DDOS Protection for FiveM Server FREE

How to Protect your FiveM Server From DDOS: A Step-by-Step Guide

Connecting Cloudflare to your FiveM server can be a game-changer for improving security, reducing DDoS attacks, and enhancing performance. Cloudflare acts as a reverse proxy that can hide your server’s IP address, filter traffic, and optimize delivery to your players. This blog post will guide you step by step on how to connect Cloudflare to your FiveM server.

Cloudflare

Why Use Cloudflare for Your FiveM Server?

Before diving into the setup process, let's briefly cover why you should use Cloudflare with your FiveM server.

• DDoS Protection: Cloudflare offers powerful protection against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, helping to prevent malicious actors from taking down your server.
• IP Masking: It hides your server’s real IP address, making it harder for attackers to target you directly.
• Traffic Optimization: Cloudflare caches and optimizes content, reducing latency for players and ensuring smoother gameplay experiences.
• SSL Support: It offers free SSL certificates, ensuring encrypted connections between players and your server.

Prerequisites

• A FiveM server that is up and running.
• A domain name registered with a DNS provider.
• A Cloudflare account (sign up at [Cloudflare.com](https://www.cloudflare.com/)).

Now, let’s get started.

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Step 1: Add Your Domain to Cloudflare (Ignore if you already have added your site to Cloudflare)

1. Sign in to your Cloudflare account.
2. Navigate to the dashboard, then click on Add a Site.
3. Enter your domain name (e.g., `yourdomain.com`) and click Add Site.
4. Select your plan. The **Free plan** is sufficient for most small-to-medium servers.
5. Cloudflare will scan your domain’s DNS records. Verify that the records are accurate, or add any missing ones.
6. Once the DNS records are ready, click **Continue**.

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Step 2: Update Your DNS Nameservers (Ignore if DNS is already set)

After adding your domain, Cloudflare will provide two nameservers. You need to update your domain’s nameservers with those provided by Cloudflare.

1. Log in to your domain registrar’s dashboard (this could be GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.).
2. Find the DNS Settings or Nameservers section.
3. Replace the existing nameservers with the ones provided by Cloudflare.
4. Save your changes. Note that DNS propagation can take up to 24 hours, but typically it completes within a few hours.

Once your nameservers have propagated, Cloudflare will display a confirmation message that your domain is active.

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Step 3: Set Up DNS Records for Your FiveM Server

Now, you’ll need to point your domain to your FiveM server’s IP address.

1. Go to the DNS tab in the Cloudflare dashboard.
2. Add a new DNS record:
   - Type: "A"
   - Name: Use a subdomain like `fivem` or `play`.  So, if your domain is `yourdomain.com`,  you could use `play.yourdomain.com`.
   - IPv4 address: Enter the public IP address of your FiveM server.
   - TTL: Auto
   - Proxy status: Orange cloud (enabled). This enables Cloudflare’s proxy services.

After saving this, your domain (e.g., `play.yourdomain.com`) will now point to your FiveM server’s IP through Cloudflare.

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Step 4: Configure SRV Record (Optional, But Recommended)

To make it easier for players to connect to your server without needing to specify the port, you can add an SRV record.

1. Still in the DNS section, click Add Record.
2. Choose SRV as the record type.
3. In the Service field, enter `_fivem`.
4. For the Protocol, enter UDP.
5. Name: Enter your subdomain (e.g., `play`).
6. Target: Set this to your domain name (e.g., `play.yourdomain.com`).
7. Port: Enter the port used by your FiveM server (default is `30120`).
8. Weight and Priority can be left at `1` unless you have specific needs.
9. Proxy status: Set this to DNS only (grey cloud) because SRV records do not support proxying.

Click Save.

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Step 5: Enable SSL (Optional but Recommended)

To enhance security, it’s advisable to use Cloudflare’s free SSL certificates. This encrypts data between your players and the server.

1. Go to the SSL/TLS section in your Cloudflare dashboard.
2. Under SSL Mode, select Flexible or Full depending on whether your FiveM server supports SSL. For most cases, Flexible is enough.
3. Once SSL is enabled, your domain will be accessible via HTTPS, ensuring secure communication.

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Step 6: Test Your Setup

Finally, it’s time to test everything:

1. Launch your FiveM client and connect to your server using the new domain (e.g., `play.yourdomain.com`).
2. If everything is configured correctly, you should be able to join your server without any issues.

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Troubleshooting Tips

- DNS Propagation: Changes to DNS records can take some time to propagate. If you can’t connect immediately, give it a few hours and try again.
- Ports and Firewall: Ensure your server firewall and hosting provider allow traffic through the port used by FiveM (default: `30120`).
- SRV Record Issues: If players are required to enter the port, double-check the SRV record for any mistakes.

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Conclusion

Setting up Cloudflare for your FiveM server is an effective way to improve security and performance. By following these steps, you’ll have a domain that is secured against DDoS attacks and optimized for better player experiences. Plus, using a domain like `play.yourdomain.com` makes it easier for players to find and connect to your server.

With Cloudflare in place, you can focus more on improving the gameplay and less on worrying about server downtime or security threats.