Community hosting guides put the bare minimum for an Arma 3 server at 2 GB and recommend 4 GB or more. Each Headless Client is an extra process and adds memory use, and heavy mods and large missions need more, so check memory on the Overview page with players online.
Check your own usage
Open your server's Overview page and look at Usage, then the RAM tab, while players are online. An empty server tells you little, so read it with players on. See How to read your server's usage graphs.
Tips for a healthier server
- Arma 3 is CPU bound and depends mostly on single-core speed, so a mission with huge AI counts is the usual cause of server lag.
- Use Headless Clients only with a mission written for them, since AI offloading needs mission support and each client adds load.
- Keep Server FPS at the default of 50 unless you have a reason. Higher values do nothing if the server cannot reach them, and cost CPU if it can.
- Leave Load Mission To Memory ON so the mission is not reprocessed for every joining player.
- Leave Validate Server Files OFF in normal use because it makes every start much slower.
- Leave Disable Verbose Logging ON in normal use. Turn it OFF only while troubleshooting, because while it is on no .rpt log files are written, and those logs are the best way to find mod problems.
Change plan
If memory keeps reaching your plan's limit while players are on, move to a bigger plan. See How to change your plan or billing cycle.
