How to host a BeamMP server (2026)

Short answer. You can host a BeamMP server yourself for free: create an auth key at keymaster.beammp.com, download BeamMP-Server for your system from the BeamMP-Server releases on GitHub, run it once to create ServerConfig.toml, paste in the key, and open port 30814 for both TCP and UDP. Or rent a BeamMP server and skip the networking.

Players find a public server by name in BeamMP's server list, or join any server, public or private, with its IP address and port on the Direct Connect tab of that list.

Checked on 5 November 2026 against BeamMP-Server v3.9.3 (released 23 May 2026), the newest release on GitHub.

This guide uses the BeamMP documentation at docs.beammp.com, the BeamMP-Server GitHub page, and what we run on every BeamMP server we host. To skip to the rental route, go to Option 2.

What you need

• A BeamMP auth key. The server will not run without one. You log in with Discord at keymaster.beammp.com, open Keys, press the green plus button and fill in a server name. Never share the key: BeamMP says to treat it like a password.
• The server software. It is free. The releases page offers builds for Windows (BeamMP-Server.exe) and for Debian and Ubuntu on x86_64 and arm64.
• A machine that stays on: a spare PC, a home server or a cloud virtual machine.
• Network: port 30814 (the default), open for both TCP and UDP. The BeamMP docs say the server supports IPv4 only.
• Linux runtime library: liblua5.3-0 on Debian and Ubuntu, according to the BeamMP-Server README.
• The game: every player needs BeamNG.drive with BeamMP installed.

Option 1: host it yourself

These steps are for Ubuntu 24.04 on x86_64. For another system, pick the matching file on the releases page. BeamMP recommends not running the server as root.

1. Install the library and create a user.

   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install -y liblua5.3-0
   sudo useradd -m beammpserver
   sudo -iu beammpserver

2. Download the server.

   mkdir ~/beammp && cd ~/beammp
   curl -L -o BeamMP-Server https://github.com/BeamMP/BeamMP-Server/releases/latest/download/BeamMP-Server.ubuntu.24.04.x86_64
   chmod +x BeamMP-Server

3. Start it once to create ServerConfig.toml. With no key in the file yet, the server reports that no AuthKey is set and closes by itself after about 10 seconds.

   ./BeamMP-Server

4. Edit ServerConfig.toml. The keys most people change:

   [General]
   Name = 'My BeamMP Server'
   Port = 30814
   AuthKey = 'paste-your-key-here'
   Private = false
   MaxCars = 1
   MaxPlayers = 8
   Map = '/levels/gridmap_v2/info.json'
   Description = 'My first server'
   ResourceFolder = 'Resources'

   A new file starts with Private = true, which keeps the server out of the public list. Set it to false to be listed. Mods go in Resources/Client.
5. Open the port. Allow port 30814 for TCP and UDP in the machine's firewall (with ufw: sudo ufw allow 30814/tcp and sudo ufw allow 30814/udp), then forward both on your router to this machine. The BeamMP docs say that if your router lists internal and external ports, make them the same. A virtual machine at a cloud provider needs no router forwarding, only its own firewall rules.
6. Start the server again with ./BeamMP-Server and read the console for [ERROR] or [WARN] lines. To keep it running after you log out, use a systemd service or screen.
7. Test the port. BeamMP's port forwarding page points to its CheckBeamMP tool: status: ok means the port is open. An error can mean your internet provider uses CGNAT, which blocks forwarding.

Windows

Download BeamMP-Server.exe, put it in its own folder and run it once to create ServerConfig.toml. Edit that file as in step 4, install the Visual C++ Redistributables (the BeamMP docs list them as needed to run the server on Windows), and allow port 30814 for TCP and UDP in Windows Firewall and on your router.

How players join

• Public server: search for its name in BeamMP's server list.
• Private server, or a quick test: open the Direct Connect tab of the server list and enter the IP address and port. On the same PC use 127.0.0.1, on the same network use the machine's local IP, and from outside use the public IP.

Option 2: host it on PlayNHost

Renting removes the firewall, port forwarding and update routine. The port and the config file are set up for you, and you still bring your own free BeamMP key.

