Getting Started
Use this playbook to move from “thinking about hosting” to a fully deployed, monitored workload. It applies to every product—Minecraft realms, FiveM RP communities, Arma milsims, Pavlov VR lobbies, or Discord bots.
Preflight Checklist
Section titled “Preflight Checklist”- Mamba Host account with verified email, MFA enabled, and billing method on file.
- Target workload (game template or Discord bot) confirmed in
src/games/game-server-products.ts. - Region preference (Houston, TX currently; additional regions arrive per roadmap).
- Optional DNS access if you plan to use vanity hostnames (
mc.example.com,bot.example.com). - Access to existing saves/scripts/licenses (Minecraft worlds, FiveM license key, Discord bot token, etc.).
Tip: document who has access. Create separate panel logins for each teammate instead of sharing root credentials.
Step 1. Create Your Account
Section titled “Step 1. Create Your Account”- Visit https://mambahost.com and choose Get Started.
- Confirm your email address and enable MFA if available.
- Join the Discord community (https://discord.gg/mambahost) for real-time launch assistance and incident updates.
- If you require invoices or PO-based billing, email billing@mambahost.com before launch so paperwork is ready.
Step 2. Pick Your Workload
Section titled “Step 2. Pick Your Workload”Pick a runbook for deeper instructions once the basics below are complete:
| Workload | Guide |
|---|---|
| Minecraft Java | Minecraft Java Setup |
| FiveM Roleplay | FiveM Setup |
| Arma Reforger | Arma Reforger Setup |
| Discord Bots | Discord Bot Deployment |
Need a different title (Rust, CS2, Squad, Pavlov, etc.)? All plan specs live in src/games/game-server-products.ts, so once you add a game there the public pages and docs stay in sync.
Step 3. Pick the Right Plan
Section titled “Step 3. Pick the Right Plan”Each game has three standardized tiers:
- Starter – Lowest monthly cost, ideal for small friend groups.
- Pro – Most popular option, balanced CPU/RAM for growing communities.
- Premium – Highest allocation, includes priority ticket handling on select games.
Use the following guardrails when sizing:
- Minecraft Java: 1 GB per 5 to 8 players (vanilla) and 3+ GB for modded packs.
- FiveM: 4 GB RAM for 32 to 64 slots, 8 GB for 64 to 128 slots, 12+ GB for 128+ slots.
- Discord bots: 512 MB RAM for lightweight bots, 1 GB for moderate workloads, 2 GB for advanced frameworks.
- Arma Reforger: Starter covers ~20 simultaneous players, Pro handles 32–48-player Conflict, Premium targets 60–80-player Game Master ops.
- Pavlov VR: Starter for private lobbies, Pro for public TTT, Premium for 24–32 player event servers.
- Assetto Corsa/ACC: Starter for ≤12 drivers, Pro for 16–24 driver leagues, Premium for 24–32 driver endurance.
All pricing, RAM, CPU, storage, slot estimates, and billing URLs live in src/games/game-server-products.ts. The marketing pages consume that file directly, so you only have to update it once when plans change.
Quick Sizing Reference
Section titled “Quick Sizing Reference”| Product | Starter | Pro | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft Java | 1 GB RAM / 0.5 vCPU / ~5–8 players | 3 GB / 1 vCPU / ~10–20 players | 6 GB / 2 vCPU / ~25–35 players |
| FiveM | 3 GB RAM / 1 vCPU / ~16–24 players | 5 GB / 1.5 vCPU / ~32–48 players | 8 GB / 2 vCPU / ~64–96 players |
| Arma Reforger | 3 GB RAM / 1 vCPU / ~16–24 players | 5 GB / 1 vCPU / ~32–48 players | 8 GB / 2 vCPU / ~60–80 players |
| Discord Bots | 512 MB RAM / 0.25 vCPU / single lightweight bot | 1 GB / 0.5 vCPU / music or multi-feature bot | 2 GB / 1 vCPU / multiple bots or ML workloads |
Upgrade any time sustained CPU/RAM usage exceeds ~75% or your workload adds heavy plugins, scripts, or frameworks.
Step 4. Configure Deployment
Section titled “Step 4. Configure Deployment”- Open https://panel.mambahost.com and click Create Server.
- Choose your game template (Minecraft, FiveM, Rust, CS2, Arma 3/Reforger, Squad, Pavlov VR, Terraria) or Discord Bot.
- Select server location, version, and any optional addons (MySQL, allocations, backups).
- Hit Deploy. Most workloads finish provisioning within two minutes.
- For game servers, upload saves/worlds via SFTP before hitting “Start” to avoid overwriting the default seed.
- For bots, keep
node_modules/.venvout of uploads—install dependencies via console for repeatability.
Step 5. Run the Launch Checklist
Section titled “Step 5. Run the Launch Checklist”After the server boots:
- Update the panel-generated password and store it in your password manager.
- Upload existing worlds, scripts, or bot source via SFTP/FTP.
- Configure environment variables (API keys, tokens, FiveM license keys, Discord bot tokens).
- Schedule automatic backups and restarts from the panel.
- Invite teammates by adding sub-users with scoped permissions.
- Verify port allocations (FiveM txAdmin, CS2 GOTV, Squad RCON, etc.) and document them for staff.
- Set up monitoring hooks (Discord bot heartbeat commands, status webhooks, etc.).
Step 6. Verify and Monitor
Section titled “Step 6. Verify and Monitor”- View real-time metrics and uptime via https://status.mambahost.com (Uptime Kuma).
- Use the built-in speed test on the Status page to validate latency from your region.
- Subscribe to incident notifications through the status page or Discord announcements.
- Configure scheduler-based health checks (backup verification, log rotation, update reminders).
- For compliance-focused orgs, export metrics and logs weekly to your SIEM or storage bucket.
Step 7. Harden & Govern
Section titled “Step 7. Harden & Govern”- Rotate API keys/tokens when staff changes occur.
- Enable MFA on panel accounts; create least-privilege roles for moderators vs. engineers.
- Document backup/restore procedures and rehearse them quarterly.
- If you collect user data (economies, logs), review privacy requirements and configure retention policies.
Step 8. Launch & Iterate
Section titled “Step 8. Launch & Iterate”- Announce launches via your Discord, socials, or Creator Labs funnels.
- Track KPIs (player counts, active shards, retention) and adjust plan tiers quarterly.
- Feed learnings back into
docs/MASTER_TODO_LIST.mdto keep roadmap items prioritized.
Need More Than a Single Server?
Section titled “Need More Than a Single Server?”- Creator Labs bundles a marketing site, Discord automation, and dedicated servers for creators with 1K+ subscribers. Apply at https://mambahost.com/creator-labs.
- Referral Program offers recurring, bounty, and hybrid commissions. Details live at https://mambahost.com/referrals.
- Custom Infrastructure (GPU inference, bare-metal clusters, multi-region failover) is available via sales@mambahost.com.
Still stuck? Email support@mambahost.com or open a thread in Discord for live help, and be sure to reference the workload guide (Minecraft/FiveM/Arma/Discord bots) for faster triage.