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Unlock the Full Potential of Arma 3 with a Modded Server

Ready to level up your Arma 3 experience? From Steam Workshop collections to mission rotation and admin tools — here’s how to build a modded server your community will love.

Start Setup Manage Mods

Why Mod a Server?

Modding unlocks custom content, mechanics, and QoL tweaks. Curate your own vibe — hardcore milsim, life servers, or pure chaos. It’s your sandbox.

Setting Up Your Server

1) Choose Hosting

Pick a reliable VPS or Dedicated box with NVMe and high single-core clocks. Windows Server + RDP makes management easy.

2) Install Arma 3 Server

Use SteamCMD to pull server files.

login anonymous
force_install_dir ./Arma3Server/
app_update 233780 validate
quit

3) Configure Basics

Edit server.cfg — name, passwords, slots, signatures.

// server.cfg (snippet)
hostname   = "My Modded Arma 3";
password   = "change_me";
maxPlayers = 64;
verifySignatures = 2;
voteMissionPlayers = 1;

Workshop Collections

Collections simplify mod management across updates.

  1. Create a Steam Workshop collection and add required mods.
  2. Grab the collection ID and each mod ID.
  3. Download mods on the server with SteamCMD:
# Example: download mods (AppID 107410 = Arma 3)
login anonymous
workshop_download_item 107410 450814997     // CBA_A3 (example)
workshop_download_item 107410 463939057     // ACE3 (example)
quit

Mount mods in startup params (server shortcut):

arma3server_x64.exe -port=2302 -config=server.cfg ^
 -mod=@CBA_A3;@ace;@your_other_mods ^
 -serverMod=@cba_a3_server;@ace_server
Tip: Keep client mods in -mod and server-side mods in -serverMod. Update routinely to avoid signature mismatches.

Keys and Signatures

  1. Locate *.bikey files inside each mod.
  2. Copy them to the server’s keys directory.
  3. Ensure verifySignatures = 2; in server.cfg to enforce integrity.
# Example (PowerShell)
Copy-Item "D:\arma\steamapps\workshop\content\107410\463939057\keys\*.bikey" "D:\arma\keys\" -Force

Mission Rotation

Keep sessions fresh with an automatic rotation.

// server.cfg (mission cycle)
class Missions
{
  class Mission1 { template="co@40_ops.Altis"; difficulty="regular"; };
  class Mission2 { template="co@20_patrol.Tanoa"; difficulty="veteran"; };
};

Whitelist and Admin Tools

Whitelist

Use whitelist mods or scripts. Maintain a simple uids.txt and check it in your framework.

Admin Tools

Install reputable admin/QoL mods for spectate, kick/ban, and live diagnostics. Audit permissions regularly.

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Conclusion

A modded Arma 3 server isn’t hard — it’s process. Curate a clean collection, manage keys, rotate missions, and control access. With the right setup, your community will thrive.