# How to create an Astroneer server Astroneer is a creative sandbox adventure game in which players explore alien planets as interstellar explorers, mine resources, build futuristic bases and uncover the secrets of the universe, either alone or with an Astroneer server in multiplayer. ## What are the requirements for an Astroneer server? A dedicated Astroneer server should run stably in order to enable a smooth gaming experience in space for all players. The specific requirements for the server always depend on the actual number of players. To set up an Astroneer dedicated server, you should first make sure that the server you choose meets the minimum requirements mentioned. - **Processor:** Quad-core processor with 2.4 GHz or more - **Memory (RAM):** At least 4 GB (8 GB recommended) - **Storage space:** 4 GB for the game + 10 GB for the operating system - **Network:** Stable internet connection with at least 10 Mbps upload speed - **Operating system:** Windows server 2016/2019/2022 Note If you opt for one of the [IONOS server solutions](https://www.ionos.com/servers/vps "VPS server from IONOS"), you’ll benefit from an excellent bandwidth of up to 1 Gbit/s. ## The different server options for your Astroneer adventure Before you can set up your own Astroneer server, you should think about which provider and which type of server is right for you. With so many different providers and plans, this decision can take some time. To give you an initial overview, we’ll show you which **server variants** you could choose from if you decide on IONOS as your provider: - [Dedicated server](https://www.ionos.com/servers/dedicated-servers "Dedicated server from IONOS"): An Astroneer dedicated server is ideal for larger groups or when maximum performance is required. The server resources are reserved specifically for you and your application purpose, which is reflected in the price for this server variant. Billing is based on the number of hours used, but is capped at a maximum amount. - [vServer/VPS](https://www.ionos.com/servers/vps "VPS from IONOS"): A vServer is a server solution that uses the principle of [virtualization](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/server-virtualization/) to provide you with hardware. This means the hardware is shared with other users, but as the end user, you won’t notice any difference. vServers are well suited for smaller groups of players and can be booked at a fixed monthly price. ## Various game scenarios and the right IONOS plan To help you choose the right server plan for you and your fellow players, we’ve outlined various Astroneer scenarios along with the corresponding IONOS plan.
Number of players Suitable vServer Suitable dedicated server
Small team (2-4 players) VPS Windows M AR6-32 HDD
Medium team (5-8 players) VPS Windows L AR6-32 HDD
Large team (9-12 players) VPS Windows XL AR6-32 HDD
### The IONOS server tip for getting started If you’re not yet sure where you want to go with your own Astroneer server, we recommend a [VPS Windows M](https://www.ionos.com/servers/vps "IONOS: VPS Windows M") to get started. This allows you to test your own server in peace and at a low cost. If you need more players, you can easily switch to a different plan. ## How to set up an Astroneer server After selecting a provider and a suitable server plan, you can proceed with setting up your Astroneer server. The following instructions will guide you through the setup process, using an IONOS server with Windows Server 2022 as an example. ### Step 1: Establish a remote connection to the server The first step is to connect to your server. To do this, you can use a [remote desktop connection](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/remote-desktop-success-of-the-application/), which can be easily set up in the cloud panel for IONOS servers. To do this, first [log in](https://login.ionos.com "Login page IONOS") by entering your individual access data. After you’ve logged in, navigate to the **Server & Cloud** section. There you’ll find an overview of all the server plans you’ve booked with IONOS. Select the server you’d like to use for your Astroneer server. Then click on the **Options** tab. In the drop-down menu that appears, you can open the **remote console**. [![Image: Screenshot of the IONOS cloud panel: Open remote console](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/4/csm_astroneer-server-remoteconsole_1e904214b4.webp "Screenshot of the IONOS cloud panel: Open remote console")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/astroneer-server-remoteconsole.png) You can open the remote console for your IONOS server directly in the cloud panel. ### Step 2: Enable ports To ensure that you and your fellow players can connect to your Astroneer server without any problems, you need to enable the required ports. Astroneer