Factorio Dedicated Server Wiki
The factory must grow. This wiki covers headless server administration on Linux and Windows: token authentication, port 34197, Space Age DLC enablement, mod synchronisation, save migrations and the UPS-tuning levers that matter once your base passes 1k SPM.
2026 update callout: stable is 2.0.76, Space Age is now bundled DLC, 2.1 multithreading is rolling out
The May 2026 stable channel sits on Factorio 2.0.76 with Space Age fully integrated as a paid DLC. The 2.1 experimental branch ships Surface-Aware Multithreading: each planet's simulation runs on its own thread, which doubled measured UPS on multi-platform Space Age megabases in Wube's internal benchmarks. Server admins running Clusterio for per-planet sharding should re-evaluate whether they still need separate instances once 2.1 reaches stable.
Also new since launch: the official mod portal now flags Space Age compatibility per release, and mods that have not had a 2026 update against the 2.0 prototype API silently fail to load. Always check the portal "last updated" date before adding a mod to a production server.
Server topic coverage
| Topic area | Guides | Most relevant Factorio versions |
|---|---|---|
| First-time headless install | Server Setup, Linux Headless Setup, Port Configuration | 2.0.x stable |
| Authentication and listing | Token Setup, Manage Admins, Console Commands | 2.0.x stable |
| Space Age DLC | Space Age Prep, Space Age Setup, Space Platform Optimization, Space Age Clusterio | 2.0.76 stable, 2.1 experimental |
| Mods and save migration | Install Mods, Upload Save, Update Server, Elevated Rails Sync | 2.0.x stable, mod portal 2026 builds |
| UPS and quality tuning | Factorio 2.0 Quality Modules Impact, Quality Logistics, 2.1 Multithreading | 2.0.76 onward |
| Troubleshooting | Desync Fixes, Logistics Desync Fix, View Logs, Blueprint Import | All 2.0 servers |
Core Configuration
Space Age Prep
Hardware sizing and configuration for multi-planet expansion servers.
Quality UPS Impact
Prevent Quality sorting from destroying your server's UPS.
First Time Setup
Start your first headless server correctly.
Auth Token Setup
Required for public server listings and portal mod downloads.
Server Settings
Edit map-gen, biters, and server config.
Port and Firewall
Configure UDP 34197 and network rules.
Manage Admins
Grant permissions via console or JSON.
Console Commands
Essential Lua commands for administration.
Space Age and Advanced Logistics
Space Age Guide
Overview of Quality, Planets, and Tech.
Space Age Setup
Enable the DLC and official expansion mods.
Platform Optimization
Master space logistics and asteroid processing.
Circuit Masterclass
New 2.0 combinators and logistics groups.
2.1 Multithreading
Optimize UPS with Surface-Aware Multithreading.
Logistics Desync Fix
Solve inter-planetary item mismatches.
Factorio 2.0 Quality
Legendary assemblers and interplanetary bulk pipelines.
Space Age Clusterio
Link multiple dedicated servers for each planet to maximize UPS.
Elevated Rails Sync
Fix mod mismatch errors and sync official expansion mods correctly.
Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Install Mods
Add overhaul mods via portal or FTP.
Upload Save
Transfer your existing factory to the server.
Desync Fixes
Solve loops and generate reports.
Coordinate System
Debug positions and teleport commands.
View Logs
Debug startup crashes and errors.
Update Version
Keep your factory on the latest build.
Linux Headless Setup
Host on Ubuntu with systemd for 24/7 factory uptime.
Verbatim errors you might be searching for
If you landed here from a Google search of an exact log line, this is the list. Each error links to the guide that resolves it.
Mods mismatch: Server has 'elevated-rails 2.0.76', client has 'elevated-rails 2.0.60'.Update the mod on whichever side is behind. The official Space Age expansion ships three core mods (space-age, elevated-rails, quality) which version-lock to the Factorio build. See the Elevated Rails Sync guide.
