Dedicated Server Setup

The Official Guide for how to install and setup the Standalone Dedicated Server for Empyrion.

Install Dedicated Server

Go to the Steam Library, Left top press the dropdown and make sure "Tools" is selected


After you can look for the "Empyrion - Dedicated Server" and install it

SteamCMD:

Another solution is to use SteamCMD to install the Dedicated Server
You can find info and the download here: click me

After downloading, unpack the zip and install it.
You need to write a CMD Script in a text editor

steamcmd +force_install_dir <Install Directory> +login anonymous +app_update 530870 validate +quit

Replace <Install Directory> with the location where you want the Dedicated Server Installed
Run the script after

Setup Dedicated Server

After you installed the Dedicated Server you go to the location where you installed it.
At the root level you will find the dedicated.yaml with all the settings.

First off, never modify Stock Files as any game update will undo changes.
Second, never use regular notepad to edit yaml files. Use something like notepad++, you can download it from here: click me[notepad-plus-plus.org]

When you have notepad++ or any text editor that respects yaml files make a copy from the dedicated.yaml and give it a custom name like settings.yaml or anything you like.

Open your file and modify the settings as you please.

SharedData

A complete guide can be found here: SharedData to Cloud Guide

If you use a default scenario or a custom scenario there is a chance this scenario has SharedData.
This contains custom files that are downloaded by the client on connection to the server for the first time or if the host has changed the data inside this folder.

We highly reconmend that Server Owners switch to the new way. This is done in the dedicated.yaml beneath the GameConfig Tag

    # SharedData transfer via cloud storage
    # Since the in-game transfer is slow and costs a lot of dedi server bandwidth, you can now use a cloud storage service.
    #
    # How to use:
    # - zip the complete SharedData folder of the hosted scenario and upload the zip file to a cloud service
    #   - side note: the name of the zip file doesn't matter, you can use the scenario name or add date or version info if you like
    # - ! enable sharing for the uploaded file so that everyone with a sharing link can download it !
    # - create the sharing link for the zip file and set it below as SharedDataURL parameter
    #   - Note: when that parameter exists, the old in-game transfer is disabled
    #
    # Notes:
    # - usually the link URL from the cloud service is a "view URL" => when you paste it into your browser a page opens with a Download button somewhere
    # - since we need to directly download the file, we internally convert the "view URL" into a "download URL"
    # - this currently works for "Google Drive", "OneDrive" (Personal variant) and DropBox
    # - if you want to use another service, you need to get a "download URL" yourself
    #   - also set that as SharedDataURL parameter but prefix it with an underscore '_' to mark it as such

    # !!! Please DON'T FORGET to update the URL when you upload a new version of your zip file !!!

    # Google Drive example
    # SharedDataURL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xxxxxxxxxxK/view?usp=sharing

    # Example for a "download URL" - notice the leading underscore character
    # SharedDataURL: _https://anotherservice.com/abc123

The Dark Faction (DLC)

If your server is using the Dark Faction Scenario or content from the DLC on the server then you need to modify the dedicated.yaml and set the

EnableDLC: true

for things to operate without any issue.

Telnet

Small note about Telnet.

Telnet is not needed to run the server and not adviced to use either.
Its a very un-secure protocol!

Setup Server Boot Script

After you have setup your own dedicated.yaml you need to modify the Server Boot Script to boot from this yaml file.

Again modifying default files > don't do this
So make a copy of the EmpyrionDedicated.cmd or the EmpyrionDedicated_NoGraphics.cmd

The EmpyrionDedicated.cmd will give you a nice blue server popup.
The NoGraphics one will not and only runs a process in the task manager.

Now modify the cmd file of your choose by right clicking and open in notepad++ or any other text editor.

Add the following line at the end of the "EmpyrionLauncher"

-dedicated Settings.yaml

replace the yaml file with how you names your own yaml file created in previous step..

so the full line will read something like this

@echo off
EmpyrionLauncher -startDediWithGfx -dedicated Settings.yaml
echo.
echo IMPORTANT NOTICE:
echo Do not use this batch file (i.e. graphics version) if you connect
echo via a Remote Desktop connection to the Dedicated Server.
echo This can lead to output log spamming and thus bad performance
echo (severe lags, etc.).
timeout 10

Or if you use the NoGraphics one

@echo off
EmpyrionLauncher -startDedi -dedicated Settings.yaml
echo.
echo Dedicated server was started as background process
echo Enable Telnet (default port 30004) via dedicated.yaml and connect to it locally
echo for configuration of the server (type 'help' for console commands)
timeout 10

Setup Port Forwarding & Firewall

Now the important part.. And one of the more complex parts

If you want that players outside your network can access the server you need to forward the ports and setup the firewall in Windows

Note:
If you are not sure how port forwarding works, call customer support of your ISP or refer to the manual of your router/modem!

