Satisfactory Dedicated Server Setup: Host Your Own Factory

Satisfactory is a first-person factory building game where you automate production lines across an alien planet. Since the 1.0 release in September 2024, dedicated server support has matured into a stable way to run persistent multiplayer worlds. This guide covers everything from requirements to mod support.

Why run a dedicated server

In a regular multiplayer session, one player hosts and the others connect. That works for two or three people, but it has drawbacks:

• The host must be online for anyone to play.
• The host's upload bandwidth limits the experience for everyone.
• Large factories with thousands of machines push the host's hardware hard, causing lag for all connected players.
• If the host's game crashes, everyone disconnects.

A dedicated server runs independently. The factory world stays online whether players are connected or not, machines keep producing, and performance is consistent because the server runs on hardware dedicated to the task.

Server requirements

Satisfactory servers scale with factory complexity rather than player count. A small factory with a few hundred machines uses far fewer resources than a megabase with tens of thousands of conveyor belts and production nodes.

Storage grows as your save file grows. A mid-game save is typically 20 to 50 MB. Late-game megabases can produce saves over 200 MB, which also increases save and load times. NVMe storage makes a noticeable difference there.

Network ports

The Satisfactory dedicated server uses two UDP ports by default:

• 7777 (UDP): the game port. Players connect here.
• 15000 (UDP): the beacon port, used for server discovery on the local network.
• 15777 (UDP): the query port, used by the server browser to display server info.

All three must be open in your firewall. If you run multiple Satisfactory servers on the same machine, offset each by one (7778, 15001, 15778 for the second server, and so on).

Installation step by step

On Linux (recommended for dedicated hosting)

1. Create a user for the server: sudo useradd -m satisfactory
2. Install SteamCMD: sudo apt install steamcmd
3. Log in as the server user: sudo su - satisfactory
4. Download the server:

   steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 validate +quit

5. Start the server:

   ./FactoryServer.sh -unattended -multihome=0.0.0.0

6. On first start, the server generates its configuration files. Stop it, edit the settings, then start again.

On Windows

1. Install SteamCMD from Valve's documentation.
2. Download the server: steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 validate +quit
3. Open the required UDP ports in Windows Firewall.
4. Run FactoryServer.exe -unattended.

Server configuration

Server settings live in the GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini files under the server's config directory. Key settings:

After editing, restart the server for changes to take effect.

Save management

Satisfactory save files are stored in the server's save directory. Managing them well prevents data loss and helps with troubleshooting.

• Auto-saves. The server creates auto-saves at the interval you set. It keeps the last five by default. This protects against crashes but not against accidental dismantling.
• Manual backups. Copy the save directory to a separate location regularly. A cron job or scheduled task that copies the folder daily is a good minimum.
• Uploading a local save. You can take your single-player or co-op save and upload it to the dedicated server. Copy the .sav file to the server's save directory and select it from the in-game server manager.
• Save size monitoring. Watch your save file size. If it grows past 100 MB, save and load times increase. This is normal for large factories but worth tracking.

Multiplayer configuration

Once the server is running:

1. Open Satisfactory and go to Server Manager in the main menu.
2. Add your server by IP address and game port (default 7777).
3. Enter the admin password to claim the server on first connection.
4. Create a new game or upload an existing save.
5. Other players join by adding the same IP and port in their Server Manager.

Players can join and leave at any time. The world continues running (unless you enabled auto-pause). Vehicles, trains and production lines all keep working.

Mod support

Satisfactory has an active modding community. Mods are managed through the Satisfactory Mod Manager (SMM), which works for both clients and dedicated servers.

• Server-side mods must be installed on the server. All connecting players must have the same mods and versions installed.
• Install mods by placing them in the server's Mods folder or by using SMM pointed at the server directory.
• Version compatibility. After a game update, mods may break. Wait for mod authors to update before patching the server if stability matters more than new features.
• Popular mods: Refined Power (more energy options), FICSIT Networks (programmable logic), Linear Motion (advanced logistics), and Structural Solutions (building tools) are commonly used on servers.

Performance tips

• Restart periodically. Memory usage creeps up over multi-day sessions. A weekly restart keeps things responsive.
• Keep the server updated. Coffee Stain Studios releases patches that fix memory leaks and simulation bugs. Update promptly.
• Limit conveyor belt sprawl. Thousands of active conveyor segments consume more CPU per tick. Consolidate transport routes where possible.
• Use trains for long distances. Trains are more server-friendly than thousands of conveyor belt segments spanning the map.
• Monitor save file size. If saves take more than 30 seconds, consider splitting production across efficiency rather than scale.

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a Satisfactory server on a VPS?

Yes, and it is one of the best options. A VPS with 8 GB RAM and NVMe storage handles early to mid-game factories easily. Scale up as your factory grows.

Does the server run while nobody is connected?

By default, yes. Machines keep producing and power keeps generating. Enable the auto-pause setting if you want production to stop when everyone logs off, which also saves server resources.

How many players can join?

The default is 4, but you can raise it. In practice, 8 to 12 players works well. Beyond that, network bandwidth and save file complexity become the bottleneck rather than raw server power.

Can I transfer my single-player save?

Yes. Copy the .sav file from your local save directory to the dedicated server's save folder. Open the server manager in-game and load it. All your buildings and progress transfer. Other players will need to create new characters.

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