For a Satisfactory dedicated server, plan around 8 GB of RAM at minimum and 16 GB for larger saves or more than four players. Choose a modern 64-bit Intel or AMD CPU with strong single-core performance, reserve at least 20 GB of free SSD space, and use a 64-bit Windows or Linux installation. The server does not have a native ARM build in the cited requirements. Internet hosting also requires TCP and UDP port 7777 plus TCP port 8888.
How much RAM does a Satisfactory dedicated server need?
8 GB is the documented minimum. It can run a basic server, but 16 GB is the safer planning target when the save is large, the factory is complex, or more than four players will connect. The published requirements do not provide a player-by-player RAM formula, so treat 16 GB as practical headroom rather than a guaranteed capacity limit.
8 GB: the baseline
An 8 GB machine matches the stated minimum. Leave enough memory for the operating system and background services instead of assigning every available gigabyte to the game process. A small, lightly used world is the most appropriate case for this allocation.
16 GB: the sensible target
Allocate 16 GB when you expect larger saves, sustained multiplayer sessions, or more than four players. Extra memory gives the server room for the operating system, save handling, logs, updates, and other resident services. It does not replace a fast CPU; a high-memory system can still perform poorly if its processor is weak.
What the requirements do not establish
No published benchmark in the cited requirements maps a specific number of players or factory size to a fixed RAM figure. Do not advertise an exact maximum player count from the memory number alone. Monitor actual memory use as your save grows and increase the allocation if the host begins swapping or the process is routinely close to its limit.
What CPU do I need for a Satisfactory dedicated server?
The server benefits more from strong single-core performance than from simply adding a large number of slow virtual cores. The documented baseline is Intel Core i5-3570 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600-class performance. Coffee Stain’s Epic Games Store listing gives newer examples: an Intel Core i5-12400 or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X with six physical cores.
| CPU guidance | What it means | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Intel i5-3570 or Ryzen 5 3600 class | Documented baseline examples | Entry-level dedicated server with modest load |
| Intel i5-12400 or Ryzen 5 5600X class | Newer examples named by Coffee Stain; six physical cores | Preferred target for larger saves and regular multiplayer |
| Generic low-performance virtual CPU | May have enough advertised cores but insufficient per-core speed | Avoid for production hosting |
Why single-core speed matters
Satisfactory’s server workload uses multiple cores but is heavily influenced by the speed of the busiest core. A virtual machine can therefore look adequate on a specification sheet while still struggling under simulation load. The Satisfactory wiki specifically warns against the Proxmox kvm64 CPU profile; select a host CPU model that exposes the real processor’s performance rather than a deliberately generic, low-feature profile.
Physical cores versus virtual threads
When comparing a desktop, VPS, or server plan, ask what CPU model and guaranteed performance you receive, not just how many vCPUs are listed. Six physical cores in the i5-12400 and Ryzen 5 5600X examples provide a useful reference point, but equivalent or better single-thread performance is the important comparison.
How much storage does the server use?
The published figures describe different things. The Satisfactory wiki lists approximately 12.4 GB for Windows server files and 8 GB for Linux. Coffee Stain’s Epic listing asks for 20 GB of available space and recommends a 20 GB SSD. For a real installation, reserve at least 20 GB free on the host and leave additional capacity for saves, logs, updates, and the operating system.
| Storage figure | Scope | How to plan around it |
|---|---|---|
| 12.4 GB | Windows server-file footprint listed by the wiki | Not a complete host-allocation target |
| 8 GB | Linux server-file footprint listed by the wiki | Still requires room for the OS and changing files |
| 20 GB | Available-space requirement and SSD recommendation in the Epic listing | Use as the safer minimum free-space target |
Why an SSD is preferable
Use SSD storage for the server, saves, and logs whenever possible. The listing’s 20 GB recommendation refers to an SSD, while the larger practical allocation prevents updates or save growth from filling the volume. A 500 GB SSD is optional headroom for a host that will run other games or services; Satisfactory itself does not require that capacity.
Keep free space after installation
Do not measure only the initial download. Save files change as the factory expands, log files accumulate, and updates may need temporary working space. Keep a meaningful reserve and set up monitoring so an almost-full volume does not stop the server from saving or updating.
Does Satisfactory dedicated server work on Linux or ARM?
It is a 64-bit x86-64 workload for Windows or Linux. The cited requirements do not list a native ARM build, so an ARM-only host is not a supported target on that evidence. Choose a current 64-bit Windows installation or a major 64-bit Linux distribution on Intel or AMD hardware.
- Supported architecture in the requirements: 64-bit x86-64.
- Operating systems: 64-bit Windows or Linux.
- Not established as supported: a native ARM server build.
Check the distribution’s libraries and service-management tools before deployment, but do not substitute ARM compatibility claims for an officially listed build.
How do I install a Satisfactory dedicated server?
You can obtain the server through SteamCMD, the Steam client’s tools section, or the Epic Games Store dedicated-server add-on. SteamCMD uses app ID 1690800 and supports an anonymous login for installation.
SteamCMD installation path
- Install the 64-bit SteamCMD package for your operating system and create a dedicated directory with the storage headroom described above.
- Start SteamCMD and sign in anonymously with
login anonymous. - Install or update the server with app ID
1690800; the standard command isapp_update 1690800 validate. - Exit SteamCMD after the download completes, then launch the server executable from its installation directory.
- Configure the world, save location, and administrative settings before opening the service to the internet.
The Steam client can install the same dedicated-server tool as a library tool, while the Epic Games Store provides a dedicated-server add-on. Keep one installation method and its update process consistent so that you do not accidentally run an older copy from another directory.
