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How to Set Up a Satisfactory Dedicated Server (Step-by-Step)
If you and your friends want to keep building the same factory whether or not the host is online, you need a Satisfactory dedicated server. In this guide I’ll walk you through it the way I’d do it on a fresh Linux box: install the server with SteamCMD, open the right firewall ports, claim the server in-game, and wrap it in a systemd service so it restarts itself and survives reboots. Run the commands as you go, and I’ll tell you what you should see at each step.
Key Takeaways
• A Satisfactory dedicated server runs your world 24/7 so anyone can join a persistent save, host offline or not.
• Install it via SteamCMD using the dedicated server app ID 1690800 (`app_update 1690800 validate`), logging in `anonymous`.
• Open UDP 7777 (game) plus the additional reliable/messaging ports; the server is claimed and configured through the in-game Server Manager.
• Use a systemd service for auto-restart and boot persistence.
• Resource needs grow with your save — size for where your megafactory is headed, not where it starts.
What is a Satisfactory dedicated server?
Satisfactory is a first-person factory-building game, and like most of its genre it gets heavy as your factory sprawls. A dedicated server is a headless copy of the game world that runs on its own machine, independent of any player’s PC. Instead of someone hosting from inside their game session (where the world pauses the moment they quit), the server keeps simulating belts, machines, and trains around the clock.
The practical wins:
- Persistence — your world advances and saves even when nobody’s logged in.
- No host dependency — friends join whenever they like; you’re not waiting on one person to launch the game.
- Better performance — a dedicated box dedicates its CPU and RAM to simulation instead of also rendering the game.
What do you need before you start?
You’ll want a Linux machine (or VPS) with root or sudo access, since you’ll be installing packages, opening firewall ports, and registering a systemd service. I recommend a clean Ubuntu/Debian box. Have an SSH session open and let’s go.
First, install SteamCMD’s dependencies and create a dedicated user — never run a game server as root.
“`bash
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash satisfactory
sudo dpkg –add-architecture i386 sudo apt update sudo apt install -y steamcmd “`
If `steamcmd` isn’t in your repos, you can install it from Valve’s tarball — the binary is the same either way.
How do you install the server with SteamCMD?
This is the core step. SteamCMD downloads dedicated server files anonymously — no Steam login needed. The Satisfactory Dedicated Server is published under the commonly known Steam app ID 1690800.
Switch to the server user and run SteamCMD:
“`bash sudo -iu satisfactory steamcmd +force_install_dir /home/satisfactory/server \ +login anonymous \ +app_update 1690800 validate \ +quit “`
What you should see: SteamCMD connects, then streams a progress line that climbs to 100%:
“` Update state (0x61) downloading, progress: 42.18 (1300000000 / 3100000000) … Success! App ‘1690800’ fully installed. “`
The `validate` flag tells Steam to verify every file — use it on first install and any time an update looks corrupt. Here’s the app ID and the key flags in one place:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Steam app ID (dedicated server) | 1690800 |
| Login | `anonymous` |
| Install command | `app_update 1690800 validate` |
| Install dir flag | `+force_install_dir |
| Server start script | `FactoryServer.sh` |
How do you run the server for the first time?
Now launch it. From the install directory:
“`bash cd /home/satisfactory/server ./FactoryServer.sh “`
You should see the engine boot, load the subsystems, and settle into a steady log:
“` LogNet: Created socket for bind address: 0.0.0.0 on port 7777 LogServerManager: ServerManager initialized LogGame: Server is ready and waiting for connection “`
Once you see “ready and waiting,” the server process is healthy. Leave it for now — we still need to open ports and claim it. Press `Ctrl+C` to stop it; we’ll start it properly via systemd shortly.
Here’s the thing most setup guides skip: a Satisfactory server’s resource needs grow with your save. Early game, a couple of smelters and a handful of belts barely register — almost any small box runs it. But the late game is a different animal. A sprawling megafactory with thousands of machines, miles of conveyor belts, and dozens of trains means the server is simulating an enormous web of items moving every tick. That’s exactly when RAM and CPU demand spikes. So size your server for where your factory is headed, not where it starts — otherwise you’ll hit stutter and lag precisely when your build gets impressive enough to show off.
Which ports does the Satisfactory server use?
The server needs its ports reachable from the internet (or your LAN). The primary game traffic runs over UDP 7777. Modern Satisfactory server builds also use additional reliable/messaging ports that ride alongside it. Open the game port in your firewall, and forward it on your router if you’re behind NAT.
| Port | Protocol | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Game traffic (primary) |
| 7777 | TCP | Reliable messaging (modern builds) |
| 8888 / 15000 | varies by build | Additional server/messaging traffic |
Open the firewall with `ufw`:
“`bash sudo ufw allow 7777/udp sudo ufw allow 7777/tcp sudo ufw reload “`
Confirm the rules took effect:
“`bash sudo ufw status | grep 7777 “`
Expected output:
“` 7777/udp ALLOW Anywhere 7777/tcp ALLOW Anywhere “`
Tip: Port requirements have shifted across Satisfactory updates. If a client can’t connect after this, check the current official port list (linked at the end) and open any additional ports your build expects.
