To make an Abiotic Factor dedicated server, install the Windows server files with SteamCMD (App ID 2857200), create a batch file beside AbioticFactorServer-Win64-Shipping.exe, open the game and query ports you actually configure, and test the connection from inside and outside your home network. The documented example uses game port 7777, query port 27015, and a six-player setting.
This guide follows the supported Windows setup from installation through router forwarding, administrator access, troubleshooting, safe shutdown, and the choice between hosting at home or paying for a managed server. The server tool can be downloaded anonymously; each person who plays still needs the game on their own account.
What do you need before making an Abiotic Factor server?
The supported dedicated-server path is Windows. The quickstart states: “Dedicated Server is currently available for Windows Only.” Prepare a Windows PC that can remain powered on whenever your group wants to play, plus permission to install SteamCMD and change Windows Firewall and router settings.
- A Windows host: This runs SteamCMD and the server executable. It can be a spare desktop or another always-on Windows machine, but it must stay available during play.
- SteamCMD: The dedicated-server files install through an anonymous SteamCMD login using App ID
2857200. - Network access: You need to identify the host’s local IP address, create firewall rules, and configure port forwarding if friends will connect over the internet.
- A public WAN address: Home hosting requires an address that accepts inbound traffic. Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) can prevent connections even when forwarding rules look correct.
- Two passwords: Choose a join password and a separate administrator password. Never reuse the admin password as the player password.
- Player accounts: The server installation is separate from game ownership. The people playing need the game; the server download itself supports anonymous installation.
No authoritative source in the setup documentation publishes minimum CPU, memory, storage, or bandwidth numbers. Choose a reasonably modern Windows PC with enough headroom for the operating system and other services rather than treating an invented specification as a guaranteed requirement. A wired Ethernet connection can improve consistency; a Cat 6 cable is useful but not mandatory.
Should you self-host or rent an Abiotic Factor server?
Self-hosting costs no separate hosting invoice, but you supply the computer, electricity, internet connection, security, updates, backups, and troubleshooting. A rented server shifts the machine and much of the network setup to a provider in exchange for a recurring charge and whatever limits the provider’s control panel imposes.
| Consideration | Self-hosted | Rented server |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | No hosting bill, but your hardware, power, and internet costs remain. | Recurring provider charge; verify the current plan and included resources. |
| Hardware | You provide an always-on Windows PC. | The provider supplies the machine. |
| Initial setup | You install SteamCMD, write launch parameters, configure Windows Firewall and the router, then test remotely. | The provider provisions the server, although panel features and supported settings vary. |
| Maintenance | You handle updates, save backups, password changes, outages, and network changes. | Ask specifically about update timing, backup retention, restores, support, and outage handling. |
| Best fit | Players with an available PC and a public, configurable home network. | Players who cannot expose a home server or prefer managed infrastructure. |
If your internet service uses CGNAT or your router cannot forward ports, renting is usually simpler than trying to work around a network that does not accept inbound connections. If you already have an always-on Windows system and control of the router, self-hosting gives you direct access to every launch option and save file.
How do you install the dedicated-server files with SteamCMD?
Install SteamCMD first, then use its console to download App ID 2857200. The directory command below is optional; it keeps the files in a clearly named folder.
- Open SteamCMD on the Windows host.
- At the SteamCMD prompt, enter:
force_install_dir C:abiotic_server
login anonymous
app_update 2857200 validate
quit- Wait for SteamCMD to finish validation and close it with
quit. - Locate the executable under the installed files. The expected path includes
AbioticFactorBinariesWin64AbioticFactorServer-Win64-Shipping.exe.
If that executable is missing, do not proceed to router configuration. Recheck the SteamCMD install directory, the App ID, and whether the update completed without an error. A launch failure at this stage is a file or path problem, not a port-forwarding problem.
How do you create the Windows launch batch file?
The launch settings belong in a batch file stored beside the server executable. Create a text file first, then rename its extension so Windows runs it as a batch script.
