# How to create and configure an Icarus server Hosting the wild open world of Icarus on your own server allows you to enjoy maximum freedom over availability and playing. With the right hardware, you can install your own Icarus server in just a few steps using SteamCMD. ## What are the requirements for hosting an Icarus server? The dedicated server app for Icarus is designed for **Microsoft operating systems**. If you want to install it on Linux, you’ll need emulation software like Wine. Alternatively, you can [install Docker on your Linux server](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/installing-and-running-docker-on-a-linux-server/) and set up an Icarus server using a container. In any case, it’s best to install it on **rented server hardware**. In theory, you could also run the app on your personal computer, but that would use a very high amount of resources (including internet resources). You would also need to keep your computer on 24/7 to keep the server online. If you rent professional server space, none of that is a problem. Regardless of how you choose, you’ll need to meet the following minimum requirements: - **CPU/processor**: Quad-core [CPU](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/cpu/) with at least 2.0 GHz - **RAM/memory**: 4–6 GB minimum - **Hard drive storage**: 5 GB The operating system you’re using will bring its own requirements. For example, if you have Windows Server 2022, you’ll need an additional 1.4 GHz CPU, 2 GB RAM (for graphic user interface) and 32 GB of storage. ## What options does IONOS offer for an Icarus server? You can rent suitable hardware for your Icarus dedicated server from many providers, including IONOS. With IONOS’s [vServers](https://www.ionos.com/servers/vps "IONOS vServers at affordable prices") (also called VPS), you have access to a fully virtualized server for a fixed monthly rate. Alternatively, [dedicated servers](https://www.ionos.com/servers/dedicated-servers "Dedicated servers from IONOS") offer dedicated hardware that’s suitable for demanding applications and are billed by the minute. In the table below, we summarize three typical use cases for a dedicated Icarus server and indicate the best IONOS server plan for each of them.
Icarus server scenario Best IONOS server plan
Server for mission mode; 2–4 players VPS Windows L
Open world server for 4–8 players VPS Windows XL
Open world server for 8+ players Dedicated Server AR6-32 SSD
## How to save money as a beginner If you’re just planning a **small co-op adventure** in Icarus or only want to go on an occasional mission with others, you can start with a smaller VPS plan. If that turns out to be too small to smoothly run your Icarus server at any point, you can always switch to a different plan. The most affordable plan with enough computing power is [Windows VPS M](https://my.ionos.com/server-configuration/?skipContractSelection=true&skipDomainCheck=true&cmsIdentifier=tariff-core-vps-windows-m&datacenter=us/mci&pageName=servers/windows-vps "Windows VPS M from IONOS"). ## How to install an Icarus server on Windows step-by-step Once you’ve decided on a server plan, you can start setting your Icarus server up. You don’t need any special licenses for a dedicated Icarus server and you also don’t need to have Icarus installed on the server. Below we’ll walk you through the most important steps, using Windows Server 2022 as an operating system. ### Step 1: Connect to the server remotely To access the hardware you rented, you’ll first need to establish a remote connection to the server. You can generally [connect to the Windows server using Remote Desktop](https://www.ionos.com/help/server-cloud-infrastructure/getting-started/connecting-to-a-windows-server-with-remote-desktop-connection/ "Connecting to a Windows Server with Remote Desktop – IONOS Help Center"). Or, as an IONOS customer, you can use the **remote console** in the Cloud Panel in your IONOS account: 1. Log in to your account on the [login page](https://login.ionos.com/ "IONOS login page"). 2. Open the category “Server & Cloud”. 3. Select the server you rented. 4. Click on “Actions” and “Open remote console”. 5. In the window that opens, log in with your server login information. You can find your login info under “Login Data”. [![Image: IONOS Cloud Panel: Open the remote console](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/9/csm_remote-console-icarus-ionos_415140d267.webp "IONOS Cloud Panel: Open the remote console")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/remote-console-icarus-ionos.png) In the Cloud Panel you can also restart your Icarus server or reinstall the system. ### Step 2: Install SteamCMD Once you’ve established a remote connection to your Icarus server, you can [install SteamCMD](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/install-steamcmd/). SteamCMD is a **command-line client** that enables easy access to servers on the popular Steam platform and can be [downloaded for free](https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip "SteamCMD: Download link for Windows"). To install it, simply unzip the zipped file in a directory on your server such as `C:\SteamCMD`. Then double click on the unzipped file *steamcmd.exe* to start the installation process. After installation is finished, you’ll see the line `Steam>` in the command prompt. ### Step 3: Install the Icarus dedicated server Next, we’ll use SteamCMD to obtain the server application for the Icarus server. To do this, first create a **directory** for the program data, e.g. `C:\icarus-dedicated-server`, by executing the following command: ```bash force_install_dir C:\icarus-dedicated-server\ ``` Then log in anonymously to the public Steam servers: ```bash login anonymous ``` Finally, install the Icarus dedicated server application with the command `app_update` and the software ID from the SteamDB (2089300). ```bash app_update 2089300 validate ``` [![Image: SteamCMD: Installing the Icarus dedicated server](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/9/9/csm_icarus-server-steamcmd-install_1d3c4fcf57.webp "SteamCMD: