Guide/Setting Up Dedicated Server

Want to customize your solar system? Read on here: Customizing Solar Systems

Where to get the dedicated server files

NOTE: As of version 4.0 you need to use the Server Tool that can be found via STEAM -> LIBRARY -> TOOLS -> Empyrion Server

If the Empyrion dedicated server does NOT show up under Tools in your Library, you can install it via SteamCMD as follows:

Install SteamCMD from https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD
In case of the windows installation, run the steamcmd.exe that was included in the .zip download ONCE and close the CMD window after it has been installed
Now open a NEW console/command line prompt and navigate to the directory you installed SteamCMD (For Windows, hit the WINDOWS button on your keyboard and enter CMD -> hit enter and a Command line interface will open. Find the installation directory by going to your steamcmd directory like "cd c:\steamcmd" -> go to the next step!)
Enter the following command:

_{C:\steamCMD\steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir c:\steamCMD\empyrionDedicatedserver\ +app_update 530870 validate +quit}

This will install the Empyrion Dedicated Server under the folder “Empyrion – Dedicated Server” beside the folder where steamcmd is installed. If needed you may change the folder name to your liking.

How to start the dedicated server

Go to the folder: C:\...\Empyrion – Dedicated Server

To start a dedicated server with rudimentary GUI: "EmpyrionDedicated.cmd"
To start a dedicated server without GUI: "EmpyrionDedicated_NoGraphics.cmd"

To run the server when your computer starts and you log in, create a shortcut to the .cmd file of your choosing and place that shortcut in the folder: %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Remember to enter the command saveandexit 0 before shutting down or logging off, or you may lose your progress!

How to configure your server

Servers can be configured via changing the value of the property in "dedicated.yaml" in ..\Steam\SteamApps\common\Empyrion - Dedicated Server folder.

Each property can be disabled by putting '#' in front of the line. To enable a property, remove the #

Available Props
Props	Value	Description
Srv_Port	Numeric	Default is 30000. If your are using a router and/or a firewall, you need to forward the ports 30000-30004 UDP and TCP. Please search the web on how this can be achieved for your router and firewall, as the setup process is different for each model/version!
Srv_Name	Alphanumeric	Name that will be shown in the Server Browser
Srv_Password	Alphanumeric	password to make server password protected
Srv_MaxPlayers	Numeric	Maximum number of player allowed to join simultaneously in the server.
Srv_ReservePlayfields	Numeric	Determines the number of playfield servers that are held in reserve. For busy public servers, we recommend at least 2 (default is 1)
Srv_Description	Alphanumeric	Server info between the " ", can contain [b]bold[/b] text or a [u][url=empyriongame.com]link[/url][/u] up to 127 chars.
Srv_StopPeriod	Numeric	All playfield servers will be automatically stopped every <n> real time hours. Players will get some warning messages before
Tel_Enabled	True/False	enable/disable Telnet
Tel_Port	Numeric	Telnet port
Tel_Pwd	Alphanumeric	Telnet password
EACActive	True/False	ANTICHEAT NOT YET AVAILABLE -> Planned feature. Do NOT activate by now. Could cause unwanted effects!
SaveDirectory	Alphanumeric	Defines where your server saves the server-game world
MaxAllowedSizeClass	Alphanumeric	Restrict the size of spawned blueprints according to their device count: Class 1 = less than 50 devices; Class 2 = between 50 and 250 devices; Class 3 = between 250 and 500 devices; Class 4 = between 500 and 1000 devices; Class 5 = between 1000 and 1500 devices; Class 6 = more than 1500 devices
AllowedBlueprints	None, StockOnly, All	Restrict Blueprint types allowed for production in factory: None = Blueprint system completely disabled; StockOnly = only stock blueprints can be produced; All = all types allowed (default)
GameName	Alphanumeric without space	this is the name of the save game created in the save game folder
Mode	2=Creative, 1=Survival	Creative/Survival world
Seed	Numeric without 0 or negative	Seed determines how the world is procedurally generated - the same seed means the same world. Can be any 7 digit or below number but negative numbers and 0 (zero) cannot be used.
DecayTime	Numeric	Time in real time hours when player-built structures without core and/or less than 10 blocks get removed. 24h in game = ca 1h real time
WipeTime	Numeric	0 = disabled. Time in realtime. 24h in game = ca 1h real time
ProtectTime	Numeric	0 = disabled. Time during which structures are offline protected. Time in real time. 24h in game = ca 1h real time
MaxStructures	Numeric	Set this if you want to limit max number of structures per playfield due to performance. Currently, max number must not exceed 100
AntiGriefDistance	Numeric	distance (in m) around a faction's base where no other faction's base can be built
AntiGriefZone	PvP, PvE, All	zone where the AntiGriefDistance is valid (All, PvP, PvE)
AntiGriefOresDistance	Numeric	distance (in m) around ore deposits where no other faction's base can be built
AntiGriefOresZone	PvP, PvE, All	zone where the AntiGriefOresDistance is valid (All, PvP, PvE)
EnableTrading	GlobalVirtual	Enables a global virtual marketplace for player-to-player trading; Add a # in front of the line to deactivate
Difficulty Settings	Various	Remove the # in front of the setting to enable it. Already created planets/games won't be affected. You need to change the difficulty settings ahead of starting a new server world!
EnableMaxBlockCount	True, False	Enable the MaxCount for blocks based on Survival Games.

