Help
Plain-English guides for having us host your game server, or running one on your own machine at home.
- Plan terms explainedNew to game hosting? What a machine, a server, a game swap and the rest mean.
- Linux or mini PCOne command connects an Ubuntu or Debian machine: a spare desktop, a mini PC or a home server.
- Swapping games & backupsSwap a server to another game, and how archives keep every world safe.
- Billing & plansWhat each plan includes, changing plans and refunds.
- Game updates"Update available", which games are checked, and the optional email. Nothing updates by itself.
- Finding your Steam IDThe 17-digit number some games use to make you the server's admin, and where to find it.
- How much RAM?Free calculators for ten popular games, and what to leave for the system.
- A website for your serverWhat a server website usually has, and getting one built.
- Windows PCRun servers on a Windows 11 PC. The installer sets up Ubuntu inside Windows for you.Coming soon: in final testing
- Port forwarding & “friends can’t join”Which ports to forward on your router, what port 8080 is for, and what to do behind CGNAT.Coming soon: in final testing
- Free server addressA free <name>.play.cosmicwarpview.com address for any server, that follows it when it moves.Coming soon: in final testing
- Minecraft modpacks & versionsInstall a Modrinth modpack in one click, or switch type and version, with your world archived first.Coming soon: in final testing
Common questions
What is a machine?
A machine is a computer of yours connected to Cosmic Warp, and it's what actually runs your game servers: your PC, a mini PC or a Linux machine at home. "2 machines" means you can connect two of them, say one for your weekend group and another for a second community. Plans are for running servers on your own machine at home: they buy the dashboard and the benefits, not the hardware. If you'd rather not run anything yourself, Warp Hosted is the other way.
More about machineWhat is a server?
A server (or game server) is one running game world that your friends join, like a Valheim world or a Minecraft world. "3 servers" means you can run up to three at once, across all your machines: a Minecraft world, a Valheim world and a Terraria world, all at the same time.
More about server (game server)What is a game swap?
A game swap switches a server to a different game, and back again later, without losing either world. Play Valheim this month, swap to Minecraft for a weekend, then swap back: your Viking world is exactly where you left it.
More about game swapWhat is archive storage?
Archives are saved copies of your worlds, kept safe when you swap games or stop a server, and you can restore one whenever you like. The GB number is how much backup space you get: a typical Minecraft or Valheim world is well under 1 GB, so 10 GB keeps a lot of worlds.
More about archive / backup storageWhat is the relay?Coming soon: in final testing
The relay lets your friends join a server you host at home even if your internet blocks normal hosting, which Starlink, some apartment buildings and mobile hotspots do. There's no router setup: your friends join through the relay's address instead of yours.
More about relayWhat are Machine Teams?Coming soon: in final testing
Machine Teams link machines together, so if the one running your server goes offline, another takes over your server automatically. A standby machine waits ready to take over, and helper machines do the heavy lifting, like getting a new game ready, so your server is down for less time.
More about machine teamsWhat are Boost and Shrink?Coming soon: in final testing
Boost gives a server more power for a big night, say twenty friends on at once for a launch party, and Shrink scales it back down afterwards so you're not paying for power you don't need.
More about boost / shrinkWhat is mod pinning?
Mod pinning locks a server's mods to exact versions, so an update can't break your world. If your modded Minecraft world was built with certain versions of its mods, restoring it later brings back those same versions, not whatever came out since.
More about mod pinningWhat does white-label mean?Coming soon: in final testing
White-label means running Cosmic Warp under your own brand name and logo, for people starting a hosting business. Your customers see your brand, not ours.
More about white-labelWhat are sub-accounts?Coming soon: in final testing
Sub-accounts are accounts of their own for your customers, under your brand and on your plan. They're part of white-label: each customer signs in and sees only their own servers.
More about sub-accountsWhat is the partner program?Coming soon: in final testing
The partner program is for businesses that build or sell servers using Cosmic Warp. A Certified Builder sells machines that come ready for Cosmic Warp: the buyer plugs it in, enters a code, and it joins their account.
More about partner program / certified builderWhat are extra server slots on the Host plan?Coming soon: in final testing
The Host plan includes 25 servers. Each one beyond that is $1.50 a month, counted by the day, so a 26th server that runs for a week costs about a quarter of that.
More about extra server slotsWhat is Warp Hosted?
Warp Hosted means we host the server for you, on machines we rent and look after. The monthly price includes the server itself, and you don't need a plan: pick a game, pay, play.
More about warp hostedWhat is a founder plan?
A founder plan is one year of a plan, prepaid at a discount, with a locked renewal rate for later years and a founder badge on your account. There are only a limited number of spots.
More about founder planWhat is Discord control?
Discord control lets you and your friends start, stop and swap your servers from your own Discord server, without opening Cosmic Warp.
More about discord controlWhat is a custom domain?
A custom domain lets your customers reach your branded site at your own web address, like play.yourbrand.com, instead of ours.
More about custom domainsStill stuck? Email support@cosmicwarpview.com. A real person reads it.