Installing the Icarus dedicated server")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/icarus-server-steamcmd-install.png) Downloading and installing SteamCMD takes just a few minutes – you can follow its progress in the command prompt. When the installation is finished, enter the command `quit` to properly log out of the Steam servers. Tip When the development team releases a new version, you can **update** your Icarus server with the command `app_update 2089300`. This is particularly necessary if the players accessing it are already playing with the new client version. If the versions don’t match, it won’t be possible to connect to the server! ### Step 4: Open ports The relevant [ports](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/tcp-ports-and-udp-ports/) need to be open on your Icarus server for communication with incoming game clients. In this case, those are UDP ports **17777** (game port) and **27015** (query port). With IONOS, you can also open ports from your server’s firewall in the Cloud Panel. To do that, follow these steps: 1. Open the IONOS [login page](https://login.ionos.com "IONOS login page") and log in. 2. Select “Server & Cloud” and then choose the server you rented. 3. In the menu on the left, click on “Network” and “Firewall policies”. 4. Under “Incoming”, create rules for UDP port 17777 and UDP port 27015. [![Image: Opening ports in the IONOS Cloud Panel](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/f/5/csm_icarus-port-ionos_b4723702d4.webp "Opening ports in the IONOS Cloud Panel")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/icarus-port-ionos.png) When opening ports in the IONOS Cloud Panel, make sure that you select the right protocol for the “Port(s)” field. ### Step 5: Configure your Icarus server You can configure your Icarus server using the `ServerSettings.ini` file, which is only created after the server has been started for the first time. To observe the **activities** of your Icarus server in a window in the command prompt, create a shortcut for *Icarus.Server.exe* (right click -> **Create shortcut**). Open the properties of the shortcut and add the parameter `-Log` to the **Target** line. [![Image: Icarus server: Shortcut and properties](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/8/csm_icarus-server-exe-log_7c3396cf3c.webp "Icarus server: Shortcut and properties")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/icarus-server-exe-log.png) If you don’t want to define a shortcut in Properties, you can define command-line parameters like “-Log” in a batch script. Tip There are some other useful parameters, like `-SteamServerName`, that you can append to the shortcut you created. You’ll find a list of them in this [Icarus dedicated server post](https://github.com/RocketWerkz/IcarusDedicatedServer/wiki/Server-Config-&-Launch-Parameters#command-line-args "github.com: RocketWerkz") in RocketWerkz’s official GitHub directory. If you double click on the link now, the server will start automatically in a command prompt window. You’ll then find `ServerSettings.ini` in the `.\Icarus\Saved\Config\WindowsServer` path in the server’s directory. Alternatively, you can create the file yourself in the folder. Copy the following lines of code into the file and enter the relevant values for maximum number of players, administrator password, etc. ```txt [/Script/Icarus.DedicatedServerSettings] SessionName= JoinPassword= MaxPlayers= AdminPassword= ShutdownIfNotJoinedFor=300.000000 ShutdownIfEmptyFor=300.000000 AllowNonAdminsToLaunchProspects=True AllowNonAdminsToDeleteProspects=False LoadProspect= CreateProspect= ResumeProspect=True LastProspectName= ``` ### Step 6: Start your Icarus server Once you’re done configuring it, you can start the server any time using the shortcut. If it started successfully, you’ll see the line “Dedicated server begin processing commands”. Leave the command prompt window open, otherwise the Icarus server will shut down. [![Image: Icarus server: Success message](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/4/e/csm_icarus-server-successful-start_c32fed23d7.webp "Icarus server: Success message")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/icarus-server-successful-start.png) The command prompt window will show you all the important information about startup for your Icarus dedicated server. ### Step 7: Connect with the server Now that the server application is running, you can finally start your Icarus adventure. You and the other players can connect to the server as follows: 1. Start Icarus using Stream as usual. 2. Select your preferred character. 3. Click on “Join”. 4. Select “Dedicated server (beta)” at the top right of the screen. 5. Use the search function to search for your Icarus server. Alternatively, click on “Direct connect” to join the server by entering an IP address. [![Image: Icarus dedicated server listings](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/4/csm_icarus-server-list_a6945b04e9.webp "Icarus dedicated server listings")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/icarus-server-list.jpg) When joining an Icarus server using an IP address, you might have to append the query port (27015). Now you can start a new open world game, continue old games together or play single missions in co-op mode – on your own Icarus server! [![Image: Icarus screenshot](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/f/csm_icarus-ingame-screenshot_b26c134a27.webp "Icarus screenshot")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/icarus-ingame-screenshot.jpg) Without equipment and fresh from the space capsule, we start our Icarus adventure. To give your server a little extra something, you can **connect it with a unique domain**. That way you and your friends can access it using an individualized web address instead of a cryptic IP address. Use the IONOS domain check to find the right address! This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/icarus-dedicated-server/](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/icarus-dedicated-server/) for AI/LLM consumption.