Files, editor and SFTP for your game server

In short

You make small changes right in the browser: under Dateien (files – the file manager) and Editor. For many or large files – such as a whole world or an addon folder – use an SFTP program like FileZilla or WinSCP. Address: sftp://nodede1.nexthosting.net:2022, password = your panel password.

Which way fits?

Change a settingEditor in the panel→

Upload a few filesFile manager, drag the files into the window→

Large folders, worlds, many filesSFTP with FileZilla or WinSCP→

The file manager

panel.nexthosting.net/server/…/files

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The file manager shows the main folder of your server.

1. Path – click a part of it to jump back
2. Search “In diesem Ordner suchen …” (“search in this folder …”, shortcut Ctrl+F)
3. Neuer Ordner (“new folder”)
4. Hochladen (“upload”)
5. Columns Name, Größe (size), Geändert (modified) – click to sort
6. Open folders with a click
7. “…” menu of a row with more actions

This is how you work with the file manager:

• Open a folder: click its name. Use the path at the top to go back.
• Edit a file: click a text file – it opens in the editor.
• Upload: choose Hochladen or simply drag files into the window.
• Several files: tick the boxes on the left and then work on them together.
• More actions: via the “…” menu of a row, for example rename, move, delete or extract an archive.

At the bottom of the list you can see how many folders and files the current folder contains.

Back up before deleting

You cannot restore deleted files in the panel. Create a backup before larger clean-ups.

Uploading a large package

A folder with hundreds of files goes faster as one ZIP archive: upload it, then extract it in the panel. Large amounts are even more convenient via SFTP.

How a Garry’s Mod server is laid out

The main folder (shown in the path as home/container) holds the game’s program files. Your own content almost always belongs in the game folder, which for Garry’s Mod is garrysmod:

• Directorygarrysmod

  • Directoryaddons/ your own addons, one folder per addon

    • …
  • Directorycfg

    • server.cfg server name, password, loading screen, FastDL
    • mount.cfg
  • Directorydata/ data from addons (e.g. ULX groups and bans)

    • …
  • Directorygamemodes/ game modes such as darkrp

    • …
  • Directorylua

    • Directoryautorun

      • Directoryserver/ Lua files that run at startup

        • …
  • Directorymaps/ maps

    • …
• Directorysteam_cache/ addons downloaded from the Steam Workshop

  • …
• Directorybin/

  • …
• srcds_run the server’s start program

Other games are laid out similarly but have their own folder names – for example plugins and world for Minecraft or oxide/plugins for Rust. Details are in the game guides.

The editor

panel.nexthosting.net/server/…/files/code-editor

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The editor works like Visual Studio Code – with tabs, code colouring and search.

1. Sidebar of the editor: files, search and collaborative editing
2. Tabs of the open files
3. Path bar, here garrysmod > cfg > mount.cfg
4. Line numbers
5. Gespeichert (saved) indicator
6. Vollbild (full screen)

The editor recognises many file types (Lua, CFG, JSON, YAML, properties) and colours them. At the bottom a status bar shows line, column, character encoding and language. On the right edge you see a small preview of the whole file.

Keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl + S	Save
Ctrl + F	Search in the file
Ctrl + H	Search and replace
Ctrl + P	Go to file
F1	All commands
Ctrl + B	Show and hide the sidebar
Alt + W	Close file

Editing together

Several people can edit the same file at the same time, for example you and an admin of your team. The Allein (“alone”) button shows whether someone else is currently working on it. Who may join in is set via subusers – see Friends and subusers.

Changes usually only take effect after a restart

Most games only read their settings at startup. Restart the server after saving. With Garry’s Mod, server.cfg is also re-read on every map change.

SFTP: transfer files with a program

SFTP is an encrypted connection for transferring files. You need a program for it, for example FileZilla (Windows, macOS, Linux) or WinSCP (Windows). There is no SSH access to the command line for game servers.

panel.nexthosting.net/server/…/settings

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Your SFTP details are under Einstellungen (settings) and on the Übersicht (overview).

1. Server address
2. Your personal username for this server
3. Note about the password
4. SFTP öffnen (“open SFTP”) starts an installed SFTP program

Your login details

Field in the program	Entry
Protocol	SFTP (not FTP)
Server / host	nodede1.nexthosting.net
Port	2022
Username	panel-username.server-id, shown in the panel under Einstellungen
Password	your panel password

Your SFTP password is your password for the panel. If you do not have one yet, set it via “Forgot password?” on the login page – see Open the panel.

FileZilla

1. Download FileZilla Client from the official site filezilla-project.org and install it.
2. Open File → Site Manager and click New Site.
3. Choose SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol as the protocol.
4. Enter nodede1.nexthosting.net as host and 2022 as port.
5. Choose Normal as the logon type and enter username and password.
6. Click Connect. The first time, FileZilla asks whether you trust the server key – confirm.
7. On the right you now see your server’s files. Drag files from the left (your computer) to the right to upload them.

WinSCP

1. Download WinSCP from winscp.net and install it.
2. In the login window choose New Site.
3. Set the file protocol to SFTP.
4. Enter nodede1.nexthosting.net as host name and 2022 as port number.
5. Enter username and password and click Login.
6. Confirm the server key the first time.
7. Drag files back and forth between the left side (your computer) and the right side (your server).

Connection refused?

First check the port: it is 2022, not 22. Then check the username: it consists of your panel username, a dot and the short server ID – best copy it straight from the panel. The password is the panel password, not the customer account password.

Frequently asked questions

Can I give my friends SFTP access?

Yes. Invite them as subusers and give them the permission for files. Each person then logs in with their own username and password. Do not share your own password.

Why can’t I see the file I just uploaded?

Reload the list and check that you are in the right folder. In SFTP programs, “Refresh” (F5) often helps.

How do I get a Minecraft world onto the server?

Stop the server, upload the world folder via SFTP and replace the existing folder. Then restart the server. Details are in the Minecraft guide.

Further reading

• Backups and databases
• Settings and startup parameters
• Backdoor scanner and tools
• Set up Garry’s Mod