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The most common issues with your Astro Colony server on a VPS and how to fix them quickly, from crashes to lag → Learn more
Running your own Astro Colony server on a VPS is a lot of fun, but it also means taking responsibility when something goes wrong. Crashes, lag, and configuration issues are common challenges that every server owner encounters sooner or later.
To help you spend less time troubleshooting, we’ll show you the most common issues and how to fix them quickly on your VPS.
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-log parameter, and it will display its output in a separate window.-port. According to the developer, players won’t be able to join if you do.AstroColony\Saved folder, which contains your game saves and settings. Your entire VPS is also backed up daily, and with an active ZapX Pass, you can restore these backups yourself.Feedback
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The causes of server issues aren’t always immediately obvious. The best place to start is the server output: start the server with the -log parameter, and it will display its output in a separate window. To do this, connect to your VPS via Remote Desktop or SSH.
If your server doesn’t appear in the server list, first check that it’s running and has finished starting up. Then check that the ports are open in your operating system’s firewall and in your VPS’s network firewall. You can find out which ports Astro Colony needs in Astro Colony: Set up a server on your VPS. Don’t change the game port using -port; according to the developer, players won’t be able to join if you do. Also make sure there aren’t any filters active in the server list that hide your server.
Start the server using AstroColonyServer.exe (Windows) or AstroColonyServer.sh (Linux) with the -log parameter, and watch the output. Common causes include a typo in ServerSettings.ini, a port already in use by another program, or insufficient memory. On Linux, the steamclient.so file is also often missing from the AstroColony/Binaries/Linux folder.
Nothing ends a good session faster than an unexpected crash. Possible causes include an outdated server version, faulty mods, an overloaded VPS, or a misconfiguration. A server you set up manually won’t be restarted automatically after a crash unless you’ve set up an autostart or script yourself.
An outdated server can cause crashes and often prevents players with a newer game version from connecting. Updates aren’t installed automatically. Stop the server and run the SteamCMD command from the installation steps again.
If you use mods or plugins, they’re a common cause of crashes, especially after a game update. Try disabling additional content and starting with a minimal configuration. If the problem goes away, add the content back step by step, testing after each step. This will help you pinpoint what’s causing the issue.
Issues such as lag or delays often occur when the configuration isn’t suitable, the VPS doesn’t have enough resources, or mods are overloading the system.
Unsuitable settings can increase resource usage and cause lag. Check the values in ServerSettings.ini under AstroColony\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\ (Linux: LinuxServer), such as MaxPlayers and the autosave interval. Stop the server before editing the file.
The operating system and other programs on the VPS also need resources in addition to the server. You can see how heavily your VPS is being used in the ZapX dashboard under Monitoring. If memory or CPU usage is consistently maxed out, upgrading your VPS can help. Learn more in Upgrade, downgrade, renewal, and cancellation.
Ping spikes and lag are usually caused by limited resources on the VPS, a large number of players, or a server location far away from your players. First, check usage under Monitoring. If you suspect routing issues, see Identify network issues with WinMTR/MTR. If you still need help, contact our support team.
Game servers are occasionally targeted by DDoS attacks that flood the server with traffic. Your VPS is protected by our DDoS protection. You can view past attacks in the ZapX dashboard under your VPS’s DDoS Manager, if it’s available at your location. If you suspect an attack is causing problems, contact our support team.
Regular backups can save you a lot of stress. Stop the server and copy the AstroColony\Saved folder, which contains your game saves and settings, to a safe location. Your entire VPS is also backed up automatically every day. With an active ZapX Pass, you can restore these backups yourself and create your own. Learn more in Daily backups, restoring, and restricted actions.
These steps should help you resolve your issue. If they don’t, don’t hesitate to contact our support team: simply start a Support Chat in your ZapX customer account. We’re here for you every day and are happy to help! 🙂
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