So you want to build that mega-factory with your friends, but playing on someone's PC while they're AFK isn't cutting it anymore? Setting up a Factorio dedicated server is exactly what you need. Whether you're planning a casual factory expansion or a serious space age operation, a dedicated server keeps your world running 24/7 without depending on anyone's gaming rig.

In this guide, we'll walk you through everything—from downloading the headless server binary to configuring mods, managing player whitelists, and optimizing performance. By the end, you'll have a fully functional multiplayer Factorio server ready for your team of engineers.

Why Run a Dedicated Factorio Server?

Before we dive into the setup, let's talk about why a dedicated server beats the alternatives:

• Always Online: Your factory keeps producing whether players are connected or not
• Better Performance: No one's gaming PC bottleneck affecting server stability
• Mod Support: Easily sync and manage mods across all players
• Control: Full control over settings, whitelists, RCON commands, and auto-pause behavior
• Scalability: Grow your factory without lag or performance degradation

If you're serious about multiplayer Factorio, hosting on a dedicated server is a game-changer. Services like EZ Game Host handle the infrastructure, so you can focus on building instead of managing server hardware.

What You'll Need Before Starting

Here's what you should have ready:

• A Linux or Windows server (or rent one from a hosting provider)
• Factorio server binary files (available from your Factorio account)
• Basic command-line knowledge (especially for Linux users)
• Port access (port 34197 UDP for game traffic, port 27015 for RCON)
• Optional: mod list if you plan to use mods

Step 1: Download the Factorio Server Binary

The first step is getting the actual server files. Head to your Factorio account page and navigate to the downloads section.

On Linux:

Download the headless server binary for your architecture (x64 or ARM):

cd /opt/factorio
wget https://factorio.com/get-download/latest/headless/linux64
tar -xzf factorio-<version>_headless_x64.tar.gz

On Windows:

Download the Windows headless server package, extract it to a folder like C:\Factorio, and you're ready to go. Windows users will run the server via factorio.exe with command-line arguments.

Pro tip: If you're not sure which version to download, check your Factorio account profile—it'll recommend the right one for your OS.

Step 2: Generate or Prepare Your Map

Before launching the server, you need a map. You can either generate a new one or use an existing save file.

Generating a New Map:

Create or modify map-gen-settings.json to customize terrain generation, water coverage, ore placement, and enemy bases. Here's a starter template:

{
  "terrain_segmentation": 0.5,
  "water": 0.5,
  "peaceful_mode": false,
  "autoplace_controls": {
    "coal": {"frequency": "normal", "size": "normal", "richness": "normal"},
    "copper-ore": {"frequency": "normal", "size": "normal", "richness": "normal"},
    "iron-ore": {"frequency": "normal", "size": "normal", "richness": "normal"},
    "stone": {"frequency": "normal", "size": "normal", "richness": "normal"},
    "crude-oil": {"frequency": "normal", "size": "normal", "richness": "normal"}
  },
  "cliff_settings": {
    "cliff_elevation_0": 10,
    "cliff_elevation_interval": 10,
    "cliff_richness": 1
  },
  "starting_area_size": 2,
  "pollution": {
    "enabled": true
  },
  "enemy_evolution": {
    "enabled": true,
    "time_factor": 4e-05,
    "destroy_factor": 2e-05,
    "pollution_factor": 9e-06
  },
  "enemy_expansion": {
    "enabled": true,
    "max_expansion_distance": 7,
    "friendly_base_influence_radius": 2,
    "enemy_building_influence_radius": 2,
    "building_coefficient": 0.1,
    "other_base_coefficient": 2.0,
    "neighbouring_chunk_coefficient": 0.5,
    "neighbouring_base_chunk_coefficient": 0,
    "max_colonist_platoon_size": 20,
    "max_groups_gathering_at_target": 5,
    "max_group_gathering_timer": 300
  },
  "space_age_distance_check": true
}

Customize these values based on your preferred difficulty and resource distribution. The space_age_distance_check setting enables Space Age content on your server.

