Your own Factorio dedicated server, open whenever your group is

What kind of server does Factorio want?

Factorio does multiplayer in an unusual way. Instead of the server working everything out and sending results to players, every copy of the game, the server's and each player's, simulates the entire factory, and only what players do is sent across the network. The official wiki calls this a lock step architecture.

• A fast processor per core is what keeps a big factory running at full speed, on the server as on every PC.
• Bandwidth needs are small, because only player actions travel.
• Memory grows with the size of your save and your mods; the wiki gives no fixed figure, so test with your own save.
• A faster server cannot rescue a slow PC: if a friend's computer struggles with the factory's size, they will fall behind wherever the server is.

Up and running in an evening

1. Order a server with Ubuntu and log in over SSH. Make a separate user for Factorio; the wiki recommends it for security.
2. Download the headless Linux package from factorio.com and unpack it into /opt/factorio. It leaves out the graphics and sound, so it is small.
3. Make your settings file from the example one in the data folder, saving the copy as server-settings.json.
4. Create a world with ./bin/x64/factorio --create ./saves/my-save.zip.
5. Open UDP 34197 in the firewall, keeping SSH open, and start the server with --start-server-load-latest --server-settings ./data/server-settings.json.

Then turn that start command into a systemd service running as your Factorio user, so the world comes back on its own after a reboot.

The settings worth changing

• Name and description: what people see in the server list.
• Visibility: public, LAN only, or hidden. A public listing needs your factorio.com username and, more safely than a password, an authentication token.
• Game password: so only your group gets in.
• Max players: set a limit, or 0 for none.
• Auto-pause: by default the game pauses when nobody is connected. Change auto_pause to false in the settings file if you want the factory to keep producing overnight.

Who gets to be an admin?

You decide, with a small file. Create server-adminlist.json listing the usernames you trust, in the same folder as the server's factorio-current.log. The server also creates this file for you if you promote a player from the game's console.

Your saves are zip files in the saves folder. Copy them, along with the mods you use, to another computer every so often; a big factory is a lot of evenings.

The server that fits

Because the server runs the whole factory itself, every tick, you want its processor to be quick and all yours. Our game servers on bare metal are whole HPE enterprise machines that nobody else shares, with your choice of configuration and operating system; pick a line with high clock speeds rather than the most cores. Each server's port is not shared with any other customer at the access switch.

A server already racked is ready about 30 minutes after your order is approved; payment checks can add time first. Choose a data centre close to your friends. Support is there around the clock by live chat, email or phone, and every machine we offer is on the dedicated servers page.

When you can skip it

If your group always plays together, one of you can simply host from the game. A dedicated server helps when people want to drop in at different times, when you live in different time zones, or when you would like a public server with its own admins. Building something bigger still? Our Satisfactory guide covers the other great factory game.

Questions people ask

Is the Factorio server software free?

Yes. factorio.com lets anyone download the 64-bit Linux headless server without paying. Each player still needs their own copy of the game.

Which port should I open for Factorio?

Just one: 34197, over UDP. Factorio uses UDP only, so adding a TCP rule achieves nothing.

Why does the game stop when my friends log off?

Factorio pauses by default when no one is connected. If you want it to keep running, set auto_pause to false in your server settings file.

Will a powerful server stop my friend's lag?

Not if their own PC is the bottleneck. Every computer in the game simulates the whole factory, so each player needs a machine that can keep up.

How do I list my server publicly?

Set visibility to public and fill in your factorio.com username and an authentication token in the settings file. Without those, keep it LAN-only or hidden and share the address directly.

Where are my saves kept?

In the saves folder of your Factorio server, as zip files. Copying that folder is the simplest backup.