diff --git a/latest/install_script.sh b/latest/install_script.sh
index 64abad7..ab53a02 100644
--- a/latest/install_script.sh
+++ b/latest/install_script.sh
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ VS_SERVER_DIR=/vs_server/server
 VS_DATA_DIR=/vs_server/server/data
 LOG_FILE=$VS_DATA_DIR/Logs/server-main.log
 MARKER_FILE=$VS_SERVER_DIR/.setup_done
-START_FILE_1=$VS_SERVER_DIR/server-$VS_VERSION.sh
-VS_SERVER_FILE=https://cdn.vintagestory.at/gamefiles/$VS_CHANNEL/vs_server_linux-x64_$VS_VERSION.tar.gz
+INSTALLED_VERSION=$VS_SERVER_DIR/installed-$TARGET_VERSION
+START_FILE=$VS_SERVER_DIR/server.sh
 MS_REPO_URL=https://packages.microsoft.com/config/debian/12/packages-microsoft-prod.deb
 USERNAME=adduser vintagestory
 
@@ -59,33 +59,70 @@ else
     sleep infinity
 fi
 
-# Main install (Debian).
+# Main install & auto update.
 # Check for server files and download if needed.
-if [ -e $START_FILE_1 ]
-	then
+# Fallback to stable channel if VS_CHANNEL is blank
+: "${VS_CHANNEL:=stable}"
+echo "Using channel: $VS_CHANNEL"
+
+# Get the currently installed version from filesystem
+CUR_V=$(find "$VS_SERVER_DIR" -name "installed-*" | cut -d - -f2-)
+echo "Current local version: '${CUR_V:-None}'"
+
+# Fetch the API JSON cleanly
+API_URL="http://api.vintagestory.at/${VS_CHANNEL}.json"
+JSON=$(wget -qO- "$API_URL")
+
+# Validate that we actually received valid JSON
+if [ -z "$JSON" ] || ! echo "$JSON" | jq . >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "Error: Failed to fetch valid JSON from $API_URL"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Resolve the target version dynamically from the JSON Object keys
+if [ ! -z "$VS_VERSION" ] && [ "$VS_VERSION" != "latest" ]; then
+    # User specified an exact version. Check if it exists as a key in the object
+    TARGET_VERSION=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r --arg version "$VS_VERSION" 'if .[$version] then $version else "" end')
+    if [ -z "$TARGET_VERSION" ]; then
+        echo "Error: Specified version '$VS_VERSION' not found in the $VS_CHANNEL channel API."
+        exit 1
+    fi
+else
+    # No version specified or "latest" chosen. Get the very first key from the object
+    TARGET_VERSION=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r 'keys_unsorted | .[0]')
+fi
+echo "Target version determined: '$TARGET_VERSION'"
+
+# Compare versions and only download if they do NOT match
+if [ "$CUR_V" != "$TARGET_VERSION" ]; then
+    echo "Versions differ ($CUR_V vs $TARGET_VERSION). Fetching CDN download URL..."
+    # Extract the CDN download link using the valid object key structure
+    VS_SERVER_FILE=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r --arg version "$TARGET_VERSION" '.[$version].linuxserver.urls.cdn')
+    if [ "$VS_SERVER_FILE" == "null" ] || [ -z "$VS_SERVER_FILE" ]; then
+        echo "Error: Download URL not found for version $TARGET_VERSION"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    echo "Ready to download: $VS_SERVER_FILE"
 		echo " "
-		echo "INFO ! server-$VS_VERSION.sh found starting now."
-	else
-		echo " "
-		echo "WARNING ! server-$VS_VERSION.sh is out of date/missing ... will download now."
-			echo " "
-			echo "INFO ! Cleaning old files."
-			mkdir -pv $VS_SERVER_DIR/old-server-versions/
-			mv *.sh $VS_SERVER_DIR/old-server-versions/
-			rm -fr $VS_SERVER_DIR/assets $VS_SERVER_DIR/Lib $VS_SERVER_DIR/Mods
-			rm -fr $VS_SERVER_DIR/VintagestoryServer $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.dll $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.pdb $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.json $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.xml $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.txt
-			wget --no-cache --show-progress --progress=bar:force:noscroll $VS_SERVER_FILE -O /vstemp/vs_server_linux-x64_$VS_VERSION.tar.gz
-			tar -xzf /vstemp/vs_server_linux-x64_$VS_VERSION.tar.gz -C /vstemp/files
-			rm -fr /vstemp/*.tar.gz
-			mv -uf /vstemp/files/* $VS_SERVER_DIR/
-			mv $VS_SERVER_DIR/server.sh $START_FILE_1
-			chmod +x $START_FILE_1
+		echo "INFO ! Cleaning old files."
+		mkdir -pv $VS_SERVER_DIR/old-server-versions/
+		mv *.sh $VS_SERVER_DIR/old-server-versions/
+		rm -fr $VS_SERVER_DIR/assets $VS_SERVER_DIR/Lib $VS_SERVER_DIR/Mods
+		rm -fr $VS_SERVER_DIR/VintagestoryServer $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.dll $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.pdb $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.json $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.xml $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.txt
+		wget --no-cache --show-progress --progress=bar:force:noscroll $VS_SERVER_FILE -O /vstemp/vs_server_linux-x64_$TARGET_VERSION.tar.gz
+		tar -xzf /vstemp/vs_server_linux-x64_$TARGET_VERSION.tar.gz -C /vstemp/files
+		rm -fr /vstemp/*.tar.gz
+		mv -uf /vstemp/files/* $VS_SERVER_DIR/
+		chmod +x $START_FILE
+		touch $INSTALLED_VERSION 
+else
+    echo "No update required. Local version matches target version."
 fi
 
