Owner guide
RSPS hosting: what it takes to host a RuneScape private server
Hosting a RuneScape private server is a small-ops job: a machine that stays up, backups you can actually restore, and protection against the DDoS traffic popular servers attract. This is a practical overview, not a vendor list.
What you are actually hosting
An RSPS is usually a Java or Kotlin process plus a database (MySQL or PostgreSQL) and a website for the client download, votes and staff tools. The game process wants RAM and a stable CPU more than a huge number of cores. The website can live on the same machine at first; split it later if you need to.
Where people host
Most new servers start on a VPS. A dedicated machine helps once you have a real player base or you need tighter network control. A machine at home is a poor default: residential IPs are noisy, uplinks fail, and you will be knocking your own internet offline the first time someone flood-tests you.
- RAM: a quiet 317 can run in a few GB; a busy custom or OSRS-style world wants more, plus headroom for the database.
- DDoS protection: budget for it early. Popular lists and Discord ads are enough to get you noticed by people who sell attacks.
- Location: put the box near your players. A 200 ms round trip makes PvP feel worse than any combat formula.
- Backups: automatic, off-site, and tested. A snapshot on the same host is not a backup.
What it costs
A small VPS and a domain are a modest monthly bill. DDoS protection, a larger box and staff tools are what move the number. Time is the larger cost: updates, rollbacks, player support and the inevitable 3 a.m. outage. If you plan to take donations, read are RSPS servers legal? first — taking money changes the risk.
Before you launch
Have a unique admin password policy, a way to sign or hash your client, a vote callback you have actually tested (see our callback docs), and a Discord with a private staff channel. When you are ready, you can list the server here for free. Ads will not change your rank.
Frequently asked questions
How much RAM does an RSPS need?
Enough for the game process, the database and a safety margin. A tiny test world can start in a few GB; a populated custom server will need more. Watch the process, do not guess from a forum post.
Do I need DDoS protection from day one?
You can launch without it, but anything that gets posted on a list can be attacked. Plan the add-on before you need it in a hurry.
Can I host an RSPS on a game panel or shared hosting?
Shared web hosting is the wrong tool. You need a VPS or dedicated box where you can run a persistent Java process and open the game ports.