uses the following ports by default: - TCP/UDP 8777 (Game port) - TCP/UDP 27015 (Steam port) With IONOS servers, you can also easily set up port sharing via the **cloud panel**. To do this, navigate to **Network** in the menu on the left and click to open the **Firewall policies** submenu. Configure port sharing there by specifying the corresponding IP addresses, protocols and port numbers. [![Image: Screenshot of the IONOS cloud panel: Add firewall rules](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/3/2/csm_astroneer-server-firewall-rules_b4e8d8b585.webp "Screenshot of the IONOS cloud panel: Add firewall rules")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/astroneer-server-firewall-rules.png) You can release the ports needed for your server in the cloud panel. ### Step 3: Download and install SteamCMD In the next step, you should [install SteamCMD](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/install-steamcmd/) by downloading the installation files from the official SteamCMD website and then unpacking them into a folder (e.g., `C:\SteamCMD`). ### Step 4: Run SteamCMD Now open the command prompt of your server as the administrator and use the following command to navigate to the folder in which you’ve installed SteamCMD (we’ve named the folder “SteamCMD” as an example): ```none cd C:\SteamCMD ``` Once you’re in the correct folder, you can start SteamCMD by using the command below: ```none steamcmd ``` [![Image: Screenshot of the command prompt: Start SteamCMD](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/0/2/csm_astroneer-server-steamcmd_145a3b5c10.webp "Screenshot of the command prompt: Start SteamCMD")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/astroneer-server-steamcmd.png) Use the command “steamcmd” to start SteamCMD. ### Step 5: Download Astroneer dedicated server Use the following commands in your command line to log in to SteamCMD and then store all the necessary files for your Astroneer server in the folder named “AstroneerServer”. You can of course change the folder name. ```none force_install_dir C:\AstroneerServer login anonymous app_update 728470 validate quit ``` ### Step 6: Configure the Astroneer server Now navigate to the folder in which you downloaded the Astroneer server files in the previous step and locate the configuration file “AstroServerSettings.ini”. It’s usually located under the following file path: `C:\AstroneerServer\Astro\Saved\Config\WindowsServer`. Open the configuration file with a text editor of your choice and add the following content. You can of course adjust the number of players and the name of your server as you wish. Then save the changes. ```none [ServerSettings] Port=8777 ServerName=YourServerName MaximumPlayerCount=8 OwnerGuid= ``` [![Image: Screenshot of the configuration file for your Astroneer dedicated server](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/9/csm_astroneer-server-config_51a9fc85a2.webp "Screenshot of the configuration file for your Astroneer dedicated server")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/astroneer-server-config.png) Customize the configuration file for your Astroneer server according to your needs. Tip You can find your Steam 64 ID, for example, at [steamid.io](https://steamid.io "steamid.io website"). ### Step 7: Start the Astroneer server Now you can go online! Start your Astroneer server by clicking on the start script `AstroServer.exe`, which is located in your Astroneer server folder. [![Image: Screenshot of the AstroServer.exe file](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/1/b/csm_astroneer-server-start-exe_8bea5222aa.webp "Screenshot of the AstroServer.exe file")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/astroneer-server-start-exe.png) Click on the AstroServer.exe file to start your Astroneer server. ### Step 8: Establish a connection Now, your friends can connect to your Astroneer server using the server’s [IP address](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/what-is-an-ip-address/) and start your space adventure together. Simply open the game, enter the server IP address in the search, and join the fun! [![Image: Screenshot of the Astroneer server selection](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/0/d/csm_add-astroserver_33ee6e75c4.webp "Screenshot of the Astroneer server selection")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/add-astroserver.png) By entering the server name and IP, other players can find your server ingame. If required, you can also connect your Astroneer server to your own domain. To do this, register a domain and link the address to your Astroneer server. This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/astroneer-dedicated-server/](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/astroneer-dedicated-server/) for AI/LLM consumption.