How to Make a RedM Server in 2026 (txAdmin + VORP)

Set up a RedM (RDR2 roleplay) server in 2026: txAdmin install, the VORP and RSG frameworks, RAM and cost, plus the easiest managed hosting.

Published on 14 juin 2026

RedM is the Red Dead Redemption 2 equivalent of FiveM: a multiplayer modification platform built by Cfx.re that lets you run custom roleplay servers for RDR2. If you want to build a Wild West roleplay community, run a private posse server for friends, or just script your own cowboy sandbox, you need your own RedM server. This guide walks you through the full setup with txAdmin, covers the main RP frameworks (VORP, RSG-Core, RedEM:RP), and shows you the simplest way to get online without fighting a VPS.

What RedM is (and who needs a server)

RedM is to Red Dead Redemption 2 what FiveM is to GTA V. Both are developed by Cfx.re, both run on the same underlying platform, and both rely on txAdmin for server management and Lua scripts for content. The difference is the base game: RedM uses RDR2, so you get horses, gunslinging, and the open frontier instead of Los Santos.

You need your own RedM server if you want to:

Run a roleplay (RP) community

The vast majority of RedM servers are RP servers. You install a framework (VORP, RSG-Core, RedEM:RP), add jobs, economy, gangs and custom scripts, and players create characters in a persistent Wild West world.

Play privately with friends

A small whitelisted server lets you and your posse play together 24/7 without relying on a host PC. Even a 5–12 player server gives you full control over rules, mods and saves.

Develop and test RDR2 scripts

If you write Lua resources for RedM, you need a server to test them. txAdmin makes restarting and hot-reloading resources quick during development.

You need a Cfx.re key and RDR2

RedM uses the same Cfx.re platform as FiveM. You need a free server license key from keymaster.fivem.net, linked to an account that owns Red Dead Redemption 2. Every player connecting to your server must also own RDR2.

How to make a RedM server step by step

The process is the same whether you self-host on a VPS or use managed hosting. The big decision is where the server runs (step 2). Here is the full walkthrough.

Get a free Cfx.re license key

RedM and FiveM share the same platform, so the license keys come from the same place. Go to keymaster.fivem.net, sign in with (or create) a Cfx.re account that owns Red Dead Redemption 2, and generate a new server key. You'll get a token starting with cfxk_. Keep it private — it identifies your server on the Cfx.re network and goes into your server.cfg later.

Choose where to host: your own VPS vs managed

You have two options. Self-hosting on a VPS (or your own PC) means you rent or own a Linux/Windows machine, install everything by hand, and manage port forwarding, updates and uptime yourself — cheapest in raw compute, but you're the sysadmin. Managed RedM hosting gives you a web panel with txAdmin already wired up: no port forwarding, no OS to patch, the server runs 24/7. For most people building an RP server, managed is the saner choice — see the managed section below for real plans.

Install txAdmin + the RedM server artifacts

txAdmin is the web control panel for RedM/FiveM servers, and it ships *inside* the server artifacts. On a VPS: download the latest RedM server artifacts (the cfx-server-data build for your OS) from the Cfx.re artifacts page, extract them, and launch the FXServer executable — txAdmin starts on port 40120. Open it in a browser, create your admin account, and follow the setup wizard. On managed hosting, txAdmin is pre-installed, so you just open the panel and log in.

Pick a framework (VORP, RSG-Core, RedEM:RP or QBR)

An empty RedM server has no jobs, economy or character system — a framework adds all of that. The main choices in 2026: VORP Core (by far the most popular and active RedM RP framework, huge script library), RSG-Core (the RedM port of QBCore, familiar if you come from FiveM/QBCore), RedEM:RP (a lighter, older alternative) and QBR (another QBCore-style port). Clone the framework from its GitHub into your resources/ folder and follow its install guide.

Configure server.cfg + resources

Your server.cfg is the heart of the server. Set your license key, server name, max players, and the ensure/start lines for every resource (including your framework and its dependencies like oxmysql). Frameworks like VORP and RSG-Core need a MySQL/MariaDB database — create one, import the framework's SQL, and put the connection string in set mysql_connection_string.

sv_licenseKey "cfxk_yourkeyhere"
sv_hostname "My RedM RP Server"
sv_maxClients 32

set mysql_connection_string "mysql://user:password@localhost/redm"

ensure oxmysql
ensure vorp_core
ensure vorp_inventory
# start your other resources here

Launch & connect

Start the server from txAdmin (or run FXServer +exec server.cfg on a VPS). Once it's live, it appears on the Cfx.re network. To connect, open RedM, press F8 to bring up the console, and type connect <your-server-ip>:30120 — or find it in the RedM server list if you set it public. Share that address with your players.