How to connect to the server console

Telnet

Use the PuTTY terminal emulator to access your server, if telnet is enabled in the server configuration. The default port is 30004. Be advised that, while the service uses telnet, the Raw connection type should be used. Use of the Telnet connection type causes unusual issues, such as the initial input of the password will always fail.

Server and Console commands

All of the following commands are available via Telnet and from the in-game CONSOLE to Gamemasters, Moderators and Server Admins. Where <steam-id> is listed in the following command syntax, enter either a player's Steam ID # or their player name. If the player name contains spaces, encapsulate the player's name in single quotes; e.g.: 'Player Name'

Available Commands
Command	Syntax	Description
help	help	Shows all of the available commands. Additionally, by prefixing a command with help, all of the options for that command will displa;. e.g.: "help faction"
ban	ban <steam-id> <duration>	Ban a player for an amount of time. The duration can be given in hours, days or months, e.g. '2h' Example: "ban 1234567890 14d" - will ban the player for two weeks
faction	faction <function>	There are several faction functions for managing player factions: faction delete <faction> faction allow <faction> <playerid> faction deny <faction> <playerid> faction remove <faction> <playerid> faction entity <faction> <entityid> faction list faction list <faction> faction stats Note: Put faction name and playerid in single quotes if it contains spaces
gents	gents	List all structures on all playfields, the faction that owns it, whether or not it is a spawn point, and the structure's name. (only dedi/server)
initadmin	initadmin	Sets oneself as the initial administrator. This command can only be executed if there is no player with admin permissions.
kick	kick <player> [message]	Kick player (or all players) out of game, optionally with a message. kick <steam-id or player name> [message] or kick all [message]
list	list perm list ban	Lists players with special permissions or banned players. list perm[issions] - list players that have special permissions list ban[ned] - list players that are currently banned
plys	plys	Shows all players in the game
saveandexit	saveandexit <timeout in minutes: max=15>	Saves the game and shuts down the server after a given timeout. saveandexit <timeout in minutes, maximum value is 15> saveandexit cancel - cancels a scheduled exit saveandexit - shows a scheduled exit Example: saveandexit 10 NOTE: Issuing this command automatically cancels a scheduled 'stoppf' command! When using a timeout some warning messages will be broadcasted before actual exiting.
say	say 'text with spaces'	Sends a chat message to all players.
servers	servers or svs	Either command lists all connected playfield severs
setrole	setrole <steam-id> <role>	Sets the role for a player, giving them special permissions. Elevated players can, for example, execute privileged console commands. As <role> you can set: pl[ayer] - default, no special permissions gm \| gamemaster - player gets gamemaster permissions mod[erator] - player gets moderator permissions admin - player gets admin permissions Example: setrole 1234567890 gm NOTE: The Steam-ID must be in steamID64 format
stoppf	stoppf <playfield> <function>	Stops a specific playfield or all playfield servers - optionally after a given timeout. Issuing this command automatically cancels a scheduled 'saveandexit'! When using a timeout, some warning messages will be broadcasted before actual stopping. Remaining connected players will be disconnected, they can immediately reconnect. Functions: stoppf <playfield name>\|all [<timeout in minutes: max=15>] Note: Put playfield name in single quotes if it contains spaces stops the server that provides the playfield (or all servers) when a timeout is given the stop will be delayed accordingly stoppf <playfield name> kill immediately kills the server process that provides the given playfield Use only if a normal stop didn't work (may result in not saving latest data) stoppf cancel cancels a scheduled server stop stoppf shows a scheduled stop - if any Examples: stoppf Ningues
time	time [time value]	Get / set the global server time [can only be executed on servers] Specify a time value to set the server time to Exclusion of a parameter will show the current server time
unban	unban <steam-id>	Using a player-name as parameter requires the player to be in the game, using the steam-id is always possible.

