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Managing Your Server’s Network Settings

Every game server needs at least one IP address and port to accept connections from players. Some servers need multiple ports — one for the main game connection, another for file transfers, a third for remote administration. The FREAKHOSTING Game Panel at games.freakhosting.com gives you full control over these network allocations through the Management > Network section, and lets you set up friendly subdomains through Management > Subdomains so players can connect with a memorable name instead of a raw IP and port number.

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

3 Minutes

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Understanding Port Allocations

When your game server is provisioned, it is assigned one or more port allocations — combinations of an IP address and a port number that the server listens on for incoming connections. Think of the IP address as your building’s street address and the port as a specific door number within that building. Different services use different doors. Here is a practical example using a TeamSpeak voice server:
IP AddressPortPurpose
191.96.94.1039987Main voice connection — This is the port players connect to with their TeamSpeak client. It is the Primary allocation.
191.96.94.10330033File transfer — Used when uploading icons, avatars, or files to channels within TeamSpeak.
191.96.94.10310011ServerQuery — A remote administration interface for bots, management tools, and automated scripts.
All three ports share the same IP address but serve completely different purposes. The Primary allocation is the one players use to connect, while the additional ports handle supporting functions behind the scenes.
Not all game servers need multiple ports. A standard Minecraft server, for example, typically uses a single port for all player connections. TeamSpeak, multi-service game servers, and some modded setups are the most common cases where multiple allocations matter.

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Accessing the Network Section

1

Log In to the Game Panel

Navigate to games.freakhosting.com and sign in with your credentials.
2

Select Your Server

From the server list or the server selector dropdown, choose the game server you want to manage.
3

Open Management > Network

In the left sidebar, click Management, then select Network. You will see the Manage allocation table listing all port allocations assigned to your server.
The Manage allocation table shows the following columns for each allocation:
ColumnWhat It Shows
IPThe IP address assigned to this allocation. All your allocations may share the same IP, or you may have allocations on different IPs depending on your setup.
PortThe specific port number for this allocation.
NotesAn editable text field where you can add a description for this allocation (e.g., “Voice port”, “File transfer”, “Query port”).
ActionsShows a green Primary badge for the primary allocation, or a Make Primary button and a red delete trash icon for secondary allocations.

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What Is the Primary Allocation?

The Primary allocation is the main port your server uses — it is the IP:port combination that players type into their game client to connect. It is marked with a green Primary badge in the Manage allocation table. Every server must have exactly one Primary allocation. You can change which allocation is Primary, but you cannot have zero or multiple Primary allocations at the same time.

Primary Allocation

The main connection point for your server. This is the IP:port players use to join. Marked with a green Primary badge. Cannot be deleted while it is the Primary.

Secondary Allocations

Additional ports for supporting services — file transfers, query interfaces, RCON, plugins that need their own port. Each has a Make Primary button and a red delete trash icon.

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Adding Notes to Your Allocations

The Notes column in the Manage allocation table provides an editable input field for each allocation. This is where you can label what each port is used for — incredibly helpful when your server has multiple allocations and you need to remember which port does what.
1

Find the Allocation

In the Manage allocation table, locate the row for the port you want to label.
2

Click the Notes Field

Click on the Notes input field next to the allocation. It becomes editable.
3

Type Your Note

Enter a short, descriptive label. For example:
  • Voice connection for the main TeamSpeak port
  • File transfer for port 30033
  • ServerQuery for port 10011
  • RCON for a remote console port
  • Dynmap web for a web map plugin port
4

Save

Press Enter or click outside the field to save the note. It will persist across page reloads and sessions.
Notes are visible only to you in the Game Panel — players cannot see them. Use them as a personal reference so you do not have to memorize which port number serves which purpose. This is especially valuable months later when you have forgotten the original setup.

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Changing the Primary Allocation

If you need to switch which port is your server’s main connection point — for example, after migrating to a different IP or if your server configuration changed — you can promote any secondary allocation to Primary.
1

Stop Your Server

Before changing the Primary allocation, stop your game server. Changing the primary port while the server is running may cause connection issues.
2

Find the New Primary

In the Manage allocation table, locate the secondary allocation you want to make Primary. It will have a Make Primary button next to it.
3

Click Make Primary

Click the Make Primary button. The green Primary badge moves from the old allocation to the new one. The previously primary allocation becomes a secondary allocation with its own Make Primary button and delete icon.
4

Update Connection Details

After changing the Primary, update any connection details you have shared with players — server list entries, website connection info, Discord bot configurations, and anywhere else you have listed the old IP:port.
Changing the Primary allocation changes the IP:port that players use to connect. If you do not notify your players of the new connection details, they will not be able to find your server. Update your server listings, community Discord, and website immediately after making the change.
5

Start Your Server

Start the server back up and verify it is listening on the new Primary port by connecting to it with your game client.

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Deleting a Secondary Allocation

If a secondary allocation is no longer needed, you can remove it. Each secondary allocation has a red delete trash icon in the Actions column.
1

Ensure Nothing Uses the Port

Before deleting, confirm that no plugin, mod, or service on your server is configured to use this port. Deleting an allocation that is actively in use will break that service.
2

Click the Delete Icon

Click the red trash icon next to the secondary allocation you want to remove. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
You cannot delete the Primary allocation. If you need to remove it, first make a different allocation Primary, and then the old primary becomes a secondary that can be deleted.

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Managing Subdomains

The Management > Subdomains section lets you create friendly, memorable subdomains that point to your game server. Instead of asking players to connect using a raw IP address and port like 191.96.94.103:9987, you can give them something like myserver.example.com — much easier to remember and share.
1

Open Management > Subdomains

In the left sidebar, click Management, then select Subdomains. This opens the subdomain management interface.
2

Create a Subdomain

Follow the prompts to create a new subdomain for your game server. Choose a name that is short, memorable, and relevant to your server or community.
Pick a subdomain name that reflects your server identity. If your Minecraft server is called “PixelCraft”, something like pixelcraft.example.com is far more professional and memorable than asking players to memorize 191.96.94.103:25565.
3

Share with Players

Once the subdomain is created and active, share it with your players. They can use the subdomain in their game client’s server address field instead of the raw IP and port.
Subdomain availability and configuration options depend on your plan and the game server type. If you do not see the Subdomains option in the sidebar, your server type may not support this feature. Contact support if you need subdomain functionality.

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Common Network Questions

IP addresses are assigned based on the server location and available pool. If you need a specific IP or a change, contact our support team — they can check availability and assist with reassignment if possible.
If your server needs more ports than currently allocated (for example, adding a DynMap web interface on a separate port), contact support. Additional allocations can often be added depending on availability.
Make sure players are using the new IP:port combination. The old Primary is no longer the main connection point. Update your server listings, Discord, and website with the new details. Also verify that your server’s configuration file references the correct port — some games require the port to be set in the server config as well as in the panel.
The plugin or service that was listening on that port will stop working. For example, if DynMap was running a web server on port 8123 and you delete that allocation, the web map becomes inaccessible. Always check your server configuration and plugin settings before removing any allocation.
Most games that support connecting via hostname (rather than requiring a raw IP) will work with subdomains. Minecraft, for example, supports SRV records and hostname connections natively. Some older games or specific game clients may only accept IP addresses. Check your game’s documentation for hostname support.
DNS propagation typically takes a few minutes, but can occasionally take up to 24-48 hours depending on your players’ DNS providers. If a subdomain is not resolving immediately, give it some time and try clearing your local DNS cache.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: March 2026 | Game Panel Support: Network and subdomain management simplified.