- Open the server’s
AbioticFactorBinariesWin64directory. - Create a file named
RunServer.txt. - Put this documented example launch line in the file:
AbioticFactorServer-Win64-Shipping.exe -log -newconsole -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -MaxServerPlayers=6 -PORT=7777 -QueryPort=27015 -ServerPassword=ReplaceWithJoinPassword -AdminPassword=ReplaceWithAdminPassword -SteamServerName="My Abiotic Server"- Replace
ReplaceWithJoinPasswordandReplaceWithAdminPasswordwith strong, different values. ReplaceMy Abiotic Serverwith the name you want players to see. - Save the file, enable Windows file-name extensions if necessary, and rename it to
RunServer.bat. Confirm that it is not accidentally namedRunServer.bat.txt. - Double-click
RunServer.bat. A console window should open and begin writing server output.
-MaxServerPlayers=6 is the value used in the example; it is not a published universal hardware limit. Keep the -PORT and -QueryPort values visible because the same numbers must be used in your firewall and router rules.
How do you set an administrator password or moderator?
The simplest method is to include -AdminPassword in the launch line. Keep this password private and distinct from the join password, because anyone who receives the administrator credential may gain control over server functions.
If you omit -AdminPassword, the quickstart documents a file-based alternative after the first run:
- Stop the server cleanly and open
AbioticFactorSavedSaveGamesServerAdmin.ini. - Add the appropriate SteamID under the
[Moderators]section. - Save the file and start the server again.
This SteamID method is documented for Steam accounts. It does not apply to Xbox or PlayStation accounts, so do not promise console players that adding a SteamID will grant them moderator access.
Which ports does an Abiotic Factor server use?
Ports are determined by the launch parameters, not by a label on the router. In the documented example, 7777 carries game traffic and 27015 is the query port used for server discovery. If you change either value, every matching firewall and forwarding rule must change with it.
| Purpose | Example value | Where it must match |
|---|---|---|
| Game traffic | 7777 |
The batch file’s -PORT=7777, Windows Firewall allowance, and router forwarding rule. |
| Server queries and browser visibility | 27015 |
The batch file’s -QueryPort=27015, Windows Firewall allowance, and router forwarding rule. |
The exact protocol details and interface labels can differ between router models, so create rules for the protocols your router exposes and follow its terminology. Point both rules at the Windows host’s current local IP address. Reserve that address with a DHCP reservation so a reboot does not silently send traffic to another device.
How do you configure Windows Firewall and router forwarding?
Configure access only after the server has launched once and you know which ports you are using.
Allow the server through Windows Firewall
- Start the server batch file so Windows can identify the executable and listening ports.
- When Windows displays a firewall prompt, allow the server on the network profiles you actually use. If no prompt appears, create inbound rules for the configured game and query ports or for the server executable according to your Windows security policy.
- Do not open unrelated ports. The rules should correspond to the values in the batch file.
Reserve the host’s local IP
Find the Windows machine’s LAN address and create a DHCP reservation in the router for that device. A reservation prevents the forwarding destination from changing after a lease renewal or reboot. If the address has already changed, edit the forwarding rule before testing again.
Forward the ports
- Open the router’s port-forwarding or virtual-server page.
- Create a rule for the game port and another for the query port, using the values from your launch line.
- Set the destination to the reserved local IP of the Windows host.
- Save or apply the rules, then restart the server if your router requires a configuration reload.
Home hosting also requires a genuine public WAN address. Compare the WAN address shown by the router with the public address shown by an independent internet service. If they do not correspond because your provider places you behind CGNAT, inbound forwarding may never reach your router; ask the provider about a public address or use rented hosting instead.
How do you test that the server works from outside your home?
Test in layers. Starting with the executable and the local network isolates mistakes before you involve the router or a friend’s connection.
- Process test: Start the batch file and confirm that the console remains open, the executable is running, and logs are being written. Stop the process before editing launch settings.
- LAN test: From another device on the same network, connect using the Windows host’s LAN IP address, not
localhost. This verifies that the process is listening and that local firewall rules permit access. - Public-address test: Confirm that the host still has its reserved local IP and that the router reports a public WAN address rather than a CGNAT address.
- Outside-network test: Ask a friend on a different internet connection to find the server in the game’s browser or use the game’s direct-connection option. A phone hotspot can provide a separate test network if available.
Seeing a name in the browser is not proof that a player can complete a game connection. Treat browser discovery, game-port reachability, password acceptance, and the server console as separate checks.
Why can friends not connect to your server?
Use the symptom that matches what you see instead of changing every setting at once.
