Build-A-Bot
Server Setup

Server Selection & Settings

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1. DECIDE WHERE YOUR BOT WILL LIVE

  • Your everyday computer

    • Best option for testing

    • Not ideal if you want the bot online 24/7

  • A spare PC / mini-PC (RaspberryPI) / home server

    • Best option for long-term use

    • Recommended if you want Aurora always available

  • A cloud server

    • Advanced option

    • Great for uptime but costs money and requires more setup. (which we don’t discuss in the following steps)

Recommendation:
If you just want Aurora to work and stay online, a small, dedicated PC is perfect. I found my home server on the side of the road!

2. Choose What Operating System to install

  • Windows

    • Easiest option.

      • Requires little setup or knowledge - most computers you buy second-hand will come with Windows; you just need to update to the newer version.

    • Downside:

      • Windows runs updates, so bot can be down from time to time. (schedule a task to run at boot to avoid long down times)

      • If your PC doesn’t have a key, you need to buy one - also, will not work for a RaspberryPI.

  • Ubuntu or Linux

    • Best option if you are tech-savvy

    • Free

Recommendation:
If you aren’t a serious “tech-person”, just go with Windows… I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to get raid to work on Ubuntu only for the remote desktop/firewall to do me in. Whereas, setting up Windows took 10 minutes. I’m still a bit bitter LOL

(Steps forward are from the perspective of a windows OS on a Spare PC)

3. INSTALL WINDOWS

  • Install Windows like you normally would on any PC (This is where getting a used PC can shine - you don’t have to pay for a new install)

  • Complete the basic setup:

    • username

    • password

    • internet connection

⚠️ Your server will need internet access to:

  • connect to Discord

  • access APIs/Tokens/Keys

4. RENAME YOUR SERVER (OPTIONAL BUT SMART)

This step is optional, but will make your life easier later if using remote desktop - IDK about you but my machine is in my crawlspace and isn’t easy to get to - servers are notorious for being loud)

To rename your machine:

  1. Open Settings

  2. Go to System

  3. Click About

  4. Click Rename this PC

Example names:

  • BOT-PC

  • DISCORDBOT

✨ This is especially helpful if you remote into multiple machines.

5. ENABLE REMOTE DESKTOP

Remote Desktop lets you control your PC from your main computer without needing a monitor connected all the time.

To enable it:

  1. Open Start

  2. Search for Remote Desktop settings

  3. Turn Remote Desktop ON

  4. Confirm the prompt

You may also want to write down:

  • Computer name

  • User ID/Password

  • IP address

You’ll use these later when connecting remotely.

6. CONNECT FROM YOUR MAIN COMPUTER

On your main PC:

  1. Type “Remote Desktop” in the search bar

  2. Enter the server’s computer name or IP address

  3. Press Enter

  4. Log in with the server’s username and password

✨ Once connected, it will feel like you are using that machine directly. Eyyyyyyyy

7. KEEP THE SERVER AWAKE

NOTE: If your server goes to sleep, your bot goes offline.

If you want 24/7 uptime:

  1. Open Control Panel

  2. Go to Power Options

  3. Set the machine so it does not sleep automatically

  4. You can still let the screen turn off if you want (I don’t even have a screen connected to my PC - I just use remote desktop)

Quick Recap - what did we do?

  • Chose where your bot will run

  • Installed or prepared Windows

  • Enabled Remote Desktop

  • Made sure the PC stays awake