← OpenWoW HOST

Host your own server

Run a World of Warcraft 1.12.1 realm on a Windows 10/11 PC and play on it with friends. About 30 to 45 minutes the first time, mostly downloads.

What you need

• Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), about 15 GB free, SSD recommended.
• Python 3.11 or newer. In its installer, tick Add python.exe to PATH.
• SPP Classics V2 (SPP_Classics_V2.exe): the realm's database, login and world servers.
• OpenWoW Server: the control panel, web backend and sign-up site.
• To play: a WoW 1.12.1 client. The OpenWoW launcher can download one (Home → Get WoW 1.12.1).

Easy way: the OpenWoW launcher

Open the launcher, go to Host → Download Server. A four-step page walks you through it, and each step turns green when it's done:

1. Python: Get Python opens python.org. Install it, then press Check again.
2. SPP Classics V2: Download SPP fetches and opens the installer. Pick a folder such as C:\SPP_Classics_V2, click Extract, run Server_Update.bat in that folder and type 1 (Vanilla). Then press Locate folder.
3. Server software: Download & unpack installs the package and links it to SPP.
4. Start: Open control panel installs the Python packages once and opens the panel. Press Start / Restart all services.

By hand (if the launcher doesn't work for you)

1. Install Python 3.11+ with Add python.exe to PATH. In a new Command Prompt, py -3 --version should answer.
2. Download SPP_Classics_V2.exe, run it, choose a folder and click Extract. Run Server_Update.bat, wait for the downloads, type 1 for Vanilla. Shut it down from its menu (0), not the window's X. Don't install over an older SPP.
3. Unzip OpenWoW-Server.zip anywhere, e.g. C:\OpenWoW-Server.
4. Copy openwow.example.json to openwow.json and set "spp_root" to your SPP_Server folder (the one with Server\Database), with double backslashes.
5. Double-click Setup_And_Launch.bat. Press Start / Restart all services: MySQL (3310), login (3724), world (8085) and web (18090) go green.
6. In the panel's Player & GM Admin Manager, create your account as Administrator (GM 3) with a strong password.
7. Play: in the launcher, Servers → My servers → Add this PC, then Play. With a stock client: set realmlist 127.0.0.1.

The full guide with troubleshooting is INSTALL.txt inside the server zip.

Letting friends in

• Set the realm address to your LAN IP (same network) or public IP / domain (internet): UPDATE classicrealmd.realmlist SET address='…' with SPP's mysql.exe on port 3310. INSTALL.txt has the exact command.
• Internet: forward TCP 3724 and 8085 on your router, and allow them in Windows Firewall.
• Never expose port 3310 (MySQL). Change SPP's MySQL root password before going public, then put it in openwow.json.
• Browser play for friends is optional and needs the HTTPS gateway, the web client build and extracted game data (see the README in the zip).

If something goes wrong

"py is not recognized"	Reinstall Python with "Add python.exe to PATH", or use python instead of py -3.
Panel says SPP is missing	spp_root in openwow.json must be the folder containing Server\Database.
MySQL won't start	Another MySQL is using port 3310, or SPP setup didn't finish: run Server_Update.bat again and pick 1.
"Information is not valid" at login	The account was made before the server was ready: delete and recreate it in the Admin Manager.
Friends can't connect	Check the port forward for 3724 and 8085, and that the realm address is your public IP, not 127.0.0.1.

Other ways

• Plain SPP: SPP Classics runs on its own menu (Server_Start.bat). No control panel, sign-up site or browser play, but desktop clients work.
• Linux or a rented server: the hetzner folder in the repository sets up a VPS with one command, or runs in Docker with docker-compose.yml.

Stuck? Ask in the OpenWoW Discord's #bug-reports with a screenshot of the control panel's log.