Dedicated Server Setup

An in-depth look at the initial setup and configuration of a Conan Exiles dedicated server.

Introduction

This guide will cover all of the steps required to get your very own Conan Exiles server up and running. I will periodically update the guide with new information regarding configuration options as they are discovered. If you notice any errors, drop me a line in the comments and I'll get them fixed as soon as possible.

SteamCMD Setup and Usage

1. Download SteamCMD to fetch the dedicated server files with. It is available for direct download at the link below.
   
   SteamCMD Download
   
   
2. Once the download is finished, extract the contents into its own folder. To do so, you can use either 7zip[www.7-zip.org]or WinRAR[www.rarlab.com]
   
   
3. Go into the newly created steamcmd folder and create a new text document named ConanUpdater.bat
   
   
4. Open up ConanUpdater.bat with your preferred text editor and paste the following:
   

   @echo off
   start "" steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir "C:\Path\To\Conan\Server" +app_update 443030 +quit

   
   What this batch file does is:
   
   • login to the steam servers anonymously
     
   • sets the destination folder
     
   • checks the files in the folder against the ones on Steam
     
   • downloads any missing or outdated files
     
   • verifies that the files are correct
     
   • exits
   
   Make sure to replace "C:\Path\To\Conan\Server" with the destination that you want to download the server to, ie: "C:\ConanServer".
   
   
5. Run our newly created ConanUpdater.bat. SteamCMD will automatically begin downloading all of the necessary files for us and you can monitor the process in the newly opened terminal. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on your download speed.
   
   
6. Once the download has completed, you can continue on to the next section.

Initial Server Setup

1. Go into the folder that you downloaded the Conan Exiles server to. (C:\ConanServer if you used the example in the guide)
   
   
2. Create a new text document named ConanServer.bat
   
   
3. Open up ConanServer.bat with your preferred text editor and paste the following:
   
   

   start ConanSandboxServer.exe -log

   
   This lets the batch script know that we want to start the file ConanSandboxServer.exe with the argument log.
   
   This will be our baseline script that simply starts the server, displays server events in a terminal, and saves the server logs to a file in C:\ConanServer\ConanSandbox\Saved\Logs.
   
   
4. Run ConanServer.bat.
   
   Now that we have run the server for the first time, configuration files will have been generated in C:\ConanServer\ConanSandbox\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\.
   
   
5. Once the server has fully booted, go ahead and close the terminal. This will stop the server so that we can get everything configured.

Server Configuration

If the section (ie: [OnlineSubsystemSteam]) or the variable (ServerName) is missing from your configuration file, you will need to add it. Keep in mind that variables will need to be under the correct section. For example, the ServerName variable needs to be in the [OnlineSubsystemSteam] section.

It should look like this:

[OnlineSubsystemSteam]
ServerName=My Server

ConanSandbox\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\Engine.ini

[OnlineSubsystemSteam]

Variable	Syntax	Explanation
ServerName	ServerName=My Server	Sets the name that will be displayed in the server list.
ServerPassword	ServerPassword=Password123	Sets the server password that will need to be entered to join the server. Leave blank for no password.
AsyncTaskTimeout	AsyncTaskTimeout=360	Maximum time in seconds that the server will be allotted to boot. Be sure to increase this value on servers with weak hardware or large databases.
GameServerQueryPort	GameServerQueryPort=27015	Sets the query port for Steam matchmaking. Same as setting -QueryPort in the command line.

[url]

Variable	Syntax	Explanation
Port	Port=7777	Sets the game server port.
PeerPort	PeerPort=7778	Sets the peer port for the game server.

[/script/onlinesubsystemutils.ipnetdriver]

Variable	Syntax	Explanation
NetServerMaxTickRate	NetServerMaxTickRate=30	Sets the maximum tick rate (update rate) for the server. WARNING: High values can cause unwanted behavior.

ConanSandbox\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\Game.ini

[/script/engine.gamesession]

Variable	Syntax	Explanation
MaxPlayers	MaxPlayers=70	Sets the maximum number of players.

ConanSandbox\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\ServerSettings.ini

[ServerSettings]

Variable	Syntax	Explanation
AdminPassword	AdminPassword=SecretPassword	Sets the administrative password for the server. This will grant players administrative rights when used from the settings menu in-game.
MaxNudity	MaxNudity=2	Sets the maximum nudity level allowed on the server. (0=None, 1=Partial, 2=Full)
PVPBlitzServer	PVPBlitzServer=False	Enables/disables Blitz mode. (accelerated progression)
PVPEnabled	PVPEnabled=True	Enables/disables PvP on the server.
serverRegion	serverRegion=1	Sets the server's region. (0=EU, 1=NA, 2=Asia)
ServerCommunity	ServerCommunity=3	Sets the server's play style (0=None, 1=Purist, 2=Relaxed, 3=Hard Core, 4=Role Playing, 5=Experimental)
IsBattlEyeEnabled	IsBattlEyeEnabled=False	Enables/disables BattlEye protection for the server.

Command Line Arguments

Command line arguments are added directly to your server batch file. For example, your batch file would look like this if you wanted to use both options:

start ConanSandboxServer.exe -log -MULTIHOME=192.168.1.x -QueryPort=27016

Argument	Syntax	Explanation
QueryPort	QueryPort=27016	Sets the query port for Steam matchmaking. IMPORTANT! It is required to set QueryPort to something other than 27015 if you are playing on the same computer that you are hosting on.
MULTIHOME	MULTIHOME=192.168.1.x	Sets the network interface. Set this to your local IP address. You can find your local IP by opening a command prompt and entering ipconfig into it. The IPv4 address returned is your local IP. IMPORTANT! It is required to set MULTIHOME to your local IP if you want to be able to connect to the server from LAN.
nosteam	nosteam	Prevents the tier0_s64.dll error messages on startup.

