Don't Starve Together server requirements

1. Download

   Free anonymous download, Steam app 343050, about 4.3 GB.

   docker volume create dst_files
   docker run --rm -v dst_files:/data steamcmd/steamcmd:latest \
     +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType linux +force_install_dir /data \
     +login anonymous +app_info_update 1 +app_update 343050 validate +quit

2. Image

   game_runtime as on the Palworld page, plus libcurl-gnutls.

   printf 'FROM ubuntu:24.04\nRUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends ca-certificates libcurl4t64 && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*\nUSER ubuntu\n' | docker build -t game_runtime -
   printf 'FROM game_runtime\nUSER root\nRUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends libcurl3t64-gnutls && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*\nUSER ubuntu\n' | docker build -t game_dst -

3. Cluster files

   Offline cluster with Caves. Add cluster_token.txt and remove offline_cluster to go online.

   docker volume create dst_home
   docker run --rm -v dst_home:/h alpine sh -c '
   C=/h/.klei/DoNotStarveTogether/Cluster_1; mkdir -p $C/Master $C/Caves
   printf "[GAMEPLAY]\ngame_mode = survival\n\n[NETWORK]\ncluster_name = My server\noffline_cluster = true\n\n[MISC]\nconsole_enabled = true\n\n[SHARD]\nshard_enabled = true\nbind_ip = 127.0.0.1\nmaster_ip = 127.0.0.1\nmaster_port = 10888\ncluster_key = change-me\n" > $C/cluster.ini
   printf "[NETWORK]\nserver_port = 10999\n\n[SHARD]\nis_master = true\n" > $C/Master/server.ini
   printf "[NETWORK]\nserver_port = 11000\n\n[SHARD]\nis_master = false\nname = Caves\n\n[STEAM]\nmaster_server_port = 27017\nauthentication_port = 8767\n" > $C/Caves/server.ini
   echo "return { override_enabled = true, preset = \"SURVIVAL_TOGETHER\" }" > $C/Master/worldgenoverride.lua
   echo "return { override_enabled = true, preset = \"DST_CAVE\" }" > $C/Caves/worldgenoverride.lua
   chown -R 1000:1000 /h'

4. Run

   Exact bench command: Caves in the background, Master in front. Add -p 10999-11000:10999-11000/udp to publish the ports.

   docker run -di --name dst --init --memory 4g -v dst_files:/dst -v dst_home:/home/ubuntu -w /dst/bin64 game_dst sh -c '
     ./dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer_x64 -console -cluster Cluster_1 -shard Caves -monitor_parent_process $$ >/dev/null 2>&1 &
     exec ./dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer_x64 -console -cluster Cluster_1 -shard Master'

5. Ready line

   Both shards linked 17.7 seconds after container start, including world generation.

   docker logs -f dst 2>&1 | grep -m1 'Secondary Caves.*ready'

Files: cluster.ini in ~/.klei/DoNotStarveTogether/Cluster_1, server.ini in each shard folder.

Server will not start without a cluster token

Online clusters need cluster_token.txt from the Klei account page. Offline clusters run without one.

'Setting breakpad minidump AppID' is not ready

It prints early in boot. Wait for '[Shard] Secondary Caves(...) ready!' in the Master log.

'libcurl-gnutls.so.4: cannot open shared object file'

Install libcurl3t64-gnutls (Ubuntu 24.04) or libcurl3-gnutls (older releases).

docker stop takes 60 seconds, then kills the server

The server ignores SIGTERM (exit 137, no save). Type c_shutdown(true) in the console (docker attach) to save and stop.

Caves never connect

Both shards need the same cluster_key and master_port, and different server_port and Steam ports.

No 'Sim paused' line

Normal for an offline cluster: the world keeps running with nobody online.

Changes from defaults

• Offline cluster (offline_cluster = true): no Klei cluster token, so not listed online.
• Master and Caves shards in one container; numbers cover both processes.
• Klei defaults otherwise: survival, 16 slots.

Full method