Interstellar Rift Dedicated Server - How To

[Seiki]

This is a guide for setting up your own Interstellar Rift dedicated server, if you have doubts or questions reply to this thread and me and the Devs will answer them as soon as possible.
We will be going over most of what is needed to set up and run a validated and dedicated server.

Step 1: Make a shortcut to IR.exe

It is usually located at:

Steam/SteamApps/common/Interstellar Rift/Build/IR.exe

Create your shortcut by right clicking IR.exe, and then click Create Shortcut, rename it to whatever you like; Then right click your Shortcut and click Properties at the end of the list.
A window will be brought up containing information and the the Shortcut's Target.
Click "Target:" and add the word "-server" to the end of address listed there after the quotes, like this[puu.sh]:


As is your server will run correctly but it won't be listed to Steam users nor can they join the server using your IP, so it will need to be validated.

Step 2: Validating Your Server

First of all you will need an SSK (Standalone Server Key) to allow your server to be validated.
To get one open your IR client and go to Play Interstellar Rift > Host Game.
Then click the "Generate SSK" key, like this[puu.sh]

After that a file called SSK.txt will be generated in your Appdata folder at:

*Your Drive*:/Users/*Your User*/AppData/Roaming/InterstellarRift/SSK.txt

Inside this file will be a key generated by Steam that allows validation.
This key will associate any servers with it to the Steam account you generated it with; It will be valid for a maximum of 30 days and may be used in as many server instances as you'd like once it is associated.

DO NOT CLOSE YOUR CLIENT! DOING SO WILL RENDER THE SSK INVALID!
If your client was exited please generate a new key.

Step 3: Configuring Your Server

In that same folder where the SSK.txt is stored you will find a file called config.xml:

*Your Drive*:/Users/*Your User*/AppData/Roaming/InterstellarRift/config.xml

Open that file using Notepad (Right Click > Open With > Notepad).
Here is an explanation of the contents.[puu.sh]

After configuring to your preference save the file and run the Shortcut we made earlier.
You should be presented with something like this.[puu.sh]


If you see a message saying:

announcing server to masterserver: invalid steam ticket

It means your SSK is not valid, repeat Step 2.

If you see a message in bright yellow saying:

Warning > No devices found which means the network is broken or there is no UPnP/PMP capable router
OR
UPNP: Failed to add mapping!

Don't be alarmed, that only means your router was not able to forward the Server's port automatically for lacking such function, or it does have such a function but failed to perform it.


(Optional) Step 4: In case your router is not UPnP/PMP capable you will need to forward your server's port manually, this changes a lot between manufacturers and there are way too many guides out there to miss, so try it yourself. :D

Final Step:

Your server is now ready! If the port was forwarded correctly you should now see it in the global list, and it is now safe to close your IR client too.

Enjoy!

-[XTT] SeikiMatt, Administrator and Developer at Extra Terrestrial Technologies - ettech.net

[First5trike]

Can I just copy the executable from one machine to another to install?

[Seiki]

Sadly no, you'll have to install the complete IR client in that machine, reconfigure and copy your SSK.txt over to the new appdata.

-Seiki

[Balroth]

Problem is we cant install via steamcmd, so on dedicated servers we would need to install steam, then install IR as well.

[Seiki]

Originally posted by rocket859:

Problem is we cant install via steamcmd, so on dedicated servers we would need to install steam, then install IR as well.

That is not quite the case, you can install it via Steamcmd if you so wish, Steam will only be needed to verify the key, and that can be done in any machine that supports IR as long as you have access to both the client you're using to validate, and the dedicated machine you will be hosting from. And if you already have an validated SSK you can just give your dedicated the file and it'll work just fine.

-Seiki

[Balroth]

I was going to angrily say 'Well whats the app ID!' But then I remembered to just open a browser and look for it on the steam store.

1) Open Steamcmd
2) app_update 363360 validate
3) Profit

[Seiki]

Yep! you got it!

[[HARK] Mr. Viking]

Any way to restrict acces to a dedicated server? Either by having it unlisted or whitelist through steam (see how space engineers did it) or password protection?

[Seiki]

Unfortunately there are no mechanisms or features to effectively make a server private right now, there is a lot that needs to be worked on but I am sure it will be implemented in the near future.

[[HARK] Mr. Viking]

Ok thats a shame, we will look back into the game once or if a feature like that is implemented.

[Vader]

Will you be supporting native Linux servers and do server run in WINE as of now?
Thanks!

[Seiki]

There are synchronization problems with regards to clients and servers ran in Linux right now, there's no way to be sure it will work in WINE, but i haven't tested it myself either.

[Hannibal]

Without password protection it defeats the purpose in having a dedicated server. This way any riff raff that's wants to run up your bandwidth can. Makes hosting too expensive to offer for free.

[Seiki]

Originally posted by Hannibal's Leftovers:

Without password protection it defeats the purpose in having a dedicated server. This way any riff raff that's wants to run up your bandwidth can. Makes hosting too expensive to offer for free.

Why would I close off my servers to the public?

[Novanertia]

I have portfowarded my server, i have followed every step written and i can join the local server once mine is set up but my friend is not able. Is there anything that i have missed? I have the SSK key and the config is all done but i'm kinda lost now.

[Conquintor]

Does your server pop up in the server browser?