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Astro Colony: Set Up a Server on Your VPS

Learn how to install an Astro Colony server on your VPS with SteamCMD, configure it, and open the required ports → Find out more

10 November 20263 min read0 Views0 helpful

Introduction

You can run an Astro Colony server on your own VPS with ZapX. Astro Colony is not (yet) included in the Game Server Installer, so you’ll need to set up the server manually. The server files are available for free through SteamCMD for both Windows and Linux. This guide explains what you need, how to install and start the server, and which ports to open.

Requirements

RequirementAstro Colony
Operating systemWindows Server or Linux, such as Debian or Ubuntu
Server filesSteamCMD app ID 2662210 (Windows) or 2934900 (Linux), anonymous download
AccessWindows: Remote Desktop · Linux: SSH
Info

Astro Colony is not (yet) available in the Game Server Installer, so you’ll need to install the server yourself. To use a different operating system, install another template under Settings > Reinstallation. This deletes all data on your VPS. For more information, see Server Reinstallation.

Start the server

On Windows, start the server using AstroColonyServer.exe in the server folder. On Linux, use AstroColonyServer.sh. Add these parameters:

Code
AstroColonyServer.exe -log -SteamServerName="Mein Astro Colony Server" -QueryPort=27015
ParameterDescription
-logOpens a window showing the server output
-SteamServerNameName displayed in the server list. Keep it short—according to the developer, under 30 characters.
-QueryPortQuery port for the server list
Important

Do not change the game port using -port. According to the developer, players may no longer be able to join the server if you do.

To have the server start automatically after your VPS restarts, create a task in Task Scheduler on Windows that runs the server at system startup. On Linux, you can use a systemd service or start the server in a screen session.

Configuration

Settings are stored in ServerSettings.ini. On Windows, the file is located in AstroColony\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\; on Linux, it is in AstroColony/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/. Stop the server before editing the file, then start it again afterward. Important settings include:

SettingDescription
ServerPasswordPassword required to join
MaxPlayersNumber of player slots
Seed and MapNameWorld seed and map
AdminListAdmins’ SteamID64s, separated by commas
AutosaveInterval and AutosavesCountTime between automatic saves and the number of saved states to keep
ShouldLoadLatestSavegameLoads the latest save when the server starts

The server recognizes admins listed in AdminList in-game by their Steam IDs. Among other things, they can save, load, and upload save files.

Ports and firewall

PortProtocolUse
7777UDPGame
27015UDPQuery (server list)

Open these ports in your operating system’s firewall: on Windows, use the Windows Firewall (Manage Windows Defender Firewall Rules); on Linux, follow the steps in Set Up a Linux Firewall, for example. Also open them in the ZapX dashboard under the Network Firewall tab for your VPS.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Astro Colony isn’t included in the Game Server Installer. Download the server with SteamCMD using anonymous login: app ID 2662210 for Windows or 2934900 for Linux.
UDP 7777 for the game and UDP 27015 for queries. Open them in your operating system’s firewall and your VPS’s network firewall.
In ServerSettings.ini under AstroColony\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\ (Linux: LinuxServer). You can set the password, player slots, admins, and more there.

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