Satisfactory Server Hosting

What is a Satisfactory dedicated server and why do you need one?

The Satisfactory dedicated server is the official application that simulates the game world on a separate server instead of on a player’s PC. In normal multiplayer the session depends on the host’s computer: when the host quits, the factory stops, nobody else can join and the whole simulation load sits on one player’s CPU.

A dedicated server solves all three problems:

• Independent access: A friend can log in at midnight and finish a production line; your PC does not need to be on.
• Load sharing: Conveyor, pipe and train simulation runs on the server, so the host player’s frame rate improves.
• Persistent save: The save file lives on the server and is protected by autosaves, ending the “who had the save?” confusion.

The server is managed from inside the game through the Server Manager screen introduced with version 1.0. On first connection you “claim” the server and set a server name and an admin password. That password limits loading saves, starting new games and changing server settings to admins only. An optional player password restricts who can join.

How much RAM does a Satisfactory server need?

A Satisfactory server needs at least 8 GB of RAM; 16 GB is recommended for large saves or more than four players. This matches the hardware recommendations on the community-maintained official wiki, and the values in the table above are estimated ranges based on it.

In Satisfactory, resource needs depend more on factory size than on player count. A world with a few iron lines in the early hours runs light, while late-game saves with hundreds of buildings, long rail networks and multi-storey production blocks strain memory and CPU. Every item on every conveyor belt is data the server tracks.

On the CPU side the wiki stresses high single-core performance, since much of the simulation runs on one thread. A few fast, dedicated cores are therefore better than many slow ones; on a VDS your cores are reserved for you, which removes fluctuations caused by neighbouring workloads.

The wiki also notes that the server does not run on 32-bit x86 or ARM processors and has problems in virtual machines where the CPU model is exposed as generic kvm64. If you see a CPU-related error at start-up, open a support ticket to have the virtual CPU model checked. Disk needs are about 8 GB of install space on Linux and about 12 GB on Windows; leave extra room for saves and automatic backups. Creating a swap area on Linux reduces the risk of sudden crashes when memory runs out, but it is no substitute for enough RAM.

Game package or VDS for Satisfactory?

At LIONFIN you run a Satisfactory server on a VDS; this page shows VDS plans for the game. You can install the server yourself or open a support ticket after ordering the VDS and ask for the setup.

Because Satisfactory needs more memory than many lighter games, dedicated resources matter here in particular. The stutter seen in late-game saves on shared environments is largely eliminated on a VDS, where cores and memory belong to you alone. On a VDS you can also:

• Define the server as a systemd service so it starts automatically after reboots,
• Copy the save folder off the server with backups you schedule yourself,
• Test the experimental branch in a separate folder,
• Host a small Discord bot or website on the same machine.

For the differences between a game package and a VDS and when each makes sense, see the game server package vs VDS comparison. Current core, memory and disk values are listed in the plan table on this page.

A common pattern in Satisfactory groups is to start small in the first weeks and run short of resources as the factory grows. On a VDS you simply move to a larger plan and run the same server with more memory. Back up the save folder before upgrading to keep your factory safe in case anything goes wrong. You can also run a second Satisfactory instance on the same VDS on different ports, for example a main world and a separate world for friends who are just starting; remember that memory needs double in that case.

Windows or Linux? How do you install the server?

The Satisfactory dedicated server officially runs on 64-bit Windows (Windows 10/11, Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022) and on Linux distributions such as Debian and Ubuntu. For a long-running server, Linux uses less disk and memory and needs no licence; Windows suits those who prefer visual management over Remote Desktop.

A typical Linux installation goes like this:

1. Create a separate user on the server; do not run the game server as root.
2. Install SteamCMD and download the files:

   steamcmd +force_install_dir /home/satisfactory/server +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 validate +quit

3. Start the server: ./FactoryServer.sh (FactoryServer.exe on Windows). To change ports, use the -Port= and -ReliablePort= parameters.
4. Define the server as a systemd service so the game starts when the VDS reboots.
5. Launch the game, open Server Manager from the main menu, add the server’s IP address and claim it.

To use the experimental branch, add -beta experimental to the SteamCMD command; the server and all players must be on the same branch.

Which ports need to be open?

Current Satisfactory servers need ports 7777/TCP, 7777/UDP and 8888/TCP open. Ports 15777 and 15000, used during early access, were removed with 1.0; if you see them in older guides, they are out of date.

If you use UFW on Ubuntu, example rules are:

sudo ufw allow 7777/tcp
sudo ufw allow 7777/udp
sudo ufw allow 8888/tcp

The community wiki states that all three rules are required and that a missing port leads to connection timeouts. On Windows, create the equivalent inbound rules in Windows Defender Firewall.

How do you upload an existing save to the server?

To move a world you started in single-player or a friend session to the server, use the save upload feature in Server Manager; you do not need to copy files manually. Once connected as admin, pick the save from your PC under Manage Saves, upload it and start the uploaded session.