Port Forwarding

These are the ports that you will need to open in your router. Keep in mind that these are the default ports, so if you changed a port in the config files you will need to forward that port as well.

You can check whether or not your ports are open using the NightlyDev tool.[support.nightlydev.org] Be sure to set the transport protocol to UDP.

Game Server

• UDP 7777 (default game server port)
  
• UDP 7778 (default game server peer port)
  
• UDP 27015 (default query port)

RCON

• *Awaiting Implementation*

Admin Commands

Command	Parameter(s)	Explanation
MakeMeAdmin	AdminPassword	Grants admin permissions.
MakeMeNormal	None	Removes admin permissions.
SummonPlayer	PlayerName	Teleports the specified player to your location.
TeleportPlayer	x y z	Teleports yourself to the specified coordinates.
SpawnItem	ItemID Quantity	Spawns the specified item in the specified quantity.
ViewPlayer	PlayerName	Spectate the specified player remotely.
God	None	Toggles godmode.
Fly	None	Toggles fly.
Ghost	None	Toggles noclip.
ToggleDebugHUD	None	Displays ping, player count, and SFPS in the top right corner of the screen. Displays player coordinates in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Ctrl-Alt-Shift-L	None	Opens a small window containing your coordinates. You can copy them with Ctrl+C for use with TeleportPlayer.

Troubleshooting

If you're having an issue that isn't described here, leave a comment and I'll post a fix.

My server isn't showing up in the server browser!

There are a couple of potential causes for this:

• Make sure that your ports are correctly forwarded. If the Steam server can't reach your QueryPort, it won't be able to list your server.
  
  Use NightlyDev[support.nightlydev.org] with transport protocol set to UDP to test your ports.
  
  
• Make sure that your ports aren't already in use by another server. The default ports are used by a number of other servers that utilize Steam matchmaking.

I can't connect to my own (locally hosted) server!

This applies to both yourself and anyone trying to connect from your network.

• Set the -MULTIHOME argument.
  
  
• Use a non-default QueryPort.
  
  
• Connect via LAN in the Steam server browser. (Steam -> View -> Servers -> LAN)
  
  
• Try connecting with LocalTravel via the in-game console. You will have to use your local IP, ie: LocalTravel 192.168.x.x (127.0.0.1 will not work.)

My server settings aren't saving!

Make sure that you are changing your settings in the correct location. You can find a list of common settings and their config files in the Server Configuration section.

If your settings are disappearing from Engine.ini or Game.ini, try setting the files to "read only" under properties.

My settings disappear when I update!

The server configuration files are now functioning properly. If you are still making changes in the DefaultEngine.ini or DefaultGame.ini files, please switch to Game.ini and Engine.ini.

How do I transfer my save to a new server!?

Transferring your world to a new server is as simple as copying over game.db from ConanSandbox\Saved.

If enough interest is shown, I'll update the guide with various ways to prune the database. This is useful for when you want to save player data (stats/levels/recipes) but start a fresh world.

My server keeps crashing!

The most likely cause of server crashes is database corruption. If you're experiencing frequent crashes, be sure to run the CheckGameDB.bat file that is now bundled with the server. It can be found in ConanSandbox\Saved alongside your game.db file.

I get an error message when I start my server!

The following error message is due to Steam running while the server is booting. Simply add the following parameter to your startup batch file:

-nosteam

Error Message:

The procedure entry point ?IsAlive@CThread@@QEBA_NXZ could not be located in the dynamic link library tier0_s64.dll.

[Nicarye]

For all those saying this guide isn't good, I would suggest this video on youtube that gives more info on setup and running (still works in 2023) I come back to this guide for minor modifications of settings. Youtube title if link doesn't work is:
Conan Exiles How To Set Up A Private Dedicated Server With Crash Monitoring
by Midgitgrimm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXeW2cKoRGk&list=WL&index=71&t=1181s

[cubesteak]

LoL - folks stating that it is a crap guide - you gotta look at the last update timestamp... This hasn't been updated since 2017.

[zibni]

Is there a solution in order to prevent Base timer to reset each time the server is shut or restarted? (PvE-C vanilla with few touches)

[⚡ShadowBeatz⚡]

Dude Literally made a shit guide that dont even work too

[Viper]

there is a lot of bad info here, please do not use this guide

[Horux]

Hey where do i change the harvest multiplier because i cant find it in the server config and i cant change it in game when as admin

[ARTIFACTOR62]

Outdated info....

[ladybug]

why on a restart, there still dead body on server ? is it not a full restart to clean out the server.

[Fat Caz]

Rogue Demon
I couldn't get it to work either. I use serverthrall instead and it works great.
https://github.com/NullSoldier/serverthrall/releases/tag/v2.1.10
:)

[Daniel Frost]

Me and my Friend have been trying now for over a week and cannot get it to work.
Did everything that this guide tells us and still no one can connect from the outside.
We can't even see the server online in the steam Server browser. Only visible thru LAN servers. So the guys we wanted to play with, in a lack of other words, is prohibited to play with us.
We just CANNOT get it to work. Giving up! And no "guide" or help online about this "guide" does not have any "solved" or fixes for it.