FAQ / Q&A

Have additional starter planets

Stop your server
Open the sectors.yaml
Find the planet you would like to offer as a starter planet
Add TRUE to the planets entry

Example

- Coordinates: [ 20, 0, -15 ]
  Playfields:
  - [ "0, 0, 0", "Omicron Orbit", SpaceAsteroidFieldOmicron ]
  - [ "-1200, 0, 7200", Omicron, Desert, true ]
  - [ "1500, 4000, -6500", Omicron Moon, Moon ]

Adding new starter planet choices will allow new players to not only have a choice at all, but also to avoid crowded starter planets like Akua. This only applies to NEW players on your server! Using FRESH START won't let the users change their starter planet.

Important: Not all planets are suitable for being used as a starter planet. To offer an easy start, you may want to adjust the playfield settings of an entirely new starter planet. Please refer to our Customizing_Solar_Systems Guide for more details!

Avoid dedicated.yaml to be overwritten

Q: My dedicated.yaml gets overwritten with each version update! What can i do?

A:

1. Copy your dedicated.yaml and rename it to something like myserver_dedicated.yaml
2. Open the EmpyrionDedicated.cmd (or EmpyrionDedicated_NoGraphics.cmd if you are used to start your server without GUI) with a text-tool, like Notepad++ or Windows Editor (DO NOT USE WORD or anything similar!)
3. Find the line that says

EmpyrionLauncher -startDediWithGfx or

EmpyrionLauncher -startDedi

4. Add the parameter "-dedicated myserver_dedicated.yaml" so it looks like this

EmpyrionLauncher -startDediWithGfx -dedicated myserver_dedicated.yaml or

EmpyrionLauncher -startDedi -dedicated myserver_dedicated.yaml

5. Use SAVE AS and rename your EmpyrionDedicated.cmd, like "EmpyrionDedicated-myserver.cmd". This will avoid that the server start batch (.cmd) gets overwritten with the next version update!
6. Start your server with your EmpyrionDedicated-myserver.cmd. From now on, you will start your server via your own file!

Retrieving lost ships

(Workaround should also work for SP)

Retrieving lost ships can be achieved with a small workaround: Every ship ("entity") is saved in a distinct folder in your (single player or) server world savegame D:\Steam\SteamApps\common\Empyrion - Galactic Survival\Saves\Games\<game name>\Shared

<game name> is the name of the save-game, 
---For multiplayer this is set in the GameName prop of dedicated.yaml. The of default value is 'New Game': - { prop: GameName, value: New Game }  (The folder can only accessed by the server hosts)
---For single player it is the name of the game used at the time of starting the new game or at the time of renaming the save game at resume menu.

In the SHARED folder, you can find entries like SV_New_74922. Each of these entries has - as all windows folders have - a creation date.

If you can identify the folder of the ship that got LOST (f.ex. by asking the user when he created it), you/your player only needs to lay down a new starter block (SV for a SV and so on) and YOU, as the admin, just need to copy the four *.area files from the lost ships folder to the newly laid down starter block ship folder (overwrite!).

Steps to follow:

Player places a new starter block (SV for SV, CV for CV ..)
Save and Exit your server (or your game if SP)
Copy the .area files from the lost-ships folder over to the newly created ship folder and hit yes if asked to overwrite
Start your server (game)

Please do NOT do this while server/game is still running, as this may cause severe issues with the playfield! Of course you need FTP access to the installation folder at your hoster if you are not the host.