Arma 3 headless client setup in two parts: add the headless client IP to server.cfg on your main server, then point the headless client's Start.bat at your main server's IP and port.
Your mission file and your addons / scripts need to support Headless Client, or this will not work!
Arma 3 headless client setup on your main server
- Stop your MAIN server.
- Press the Configuration Files button and edit the
server.cfgfile with the Text Editor option (TEXT EDITOR). - Find the following lines and place your Headless Client IP between the
"", like the example below:localClient[] = {"192.168.4.18"}; headlessClients[] = {"192.168.4.18"};
Set up your headless client server
- Stop your HEADLESS CLIENT server.
- Go to Configuration Files and edit your
Start.batfile. - Add your MAIN server IP+GamePort in the
-connect=field. If your MAIN server is password protected, place the password in the-password=field.
Start the main server first, then the headless client, so the headless client can connect to it.
Set up your mission file, addons and scripts to support Headless Client
Different Arma 3 game modes / mpmissions, @Mods, addons and scripts each have their own way to be set up for a Headless Client. Check what exactly you want to offload to your headless server and follow the recommended instructions for that. Some example links and more detailed documentation about Headless Client:
- Official Arma 3 Headless Client Wiki
- A3XAI Headless Client Guide (the A3XAI HC Installation and Setup Guide; its GitHub copy is no longer online)
- Monsoon Headless Client Guide
Headless client questions
How do I set up an Arma 3 headless client?
On the main server, add the headless client IP to localClient[] and headlessClients[] in server.cfg. On the headless client server, set -connect= to the main server's IP and game port in Start.bat (and -password= if the server has a password). Your mission and scripts must support Headless Client.
Why does my headless client do nothing?
The mission file and your addons or scripts need to support Headless Client, otherwise nothing is offloaded to it. Check the documentation of your game mode or AI addon for its headless client setup.
Want an Arma 3 headless client server? See Arma 3 Headless Client server hosting and Arma 3 server hosting.
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