Game Server Terms Explained: 50 Words Every Admin Should Know

Game server terms describe how a server runs, connects and is managed. The ones that matter most are RAM (memory for the world), tick rate (how often the server updates), ping (network delay), port (the door players connect through), RCON (remote console), SFTP (file access) and wipe (a reset). This glossary explains more than 50 terms in plain English.

Server guides, host pricing pages and game wikis all assume you know this vocabulary. Bookmark this page and come back when a guide mentions something unfamiliar. Terms are grouped by topic, with links to deeper guides where we have them.

What are the basic game server terms?

These are the terms you meet before you even start a server. They describe what a server is and how it is sold.

Term	Meaning
Dedicated server	A program that runs the game world on its own, without anyone needing to play on that machine. See what is a dedicated server.
Listen server or co-op host	A world hosted from inside one player's game. It stops when that player quits.
Peer to peer	Players connect to each other directly instead of to a server. See dedicated vs peer to peer.
Host or provider	A company that rents out servers to run your game, like GamezServers.
Slots	The maximum number of players allowed on at once.
RAM	Memory that holds the loaded world. The main thing hosts price by. See how much RAM a game server needs.
vCPU	A virtual CPU core assigned to your server. Single core speed matters more than the count.
Node	The physical machine your server runs on, often shared with other servers in separate containers.
VPS	A virtual private server, a general purpose machine you manage yourself. See game server hosting vs VPS.
Uptime	The share of time the server is online and reachable.

What do networking terms like ping and port mean?

Networking terms describe how players reach your server. Most "cannot connect" problems come down to one of these.

Term	Meaning
IP address	The server's address on the internet, such as `203.0.113.10`.
Port	A number that tells the server which program traffic is for, written after the IP, such as `:25565` for Minecraft.
UDP and TCP	The two kinds of network traffic. Most game traffic is UDP. A port rule for the wrong one does not work.
Port forwarding	A router rule that sends outside traffic to the PC running a home server. See how to port forward a game server.
CGNAT	When your internet provider shares one public IP across many homes. Port forwarding cannot work behind it.
Ping or latency	The round trip time between a player and the server, in milliseconds. See what is a good ping.
Jitter	How much ping jumps around from moment to moment.
Packet loss	Data that never arrives, causing rubber banding.
Query port	A second port some games use to answer server list questions like player count.
DDoS	A flood of junk traffic meant to knock a server offline. See DDoS protection explained.
Server list or browser	The in game list of public servers. Being listed is separate from being joinable.

What do performance terms like tick rate mean?

Performance terms describe how fast and smoothly the server simulates the world. When people say a server "lags", one of these is usually behind it.

Term	Meaning
Tick	One update of the game world. The server moves players, AI and physics once per tick.
Tick rate	How many ticks run per second. Minecraft targets 20, CS2 runs 64. See what is tick rate.
TPS	Ticks per second, the live measure of tick rate. Below the target means the server is struggling.
UPS	Updates per second in Factorio, its name for tick rate. The target is 60.
Server FPS	Rust's name for how many frames the server simulates per second.
Rubber banding	Being pulled back to an earlier position because the server and your game disagree on where you are.
Desync	When a player's game and the server stop agreeing on the world state. See Factorio desync fix.
Entity	Any moving or active object: players, creatures, dropped items, vehicles. Too many slow the tick.
View or simulation distance	How far around each player the server loads and updates the world. Lower distances cut load.
Memory leak	When a server uses more memory the longer it runs. A restart clears it. See how often to restart a game server.

What do admin terms like RCON and SFTP mean?

Admin terms describe the tools you use to manage a server once it is running.

Term	Meaning
Console	The server's live log and command line, where you type commands like `say` or `kick`.
RCON	Remote console: sending console commands over the network from another app. See RCON on a CS2 server.
Admin or op	A player with extra powers on the server, like kicking players or changing time. In Minecraft, "op" is short for operator.
Whitelist or allowlist	A list of players allowed to join. Everyone else is refused. See how to make a game server private.
Ban list	A list of players blocked from joining.
Config file	A text file holding server settings, such as `server.properties` or `PalWorldSettings.ini`.
Launch options or startup parameters	Settings added to the command that starts the server, like `-port=7777`.
SFTP	Secure file transfer, used to upload worlds and mods with apps like FileZilla. See what is SFTP.
SteamCMD	Valve's command line tool for downloading and updating dedicated servers of Steam games.
GSLT	Game Server Login Token, a Steam token some games like CS2 need to list a public server. See CS2 GSLT error.
Backup	A saved copy of the world and settings you can restore later. See how to back up a game server.

What do mods, plugins and wipes mean?

These terms describe how a server's content changes over time.

Term	Meaning
Mod	A change to the game itself, often adding items, creatures or mechanics. Players usually need it installed too.
Plugin	A server side add on, often for admin tools or minigames. Players usually do not need to install anything. See best Minecraft plugins.
Modpack	A bundle of mods tested to work together, usually from CurseForge or Modrinth.
Server type or framework	The version of the server software, like Paper or Fabric for Minecraft, TShock for Terraria or Oxide for Rust.
Workshop	Steam's mod hub. Many servers download Workshop items by ID.
Wipe	Resetting a server's map, player progress or both. Rust wipes every month. See how to wipe a Rust server.
Force wipe	A wipe the developer forces with an update, such as Rust's monthly update day.
Seed	The number that decides how a random world is generated. The same seed gives the same map.
Version mismatch	When the server and a player run different game versions, so the player cannot join.
Experimental or beta branch	An opt in early version of a game update. Players and server must be on the same branch.

Which terms matter most when buying hosting?

When you compare hosts, five terms do most of the work: RAM, vCPU, DDoS protection, backups and SFTP. RAM and vCPU decide whether the game runs well, DDoS protection keeps it online, backups protect the world, and SFTP lets you move your files in and out.

Every GamezServers plan lists its RAM and vCPU, and includes DDoS protection, one click backups, a live console, a file manager with SFTP and 24/7 support. Plans start at 2.99 USD a month for Puck and 4.99 USD for Minecraft, Terraria and Factorio, and new customers get 50% off the first month. See all games and plans or choosing a plan.

FAQ

What does "slots" mean on a game server?

Slots are the maximum number of players who can be on the server at the same time. Slots alone do not tell you how well a server runs, so check the RAM too.

What is the difference between a mod and a plugin?

A mod changes the game itself and usually has to be installed by every player. A plugin runs only on the server and usually needs nothing on the players' side.

What does wipe mean on a server?

A wipe resets the world, player progress or both. Rust servers wipe at least monthly, while most co-op servers never wipe unless the owner chooses to.

What is RCON used for?

RCON lets you send console commands to a server from another app or website, for example to kick players, broadcast messages or save the world without opening the server's own console.

What is a node in game hosting?

A node is the physical machine that runs game servers. A host runs many servers on each node, each in its own container with its own reserved RAM.