How to Set Up a Cloudflare Reverse Proxy for Your FiveM Server

How to Set Up a Cloudflare Reverse Proxy for Your FiveM Server

Enhance your FiveM server with a free Cloudflare reverse proxy to improve performance and security.

Author: Goodleaf Hosting

Setting up a Cloudflare reverse proxy allows you to improve your FiveM server’s performance, protect against DDoS attacks, and reduce bandwidth usage. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Benefits of a Cloudflare Reverse Proxy

1. Improved Load Times: Leverage Cloudflare’s global Content Delivery Network (CDN) for faster access worldwide.
2. Enhanced DDoS Protection: Extra security to prevent server downtime during attacks.
3. Traffic Optimization: Minimize traffic congestion.
4. Bandwidth Reduction: Reduce strain on your server by caching assets.

Setup Instructions

Step 1: Sign Up for a Cloudflare Account

1. Go to Cloudflare’s signup page.
2. Create an account and verify your email address.

Step 2: Get a Domain or Manage Your Current DNS

• If you don’t already have a domain, purchase one from a domain registrar.
• Goodleaf Hosting offers domains—order here.

Step 3: Add Your Domain to Cloudflare

1. Log in to Cloudflare:

   • Go to the dashboard and click Add a Site.

2. Choose a Plan:

   • Scroll down and select the Free Plan for basic functionality.

3. Update Nameservers:

   • Cloudflare will provide nameservers (e.g., ns1.cloudflare.com and ns2.cloudflare.com).
   • Replace your registrar's current nameservers with the ones provided by Cloudflare.

4. Disable DNSSEC:

   • Before changing nameservers, ensure DNSSEC is disabled in your domain settings.

5. Wait for DNS Propagation:

   • DNS updates can take 1–24 hours. Cloudflare will notify you when your domain is active.

Step 4: Enable DNSSEC in Cloudflare

Once your domain is active, re-enable DNSSEC within Cloudflare to protect against domain spoofing.

Configure DNS Settings for Your FiveM Server

Step 1: Add an A Record

1. Navigate to the DNS section in Cloudflare.

2. Add an A Record:

   • Type: A
   • Name: Your desired subdomain (e.g., play).
   • IPv4 Address: Your server’s IP address (e.g., 123.456.78.90).
   • Proxied: Enable for Cloudflare protection. If players experience connection issues, disable Proxied, but this will expose your server’s IP address.

3. Click Save.

Step 2: Add an SRV Record

1. Add an SRV Record:

   • Type: SRV
   • Name: Subdomain (e.g., play.yourdomain.com).
   • Service: _cfx
   • Protocol: UDP
   • TTL: Auto
   • Priority: 10
   • Weight: 10
   • Port: 30120 (or your server’s port).
   • Target: Your subdomain (e.g., play.yourdomain.com).

2. Click Save.

Using Your Custom Domain

• Players can now connect using your custom domain (e.g., play.yourdomain.com) instead of the default CFX URL.
• Allow up to 2–4 hours for the DNS changes to propagate fully.

How Players Should Connect:

1. Open the F8 Console in FiveM.
2. Type:

   connect play.yourdomain.com
   

3. This ensures they benefit from Cloudflare’s CDN and DDoS protection.

Additional Tips

• Port Forwarding: Ensure your server ports (e.g., 30120) are open and accessible through your firewall.
• Backup Configuration: Save your DNS records and configuration details in case you need to migrate servers.
• Test Connectivity: Verify that players can connect to your server using the custom domain.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a Cloudflare reverse proxy for your FiveM server is an effective way to boost performance and protect against attacks. By following this guide, you can provide a smoother, more secure experience for your players.

Need help with hosting? Goodleaf Hosting offers high-performance FiveM hosting with built-in DDoS protection and expert support. Upgrade your server today!