🚀 Running the Valheim Server Using Docker Compose

The Docker Compose configuration we used to deploy a Valheim server on the FriendlyELEC CM3588 board/Arm SBC

version: "3"

services:
  raspiheim:
    image: arokan/raspiheim:latest
    container_name: raspiheim
    environment:
      - SERVER_NAME=Raspiheim
      - SERVER_PASS=Raspipass
      - WORLD_NAME=Raspiworld
      - PUBLIC=disabled
      - CROSSPLAY=disabled
      - UPDATE=enabled
      - SAVE_INTERVAL=1800
      - BOX86=default
      - BOX64=default
      - NO_BUILD_COST=disabled
      - PLAYER_EVENTS=disabled
      - PASSIVE_MOBS=disabled
      - NO_MAP=disabled
    ports:
      - "2456:2456/udp"
      - "2457:2457/udp"
    volumes:
      - "/path/to/valheim/data:/data"
      - "/path/to/valheim/server:/valheim"
    restart: unless-stopped

💡 Note: Replace /path/to/valheim/data and /path/to/valheim/server with actual absolute paths.

💾 Copying Your Valheim World to the Server

Want to continue exploring your existing world instead of starting from scratch? Copy your Valheim world files to the server’s volume.

📁 Locate World Files on Your PC

C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds

look for these files (replace MyWorld with your world name)

  • MyWorld.db
  • MyWorld.fwl

Copy the files to container path /path/to/valheim/data/worlds_local/

🌐 Networking & Tunneling with playit.gg

Since most local servers are behind NAT or firewalls, I used playit.gg to tunnel the Valheim server, making it accessible to friends over the internet — no port forwarding required.

Steps:

  1. Sign up at playit.gg and download the client for Linux ARM64.
  2. **Gve it executable permissions:
    chmod +x playit
./playit
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to link the tunnel to your account.
  4. Create a UDP tunnel for port 2456 (default Valheim port).
  5. Share the generated tunnel address with your friends (it looks like abc.playit.gg:2456).

✅ Tip: Run playit.gg in the background using tmux, screen, or a systemd service so it survives disconnections.