Using an Existing Save File:

If you have a save file from single-player, copy it to the server's saves directory:

cp /path/to/your/save.zip /opt/factorio/saves/

Step 3: Configure Server Settings

The server-settings.json file controls how your server behaves. Create or edit this file in your Factorio server directory with the following configuration:

{
  "name": "Your Factory Name",
  "description": "A multiplayer factory building adventure",
  "tags": ["factory", "multiplayer", "space-age"],
  "max_players": 255,
  "visibility": {
    "public": false,
    "lan": true
  },
  "username": "your_factorio_username",
  "password": "optional_server_password",
  "token": "your_authentication_token",
  "game_password": "",
  "require_user_verification": true,
  "max_upload_size": 65534,
  "minimum_latency_in_ticks": 0,
  "afk_autokick_interval": 0,
  "autosave_interval": 10,
  "autosave_slots": 5,
  "admins": [],
  "allow_commands": "admins-only",
  "ignore_player_limit_for_returning_players": false,
  "allow_afk_players": true,
  "auto_pause": true,
  "only_admins_can_pause_the_game": true,
  "only_admins_can_configure": false,
  "polling_interval": 5,
  "afk_autokick_interval": 3600
}

Key settings to understand:

• max_players: Up to 255 players (depending on hardware)
• auto_pause: Game pauses when no players are online (great for performance)
• afk_autokick_interval: Kicks inactive players (3600 = 1 hour)
• autosave_interval: Saves every 10 minutes
• allow_commands: "admins-only" limits console commands to admins
• require_user_verification: Ensures players are logged into Factorio accounts

Save this configuration carefully—these settings define your server's behavior and difficulty.

Step 4: Manage Your Mod List

Love mods? Your dedicated server can handle them with mod syncing, ensuring all players have the same mod versions.

Creating a Mods Directory:

mkdir -p /opt/factorio/mods

Adding Mods:

Download mods from the Factorio mod portal and place .zip files in the mods directory. You can also specify mods in mod-list.json:

{
  "mods": [
    {
      "name": "base",
      "enabled": true
    },
    {
      "name": "space-age",
      "enabled": true,
      "version": "2.0.0"
    },
    {
      "name": "bobsmods",
      "enabled": true,
      "version": "1.1.5"
    },
    {
      "name": "PyMods",
      "enabled": true,
      "version": "2.0.0"
    }
  ]
}

Important: All players connecting to the server must have the exact same mods installed. The server won't auto-download mods to clients, so communicate your mod list to your team beforehand.

Step 5: Launch Your Server

Time to bring your factory online!

On Linux:

cd /opt/factorio
./bin/x64/factorio --start-server saves/your_save.zip --port 34197

Add --server-settings server-settings.json if you want to use custom settings:

./bin/x64/factorio --start-server saves/your_save.zip \
  --server-settings server-settings.json \
  --port 34197

On Windows:

From Command Prompt or PowerShell:

C:\Factorio\bin\x64\factorio.exe --start-server "C:\Factorio\saves\your_save.zip" ^
  --server-settings "C:\Factorio\server-settings.json" ^
  --port 34197

Running in the Background (Linux):

Use screen or systemd to keep the server running after you disconnect:

screen -S factorio -d -m /opt/factorio/bin/x64/factorio --start-server saves/your_save.zip \
  --server-settings server-settings.json \
  --port 34197

Reattach with: screen -r factorio

Step 6: Port Configuration and Firewall

Factorio communicates over two ports by default:

• Port 34197 UDP: Game traffic (player connections, world updates)
• Port 27015 TCP: RCON (remote console for commands)

On Linux (UFW):

sudo ufw allow 34197/udp
sudo ufw allow 27015/tcp

On Windows Firewall:

1. Open Windows Defender Firewall
2. Click "Allow an app through firewall"
3. Add factorio.exe for both UDP (34197) and TCP (27015)

If you're behind a router, you'll also need to forward these ports to your server's local IP address.

Step 7: Connect Your Players

Now for the fun part—getting your team into the factory!

Players connect via the multiplayer menu in Factorio:

1. Click Multiplayer
2. Select Connect to Server
3. Enter your server's IP address and port 34197
4. Enter the game password (if configured)

Pro tip: If you're hosting on a service like EZ Game Host, you'll get a dedicated IP and easy port forwarding. No need to juggle your home network settings.

Step 8: Managing Your Server with RCON

The Remote Console (RCON) lets you manage your server without stopping it. Enable RCON by adding this to your server-settings.json:

"rcon": {
  "enabled": true,
  "port": 27015,
  "password": "your_secure_rcon_password"
}

Common RCON Commands:

# Promote a player to admin
/admin player_name

# Remove admin privileges
/remove-admin player_name

# Whitelist a player
/whitelist player_name

# Remove from whitelist
/remove-whitelist player_name

# Save the game manually
/save

# Pause the game
/pause

# Kick a player
/kick player_name

# Check active players
/players

Tools like Factorio Remote Tools (browser-based) make RCON management super convenient.

