Don't Starve Together Dedicated Server Hosting 2026
Don't Starve Together is one of the best co-op survival games ever made, combining the original game's dark hand-drawn aesthetic with surprisingly deep multiplayer mechanics. Hosting your own DST server lets you and your friends experience the game without the limitations of Klei's public servers - and with mods that dramatically expand the experience.
DST Dedicated Server Structure
Unlike most games, DST splits its world into two separate server processes that run simultaneously:
- The Surface server - the overworld, day/night cycle, base building
- The Caves server - the underground cave system, always-night
Both processes connect to each other via a master/slave relationship and must run at the same time for cave access to work. This means hosting DST properly requires planning for two processes.
Hardware Requirements
| World | RAM per process | Total RAM needed |
|---|---|---|
| Surface only | 512 MB - 1 GB | ~1 GB |
| Surface + Caves | 1-2 GB each | 3-4 GB |
| Heavily modded | 2-4 GB each | 6-8 GB |
DST is one of the lighter games to host in terms of hardware. A 4 GB RAM plan handles a full DST server with caves and a reasonable mod list.
Getting a Server Token
DST requires a server token to run a dedicated server. Get it from:
- Open Don't Starve Together
- Go to Account - Server Token
- Generate a new token
The token authenticates your server with Klei's backend. Store it in cluster_token.txt in your cluster folder.
Folder Structure
~/.klei/DoNotStarveTogether/
└── MyCluster/
├── cluster.ini
├── cluster_token.txt
├── Master/ ← Surface world
│ ├── server.ini
│ └── worldgenoverride.lua
└── Caves/ ← Cave world
├── server.ini
└── worldgenoverride.lua
cluster.ini Configuration
[GAMEPLAY]
game_mode = survival
max_players = 6
pvp = false
pause_when_empty = true
[NETWORK]
cluster_name = My DST Server
cluster_password =
cluster_description = A friendly survival server
[SHARD]
shard_enabled = true
bind_ip = 127.0.0.1
master_ip = 127.0.0.1
master_port = 10888
cluster_key = mysecretkey
Mods in DST
DST mods install via the Workshop. Add mod IDs to modsettings.lua in each server folder. The most popular categories:
- Character mods - new playable characters with unique abilities
- Item mods - new weapons, armor, food items
- World gen mods - different biome configurations
- QoL mods - map reveal, minimap, better inventory sorting
Important: Mods must be enabled in BOTH the Master and Caves folders if they affect both worlds.
Always-On vs. Pause When Empty
pause_when_empty = true is strongly recommended for small groups. When no one is online, the world pauses - resources do not regenerate, seasons do not advance, and characters do not suffer. This makes the server much more forgiving for groups that play a few days a week.
Hosting DST at Space-Node
Don't Starve Together is one of our lightest workloads. An entry-level plan easily handles a full DST installation including the cave server. Perfect if you want to share a world with friends without paying for hardware you do not need.
🌙 Start your DST world today. → View Game Server Plans at Space-Node
Light on resources, big on survival fun. Netherlands and Canada locations.
