QBCore Linux Installation Tutorial 2025 - Ubuntu VPS Setup Guide

⏱️ Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes | 🎯 Difficulty: Intermediate | 🏆 Recommended for Production

This comprehensive guide will walk you through installing QBCore Framework on a Linux server (Ubuntu). Linux is the preferred method for production FiveM roleplay servers due to better performance, stability, and cost-effectiveness with VPS hosting.

Prerequisites

• Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or newer (recommended)
• Root or sudo access
• At least 4GB RAM (8GB+ recommended)
• 20GB+ free disk space
• Basic knowledge of terminal commands

System Requirements

VPS Hosting Comparison for QBCore

Server Performance by Specifications

Step 1: System Update

First, update your system packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Essential packages:

sudo apt install -y curl wget git unzip software-properties-common

Install Node.js (via NodeSource):

# Add NodeSource repository
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
 
# Install Node.js
sudo apt install -y nodejs
 
# Verify installation
node --version
npm --version

Step 3: Database Installation

Install MariaDB:

# Install MariaDB server
sudo apt install -y mariadb-server mariadb-client
 
# Start and enable MariaDB
sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb
 
# Secure MariaDB installation
sudo mysql_secure_installation

Configure MariaDB:

# Login to MariaDB
sudo mysql -u root -p
 
# Create database and user
CREATE DATABASE qbcore;
CREATE USER 'qbcore'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password_here';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON qbcore.* TO 'qbcore'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Step 4: Download FiveM Server

Create server directory:

sudo mkdir -p /opt/fivem
sudo chown $USER:$USER /opt/fivem
cd /opt/fivem

Download FiveM artifacts:

# Download latest recommended Linux build
wget https://runtime.fivem.net/artifacts/fivem/build_proot_linux/master/fx.tar.xz
 
# Extract the files
tar -xf fx.tar.xz
 
# Make run.sh executable
chmod +x run.sh

Step 5: Install txAdmin

txAdmin is included with FiveM artifacts. Create a startup script:

# Create startup script
nano start.sh

Add the following content:

#!/bin/bash
cd /opt/fivem
./run.sh +exec server.cfg

Make it executable:

chmod +x start.sh

Step 6: Initial Server Setup

Start the server for first-time setup:

./start.sh

Access txAdmin:

1. Open your browser and go to http://your-server-ip:40120
2. Follow the setup wizard
3. Link your FiveM account
4. Create an admin password

Choose QBCore Template:

1. In step 3 of the setup, select “Popular Template”
2. Choose “QBCore Framework”
3. Set your server data path (recommended: /opt/fivem/server-data)
4. Enter your FiveM license key from Keymaster
5. Run the recipe deployer

Step 7: Configure Firewall

Allow necessary ports:

# Install UFW if not installed
sudo apt install -y ufw
 
# Allow SSH (important!)
sudo ufw allow ssh
 
# Allow FiveM server port
sudo ufw allow 30120
 
# Allow txAdmin port
sudo ufw allow 40120
 
# Enable firewall
sudo ufw enable

Step 8: Create System Service (Optional)

For automatic startup and better process management:

# Create service file
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/fivem.service

Add the following content:

[Unit]
Description=FiveM Server
After=network.target
 
[Service]
Type=simple
User=fivem
WorkingDirectory=/opt/fivem
ExecStart=/opt/fivem/run.sh +exec server.cfg
Restart=always
RestartSec=10
 
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Create dedicated user:

# Create fivem user
sudo useradd -r -s /bin/false fivem
 
# Change ownership
sudo chown -R fivem:fivem /opt/fivem
 
# Reload systemd and start service
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable fivem
sudo systemctl start fivem

Step 9: Configure Server Settings

Edit server.cfg:

nano /opt/fivem/server-data/server.cfg

Key settings to configure:

# Server name
sv_hostname "Your QBCore Server"
 
# Player slots
sv_maxclients 64
 
# License key
sv_licenseKey "your_license_key_here"
 
# Database connection
set mysql_connection_string "mysql://qbcore:your_password@localhost/qbcore?charset=utf8mb4"
 
# Steam Web API key (optional but recommended)
set steam_webApiKey "your_steam_api_key"

Step 10: Performance Optimization

System optimization:

# Increase file limits
echo "* soft nofile 65536" | sudo tee -a /etc/security/limits.conf
echo "* hard nofile 65536" | sudo tee -a /etc/security/limits.conf
 
# Optimize network settings
echo "net.core.rmem_max = 26214400" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
echo "net.core.rmem_default = 26214400" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
echo "net.core.wmem_max = 26214400" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
echo "net.core.wmem_default = 26214400" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
 