Save files are stored in these folders:

• Linux server: ~/.config/Epic/FactoryGame/Saved/SaveGames/server
• Windows server: %LocalAppData%\FactoryGame\Saved\SaveGames\server

If you prefer to move the save manually, copy the .sav file into this folder and select it in Server Manager. Stop the server before moving it; a running server may overwrite the file during an autosave.

Server settings (name, player password, admin password, session to autoload) are kept in a separate ServerSettings save file. According to the wiki, deleting this file resets the admin password if you forget it, but it also resets the server name, player password and certificate. That is why this file belongs in your backups too.

How do players connect to a Satisfactory server?

In Satisfactory, players connect by adding the server’s IP address and port in the Server Manager screen on the main menu; there is no classic public server list. This means your server is only found by people who know the address, giving private friend groups a natural layer of privacy.

From the player’s side, the steps are:

1. Launch the game and choose Server Manager from the main menu.
2. Enter the server’s IP address with Add Server; add the port if it differs from the default.
3. Accept the certificate prompt on first connection.
4. Enter the player password if the server has one and join with Join Game.

If you want a memorable name instead of an IP address, create an A record under your own domain (for example factory.yourdomain.com) pointing to the VDS’s IPv4 address; players can type that name into Server Manager. The record stays valid as long as the server IP does not change. Make sure everyone’s Steam or Epic client is up to date to avoid version mismatches; Satisfactory lets Steam and Epic players meet on the same server.

How do you change the player limit and server settings?

A Satisfactory server allows 4 players by default; more requires a configuration change. The community wiki shows the limit can also be changed with a launch parameter:

./FactoryServer.sh -ini:Game:[/Script/Engine.GameSession]:MaxPlayers=8

The same setting can be written to the server’s Game.ini file. The game is balanced for four-player co-op; raising the limit also raises memory use and network traffic. If you plan for eight or more players, choose resources from the upper ranges in the table.

Other management options are on the Server Manager settings tab:

• Autosave interval and count: How often saves are taken.
• Pause when no players are online: Whether the simulation stops when the server is empty; saves resources while idle.
• Save on disconnect: Takes a save when the last player leaves.
• Console: According to the wiki, server commands are run from Server Manager’s console tab.

To shut the server down cleanly, the wiki recommends the Shutdown function of the HTTPS API; killing the process directly can put the last save at risk.

Can you install mods on a Satisfactory server?

Yes, Satisfactory mods are developed by the community and can be used on a dedicated server, but there is no official Workshop support. The mod ecosystem revolves around the Satisfactory Mod Repository on ficsit.app and the Satisfactory Mod Manager (SMM).

Things to watch when running mods on a server:

• Same mod list: The server and all players must use compatible versions of the same mods; a mismatch leads to rejected connections or save errors.
• Server support: Not every mod supports dedicated servers; check server compatibility on the mod page.
• Remote install: SMM makes it easy to install mod files on the server via file transfer; SFTP access is all you need.
• Update timing: After a major game update, mods may stay incompatible for a while. Wait for mod compatibility and back up your save before updating the server.

Opening a modded save on an unmodded server can make the structures added by the mod disappear, so always take a separate backup before removing mods.

How do you secure the server and protect it from DDoS?

Satisfactory server security rests on a strong admin password, opening only the ports you need and network-level DDoS filtering working together. On LIONFIN infrastructure the RouteFence firewall filters at the network level and traffic is monitored 24/7 by our NOC and SOC teams; more on that on our data center page.

Measures to take on the server:

• Claim it immediately: Right after installation, claim the server in Server Manager and set an admin password. An unclaimed server can be administered by anyone who finds its IP address.
• Player password: Use a player password on a server meant only for your friends.
• Certificate prompt: The server serves its HTTPS API with a self-signed certificate, so the certificate prompt on first connection is normal; if the certificate changes unexpectedly, investigate why.
• SSH: Log in to the server with a key rather than a password.

Keep in mind that the HTTPS API allows admin actions such as shutting down the server, loading saves and changing settings. If you use the API for automation, do not leave the credentials in plain text in script files, and store scripts with permissions that only the game server user can read. As more people gain access, changing the admin password and revoking former admins’ access is a good habit. Applying operating system updates regularly and disabling unused services completes the rest of server security.

How do you back up Satisfactory saves?

Satisfactory’s autosaves live on the server’s own disk; if the disk or operating system has a problem, they are affected too. The way to protect a factory with hundreds of hours in it is to copy the save folder off the server regularly.

1. Scheduled archive: Set up a cron job that archives the SaveGames/server folder into a dated file at least once a day.
2. Off-site copy: Move the archive to another server or storage; a backup on the same disk is not a real backup.
3. Pre-update copy: Take a manual backup before a game update or mod change.
4. Restore test: Occasionally open a backup in a test session to confirm the file is intact.

Following the 3-2-1 rule (three copies, two media types, one off-site) is a sound general strategy for valuable saves.

What are the most common Satisfactory server errors?

Most connection problems on Satisfactory servers come from a missing port rule, and most performance problems from insufficient memory.

To tell network delay apart from a resource shortage, compare ping with the server’s CPU and memory use at the time of the problem. A data center in Türkiye suits players connecting from Türkiye and the surrounding region.