Conan Exiles Server Configuration Guide 2025

Server configuration is the foundation of a successful Conan Exiles server, controlling everything from gameplay rules to performance optimization. This guide covers all configuration files, settings, and optimization techniques for dedicated servers.

Core Configuration Files

File Structure and Location

ConanSandbox/
├── Saved/
│   ├── Config/
│   │   ├── WindowsServer/          # Windows dedicated server
│   │   │   ├── ServerSettings.ini  # Primary server settings
│   │   │   ├── Engine.ini          # Engine-level settings
│   │   │   ├── Game.ini            # Gameplay and balance
│   │   │   └── GameUserSettings.ini # User interface settings
│   │   └── LinuxServer/            # Linux dedicated server
│   │       ├── ServerSettings.ini
│   │       ├── Engine.ini
│   │       └── Game.ini
│   └── Logs/                       # Server logs
├── Content/                        # Game content
└── Mods/                           # Installed mods

ServerSettings.ini - Primary Configuration

Basic Server Settings

[/Script/ConanSandbox.CustomServerSettings]
; Server identity
ServerName=My Conan Exiles Server
ServerPassword=
AdminPassword=YourStrongAdminPassword2025
; MaxPlayers includes admins
MaxPlayers=40

; Communication
MessageOfTheDay=Welcome to our Conan Exiles server!\nRules: Be respectful, no cheating.
ServerCommunity=0  ; 0=None, 1=Steam, 2=Discord
ServerURL=https://example.com
ServerDescription=A challenging Conan Exiles experience with custom settings.

; Visibility
IsPublic=True
IsBattlEyeProtected=True
IsBattlEyeEnabled=True
IsVACEnabled=True

; Region
Region=US  ; US, EU, AS, OC, SA

; Performance
ServerMaxTickRate=30  ; 30-60 recommended
ServerMinNetUpdateRate=15
ServerMaxNetUpdateRate=60

Gameplay Settings

; Experience and progression
PlayerXPRateMultiplier=1.0
PlayerXPKillMultiplier=1.0
PlayerXPHarvestMultiplier=1.0
PlayerXPCraftMultiplier=1.0
PlayerXPTimeMultiplier=1.0

; Harvesting and resources
HarvestAmountMultiplier=1.0
HarvestHealthMultiplier=1.0
ResourceRespawnSpeedMultiplier=1.0

; Combat and damage
PlayerDamageMultiplier=1.0
PlayerDamageTakenMultiplier=1.0
NPCDamageMultiplier=1.0
NPCDamageTakenMultiplier=1.0
StructureDamageMultiplier=1.0
StructureDamageTakenMultiplier=1.0

; Survival mechanics
StaminaCostMultiplier=1.0
StaminaRegenMultiplier=1.0
HungerDrainMultiplier=1.0
ThirstDrainMultiplier=1.0
FollowerDamageMultiplier=1.0
FollowerDamageTakenMultiplier=1.0

; Purge settings
PurgeMeterMultiplier=1.0
PurgeWaitTime=3600  ; Seconds between purges
PurgeDuration=3600  ; Purge event duration

Building and Decay

; Building mechanics
CanPlaceAnywhere=False
BuildingPreloadRadius=20000
BuildingPreloadRequirement=100
CanPlayersBuild=True
BuildingDecayTime=604800  ; 7 days in seconds
BuildingDecayTimeUnclaimed=259200  ; 3 days for unclaimed
BuildingDecayTimeRafts=86400  ; 1 day for rafts
BuildingDecayTimeWheels=604800  ; 7 days for wheels
BuildingDecayTickTime=3600  ; Check every hour

; Structure limits
MaxBuildingLevel=3  ; Tier 1-3
MaxFoundationsPerArea=100
MaxWallsPerArea=200
MaxCeilingsPerArea=100
MaxPillarsPerArea=50

PvP and PvE Settings

; PvP rules
PVPEnabled=True
PVPBlitz=False
PVPCombatMode=2  ; 0=Always, 1=Never, 2=Scheduled
PVPStartTime=18:00
PVPStopTime=22:00
BuildingDamageMultiplierEnabled=True
CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures=True
CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructuresAlways=False
CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructuresTime=18:00
CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructuresTimeEnd=22:00

; PvE rules
CanPlayersDamageEachOther=False  ; For PvE servers
CanPlayersDamageEachOtherExceptInPvP=False
CanPlayersLootEachOther=False
CanPlayersLootEachOtherExceptInPvP=False
CanPlayersKnockEachOtherOut=False
CanPlayersKnockEachOtherOutExceptInPvP=False

Engine.ini - Performance Optimization

Network and Performance Settings

[/Script/OnlineSubsystemUtils.IpNetDriver]
MaxClientRate=60000
MaxInternetClientRate=60000
RelevantTimeout=60.0
KeepAliveTime=0.2
SpawnPrioritySeconds=1.0
InitialConnectTimeout=120.0
ConnectionTimeout=30.0
MaxDesiredFrameRate=60
NetServerMaxTickRate=30
LanServerMaxTickRate=30

