How to make a FiveM server: license, txAdmin and your first resources

What you need before you start

A FiveM server needs three things:

a license key from Cfx.re, free;

a server to run on, with enough RAM for the resources you will add;

a MySQL database, if you want a roleplay server that remembers players' money, cars and inventory.

The rest is settings and resources, which you add as you go.

Step 1: the license key

Go to portal.cfx.re and log in with your Cfx.re account (the one from the FiveM forum). In the server keys section, create a new key: enter a name for the server and its IP. You get a long code like cfxk_.... That is your sv_licenseKey.

Without the key, a FiveM server will not start. Keep it to yourself: anyone who has it can start a server in your name.

Step 2: txAdmin, the server panel

txAdmin is the official web panel for FiveM servers. From it you start and stop the server, watch the console, manage players (kick, ban, warnings), schedule restarts and install a framework from a ready-made recipe.

On first start, txAdmin gives you a PIN. Open the server address in your browser on port 40120, enter the PIN and create your admin account. Then choose how to start: an empty server or a framework recipe.

Step 3: choose a framework

For roleplay, almost every server uses one of the big frameworks:

ESX: the oldest and most widespread. It has the most ready-made resources, many free.

QBCore: newer, popular with serious roleplay servers. The code is better organised and many modern resources are made for it.

Qbox: built from QBCore, focused on performance and clean code.

If you are starting out, pick what the people you want to buy or take resources from use. Switching frameworks later means rebuilding almost the whole server.

txAdmin has recipes for ESX and QBCore: pick the recipe, enter the database details and it installs itself.

Step 4: the database

Roleplay frameworks keep player data in a MySQL or MariaDB database through the oxmysql resource. In server.cfg you connect the server to the database with a line like:

code

set mysql_connection_string "mysql://user:password@host/database?charset=utf8mb4"

Back up the database regularly. If you lose it, you lose every player's money, cars and characters.

Step 5: basic settings in server.cfg

A few settings to always check:

code

sv_hostname "Your server name"
sv_maxclients 48
sv_licenseKey "your_key"
set onesync on

sv_maxclients is the maximum number of players. Above 48 players you need OneSync, which is recommended anyway.

sv_hostname is the name in the server list. Keep it short and clear.

Step 6: resources

Resources (cars, maps, jobs, scripts) go into the resources folder, and you start them in server.cfg with:

code

ensure resource_name

Add resources one at a time and restart after each one. If you add 30 at once and something breaks, you will not know what caused it.

How much RAM a FiveM server needs

6 GB: a new server with a framework and basic resources, for a few dozen players.

10 GB: a roleplay server with many resources, custom cars and maps.

16 GB: big servers with many players and lots of content.

Custom cars and maps use the most. Every new car pack increases memory use.

FiveM at Wiptor

On our FiveM servers you enter the license key right at checkout and enable txAdmin with one tick. A MySQL database is included and DDoS protection is always on. You get full file access and unlimited player slots.