How to Host a Valheim Server Using Docker on Ubuntu

Introduction

Valheim is a popular survival and exploration game developed by Iron Gate Studio and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Hosting your own Valheim server allows you to play with friends in a persistent world that stays online even when the host player is offline. Running the server in Docker simplifies deployment, keeps the environment isolated, and makes server management easier.

This guide explains how to deploy a Valheim server using Docker on Ubuntu. The process uses a stable Docker container image and includes all required configuration steps to ensure a reliable server setup.

Step 1: Update the System

Update the package list and upgrade installed packages.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Docker

Install Docker from the Ubuntu repository:

sudo apt install docker.io -y

Enable and start the Docker service:

sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo systemctl start docker

Verify the installation:

docker --version

Step 3: Create Server Directories

Create directories to store Valheim server data:

mkdir -p ~/valheim-server/config
mkdir -p ~/valheim-server/data

Move into the server directory:

cd ~/valheim-server

Step 4: Pull the Valheim Docker Image

Download the Valheim server container image:

docker pull ghcr.io/lloesche/valheim-server

Step 5: Create the Docker Container

Run the Valheim server container with the required environment variables.

Replace the placeholders with your desired values.

docker run -d \
--name valheim-server \
--restart unless-stopped \
-p 2456-2457:2456-2457/udp \
-v ~/valheim-server/config:/config \
-v ~/valheim-server/data:/opt/valheim \
-e SERVER_NAME="Docker Valheim Server" \
-e WORLD_NAME="DockerWorld" \
-e SERVER_PASS="StrongPassword123" \
-e SERVER_PUBLIC=true \
ghcr.io/lloesche/valheim-server

Step 6: Verify the Server is Running

Check the running containers:

docker ps

View server logs:

docker logs -f valheim-server

The server may take 2–5 minutes to generate the world during the first startup.

Step 7: Allow Firewall Ports (If UFW is Enabled)

If the Ubuntu firewall is active, allow Valheim ports:

sudo ufw allow 2456/udp
sudo ufw allow 2457/udp

Reload firewall rules:

sudo ufw reload

Step 8: Connect to the Server

Players can connect through the in-game server browser or directly using the server IP.

Connection format:

YOUR_SERVER_IP:2456

Step 9: Managing the Server

Stop the server:
docker stop valheim-server

Start the server:
docker start valheim-server

Restart the server:
docker restart valheim-server

If you want to update the server image:
docker pull ghcr.io/lloesche/valheim-server
docker stop valheim-server
docker rm valheim-server

Then run the docker run command again (Step 5).

Summary:

Running a Valheim dedicated server using Docker on Ubuntu 24.04 provides a clean and efficient hosting solution. Docker isolates the game server environment, simplifies updates, and ensures consistent deployment. By creating persistent storage directories and exposing the required ports, administrators can easily host a stable multiplayer Valheim world.

Conclusion:

Hosting your own Valheim server allows you to create a private multiplayer environment with full control over the world and player access. Using Docker significantly simplifies the setup process and improves server portability and maintenance. With the steps outlined in this guide, you can quickly deploy a reliable Valheim server on Ubuntu 24.04 and enjoy uninterrupted adventures with friends in the Viking-inspired world.