The console never appears or closes immediately
- Verify that
RunServer.batis in the same directory asAbioticFactorServer-Win64-Shipping.exe. - Check that SteamCMD installed App ID
2857200completely and that the executable path is correct. - Review every launch parameter for spelling, missing values, and accidental extra characters.
- Run the batch file from a command prompt if you need the error text to remain visible after a failure.
The server works on the host but is not visible in the browser
- Confirm that the query port in the batch file and the query-port firewall and router rules all match.
- Check that the server process is still listening and that the configured server name is the one you expect.
- Verify that Windows Firewall did not create a rule for the wrong network profile.
- Make sure the forwarding destination is the host’s current, reserved LAN IP.
The server appears, but friends time out
- Check the game port, not only the query port. The example uses
7777for game traffic. - Compare the friend’s destination with the public WAN address and confirm that the router is not behind CGNAT.
- Have the friend enter the current join password exactly as configured in
-ServerPassword. - Recheck that the server console is running while the friend attempts to join.
Forwarding worked and then stopped
The usual cause is a changed local address. Restore the DHCP reservation, update the router destination if necessary, and repeat the LAN and outside-network tests in that order.
How do you shut down the server without risking the save?
Do not simply close the console window or kill the process. Use the in-game administrator path or the administrator console and enter exit for a proper shutdown. Wait for the process to finish before changing launch parameters, updating files, or copying saves.
How should you update and back up a self-hosted server?
Stop the server cleanly before maintenance. Run the same SteamCMD installation command again, including app_update 2857200 validate, to obtain the current server files, then start the batch file and check the console for errors. Keep a copy of the server’s save data, including the AbioticFactorSavedSaveGamesServer directory, before upgrades or major configuration changes; copy it only while the server is stopped so files are not being written.
Record your working launch line, port numbers, passwords location, and reserved LAN address in a secure note. If the host’s Windows account, router, or internet service changes, this record makes it possible to rebuild the setup without guessing which values were used.
Can you run the dedicated server on Linux?
The official path is Windows, and the documented statement does not establish native Linux support. Community Wine-based instructions exist, but they are workarounds rather than an officially supported platform. Expect to troubleshoot compatibility, updates, and service management yourself if you choose that route; use a Windows host when you want to follow the supported quickstart exactly.
What is the practical hardware and network choice?
Choose a Windows PC that can stay online, run SteamCMD and the server process, and leave capacity for the operating system and any other services you keep on the machine. Because no authoritative CPU, RAM, storage, or bandwidth minimum is published, a specific processor model or memory number would be misleading. Monitor the console and the players’ experience after the first sessions, then adjust the host or move to managed hosting if it cannot remain stable.
Connect the host by Ethernet when convenient. A Cat 6 cable is an optional accessory, not a documented requirement, but a wired link removes one source of wireless interference between the server and router.
What is the safest order for a first public session?
- Install and validate App ID
2857200. - Launch locally with the documented parameters, replacing both passwords and the server name.
- Confirm the executable, console, and logs are healthy.
- Test from another device on the LAN.
- Reserve the host’s local IP and create matching firewall and router rules for the configured game and query ports.
- Verify a public WAN address and test with a friend on another network.
- Share only the join password, never the administrator password.
- Use the administrator
exitcommand when the session ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to own Abiotic Factor on the account that runs the server?
The dedicated-server files can be installed through an anonymous SteamCMD login, so the server download is separate from game ownership. Everyone who actually plays still needs access to the game on their own account.
Can I use the same password for joining and administration?
You can technically place values in both launch parameters, but it is unsafe. Use a private administrator password and give friends only the separate value assigned to -ServerPassword.
How do I change the number of player slots later?
Stop the server cleanly, edit the -MaxServerPlayers value in RunServer.bat, save the file, and start it again. The documented value of 6 is an example setting, not a guaranteed limit for every computer.
Why does adding a SteamID not make my console account an administrator?
The documented Admin.ini method is based on SteamIDs. It does not apply to Xbox or PlayStation accounts, so console identities require a different supported administration method if one becomes available.
What should I check before changing router settings?
First prove that the executable starts, stays running, listens, and accepts a connection from another device on the same LAN. Router changes cannot repair a missing executable, an invalid launch line, or a server blocked by the local firewall.