 echo "INFO ! Setting server path."
-sed -i -E "s|^VSPATH='/home/vintagestory/server'|VSPATH='$VS_SERVER_DIR'|" $START_FILE_1
+sed -i -E "s|^VSPATH='/home/vintagestory/server'|VSPATH='$VS_SERVER_DIR'|" $START_FILE
 echo "INFO ! Setting data path."
-sed -i -E "s|^DATAPATH='/var/vintagestory/data'|DATAPATH='$VS_DATA_DIR'|" $START_FILE_1
+sed -i -E "s|^DATAPATH='/var/vintagestory/data'|DATAPATH='$VS_DATA_DIR'|" $START_FILE
 
 # Set permissions.
 chown 99:100 -R $VS_SERVER_DIR
@@ -94,7 +131,7 @@ chmod 776 -R $VS_SERVER_DIR
 # Setup the server
 if [ ! -f $MARKER_FILE ]; then
     echo "First time run: Setting up server environment..."
-    yes y | $VS_SERVER_DIR/server-1.21.5.sh setup $USERNAME $VS_DATA_DIR
+    yes y | $VS_SERVER_DIR/server.sh setup $USERNAME $VS_DATA_DIR
 	touch $MARKER_FILE
 	echo "Setup successfully completed."
 fi
@@ -102,7 +139,7 @@ fi
 # Run vintage-story server.
 echo " "
 echo "INFO ! Starting vintage-story Server $VS_VERSION"
-.$START_FILE_1 start
+.$START_FILE start
 
 echo "Waiting for the server log file to be created..."
 # Loop indefinitely until the log file actually exists on disk
diff --git a/testing/install_script.sh b/testing/install_script.sh
index fc19c7e..9b3f827 100644
--- a/testing/install_script.sh
+++ b/testing/install_script.sh
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ VS_SERVER_DIR=/vs_server/server
 VS_DATA_DIR=/vs_server/server/data
 LOG_FILE=$VS_DATA_DIR/Logs/server-main.log
 MARKER_FILE=$VS_SERVER_DIR/.setup_done
-START_FILE_1=$VS_SERVER_DIR/server-$VS_VERSION.sh
+INSTALLED_VERSION=$VS_SERVER_DIR/installed-$TARGET_VERSION
+START_FILE_1=$VS_SERVER_DIR/server.sh
 START_FILE_2=https://gitea.fithwum.tech/fithwum/vintage-story/raw/branch/main/testing/start.sh
-VS_SERVER_FILE=https://cdn.vintagestory.at/gamefiles/$VS_CHANNEL/vs_server_linux-x64_$VS_VERSION.tar.gz
 MS_REPO_URL=https://packages.microsoft.com/config/debian/12/packages-microsoft-prod.deb
 USERNAME=adduser vintagestory
 