Which framework should I pick?

For a brand-new server, VORP Core is the safest bet: it's the most popular and actively maintained RedM RP framework, with the largest library of compatible scripts and the best documentation. If you're already comfortable with QBCore from the FiveM world, RSG-Core (the RedM port of QBCore) will feel familiar. RedEM:RP is lighter and older — fine for a minimal server, but you'll find fewer ready-made resources.

Managed RedM hosting (skip the hassle)

Self-hosting a RedM server sounds cheap until you hit the reality: forwarding the right ports on your router, keeping a machine online 24/7, patching the OS, surviving DDoS attacks, and restarting the server every time it crashes at 3 a.m. Managed RedM hosting removes all of that — txAdmin comes pre-installed, the server runs around the clock, and DDoS protection and updates are handled for you.

On our comparison, Shockbyte is currently the only host that sells RedM plans. Here are the real plans and prices.

Plan	Max players	RAM	Price
Valentine	12 players	—	€10.30/mo
Rhodes	24 players	—	€13.73/mo
Saint Denis	200 players	7 GB	€25.76/mo

Shockbyte RedM plans (2026). All plans include txAdmin pre-installed, SSD storage, DDoS protection and 24/7 support. Prices shown are monthly; a launch promo code (LAUNCH, 25% off) is currently available.

Online in minutes, not an evening

With txAdmin pre-installed on a managed plan, you skip the artifact downloads and port forwarding entirely. Pick a plan, deploy RedM from the panel, drop in your VORP resources and your Cfx.re key, and you're live — no VPS sysadmin work required.

How much RAM and budget you need

RedM is more demanding than vanilla RDR2 multiplayer because a full RP framework loads dozens of Lua resources, an inventory system and a database. RAM is the main thing that scales with player count and the number of scripts you run. As a rough guide:

Server type	Players	RAM	Budget
Private / friend server	5 to 12 players	4 to 6 GB	€10–14/month
Semi-public RP server	12 to 24 players	6 to 8 GB	€14–22/month
Community RP server	24 to 64 players	8 to 12 GB	€20–40/month
Large public server	64 to 128 players	12 to 24 GB	€35–70/month

A heavily scripted VORP server at 15–20 players comfortably wants 6 to 8 GB of RAM. CPU single-thread performance also matters a lot for RedM, so favour a host with strong per-core clocks.

Latency matters for RP

RedM RP interactions — horse riding, gunfights, animations — are sensitive to latency. Pick a host with a node close to your players (a Western Europe node for a French- or EU-based community) and aim for a ping under 50 ms.

Ready to launch your RedM server?

Take the 2-minute quiz to find the host that fits your RP project, or jump straight to RedM hosting offers.

Frequently asked questions

Is RedM free?

The RedM platform and server software are free, just like FiveM. You don't pay Cfx.re anything to run a server. What you pay for is the machine it runs on — either a VPS/managed host, or your own electricity and hardware if you self-host. You do, however, need to own Red Dead Redemption 2, and so does every player who connects.

Do I need a Cfx.re key to run a RedM server?

Yes. Every RedM server needs a free Cfx.re server license key, generated at keymaster.fivem.net from an account that owns RDR2. The key (starting with cfxk_) goes into your server.cfg as sv_licenseKey. Without it, the server won't register on the Cfx.re network and players can't connect.

VORP vs RSG-Core — which should I use?

VORP Core is the most popular and actively maintained RedM RP framework, with the biggest library of compatible scripts — it's the recommended choice for a new server. RSG-Core is the RedM port of QBCore, so it's a natural pick if you already know QBCore from FiveM. Both use the same txAdmin and a MySQL/MariaDB database; the main difference is the ecosystem of scripts built around each.

How much RAM does a RedM server need?

A small private server (5–12 players) runs on 4–6 GB. A semi-public RP server with a full VORP setup at 12–24 players wants 6–8 GB. Larger community servers (24–64 players) need 8–12 GB. The number of Lua resources you run matters as much as the player count, so a heavily scripted server needs more RAM than its player slots suggest.

Can I run a RedM server 24/7 without my PC on?

Only if you use a managed host or a rented VPS. A managed RedM plan (like Shockbyte's) runs the server around the clock independently of your computer, with DDoS protection and txAdmin pre-installed. If you self-host on your own PC, the server goes offline the moment your machine shuts down or loses its connection.