How do you connect and claim the server in-game?
The server doesn’t get configured from the command line — it’s claimed and managed inside the game through the Server Manager.
- Launch Satisfactory on your PC.
- Open the in-game menu and go to Server Manager.
- Click Add Server and enter your server’s IP and port (e.g. `203.0.113.10:7777`).
- The first time you connect, you’ll be prompted to claim the server — set an admin password and a server name.
- Once claimed, create a new game or load a save, then set the client/join password if you want it private.
After that, you and your friends join straight from the Server Manager. The server now owns the world — it keeps simulating and saving whether or not you’re logged in.
How do you keep the server running with systemd?
Running `FactoryServer.sh` in an SSH window is fine for testing, but it dies the moment you disconnect. A systemd service gives you auto-restart on crash and automatic start on boot.
Create the unit file:
“`bash sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/satisfactory.service “`
Paste this:
“`ini [Unit] Description=Satisfactory Dedicated Server After=network.target
[Service] Type=simple User=satisfactory WorkingDirectory=/home/satisfactory/server ExecStart=/home/satisfactory/server/FactoryServer.sh Restart=on-failure RestartSec=10
[Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target “`
Enable and start it:
“`bash sudo systemctl daemon-reload sudo systemctl enable –now satisfactory sudo systemctl status satisfactory “`
You should see `active (running)`. Tail the logs anytime with:
“`bash journalctl -u satisfactory -f “`
The `Restart=on-failure` line means a crash brings the server right back up, and `enable` ensures it returns after a reboot.
How does saving and keeping the server updated work?
Saves live in the server’s config directory (under the user’s home), and the in-game Server Manager autosaves on a schedule you control. Back that folder up regularly — a copied save file is your insurance policy.
To update the server when a new game version drops, just re-run the SteamCMD command:
“`bash sudo systemctl stop satisfactory sudo -iu satisfactory steamcmd +force_install_dir /home/satisfactory/server \ +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 validate +quit sudo systemctl start satisfactory “`
Stop the service first so files aren’t locked, update, then start it again. Clients must run the matching game version, so update promptly after a public patch.
What are the system requirements?
Satisfactory’s official guidance lists a dedicated server minimum and recommended spec, but treat those as a starting line, not a finish line. For a small early-game world, modest resources work fine. As your factory grows, RAM is the resource that bites first.
| Tier | RAM | CPU | Disk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early game / small save | lower end of the recommended range | a few modern cores | SSD, modest space |
| Mid game | comfortable middle of the range | several cores at good clock speed | SSD |
| Late-game megafactory | upper end and beyond | high single-thread performance, more cores | SSD with headroom for saves/backups |
Two qualitative rules of thumb: fast single-thread CPU performance matters because simulation is tick-bound, and RAM headroom matters because a large save loads a lot of state. SSD storage keeps save/load times short.
Host your Satisfactory server on DarazHost
A Satisfactory server is only as smooth as the box under it — and that box has to keep up as your factory balloons. DarazHost VPS and dedicated servers are built for exactly this:
- RAM and CPU headroom so your world stays smooth from first smelter to sprawling megafactory.
- Full root access for SteamCMD, systemd services, and firewall configuration — exactly the workflow above.
- Low-latency network so your friends get a responsive connection wherever they are.
- Fast SSD storage for quick saves, loads, and backups.
- 24/7 support when you need a hand.
Spin up a box with headroom for where your factory is headed, and you’ll never hit lag at the worst possible moment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Satisfactory dedicated server Steam app ID? The commonly known app ID for the Satisfactory Dedicated Server is 1690800. You install it via SteamCMD with `app_update 1690800 validate`, logging in `anonymous` — no Steam account required.
Do I need to own Satisfactory to run the server? You need to own the game to *play*, but the dedicated server files download anonymously through SteamCMD. The server itself doesn’t consume a game license.
Which ports do I need to open? At minimum, UDP 7777 for game traffic, plus the matching TCP/reliable-messaging ports your build uses. Port requirements have changed across updates, so verify against the current official list and open any extras your version expects.
How much RAM does a Satisfactory server need? It depends entirely on your save. Early-game worlds run on modest RAM, but a large late-game factory needs significantly more because the server holds the whole simulation state in memory. Size up before you hit the wall, not after.
How do I configure the server — is there a config file? The main configuration (admin password, server name, game, join password) is done in-game through the Server Manager when you claim the server. Command-line work is limited to install, ports, and the systemd service.
