Docker Configuration Reference

The Hytale server container is highly configurable through environment variables. These allow you to tune performance, security, and automation without modifying the internal container files.

⚙️ Core Server Settings

Variable	Description	Default
`TZ`	The Timezone identifier for server logs	`UTC`
`DEBUG`	Set to `TRUE` to enable diagnostic scripts and verbose logging	`FALSE`
`SERVER_PORT`	The primary UDP port for game traffic	`5520`
`SERVER_IP`	The IP address the server binds to	`0.0.0.0`
`PROD`	Set to `TRUE` to run production readiness audits	`FALSE`
`JAVA_ARGS`	Additional flags for the JVM (expert use only)	`(Empty)`

Hytale Server Options

Options are listed in the same order as they appear in java -jar HytaleServer.jar --help.

Variable	Description	Default
`HYTALE_HELP`	Show all the flags	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_CACHE`	Enables the Ahead-Of-Time cache	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_CACHE_DIR`	Sets the location of the Ahead-Of-Time cache file	`./Server/HytaleServer.aot`
`HYTALE_ACCEPT_EARLY_PLUGINS`	Allow loading early or experimental plugins (unsupported and may cause stability issues)	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_ALLOW_OP`	Automatically grant operator permissions	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_AUTH_MODE`	Authentication mode: `authenticated`, `offline`, or `insecure`. `authenticated` is the built-in default.	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_BACKUP`	Create a backup on server startup (requires `HYTALE_BACKUP_DIR` to be set)	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_BACKUP_DIR`	Directory where backups are stored. Setting this enables the `/backup` command in-game. The default `./backups` adds a `backups` directory to your mounted data folder.	`./backups`
`HYTALE_BACKUP_FREQUENCY`	Frequency of scheduled backups in minutes	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_BACKUP_MAX_COUNT`	Maximum number of backups to keep	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_BARE`	Runs server bare (without loading worlds, binding to ports or creating directories)	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_BOOT_COMMAND`	Command to run on boot (multiple commands execute synchronously in order)	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_CLIENT_PID`	Client process ID (for integrated server scenarios)	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_DISABLE_ASSET_COMPARE`	Disable asset comparison checks	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_DISABLE_CPB_BUILD`	Disable building of compact prefab buffers	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_DISABLE_FILE_WATCHER`	Disable file watcher	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_DISABLE_SENTRY`	Disable Sentry error reporting	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_EARLY_PLUGINS`	Additional early plugin directories to load from (Path)	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_EVENT_DEBUG`	Enable event debugging	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_FORCE_NETWORK_FLUSH`	Force network flush behavior	`true`
`HYTALE_GENERATE_SCHEMA`	Generate schema, save to assets directory and exit	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_IDENTITY_TOKEN`	Identity token (JWT)	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_LOG`	Sets logger level (KeyValueHolder format)	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_MIGRATE_WORLDS`	Worlds to migrate (comma-separated)	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_MIGRATIONS`	The migrations to run (JSON object)	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_MODS`	Additional mods directories (Path)	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_OWNER_NAME`	Server owner name	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_OWNER_UUID`	Server owner UUID	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_PREFAB_CACHE`	Prefab cache directory for immutable assets	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_SESSION_TOKEN`	Session token for Session Service API	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_SHUTDOWN_AFTER_VALIDATE`	Automatically shutdown after asset and/or prefab validation	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_SINGLEPLAYER`	Run server in singleplayer mode	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_TRANSPORT`	Transport type: `QUIC` or other supported types. `QUIC` is the built-in default.	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_UNIVERSE`	Universe directory path	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_VALIDATE_ASSETS`	Exit with error if any assets are invalid	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_VALIDATE_PREFABS`	Validation option for prefabs (exits with error if invalid)	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_VALIDATE_WORLD_GEN`	Exit with error if default world gen is invalid	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_VERSION`	Print version information and exit	`FALSE`
`HYTALE_WORLD_GEN`	World generation directory path	`(Empty)`

Hytale Settings (config.json)

These variables directly inject values into the home/container/config.json file on startup.

Variable	Description	Default
`HYTALE_SERVER_NAME`	The name displayed in the server browser.	`Hytale Server`
`HYTALE_MOTD`	Message of the Day shown to players.	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_PASSWORD`	Set a password to make the server private.	`(Empty)`
`HYTALE_MAX_PLAYERS`	Maximum number of concurrent players.	`100`
`HYTALE_MAX_VIEW_RADIUS`	Maximum chunk distance sent to clients.	`32`
`HYTALE_COMPRESSION`	Enable or disable local network compression.	`false`
`HYTALE_WORLD`	The name of the world folder to load.	`default`
`HYTALE_GAMEMODE`	The default game mode (e.g., Adventure, Creative).	`Adventure`

Volume Mapping (Persistence)

To ensure your world, player data, and configurations are saved when the container restarts, you must map a volume to the internal working directory.

Container Path	Purpose
`/home/container`	Main directory containing world files, logs, and configs.

Folder structure

The following folder structure is used: