Pterodactyl Game Server
Pterodactyl is an open-source panel for managing game servers on your Server4You VPS or Dedicated Server. The Pterodactyl app template installs Panel and Wings on Debian, so you can deploy 400+ games via Eggs right away.
Support notice: Our servers are self-managed. Our support covers the hardware and network connectivity of your server. For questions about configuring and using Pterodactyl itself, please refer to the official resources:
Understanding Pterodactyl Concepts
Pterodactyl uses a few key terms you should know before getting started:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Panel | The web-based interface where you manage everything — servers, users, and resources. |
| Node | The server on which the Wings daemon runs the game server instances in Docker containers. Your server must first be configured as a Node. |
| Nest | A category that groups related game types — e.g. "Minecraft" or "Source Engine". |
| Egg | The specific server configuration within a Nest — e.g. "Paper" or "BungeeCord" within Minecraft. |
| Server | The actual game server instances that your users play on. |
| Allocation | An IP address and port combination assigned to a server so players can connect to it. |
Key Features
Pterodactyl includes these features for game server hosting:
Real-time Console
Monitor server output live and send commands directly to the running server.
Web File Manager
Upload files, edit configurations, and manage server data directly in the browser.
Sub-User Management
Grant other users targeted access to individual servers with customizable permissions.
Task Scheduling
Automate restarts, commands, or backups on a schedule.
Resource Graphs
Detailed real-time usage charts for CPU, RAM, and disk space.
Egg System
Hundreds of games and applications installable via Eggs — both official and community-maintained.
Guides
All available Pterodactyl guides at a glance:
Initial Panel Configuration
First login, secure your admin account, configure the App URL and mail server.
View Guide →
Creating Locations & Nodes
Register your server as a Node and assign IP addresses and ports.
View Guide →
Managing Nests & Eggs
Manage game categories and server configurations, and import new Eggs.
View Guide →
Creating a Game Server
Bring together your node, allocation, and Egg to deploy a game server instance.
View Guide →
Third-Party Eggs
Find and import hundreds of community Eggs to expand your game offering.
View Guide →
TeamSpeak Server
Host your own TeamSpeak 3 server with Pterodactyl using the bundled TeamSpeak Egg.
View Guide →
Host a Discord Bot
Run your own Discord bot 24/7 on Pterodactyl.
View Guide →