[/Script/Engine.GameSession]
MaxPlayers=40
MaxSpectators=0

[/Script/Engine.WorldSettings]
NetDriverClassName=/Script/OnlineSubsystemUtils.IpNetDriver
NetConnectionClassName=/Script/OnlineSubsystemUtils.IpConnection
bUseClientSideLevelStreaming=True
bPreloadClientAnimations=True

; Memory optimization
[ConsoleVariables]
PoolSize=1000
MaxTempMemory=256
DisablePhysXHardwareSupport=False
AllowMultipleGPUs=False
r.TextureStreaming=True
r.Streaming.PoolSize=2000
r.Streaming.MaxTempMemoryAllowed=256

Rendering and Graphics Optimization

; Server-side rendering optimization (headless)
r.ShaderComplexity=False
r.ViewDistanceScale=0.5
r.ShadowQuality=0
r.TextureQuality=0
r.EffectsQuality=0
r.PostProcessQuality=0
r.MaterialQualityLevel=0
r.MeshLODDistanceScale=0.5
r.SkeletalMeshLODBias=2
r.ParticleLODBias=2
r.MaxAnisotropy=0
r.MaxQualityMode=0
r.DepthOfField=False
r.MotionBlur=False
r.AmbientOcclusion=False
r.Bloom=False
r.LensFlare=False
r.Tonemapper=False

; CPU optimization
r.MultiThreadedDestruction=True
r.MultiThreadedParticleSystem=True
r.MultiThreadedAnimation=True
r.MultiThreadedPhysX=True
physics.MaxSubsteps=1
physics.SubstepSize=0.016667

Game.ini - Advanced Customization

Gameplay Balance Adjustments

[/Script/ConanSandbox.PlayerCharacter]
; Character stats
BaseHealth=100.0
BaseStamina=100.0
BaseEncumbrance=100.0
BaseStrength=10.0
BaseAgility=10.0
BaseVitality=10.0
BaseAccuracy=10.0
BaseSurvival=10.0

; Leveling
MaxLevel=60
ExperienceCurve=2.0
AttributePointsPerLevel=1
FeatPointsPerLevel=1

[/Script/ConanSandbox.Creature]
; NPC adjustments
BaseHealthMultiplier=1.0
BaseDamageMultiplier=1.0
RespawnIntervalMultiplier=1.0
LootDropChanceMultiplier=1.0

[/Script/ConanSandbox.Harvestable]
; Resource adjustments
ResourceHealthMultiplier=1.0
ResourceYieldMultiplier=1.0
ResourceRespawnTimeMultiplier=1.0

Crafting and Building Adjustments

[/Script/ConanSandbox.CraftingComponent]
; Crafting settings
CraftingTimeMultiplier=1.0
FuelBurnTimeMultiplier=1.0
RepairCostMultiplier=1.0
DismantleRefundMultiplier=0.5

[/Script/ConanSandbox.BuildingComponent]
; Building adjustments
BuildingHealthMultiplier=1.0
BuildingUpgradeCostMultiplier=1.0
BuildingRepairCostMultiplier=1.0
BuildingDurabilityDecayMultiplier=1.0

[/Script/ConanSandbox.Thrall]
; Thrall settings
ThrallConversionTimeMultiplier=1.0
ThrallMaxLevel=20
ThrallStatMultiplier=1.0
ThrallCraftingSpeedMultiplier=1.0

Performance Optimization Guide

Server Hardware Requirements

Player Count	CPU Cores	RAM	Storage	Network
10-20 players	4 cores	8GB	50GB SSD	100 Mbps
20-40 players	6 cores	16GB	100GB SSD	250 Mbps
40-70 players	8 cores	32GB	200GB NVMe	500 Mbps
70+ players	12+ cores	64GB+	500GB NVMe	1 Gbps+

Optimization Settings by Scenario

High Performance PvP Server

; Focus on smooth combat and building
ServerMaxTickRate=45
ServerMinNetUpdateRate=20
ServerMaxNetUpdateRate=90
NetServerMaxTickRate=45
MaxClientRate=80000
MaxInternetClientRate=80000
r.ViewDistanceScale=0.7  ; Balance visibility/performance
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0  ; Faster resource gathering
PlayerXPRateMultiplier=2.0   ; Faster progression
BuildingDecayTime=172800     ; 2 days for faster turnover

Roleplay/PvE Server

; Focus on immersion and building
ServerMaxTickRate=30
BuildingPreloadRadius=30000
MaxBuildingLevel=3
MaxFoundationsPerArea=200
BuildingDecayTime=1209600  ; 14 days for longer builds
HarvestAmountMultiplier=1.0
PlayerXPRateMultiplier=1.0
CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures=False
PVPEnabled=False

