How to Setup FiveM Reverse Proxy for DDoS Attacks

FiveM is a modification framework for the popular video game Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) that enables players to create and join custom multiplayer servers. It’s developed by CitizenFX Collective and allows for a wide range of gameplay experiences beyond the official GTA Online servers provided by Rockstar Games. FiveM servers offer unique game modes, custom content, and immersive role-playing experiences.

What are FiveM DDoS Attacks?

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks pose a substantial threat to FiveM servers. In such an attack, a server is bombarded with traffic from various sources, making it challenging or even impossible for legitimate traffic to pass through.

For FiveM servers, these attacks can result in several problems:

• Performance Issues: DDoS attacks can degrade server performance, resulting in a subpar gaming experience.
• Unavailability: In extreme cases, DDoS attacks can render a server entirely unreachable to legitimate users.
• Financial Impact: For server operators, DDoS attacks can result in potential financial losses due to prolonged downtime.
• Player Discontent: Regular downtimes and performance issues can lead to player annoyance and dissatisfaction.

These attacks can take advantage of weaknesses in network protocols, server configurations, or application layer vulnerabilities. Given the popularity of FiveM servers and their vital role in delivering uninterrupted gameplay experiences, they are prime targets for such attacks. Therefore, it’s essential for server operators to implement strong security measures to lessen the impact of DDoS attacks. These measures can encompass advanced traffic filtering, load balancing, distributed network architectures, and collaborating with trustworthy DDoS mitigation service providers like us.

What is a Reverse Proxy for FiveM?

A Reverse Proxy for FiveM is a server that sits between client devices and a FiveM server, forwarding client requests to the FiveM server. It’s often used to control and optimize client-server communications, provide load balancing, and ensure security.

In terms of DDoS protection, a reverse proxy can be highly effective. Here’s how it helps:

• Traffic Filtering: A reverse proxy filters the incoming traffic and only sends it through if it’s sure that a request does not contain any malice. This helps in blocking traffic from bad actors and protecting the backend server from DDoS attacks.
• Load Balancing: By distributing network traffic across multiple POPs (point of presences), a reverse proxy can help mitigate the impact of a DDoS attack, especially volumetric attacks.
• Hiding Server Information: A reverse proxy can hide the real server software from network scans, making it harder for attackers to exploit known vulnerabilities and find the actual server IP.
• Security Measures: Many reverse proxies can be set up with additional security measures such as Web Application Firewalls (WAF) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)/Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), providing an additional layer of security.

Therefore, using a reverse proxy can be a crucial part of a comprehensive DDoS protection strategy for FiveM servers.

How Can I Setup a Reverse Proxy?

At Iceline Hosting, we have created our own in-house reverse proxy software with in-line filtering specifically for FiveM. Our reverse proxy service forwards both TCP and UDP traffic. Through our stateful filter we are able to offer deep packet inspection, and protection against many FiveM specific attacks such as TCP-SYN, UDP flooding, Layer 7 attacks and many more.  

To setup a reverse proxy with Iceline Hosting, follow these steps:

1. Go to our Remote DDoS protection for FiveM checkout page

2. Choose the closest location to where your actual FiveM server is hosted

3. Enter your FiveM server IP/port (For example: 192.168.10.10:30120)

4. Choose the amount of concurrent players, concurrent players means the max amount of players that are able to join your server at one time. So if your server has 128 slots, you'd choose 128 concurrent players.

5. Once purchased and paid, go to your email and create a password for your game panel account. Alternatively you can use "Forgot Password" @ game.iceline.host

6. Once you are logged into the game panel, go to your proxy service

7. Go to "Setup Proxy" tab at the top

8. You'll be provided with server variables which you need to add to your FiveM server.cfg file

9. Add the variables to your server.cfg and restart both the FiveM proxy and your FiveM server

10. Use your CFX address or the proxy IP to connect to your server.

Done! You are now protecting your FiveM server with our DDoS protection. Any DDoS attacks will be sucessfully filtered and mitigated through our network.