How to Enable Caves on Your Don't Starve Together Server

Don't Starve Together supports a second underground world called the Caves. When it is enabled, your players can dig down from the surface world and explore a whole new underground layer filled with unique resources and challenges. By default, the Caves world may not be active on your server, but you can switch it on in just a few clicks from the RiverHosting panel.

Before you start

• Make sure you have an active Don't Starve Together server with RiverHosting.
• Log in to the RiverHosting panel at panel.riverhosting.com.
• Your server should be stopped before you make this change. Changing the Caves setting while the server is running may not take effect correctly.
• Enabling Caves will start a second world alongside your surface world. Both run at the same time, so make sure your server plan has enough resources to support two active worlds.

1. How to enable Caves using the Cluster and Caves page

The RiverHosting panel includes a dedicated Cluster & Caves page for your Don't Starve Together server. This is the easiest way to turn the Caves world on or off without editing any files.

1. Open the RiverHosting panel and select your Don't Starve Together server.
2. In the left-hand menu, click Cluster & Caves.
3. Look for the Caves toggle or enable option on this page.
4. Switch Caves on.
5. Save your changes if prompted.
6. Start your server from the top of the page by clicking Start.

Once the server is back online, your players can enter the Caves by finding a sinkhole on the surface world and going through it. The two worlds stay linked so players can move between them freely.

2. How to confirm both worlds are running from the Console

You can use the built-in Console to check that both the surface world and the Caves world started successfully.

1. In the left-hand menu, click Console.
2. Look at the startup output. You should see log lines for both the Master shard (the surface world) and the Caves shard starting up.
3. If both shards report that they are running, the Caves world is active and players can connect.

Troubleshooting

• The server starts but players cannot enter the Caves. Check the Console for any error messages from the Caves shard. If you see a crash or a failure message, try stopping the server, waiting a few seconds, and starting it again.
• The Caves option does not appear on the Cluster & Caves page. Make sure you are looking at a Don't Starve Together server and not a different game server. If the page is missing, contact support.
• The server takes a very long time to start after enabling Caves. This is normal the first time, as the underground world needs to be generated from scratch. Subsequent starts will be faster.
• Players get disconnected when entering a sinkhole. This usually means one of the shards crashed or did not start properly. Check the Console output and restart the server. If the problem continues, reach out to RiverHosting support.
• You want to disable Caves again. Go back to the Cluster & Caves page, switch the toggle off, save, and restart your server. The surface world will continue to work normally.

Need help?

If you run into any issues enabling the Caves on your Don't Starve Together server, the RiverHosting support team is happy to help.