Battle Royale/Event Server

; Focus on short sessions and reset
ServerMaxTickRate=60
PlayerXPRateMultiplier=5.0
HarvestAmountMultiplier=3.0
BuildingDecayTime=86400  ; 1 day for rapid reset
MaxPlayers=70
PVPEnabled=True
PVPCombatMode=0  ; Always PvP
CanPlaceAnywhere=False
CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructuresAlways=True

Advanced Configuration Techniques

Mod Integration Configuration

; Mod configuration in ServerSettings.ini
ActiveMods=900668587,1653991484,880177831  ; Steam Workshop IDs
ActiveTotalConversions=  ; For total conversion mods

; Mod-specific configuration files
; Located in ConanSandbox/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/Mods/
; Example: 900668587.ini (using mod's Workshop ID)

; Common mod configuration patterns
[/Script/ModName.ModClassName]
Setting1=Value1
Setting2=Value2

; Mod load order management
; Use mod.io or Steam Workshop collection for ordering
; Critical mods should load first (foundation, building, then content)

Database and Persistence Configuration

; SQLite database settings (default)
[/Script/ConanSandbox.PersistenceComponent]
DatabasePath=./ConanSandbox/Saved/SaveGames
BackupInterval=3600  ; Hourly backups
MaxBackups=24
CompressBackups=True

; For larger servers consider MySQL
; Requires additional configuration and mods
DatabaseDriver=mysql
DatabaseHost=localhost
DatabasePort=3306
DatabaseName=conan_server
DatabaseUser=conan_user
DatabasePassword=secure_password
ConnectionPoolSize=10

Automated Server Management

; Scheduled tasks via batch scripts or mods
; Example: restart script with save
@echo off
cd /d "C:\ConanServer"
echo Saving world...
ConanSandboxServer.exe -cmd "admincheat SaveGame"
timeout /t 10
echo Stopping server...
taskkill /f /im ConanSandboxServer.exe
timeout /t 5
echo Starting server...
start ConanSandboxServer.exe -log

; Linux restart script with cron
#!/bin/bash
cd /home/conan/server
./ConanSandboxServer.sh -cmd "admincheat SaveGame"
sleep 10
pkill -f ConanSandboxServer
sleep 5
./ConanSandboxServer.sh &

Monitoring and Maintenance

Server Health Monitoring

Log Analysis and Debugging

; Enable detailed logging
[/Script/ConanSandbox.ServerSettings]
LogVerbosity=2  ; 0=Error, 1=Warning, 2=Info, 3=Debug
LogNetVerbosity=1
LogAsyncLoadingVerbosity=1

; Common log locations
ConanSandbox/Saved/Logs/ConanSandbox.log
ConanSandbox/Saved/Logs/ConanSandbox-backup-*.log
ConanSandbox/Saved/Crashes/  ; Crash dumps

; Useful log analysis commands (Linux)
tail -f ConanSandbox.log | grep -E "(Error|Warning|Exception)"
grep "PlayerJoin" ConanSandbox.log | wc -l  # Count joins
grep "Out of memory" ConanSandbox.log  # Memory issues

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Security Best Practices

Server Security Configuration

1. Strong passwords: Use complex AdminPassword (12+ characters, mixed types)
2. Regular updates: Update server and mods weekly
3. Access control: Limit RCON/admin access to trusted users
4. Backup strategy: Daily incremental, weekly full backups
5. Monitoring: Log all admin actions and suspicious player behavior
6. Network security: Use firewall, consider VPN for admin access
7. Anti-cheat: Keep BattlEye updated and enabled

Player Management Security

1. Admin hierarchy: Different permission levels for different tasks
2. Activity logging: Log all inventory transfers and building changes
3. Regular audits: Review admin actions and player reports
4. Backup verification: Test backup restoration regularly
5. Incident response: Plan for hacking attempts or griefing

Migration and Scaling

Server Migration Procedure

1. Preparation: Backup all configs, save games, and mods
2. New server setup: Install fresh Conan Exiles server
3. File transfer: Copy Config, Saved, and Mods directories
4. Configuration update: Adjust IPs, paths, and hardware-specific settings
5. Testing: Test on new server before DNS switch
6. Switchover: Announce downtime, switch DNS, monitor

Scaling for Larger Populations

1. Horizontal scaling: Multiple servers with different regions/modes
2. Database migration: Move from SQLite to MySQL for performance
3. Load balancing: Distribute players across multiple instances
4. Content distribution: Use CDN for mod downloads
5. Monitoring stack: Implement comprehensive monitoring

Next Steps

• Set up Conan Exiles dedicated server
• Install and manage Conan Exiles mods
• Learn essential admin commands and tools
• Configure clan and warfare settings
• Browse other game server guides