Getting Started
14 articles available
New to WinterNode? Start here with guides to help you get up and running.
764+ Satisfied Customers
What You’ll Need
- Your account credentials (sent via email after purchase)
- Your game installed on your computer
- Optionally, an SFTP client like FileZilla for uploading files
Quick Start
- Access the Game Control Panel - set your password and find your server
- Start your server - learn the controls and first-run behavior
- Connect and play - find your IP and join from your game
Order Pending or Server Missing After Purchase
Match what you see to one of these three cases.
Your Server Is in the Panel and Installing
That’s the normal first run. See First Run for what to expect, or Install Failed if the panel shows that error.
You Paid, but the Order Is Pending or No Server Appears
Check these first:
- Account Created email. If this is your first service, look for it in your inbox and spam folder. You need it to set your Game Control Panel password.
- Invoice. On the Client Area home, click Invoices and make sure the invoice for this order is paid.
- Service status. Under Services > My Services, if the service is still marked Pending 10 minutes after payment, automatic deployment couldn’t complete, and our team needs to finish it.
Then contact our support team with your invoice number and what you found.
If the location you picked has no free capacity, we can sometimes deploy your server at a nearby location instead. You can ask us to move it afterward.
Your Order Was Marked as Fraud
The payment is automatically reversed and no server is deployed for that order. Any hold still showing on your card is up to your bank to release; we can’t remove it. If you think the flag is a mistake, open a Billing Ticket. We can review it and re-open the order for a new payment. See the Billing and Payments FAQ for more.
Getting Started
(7)Log In to the Game Control Panel and Fix Login Problems
Log in to the WinterNode Game Control Panel as an owner or sub-user, reset your password, handle 2FA, and find a server that isn't showing up.
Start & Manage Your Server
Start, stop, restart, and kill your WinterNode game server from the Game Panel console. Includes usage graphs and first-run behavior.
How to Connect to Your Server
Find your server IP and port, understand primary vs query ports, and connect to your WinterNode game server.
Additional Ports & Allocations
Understand server port allocations on WinterNode, view your assigned ports, and request additional ports when needed.
How to Switch Your Server's Game
Switch the game your WinterNode server runs using the panel's Switch Game tool, no ticket required.
Finding Your Server UUID
Locate your WinterNode Server UUID in the Game Control Panel so support can identify your server when you open a ticket.
How Long Server Setup Takes After Ordering
How long a new WinterNode server takes to set up after you order, what a Pending status means, and when to contact support.
Reference
(7)WinterNode Backup System
How WinterNode's automatic 12-hour backup system works, what's included and excluded, how to request a restore, and manual backup options.
Changing Your Server Location
How to request a server location change on WinterNode, available locations, what changes (IP) and what stays the same.
Dedicated IP Addresses
Learn what a dedicated IP is, which games support it, how to order one, and what to do if your service shows as Pending.
How CPU Fair Usage Works
How WinterNode's fair usage CPU model works, why it benefits game servers, and what happens if a server uses excessive resources.
Server Hardware Specifications
View WinterNode's minimum server hardware specs by location, including CPU, RAM, storage, connection speed, and DDoS protection for reliable performance.
Migrating Your Server to WinterNode
How to migrate your game server from another host to WinterNode. Backup your files, upload via SFTP, configure, and start.
Unmetered Storage & Requesting Increases
How WinterNode's unmetered NVMe SSD storage works and how to request free storage increases for your game server.




