Can I host my server on my local IP address?

Yes, we do offer support for server owners to host servers on Path of Titans on their local IP address or computer. However, please keep in mind that hosting servers on a local IP address or device does have serious potential risks and downsides. Below are some risks to consider before choosing how to host your server:

Security Vulnerability

• Hosting servers on a local machine can come with risks of data breaches, which may allow sensitive information such as user data and personal information to be accessed or stolen.
• There is also the possibility that hosting on a local device can expose the network to a number of cyber threats, including DDoS attacks, malware or hacking attempts.

Network Performance Issues

• Using a home device to host game servers can have an impact on the internet speed at home, as hosting servers can consume large amounts of bandwidth which can result in slower internet for other devices and applications on the same network.
• As home internet connections usually have lower upload speeds compared to download speeds, this can mean the server itself may experience poor performance, including high latency and lag for players.

Hardware Limitations

• If the server owner is using a commercial-grade device to host the server such as a home computer, please be aware that this can be resource-intensive for the CPU, RAM and storage on the device. This heavy resource use can result in poor performance of other tasks or applications running on the same device.
• As consumer-grade hardware is as reliable or equipped for heavy-resource use as server-grade hardware, using consumer-grade hardware to host servers can increase the risk of server downtime or hardware failure.

Availability and Uptime

• Using home networks to host servers does increase the risk of server downtime, as home networks are more susceptible to power outages or other interruptions.
• Server downtime and outages can also be impacted by the ISP the server owner uses, as residential ISPs usually do not guarantee the same level of uptime and support as commercial-grade services.

Legal and Compliance Issues

• If the server owner plans to host their server on a residential connection, we highly recommend checking the terms of service of any potential ISP the owner may use. Certain ISP services prohibit hosting servers on residential connections, which could result in penalties or the service being terminated.
• It is the legal responsibility of the server owner to ensure that their server does not host or allow illegal activities, as these may have legal implications.

Scalability

• Locally hosted servers have the risk of being limited by the hardware and capacity of the owner’s home setup, which can cause difficulty with scaling up for a growing player base.
• The server owner is responsible for the management and maintenance of their server, including software updates, security updates and backups.

Due to these risks, we do advise server owners that using dedicated hosting services or cloud-based solutions is more practical for hosting game servers, as they offer better options for security, performance, reliability and scalability.