How to Set Up a BeamMP Server in 2026: The Complete Guide

Setting up your own BeamMP server lets you control who joins, which mods are loaded, and how the server behaves. This guide covers both self-hosting on your own machine and using a hosting provider.

Two options: self-host or pay for hosting

Self-hosting means running the BeamMP server software on your own computer or a VPS. It costs nothing beyond your electricity bill, but it requires some technical setup — port forwarding, keeping your machine running, and manual updates.

Paid hosting means renting a server from a provider like Connect Hosting. The setup takes about 60 seconds, and the provider handles networking, uptime, and updates. There is a cost involved, though free tiers exist. We have a detailed comparison of self-hosting vs paid hosting if you want the full breakdown.

This guide focuses mainly on self-hosting. If you would rather skip straight to paid hosting, jump to that section.

What you need before starting

• BeamNG.drive on Steam (the base game)
• A computer running Windows or Linux — the server is lightweight, but you need decent upload speed (at least 10 Mbps for a few players)
• Access to your router for port forwarding (this is often the hardest part)
• A BeamMP account at beammp.com for your authentication key

Minimum specs for the server

BeamMP servers are not resource-hungry. A dual-core CPU, 2 GB of RAM, and a few hundred MB of disk space will handle a small server (5-10 players) without issues. More players and more mods need more resources — roughly 512 MB of RAM per 10 players with mods.

Step 1: Download the BeamMP server

Head to the BeamMP GitHub releases page and download the latest release for your operating system.

• Windows: grab the .exe file
• Linux: grab the binary for your architecture (usually x86_64)

Put it in its own folder — the server creates config files and logs in the same directory it runs from.

Step 2: Get your authentication key

Every BeamMP server needs an authentication key to appear in the server list. Here is how to get one:

1. Go to beammp.com/keymaster
2. Log in with your BeamMP account (or create one)
3. Click "Create a key"
4. Give it a name (anything — just for your reference)
5. Copy the key

We have a step-by-step guide for getting your auth key with screenshots if you get stuck.

Step 3: Configure ServerConfig.toml

When you first run the server, it creates a ServerConfig.toml file. Close the server and edit this file. Here are the important settings:

[General]
AuthKey = "your-key-here"
Name = "My BeamMP Server"
Port = 30814
MaxPlayers = 10
Private = false
Debug = false
Description = "A BeamMP server"
ResourceFolder = "Resources"
Map = "/levels/gridmap_v2/info.json"

What each setting does

• AuthKey — paste your key from Step 2 here
• Name — appears in the server browser. Keep it descriptive.
• Port — the default is 30814. Only change this if you are running multiple servers or have a conflict.
• MaxPlayers — set based on your hardware and bandwidth. Start with 10 and adjust.
• Private — set to true if you only want people with the direct IP to join (hidden from the server list)
• Map — the map your server loads. Default is Grid Map. Other popular options:
  • /levels/west_coast_usa/info.json — West Coast USA
  • /levels/east_coast_usa/info.json — East Coast USA
  • /levels/italy/info.json — Italy
  • /levels/jungle_rock_island/info.json — Jungle Rock Island

Step 4: Port forwarding

This is where most people get stuck. Your router blocks incoming connections by default, so players outside your network cannot reach your server unless you open the port.

1. Find your computer's local IP address (ipconfig on Windows, ip addr on Linux)
2. Log into your router (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in your browser)
3. Find the port forwarding section (sometimes called "virtual server" or "NAT")
4. Create a rule:
   • External port: 30814
   • Internal port: 30814
   • Protocol: TCP and UDP
   • Internal IP: your computer's local IP from step 1
5. Save and restart your router if prompted

Common port forwarding problems

• ISP blocks the port — some ISPs (especially mobile broadband or CGNAT connections) block incoming connections entirely. You cannot port forward around this. A VPS or hosting provider is your only option.
• Double NAT — if you have two routers (ISP router + your own), you need to port forward on both, or put the ISP router in bridge mode.
• Dynamic IP — your public IP may change. Use a dynamic DNS service for a free hostname that follows your IP.
• Windows Firewall — add an exception for the BeamMP server executable, or allow port 30814 (TCP+UDP) through Windows Firewall.

If port forwarding sounds like a headache — it is, honestly. It is the number one reason people switch to hosted servers.

Step 5: Start and test your server

Run the BeamMP server executable. You should see output confirming the server is ready and your auth key is verified.

To test it:

1. Open BeamMP launcher
2. Click "Direct Connect"
3. Enter 127.0.0.1:30814 (if testing on the same machine) or your local IP
4. If you see your server in the server browser, port forwarding is working

Ask a friend to try connecting using your public IP. If they can join, you are set.

Step 6: Adding mods

BeamMP servers support two types of mods:

Client-side mods (vehicles, maps): place .zip files in the Resources/Client folder. Players download these automatically when joining.

Server-side plugins (Lua scripts like Cobalt Essentials): place them in the Resources/Server folder.

For detailed mod installation instructions, see our guide on how to add mods to your BeamMP server.

Keeping your server running

Self-hosted servers have a practical problem: they are only online when your computer is on and the server process is running. If your PC restarts, the server goes down.

On Linux, create a systemd service to auto-start the server on boot. On Windows, use Task Scheduler to launch the server executable at login.

If the self-hosting setup sounds like more than you want to deal with, hosted servers skip all of the above. On Connect Hosting, the process is:

1. Pick a plan (there is a free tier with no time limit)
2. Pay (or not, if using the free tier)
3. Your server is provisioned automatically — usually within 60 seconds
4. Install mods with the 1-click mod installer in the panel

No port forwarding, no firewall rules, no worrying about uptime. The trade-off is cost — paid plans start at $4.99/month. Whether that is worth it depends on how comfortable you are with the self-hosting steps above.

Browse BeamMP hosting plans →

FAQ

How many players can a self-hosted BeamMP server support? It depends on your upload bandwidth more than your hardware. With 20 Mbps upload, expect to comfortably host 15-20 players. Each player uses roughly 0.5-1 Mbps of upload bandwidth.

Can I run a BeamMP server on a Raspberry Pi? Technically yes (ARM builds exist), but performance is poor with more than 3-4 players. A cheap VPS is a better option if you want always-on hosting without the cost of a full dedicated server.

Do I need to keep my computer on 24/7? If you want an always-available public server, yes. For a server you only use with friends, you can start it when you play and shut it down after. Paid hosting solves this completely.

My server does not appear in the server browser. What do I do? Check three things: your auth key is valid and correctly pasted (no extra spaces), port 30814 is forwarded correctly, and Private is set to false in your config.

Can I run multiple BeamMP servers on one machine? Yes. Copy the server folder, change the Port in each config to a different number (30815, 30816, etc.), and port forward each one. You need a separate auth key for each server.