# Apply changes
sudo sysctl -p

MariaDB optimization:

# Edit MariaDB configuration
sudo nano /etc/mysql/mariadb.conf.d/50-server.cnf

Add under [mysqld] section:

innodb_buffer_pool_size = 1G
innodb_log_file_size = 256M
max_connections = 200
query_cache_size = 64M
query_cache_type = 1

Restart MariaDB:

sudo systemctl restart mariadb

Monitoring and Maintenance

Check server status:

# Check if FiveM is running
sudo systemctl status fivem
 
# View logs
sudo journalctl -u fivem -f
 
# Check resource usage
top
htop  # if installed

Backup script example:

#!/bin/bash
# backup.sh
BACKUP_DIR="/backups/fivem"
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
 
# Create backup directory
mkdir -p $BACKUP_DIR
 
# Backup server data
tar -czf $BACKUP_DIR/server-data_$DATE.tar.gz /opt/fivem/server-data
 
# Backup database
mysqldump -u qbcore -p qbcore > $BACKUP_DIR/database_$DATE.sql
 
# Keep only last 7 days of backups
find $BACKUP_DIR -name "*.tar.gz" -mtime +7 -delete
find $BACKUP_DIR -name "*.sql" -mtime +7 -delete

Troubleshooting

Common Issues:

Server won’t start:

# Check if ports are in use
sudo netstat -tlnp | grep :30120
 
# Check server logs
sudo journalctl -u fivem --no-pager
 
# Verify file permissions
ls -la /opt/fivem/

Database connection issues:

# Test database connection
mysql -u qbcore -p qbcore
 
# Check MariaDB status
sudo systemctl status mariadb
 
# Verify user permissions
mysql -u root -p -e "SHOW GRANTS FOR 'qbcore'@'localhost';"

Performance issues:

# Monitor resource usage
top
iotop  # for disk I/O
 
# Check memory usage
free -h
 
# Monitor network
ss -tuln

Log Locations:

• FiveM logs: journalctl -u fivem
• MariaDB logs: /var/log/mysql/error.log
• System logs: /var/log/syslog

Security Considerations

1. Firewall Configuration:

   • Only open necessary ports
   • Use fail2ban for SSH protection
   • Consider changing default SSH port

2. Regular Updates:

   # Update system packages
   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
    
   # Update FiveM artifacts regularly
   # Check https://runtime.fivem.net/artifacts/fivem/build_proot_linux/master/

3. Access Control:

   • Use strong passwords
   • Implement SSH key authentication
   • Limit sudo access
   • Regular security audits

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Linux better than Windows for QBCore hosting?

Yes, Linux (especially Ubuntu) is preferred for production QBCore servers due to better performance, lower resource usage, and cost-effective VPS hosting options.

What VPS providers work best with QBCore?

Popular choices include DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, and AWS EC2. Look for at least 4GB RAM and SSD storage for optimal QBCore performance.

How much does it cost to host a QBCore server on Linux?

VPS hosting typically costs $20-50/month for a 4-8GB server that can handle 32-64 players with QBCore framework.

Can I migrate from Windows to Linux QBCore?

Yes, you can migrate your database and server files. The QBCore framework itself is cross-platform compatible.

What’s the difference between Ubuntu and CentOS for QBCore?

Ubuntu is recommended for beginners due to better community support and easier package management. Both work well with QBCore.

How do I backup my Linux QBCore server?

Use the backup script provided in this guide, or set up automated backups with tools like cron jobs and mysqldump.

Why choose txAdmin over manual installation?

txAdmin provides a web interface for server management, making it easier to manage your QBCore server remotely and handle updates.

Next Steps

Once your Linux QBCore server is running:

1. Configure Admin Permissions - Set up admin access and roles
2. Advanced Database Configuration - Optimize MariaDB for QBCore
3. Development Environment Setup - Configure local development
4. Performance Optimization Guide - Maximize server performance
5. Windows Installation Guide - Alternative setup method
6. Quick Start Guide - Fast 10-minute setup option

Getting Help

If you encounter issues with your Linux QBCore installation:

1. Check the Troubleshooting Guide
2. Browse the complete QBCore Documentation
3. Search GitHub Issues for solutions
4. Join GitHub Discussions for community support
5. Review QBCore Resources for additional scripts and modules

Note: This guide assumes a fresh Ubuntu installation. Commands may need adaptation for other Linux distributions like CentOS, Debian, or Fedora. For production servers, always keep your system updated and follow security best practices.