1. Pick a plan. Open the BeamMP server hosting page. The plan at the time of writing is COVET, for 10 players. Press Customize Plan on it and finish the order. Prices change, so check them on that page.
2. Create your key. While the server installs, sign in at keymaster.beammp.com and create a key as described above.
3. Open your server from panel.playnhost.com. On the Overview tab, the Go live card walks you through the key, a name and description, tags, a map, and whether the server is public or private.
4. Paste the key in step 1 of the card. You can also paste it into the BeamMP Auth Key field on the Settings page.
5. Start the server. Press Save and start on the card (Save and restart if the server is already running). The panel counts the server as running when the Console shows the line [INFO] Vehicle data network online on port ....
6. Join. The Go live card checks BeamMP's server list every 30 seconds and shows You are live once your public server is in it. Players then find it by name. For a private server, friends use Direct Connect with the Direct connect address shown on the Overview, which is also the join address in the email we send when the server is online.
7. Add mods and maps (optional). Use the Mods & maps page. Maps you upload there appear first in the Go live card's map list.

What the panel does for you

• The start gate. If no auth key is set, the server does not boot. The Console prints a message that BeamMP will not start without a key and tells you where to paste it. Add the key and press Start again.
• The config file. At every start the panel passes your settings to BeamMP, which writes them into ServerConfig.toml: name, description, map, tags, player limit, car limit, private, guests, chat logging and the key. Hand edits to those settings are replaced, and a line the server cannot read stops it from starting. Change settings in the panel instead. The player limit follows your plan.
• The port. The panel gives the server its game port and writes it for you. You do not forward anything.
• Add-on folders. The install creates Resources/Client and Resources/Server before the first start. Client takes .zip mods that every player downloads when joining. Server takes one folder per Lua plugin.
• Updates. The installer downloads the latest BeamMP release. With Auto-update on, the panel checks for a new release at every start and installs it, and your config and Resources folder are not touched. BeamMP's own config file tells server owners to update as soon as a new version is out. A pinned version is never updated.

Self-hosting or renting: an honest comparison

• Cost. Self-hosted: the software and key are free, and you pay for hardware, power and bandwidth, or a cloud virtual machine. Rented: a monthly fee set by plan. See the current plan.
• Availability. Self-hosted: as reliable as your machine and home internet, and it must be on whenever friends drive. Rented: runs on the host's hardware, not your PC.
• Network. Self-hosted: you open port 30814 on TCP and UDP and may hit CGNAT. Rented: no router work, and your home IP is not involved.
• Skill needed. Self-hosted: command line, a TOML file, port forwarding and updates. A good way to learn. Rented: a web panel with form fields.
• Updates. Self-hosted: download the new build and replace the file. Rented: Auto-update installs a new build when the server starts.

Self-hosting suits you if a machine already runs all day and you are comfortable with networking. Renting suits you if you would rather spend the time driving.

Common problems and fixes

The server will not start without a key

Cause: AuthKey is empty. BeamMP-Server prints No AuthKey specified and closes, even when the server is private.

Fix: create a key at keymaster.beammp.com and paste it in. See Your BeamMP server will not start without an auth key and How to get a BeamMP auth key for your server.

Friends cannot connect

Cause: the port is closed for TCP or UDP, or your internet provider uses CGNAT. Errors 10060, 10061 and 10030 point to this, according to the BeamMP docs.

Fix: forward 30814 for both protocols and test it with CheckBeamMP. More in BeamMP ports and firewall explained.

FAQ

Can I host a BeamMP server for free?

Yes. The server and the auth key cost nothing. You pay for the machine, power and internet, and it must stay on while people play.

Which port does a BeamMP server use?

30814 by default, for both TCP and UDP. You can change it in ServerConfig.toml.

Do I need an auth key for a private server?

Yes. BeamMP-Server v3.9.3 closes at start when AuthKey is empty, whether the server is public or private.

Can I add mods?

Yes. Put .zip mods in Resources/Client. See How to add mods to your BeamMP server.

Ready to skip the setup? See the BeamMP server plans.