Error Util.cpp:99: Cannot execute command. Error: No such mod 'space-age'.The save requires Space Age but the server's mods/ folder is missing it. Copy the DLC mods from a client install to the server, or download the bundle from factorio.com/buy.
Failed to bind socket. Address already in use (UDP 34197).Another Factorio instance is already running on the same port. Stop the previous instance or start the new one with --port 34198.
Map version 2.0.60 cannot be loaded because it is lower than the
minimum required map version 2.0.76.You attempted to load a save from 2.0.60 on a 2.0.76 binary without the migration files. Reinstall the headless tarball cleanly so data/base/migrations is complete, then reload. The save will silently re-version on first save-cycle.
Token authentication failed (username or token incorrect).The token in server-settings.json no longer matches your factorio.com account. Regenerate at factorio.com/profile and replace both username and token. See the Token Setup guide.
Error while running event handler: __space-age__/script/asteroid-spawning.luaAlmost always a mod-vs-Space-Age compatibility issue. Disable third-party mods one at a time, the offending mod hooks the asteroid spawn event with stale prototypes from a pre-2.0.70 API.
Hardware sizing quick reference
| Base size | Approx SPM | RAM | CPU single-thread score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early game (1-5 players) | 50-200 | 2 GB | 2000+ | Any modern x86 mini PC handles this. |
| Mid game (full Nauvis base) | 500-1500 | 4 GB | 2800+ | Quality module sorting starts to matter. |
| Space Age full | 2k-5k | 8 GB | 3500+ | Multiple active platforms; 2.1 multithreading materially helps. |
| Megabase (10k+ SPM) | 10k+ | 16 GB | 4000+ | Consider Clusterio splitting or wait for 2.1 stable. |
Mod stack categories
Not every mod survives the 2.0 prototype rewrite. Use the official mod portal's "last updated" field as the primary trust signal. Anything not touched since the launch of Space Age (October 2024) is suspect.
| Stack type | Server impact | Sync difficulty | Recommended for dedicated servers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla + Space Age | Baseline | None (bundled) | Yes, always |
| Quality-of-life only (Bottleneck, Even Distribution, Squeak Through) | Negligible | Low | Yes |
| Logistics extensions (LTN, Project Cybersyn) | Moderate (event-driven) | Medium | Yes for medium bases |
| Overhauls (Krastorio 2, Industrial Revolution 3) | High (more prototypes per tick) | High | Yes if entire group commits |
| Mega-overhauls (Pyanodons, SE+K2) | Very high | Very high | Only with experienced admins |
| Pre-2.0 mods without 2026 update | Crash on load | N/A | No, never |
Common workflows
Setting up a new Space Age dedicated server (Linux)
- Download the headless tarball matching your client version:
factorio_headless_x64_2.0.76.tar.xz. - Extract to
/opt/factorio. The DLC core mods are included indata/mods/. - Edit
data/server-settings.jsonwith your token, server name and visibility. - Enable Space Age by creating
mods/mod-list.jsonwith space-age, elevated-rails and quality set to true. - Start:
./bin/x64/factorio --start-server-load-latest --port 34197. - Open UDP 34197 on the firewall (the Port Configuration guide covers iptables, ufw and OVH anti-DDoS).
Migrating a 1.1 save to 2.0.76
- Stop the server. Always back up the save zip first.
- Replace the headless install with the 2.0.76 tarball, preserving the saves/ and mods/ folders.
- Remove any mod that has not been updated for 2.0 (mod portal "last updated" before October 2024).
- Start the server. Factorio runs migrations from data/base/migrations, prints them in the log, and saves the converted file.
- Verify with /show-time-usage that UPS is healthy before announcing to players.
Diagnosing a mod mismatch in production
- Read the server log; Factorio prints the offending mod name and both versions.
- Check
mods/mod-list.jsonon the server matches the client's%APPDATA%/Factorio/mods/mod-list.json. - Confirm zip filename versions are identical (
boblibrary_1.2.7.zipon both). - If using auto-download, verify the server-settings.json token is valid and the mod was downloadable from the portal at server start.
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