Install a Satisfactory Dedicated Server on Linux (SteamCMD Guide)

Satisfactory dedicated server Linux prerequisites

• 64-bit Linux (Ubuntu/Debian/CentOS/etc.) fully updated.
• Non-root user with sudo rights.
• Firewall/router access to open UDP 7777, 15000, 15777.
• Disk: ~10 GB free for binaries and saves; RAM: 8 GB+ recommended.
• Basic terminal access and ability to forward ports.

1) Install SteamCMD

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y steamcmd

On other distros, install the SteamCMD package or download from Valve’s docs. This is required for any Satisfactory dedicated server Linux install.

2) Install the Satisfactory dedicated server

mkdir -p ~/SatisfactoryDedicatedServer
steamcmd +login anonymous   +force_install_dir ~/SatisfactoryDedicatedServer   +app_update 1690800 validate   +quit

Rerun the +app_update 1690800 validate command whenever you need to patch or repair your Satisfactory dedicated server on Linux.

3) First launch and in-game config

cd ~/SatisfactoryDedicatedServer
./FactoryServer.sh

Launch once to generate configs, then join from the game client as the first admin to set server name and password. Configs live in ~/SatisfactoryDedicatedServer/FactoryGame/Saved/Config/.

4) Optional systemd service

sudo tee /etc/systemd/system/satisfactory@.service <<'EOF'
[Unit]
Description=Satisfactory Dedicated Server (Linux)
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=%i
WorkingDirectory=/home/%i/SatisfactoryDedicatedServer
ExecStart=/home/%i/SatisfactoryDedicatedServer/FactoryServer.sh
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
EOF
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now satisfactory@$(whoami)

This keeps the Satisfactory dedicated server Linux process running after reboots. Adjust paths if you installed elsewhere.

5) Port forwarding and firewall

• Forward/allow UDP 7777, 15000, 15777 to your server’s LAN IP.
• UFW example: sudo ufw allow 7777/udp && sudo ufw allow 15000/udp && sudo ufw allow 15777/udp
• Check your public IP and make sure your router points to the correct host.

6) Updates, backups, and maintenance

• Update: Rerun the SteamCMD command with +app_update 1690800 validate and restart the service.
• Backup saves: Copy ~/SatisfactoryDedicatedServer/FactoryGame/Saved/SaveGames/ before major patches.
• Logs: Review Saved/Logs for errors after crashes.

7) Performance tips for Satisfactory dedicated server Linux hosts

• Keep the server on SSD storage to reduce stutter during autosaves.
• Run fewer background services; pin the server to dedicated cores if available.
• Restart weekly to clear memory; schedule during off-hours.
• Lower foliage/creature spawns via server settings if performance dips with many players.

Troubleshooting

• Server not starting: Check logs in Saved/Logs; rerun with validate; confirm executable permissions.
• Players can’t connect: Recheck UDP ports/forwarding and firewall rules; verify the correct public IP.
• SteamCMD errors: Clear ~/Steam cache or reinstall SteamCMD; try again.
• Configs missing: Run the server once so it creates config files, then stop and edit.
• Performance issues: Add RAM/CPU or reduce player count and creature density.

Want an easier path than self-hosting? See our Satisfactory server hosting guide for managed options with fast setup.