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Dedicated Server IPv6 Support and DS-Lite / CG-NAT Issues

Tags: networking, ipv6, nat, hosting

7DTD servers primarily speak IPv4. If your ISP gives you DS-Lite or CG-NAT, inbound IPv4 connections may never reach your host.

What works

  • Public IPv4 with proper port forwarding remains the simplest path.
  • IPv6 can work for clients on the same network path, but many players and ISPs still lack full support.

If you are behind DS-Lite/CG-NAT

  • You usually cannot accept inbound IPv4. Request a static IPv4 add-on from your ISP if available.
  • Otherwise use a tunnel/VPN that provides a public IPv4 endpoint (WireGuard or ZeroTier on a VPS) and route ports 26900–26902 through it.
  • Cloud hosting (VPS/dedicated) avoids residential NAT altogether for public servers.

Server config reminders

  • Bind to 0.0.0.0 so both IPv4 and IPv6 listeners come up if supported by the OS.
  • Keep telnet bound to LAN/VPN only; never expose it on a forwarded port.

Testing

  • Verify from an external network using telnet your.ip 26900 or the in-game browser.
  • If only some players connect, compare whether they are IPv4 vs IPv6 and adjust your plan accordingly.