@@ -60,27 +60,64 @@ else
     sleep infinity
 fi
 
-# Main install (Debian).
+# Main install & auto update.
 # Check for server files and download if needed.
-if [ -e $START_FILE_1 ]
-	then
+# Fallback to stable channel if VS_CHANNEL is blank
+: "${VS_CHANNEL:=stable}"
+echo "Using channel: $VS_CHANNEL"
+
+# Get the currently installed version from filesystem
+CUR_V=$(find "$VS_SERVER_DIR" -name "installed-*" | cut -d - -f2-)
+echo "Current local version: '${CUR_V:-None}'"
+
+# Fetch the API JSON cleanly
+API_URL="http://api.vintagestory.at/${VS_CHANNEL}.json"
+JSON=$(wget -qO- "$API_URL")
+
+# Validate that we actually received valid JSON
+if [ -z "$JSON" ] || ! echo "$JSON" | jq . >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "Error: Failed to fetch valid JSON from $API_URL"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Resolve the target version dynamically from the JSON Object keys
+if [ ! -z "$VS_VERSION" ] && [ "$VS_VERSION" != "latest" ]; then
+    # User specified an exact version. Check if it exists as a key in the object
+    TARGET_VERSION=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r --arg version "$VS_VERSION" 'if .[$version] then $version else "" end')
+    if [ -z "$TARGET_VERSION" ]; then
+        echo "Error: Specified version '$VS_VERSION' not found in the $VS_CHANNEL channel API."
+        exit 1
+    fi
+else
+    # No version specified or "latest" chosen. Get the very first key from the object
+    TARGET_VERSION=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r 'keys_unsorted | .[0]')
+fi
+echo "Target version determined: '$TARGET_VERSION'"
+
+# Compare versions and only download if they do NOT match
+if [ "$CUR_V" != "$TARGET_VERSION" ]; then
+    echo "Versions differ ($CUR_V vs $TARGET_VERSION). Fetching CDN download URL..."
+    # Extract the CDN download link using the valid object key structure
+    VS_SERVER_FILE=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r --arg version "$TARGET_VERSION" '.[$version].linuxserver.urls.cdn')
+    if [ "$VS_SERVER_FILE" == "null" ] || [ -z "$VS_SERVER_FILE" ]; then
+        echo "Error: Download URL not found for version $TARGET_VERSION"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    echo "Ready to download: $VS_SERVER_FILE"
 		echo " "
-		echo "INFO ! server-$VS_VERSION.sh found starting now."
-	else
-		echo " "
-		echo "WARNING ! server-$VS_VERSION.sh is out of date/missing ... will download now."
-			echo " "
-			echo "INFO ! Cleaning old files."
-			mkdir -pv $VS_SERVER_DIR/old-server-versions/
-			mv *.sh $VS_SERVER_DIR/old-server-versions/
-			rm -fr $VS_SERVER_DIR/assets $VS_SERVER_DIR/Lib $VS_SERVER_DIR/Mods
-			rm -fr $VS_SERVER_DIR/VintagestoryServer $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.dll $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.pdb $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.json $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.xml $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.txt
-			wget --no-cache --show-progress --progress=bar:force:noscroll $VS_SERVER_FILE -O /vstemp/vs_server_linux-x64_$VS_VERSION.tar.gz
-			tar -xzf /vstemp/vs_server_linux-x64_$VS_VERSION.tar.gz -C /vstemp/files
-			rm -fr /vstemp/*.tar.gz
-			mv -uf /vstemp/files/* $VS_SERVER_DIR/
-			mv $VS_SERVER_DIR/server.sh $START_FILE_1
-			chmod +x $START_FILE_1
+		echo "INFO ! Cleaning old files."
+		mkdir -pv $VS_SERVER_DIR/old-server-versions/
+		mv *.sh $VS_SERVER_DIR/old-server-versions/
+		rm -fr $VS_SERVER_DIR/assets $VS_SERVER_DIR/Lib $VS_SERVER_DIR/Mods
+		rm -fr $VS_SERVER_DIR/VintagestoryServer $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.dll $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.pdb $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.json $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.xml $VS_SERVER_DIR/*.txt
+		wget --no-cache --show-progress --progress=bar:force:noscroll $VS_SERVER_FILE -O /vstemp/vs_server_linux-x64_$TARGET_VERSION.tar.gz
+		tar -xzf /vstemp/vs_server_linux-x64_$TARGET_VERSION.tar.gz -C /vstemp/files
+		rm -fr /vstemp/*.tar.gz
+		mv -uf /vstemp/files/* $VS_SERVER_DIR/
+		chmod +x $START_FILE_1
+		touch $INSTALLED_VERSION 
+else
+    echo "No update required. Local version matches target version."
 fi
 
 echo "INFO ! Setting server path."
@@ -95,7 +132,7 @@ chmod 776 -R $VS_SERVER_DIR
 # Setup the server
 if [ ! -f $MARKER_FILE ]; then
     echo "First time run: Setting up server environment..."
-    yes y | $VS_SERVER_DIR/server-1.21.5.sh setup $USERNAME $VS_DATA_DIR
+    yes y | $VS_SERVER_DIR/server.sh setup $USERNAME $VS_DATA_DIR
 	touch $MARKER_FILE
 	echo "Setup successfully completed."
 fi