Port forwarding

Keep in mind that this is different for any router/modem.

You need to forward the GamePort (as set in your dedicated.yaml) + 3 additional ports
DO NEVER forward the telnet port

The "ip address" should be set to the local address your server has. Usually something like 192.168.1.xxx

The protocol should be "both" which means it's for both TCP and UDP

Windows Firewall

Next to port forwarding you have to allow 2 apps in the firewall.
This is the EmpyrionDedicated.exe from root/DedicatedServer/..
and the EmpyrionPlayfieldServer.exe from root/PlayfieldServer/..

You need to make 2 new rules, one for the Dedicated Server and one for the Playfield Server

Setup EmpryionAdminHelper (EAH)

The Empyrion Admin Helper is delivered with the Dedicated Server.
You will find it in the following location root/DedicatedServer/EmpyrionAdminHelper/..

Make sure when you set up EAH that the server is OFFLINE otherwise it cant copy the required mod files to the server.

A complete guide how to setup EAH can be found here: click me[eah.empyrion-homeworld.net]

Server Hosts

As an alternative option to the above you can look in to renting a server & we can recommend one of the following hosts to do this with:

• GTX Gaming[www.gtxgaming.co.uk]
  
• Gamerz Host DE[www.gamerzhost.de]
  
• Ping Perfect[pingperfect.com]
  
• Host Havoc[hosthavoc.com]

The Official Host of Empyrion is
Nitrado[server.nitrado.net]

Notes

Few important notes!

If you want to use EAC then you need to modify your dedicated.yaml and set

EACActive: true

As of now we do not support Linux. There is currently no plan to support it in the future either.
There are players who have got it working. On our Discord[discord.gg] you can look for the channel "Linux_Support" where you can ask other players for help.

EAC however will NOT work on Linux without us adding support for this.

Support

If you have questions you can reach us by the following ways

Forum: https://empyriononline.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/empyrion
Email: [e-mail]

Or leave a comment in the guide section at the bottom.

You can also start a discussion post on Steam but since we get no notifications then it might be missed by Eleon Game Studios

[Taelyn]

If you run both on the same machine this happens. Its a steam bug.
Start the client first and then the server

[Devlah]

Hello! I setup a server using the Admin helper, and it appears the server is running. However, I cannot launch the game client because steam treats the dedicated server as the game client, and will not allow me to launch the game. Is there some way to work around this? I am hosting the dedicated server on my home machine.

[Judarian Gaming]

@Taelyn. i cant get ports to open up on my router. found out it might be bricked. my local friend can join that lives down the road. i know server is posting and we played for a while. my server wont list and if people try to join its epic no join code. but im getting a new router and will forward the ports. if it doesnt work. i know my isp dont delist my stuff because ive hosted manytimes and many games just not in the past year and a half.

[Retardi_Peek | 1metr kubický]

hello how to fix connect to server failed epicconnect no join code

[Taelyn]

Every server has the same settings as every other player. No special settings
If you follow above steps correctly then it will work fine.

If it does not then either you didnt do a step correct. Your ISP is blocking it (what is happens with many ISPs) or the server is simply not booting correctly (check the log files)

[Judarian Gaming]

same thing. been trying for a long time. i can join through local ip. but any friends playing from out of my state cant come in because of join code. DMZ server on router, all ports forwarded with and without telnet server, special admin privs through shortcuts. playfield and game through firewall. with and without firewall active. almost believing the community in discussions that paid servers are gate keeping settings. just gonna wait for space engineers 2 at this point.

[Taelyn]

Don't forward +4. Forward +3
If net stats shows there not open then you made an error somewhere or your isp is interfering

[Muh|Q]

Server seems not to open the listener ports everytime. I was checking it with "netstat -a". After restarting the server multiple time until they are shown there the server works and all can connect to it without the error message.

[Muh|Q]

Ports has also been forwarded.
30000-30004 (TCP+UDP)

[Muh|Q]

BTW the logs does not provide any hints