:

ip addr
# or
ifconfig

Your local IP typically looks like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x.

Step 2: Access Your Router

1. Open a web browser
2. Navigate to your router's admin page (common addresses):
   • 192.168.1.1
   • 192.168.0.1
   • 10.0.0.1
3. Log in with your router credentials

Step 3: Create Port Forward Rule

Navigate to "Port Forwarding," "NAT," or "Virtual Servers" (varies by router).

Create a new rule with:

Save and apply the changes.

Step 4: Verify the Forward

Use an online port checker:

1. Start your Hytale server
2. Visit a site like canyouseeme.org
3. Enter port 5520
4. Select UDP if the option exists
5. Check if the port is open

Firewall Configuration

Windows Firewall

Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security:

Inbound Rule:

1. Click "Inbound Rules" → "New Rule"
2. Select "Port" → Next
3. Select "UDP" and enter "5520"
4. Select "Allow the connection"
5. Apply to all profiles (or just Private if home network)
6. Name it "Hytale Server"

Or via Command Line:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Hytale Server" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=5520

Linux (UFW)

# Allow Hytale port
sudo ufw allow 5520/udp

# Verify
sudo ufw status

Linux (iptables)

sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 5520 -j ACCEPT

Cloud/VPS Firewall

If hosting on a cloud provider, configure their security groups:

AWS Security Groups

1. Go to EC2 → Security Groups
2. Edit inbound rules
3. Add rule: UDP, Port 5520, Source 0.0.0.0/0

DigitalOcean Firewall

1. Go to Networking → Firewalls
2. Add inbound rule: UDP, Port 5520

Other Providers

Similar process - look for firewall, security groups, or network rules.

Static IP Configuration

Prevent your server's IP from changing:

Router DHCP Reservation

1. Access router admin panel
2. Find "DHCP Reservation" or "Address Reservation"
3. Add your server's MAC address
4. Assign a specific local IP

Static IP on Server

Linux (Netplan):

# /etc/netplan/01-config.yaml
network:
  version: 2
  ethernets:
    eth0:
      addresses:
        - 192.168.1.100/24
      gateway4: 192.168.1.1
      nameservers:
        addresses: [8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4]

Apply with: sudo netplan apply

Dynamic DNS

If your public IP changes frequently:

1. Sign up for a Dynamic DNS service (No-IP, DuckDNS, etc.)
2. Create a hostname (e.g., myserver.ddns.net)
3. Install the DDNS client on your network
4. Players connect using your hostname instead of IP

Troubleshooting

"Connection Refused"

Possible causes:

• Server not running
• Wrong IP/port
• Firewall blocking connection
• Port not forwarded correctly

Solutions:

1. Verify server is running and authenticated
2. Double-check the IP address players are using
3. Test locally first (connect from same network)
4. Review firewall rules
5. Verify port forwarding rule

"Connection Timed Out"

Possible causes:

• Port forwarding not working
• ISP blocking the port
• Server unreachable

Solutions:

1. Test with port checker tools
2. Try a different port
3. Contact ISP if ports are blocked
4. Consider a VPN or hosting service

Players Get Disconnected

Possible causes:

• Unstable internet connection
• Server overloaded
• Authentication issues

Solutions:

1. Check server resource usage
2. Review server logs for errors
3. Re-authenticate if needed
4. Reduce view distance or player limit

UPnP Not Working

If automatic port forwarding fails:

1. Check if UPnP is enabled in router
2. Some routers have buggy UPnP
3. Manual port forwarding is more reliable
4. Consider disabling UPnP and using manual rules

Network Performance Tips

1. Use wired connection - Ethernet is more stable than WiFi
2. Close bandwidth-heavy applications - Streaming, downloads
3. Check for packet loss - Use ping tests
4. Consider QoS settings - Prioritize game traffic
5. Monitor upload bandwidth - Critical for hosting

Security Considerations

• Don't expose unnecessary ports - Only forward what's needed
• Keep server software updated - Security patches
• Use strong server authentication - Required by Hytale
• Consider DDoS protection - For public servers
• Monitor access logs - Watch for suspicious activity

Still having issues? Check the Server Setup Guide or visit our FAQ for more help.