Which ports must I open for internet hosting?
Current port guidance calls for 7777 over both TCP and UDP, plus 8888 over TCP for reliable messaging. Configure the host firewall and, if the server is behind a router, forward the same ports to the machine running the server.
| Port | Protocol | Purpose in the current guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 7777 | TCP and UDP | Game-server traffic |
| 8888 | TCP | Reliable messaging |
Basic network checklist
- Assign the server host a stable local address before creating a router rule.
- Create inbound firewall rules for TCP 7777, UDP 7777, and TCP 8888.
- Forward those ports from the router to the host’s local address.
- Test from outside your home network; a test performed on the same LAN may not reveal a forwarding error.
- If the host is in a VPS or managed environment, confirm that its provider-level security group allows the same protocols.
Only expose the required ports. Keep operating-system updates and account credentials protected, and restrict administrative access separately from public game traffic.
Should I host on a home PC, VPS, or managed server?
The hardware requirements are the same, but the operational trade-offs differ. Compare each option on guaranteed RAM, single-core CPU performance, SSD I/O, architecture, port control, restart and update automation, backups, and total monthly cost.
| Hosting choice | Advantages | Checks before committing |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted PC | Direct hardware control and no separate hosting bill | Upload bandwidth, router access, power use, uptime, backups, and whether the PC can remain online |
| VPS | Remote datacenter, fixed allocation, and provider networking | Actual CPU model, guaranteed versus shared vCPUs, SSD performance, firewall rules, snapshots, and data-center location |
| Managed provider | Often includes a control panel, updates, restarts, and support | RAM and CPU guarantees, backup policy, port availability, region, renewal cost, and cancellation terms |
Do not choose a plan solely because it advertises many vCPUs. A smaller allocation on a fast processor can be a better fit than a larger allocation on oversubscribed, low-frequency hardware.
How can I run the server continuously?
Run the process as an operating-system service rather than leaving it attached to an interactive terminal. A service can start at boot, continue in the background, restart after a failure, and trigger SteamCMD update checks.
Service features worth configuring
- Automatic startup: the server returns after a reboot without manual login.
- Restart policy: a crash does not leave the world offline until someone notices.
- Update handling: SteamCMD checks and applies server updates during a maintenance window.
- Logging: retain enough history to diagnose crashes, connection failures, and storage exhaustion.
- Backups: copy saves before updates or other maintenance that could make recovery necessary.
Schedule updates when players are not building, and verify that the service starts from the intended installation directory. Running two copies of the server can create confusing port conflicts and mismatched save locations.
What problems do these requirements help prevent?
The server starts but becomes unresponsive
Check the busiest CPU core and the actual processor model. A high core count does not compensate for weak single-thread performance or an overly generic virtual CPU profile.
Memory usage keeps climbing
Confirm that the host has enough free RAM for the operating system and other services. Move from the 8 GB baseline toward 16 GB for larger saves or a group of more than four players, then observe whether swapping stops.
An update fails despite having the listed footprint
The initial server-file size is not the same as required free space during an update. Check that at least 20 GB remains available and that the volume also has room for saves, logs, temporary files, and the operating system.
Friends cannot connect from outside the network
Verify all three rules: TCP 7777, UDP 7777, and TCP 8888. Check both the host firewall and the router or provider firewall, and confirm that forwarding points to the current local address.
A Linux or ARM package will not launch
Confirm that the operating system and hardware are 64-bit x86-64. The cited requirements do not establish a native ARM build, so an ARM-only machine is not an equivalent substitute.
What should I check before buying or allocating a host?
- At least 8 GB RAM is available; choose 16 GB for larger saves or more than four players.
- The CPU meets at least the i5-3570/Ryzen 5 3600 class and has strong single-core performance; newer i5-12400 or Ryzen 5 5600X-class performance is a better target.
- The host provides at least 20 GB of free SSD space plus room for growth.
- The platform is 64-bit Windows or Linux on x86-64 hardware.
- You can control TCP and UDP 7777 and TCP 8888 at both firewall and router/provider levels.
- You have a plan for automatic restart, updates, logs, and save backups.
- You have verified the provider’s CPU model, RAM guarantees, storage type, location, and recurring price rather than relying on core counts alone.
What is the practical specification for most communities?
For a dependable general-purpose setup, choose 16 GB RAM, a modern six-core Intel or AMD processor with strong single-core performance, and an SSD with at least 20 GB free after the operating system is installed. Use 64-bit Windows or Linux on x86-64 hardware, expose only the documented ports, and automate restarts, updates, and backups. An 8 GB machine remains a valid minimum for a smaller world, but it leaves less room for growth and concurrent services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade from 8 GB to 16 GB later without reinstalling the server?
Yes. RAM is a host resource, so increasing the machine’s memory normally does not require reinstalling the server files. Shut down the process cleanly, install compatible memory, confirm the operating system sees it, and then restart the existing installation.
Where should I keep Satisfactory save backups?
Keep copies on storage separate from the live server volume or on another machine. Preserve several dated versions and create an extra backup before applying server updates or changing the host.
How do I tell whether a VPS is oversubscribed?
Ask the provider for the CPU model, whether vCPUs are shared, and what performance is guaranteed. During a test period, watch CPU steal time and the busiest core while the server is active; unexplained slowdowns on an otherwise idle guest can indicate contention.
Do players need the same operating system as the server?
No. The operating-system requirement applies to the dedicated-server host. Players connect with their supported Satisfactory game clients; the host itself must meet the server’s 64-bit Windows or Linux and x86-64 requirements.