Connecting to a non-Minecraft game server on Hostd

How to join your CS2, Valheim, Palworld, Rust, or ARK: Survival Ascended server on Hostd: the address pattern, the Copy button, and per-game routes.

#The pattern in one line

For every non-Minecraft game we host, the join address looks like yourname.hostd.it:PORT (on the higher tiers within that game) or yourname.hostdservers.com:PORT (on the lower tiers). The dashboard shows the exact string for your server, and the Copy button next to it puts the whole thing on your clipboard.

You don't need to know the port number off the top of your head. The Copy button has you covered.

#Why a port, when Minecraft doesn't need one

Minecraft Java uses an SRV record under the hood, which is why you type the bare hostname for Java servers. The other games don't use SRV records, so you give the client the address and the port together. Same pattern across CS2, Valheim, Palworld, Rust, and ARK: SA.

#Per-game join routes

Each game has its own in-game route into the "join by IP" dialog. The full step-by-step for each lives in the game's connecting doc; here's the short version.

#Counter-Strike 2

View → Servers → Favourites → Add a Server → paste the address. Or open the developer console (~ after enabling it under Game Settings) and run connect yourname.hostdservers.com:PORT. The full walkthrough sits in cs2-getting-started.

#Valheim

Steam client → Servers tab → Join IP, or in-game → Join Game → Join IP. The Steam Favourites tab is the most reliable first-time path. Detail in valheim-connecting.

#Palworld

Main menu → Multiplayer → Join Multiplayer → paste the address. Detail in palworld-connecting.

#Rust

F1 in-game to open the console, then client.connect yourname.hostd.it:PORT. Or favourite the server in Steam's server browser. Detail in rust-connecting.

#ARK: Survival Ascended

In-game → Join ARK → Unofficial → search by name, or favourite by IP. Detail in ark-asa-connecting.

#Which domain do I get

Each game has its own cut-off, set at a tier that matches what that game's community typically lands on. The pattern: higher tiers get the shorter yourname.hostd.it as a built-in extra; lower tiers get yourname.hostdservers.com. The full per-game breakdown lives in free-subdomain.

#Sharing the address with friends

The address is what your friends paste; they don't need a Hostd account. If you want a co-admin with dashboard access on top, that's a separate flow covered in inviting-friends.

#Address looks right but friends can't join

A handful of usual suspects:

• The port is wrong. Copy the address again from the dashboard rather than retyping it; ports are easy to mistype.
• The server isn't fully started yet. Rust takes around 10 minutes on first boot (map gen); ARK: SA takes around 15. The dashboard status badge flips when the game is actually game-ready, not just process-running.
• A password is set and your friend doesn't have it. Check the Settings tab for any ServerPassword style field; share the password separately.
• DNS hasn't caught up. A brand-new subdomain takes 60 seconds or so to propagate. Make a cup of tea and try again.

For game-specific connection trouble, head straight to that game's troubleshooting doc.

Written and maintained by the Hostd engineering team. Last updated 2026-05-20. Notice a mistake? Tell us.