Which ports does a Starbound server need?

By default, port 21025 (TCP and UDP) is used for the game and query. The installer opens it in the Windows Firewall and, if you install through the dashboard, in your VPS's Network Firewall as well.

Starbound: Set Up a Server on Your VPS

Learn how to install a Starbound server on your VPS with the Game Server Installer, sign in as an admin, and keep it up to date → Find out more

10 November 20264 min read0 Views0 helpful

Introduction

You can host a Starbound server on your own VPS with ZapX. You have full control over the system, and the Game Server Installer gets your server set up in just a few minutes, without a remote desktop connection. This guide explains what you need, how to install the server, and how to manage it afterward.

Requirements

Requirement	Starbound
Operating system	Windows Server 2019 or later
Memory	at least 4 GB
Free disk space	at least 6 GB on drive C:
Steam account	a Steam account that owns Starbound

Info

Starbound is only available for Windows in the Game Server Installer. If your VPS runs Linux, install a Windows Server template under Settings > Reinstallation. This deletes all data on your VPS. Learn more in Server Reinstallation.

Install Starbound

Open your VPS in the ZapX dashboard and go to the Tools tab. Select the Game Server Installer.
Under Your server's operating system, select the Windows tile.
Under Choose game, search for Starbound and select it.
Under Set up server, choose the Server name and Player slots. You can find the Game port under Advanced settings.
Click Install on this VPS, then click Start installation.

Since you can only download Starbound with a Steam account, the installer will ask for your Steam username and Steam password in the next window. Learn more in the next section.

The installer downloads the Starbound server through SteamCMD, sets it up, and starts it. For details about the installation process, see the Game Server Installer guide.

Important

You get admin privileges through a dedicated server account: When connecting, sign in with the account name admin and the admin password. The installer generates the password for you and displays it once under Login credentials after installation.

Steam account for the download

Steam only provides Starbound's server files to an account that owns the game. The installer will therefore ask for your Steam username (your sign-in name, not your email address) and Steam password. Both are used only for this download and are not stored. The running server does not need a Steam account, but you will have to enter your details again for every update.

If your Steam account is protected by Steam Guard through the app, you can't enter the code in the dashboard. In that case, install the server using a command in Windows PowerShell. The script will prompt you for the code.

You can also install Starbound yourself using a command: Copy the command shown in the final step, connect using Remote Desktop, and run it in Windows PowerShell as an administrator.

After installation

Once installation is complete, the installer displays your server address under How to connect. You can view passwords generated by the installer once under Login credentials. Find out how to connect below.

Your server files are located on your VPS at C:\ZapX-GameServers\starbound\:

Folder/file	Contents
`server\`	Starbound server files
`server\storage\universe\`	your worlds
`server\storage\starbound_server.config`	settings, server accounts, and admin password
`server\mods\`	mods (`.pak` files)
`logs\server.log`	server output

Connect to the server

You can find your VPS IP address in the Overview of your VPS in the ZapX dashboard. The installer displays the full address under Connect to. Start Starbound, click Join Game, and enter your VPS IP address and the port, which is 21025 by default. To play as an admin, enter the account name admin and the admin password shown under Login credentials. If you don't enter an account, you'll connect as a regular player.

Start, stop, and restart the server

Your Starbound server starts automatically when your VPS boots and restarts if it crashes. To manage it, connect using Remote Desktop and use the desktop shortcuts:

Starbound (starbound) - Start
Starbound (starbound) - Stop
Starbound (starbound) - Restart

Configuration

Starbound's settings are in server\storage\starbound_server.config. This file also contains server accounts and their passwords in plain text. The installer resets the server name, player slots, and port each time it runs, so change these settings through the installer. You can adjust all other values yourself. Stop the server before making changes, then start it again afterward. RCON is disabled by default (runRconServer), and the installer does not open a port for it.

Update the server

Updates are not installed automatically. To update, open the Game Server Installer again and select Starbound. The installer will detect the existing installation and display Update. Alternatively, use the Starbound (starbound) - Update shortcut on your VPS. Your settings and saved games will be preserved. Since Starbound requires a Steam account, you'll need to enter your Steam username and Steam password again for every update.

Ports and firewall

Port	Protocol	Use
21025	TCP and UDP	Game and query

The installer opens these ports in the Windows Firewall. If you start the installation from the dashboard, it also opens them in your VPS's Network Firewall. If you installed using a command, check the ports there yourself.

Backups

Use the Starbound (starbound) - Backup shortcut to back up your worlds, player data, starbound_server.config, and mods as a ZIP file in C:\ZapX-GameServers\_backups\starbound\. Use Starbound (starbound) - Restore to restore a backup.

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 backups. Learn more in Daily backups, restoring data, and restricted actions.

Conclusion

Your Starbound server is now running on your VPS. You can get admin privileges with the admin account and the admin password provided during installation. If you have questions or need help, our support team is here for you every day! 🙂

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Open your VPS in the ZapX dashboard, go to the Tools tab, and select the Game Server Installer. Choose Windows and Starbound, adjust the settings, and click Install on this VPS.

When connecting, sign in with the account name admin and the admin password. The installer displays the password once under Credentials after installation. You can also find it in server\storage\starbound_server.config.

Steam only provides Starbound's server files to an account that owns the game. Your Steam username and password are used only for the download and are not stored. You'll need to enter them again for every update. If you use Steam Guard through the app, install using a command in Windows PowerShell.

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Starbound: Set Up a Server on Your VPS

Introduction

Requirements

Install Starbound

Steam account for the download

After installation

Connect to the server

Start, stop, and restart the server

Configuration

Update the server

Ports and firewall

Backups

Conclusion

Frequently asked questions

Starbound

Install Starbound

Steam account for the download

Connect to the server

Start, stop, and restart the server

Configuration

Update the server

Backups

Conclusion

Game Server

Servers & Hosting

ZAPX

Resources

ZAP-Hosting