Space Age Server Setup

Running Space Age on your dedicated server? Good news—it works flawlessly on dedicated servers. Make sure to:

1. Enable space_age_distance_check in your map-gen-settings.json
2. All players must have Space Age installed locally
3. Configure higher performance settings (Space Age can be resource-intensive)
4. Consider increasing autosave intervals during heavy production phases

Space Age content scales beautifully on dedicated servers, letting your entire team coordinate Nauvis base operations and interplanetary logistics without lag.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Server Won't Start

Error: "Cannot load map"

• Verify your save file exists and isn't corrupted
• Ensure file permissions allow the server to read it

Error: "Port already in use"

• Change the port with --port XXXXX
• On Linux: sudo lsof -i :34197 to find what's using it

Players Can't Connect

• Confirm firewall rules are configured correctly
• Check your server's public IP address
• Ensure port forwarding is active (if behind a router)
• Verify both players and server have the same mod list

Server Crashing After Updates

• Download the latest server binary for your Factorio version
• Update mod-list.json to match compatible mod versions
• Check Factorio's update notes for mod compatibility breaks

High Latency or Lag

• Increase minimum_latency_in_ticks in server-settings.json
• Reduce polling_interval for faster updates
• Consider upgrading server hardware if consistently overloaded
• Disable unnecessary mods that cause tick strain

FAQ: Factorio Server Hosting Questions

Q: How do I set up a Factorio server?

A: Download the headless server binary from your Factorio account, configure server-settings.json and map-gen-settings.json, open ports 34197 (UDP) and 27015 (TCP), and launch the server with appropriate command-line arguments. Follow the step-by-step guide above for detailed instructions.

Q: What port does Factorio use?

A: Factorio uses port 34197 UDP for game traffic (multiplayer connections and world updates) and port 27015 TCP for RCON (remote console commands). Both must be open in your firewall and port-forwarded if behind a router.

Q: How do I sync mods on a dedicated Factorio server?

A: Place all mod .zip files in the mods directory and create a mod-list.json file specifying which mods are enabled. All players connecting must have the exact same mods installed locally. The server doesn't auto-download mods to clients, so communicate your mod list in advance.

Q: Does Space Age work on dedicated servers?

A: Yes! Space Age works perfectly on dedicated servers. Enable space_age_distance_check in map-gen-settings.json, ensure all players have Space Age installed, and configure performance settings appropriately for interplanetary operations.

Q: Can I automate server saves?

A: Yes. Set autosave_interval to save every N minutes (10 is typical) and autosave_slots to keep multiple backup saves. You can also manually trigger saves via RCON with the /save command.

Q: What's the difference between auto_pause and afk_autokick_interval?

A: auto_pause halts the game when zero players are online, conserving server resources. afk_autokick_interval automatically removes idle players after a specified time (e.g., 3600 seconds = 1 hour). Use both to optimize performance and manage active players.

Q: How many players can a Factorio server support?

A: Factorio supports up to 255 players, but performance depends on your hardware, map complexity, and mod count. Most home setups comfortably run 4-20 players. Dedicated hosting services can handle much larger playerbases.

Q: Can I whitelist players?

A: Yes. Use RCON commands or edit server-settings.json to manage admins and whitelists. Configure require_user_verification to ensure players are logging in with actual Factorio accounts.

Optimize Performance: Pro Tips

1. Enable auto_pause: Stops processing when players are offline
2. Set reasonable autosave intervals: Balance backup frequency with performance (10 minutes is solid)
3. Limit max_players: More players = more resource usage
4. Monitor tick rate: Aim for consistent 60 UPS (updates per second)
5. Use selective mods: Heavy mods like Bob's or PyMods need beefier hardware
6. Schedule backups: Run manual /save commands during low-activity periods

Ready to Host? Consider a Managed Solution

While self-hosting works great, managing server hardware, updates, and networking can be tedious. Services like EZ Game Host offer:

• Pre-configured Factorio servers ready to launch in minutes
• Automatic backups and save management
• DDoS protection for stability
• Instant mod deployment across your playerbase
• 24/7 uptime without worrying about your home internet

For serious factories, a managed hosting solution takes the complexity out of server administration, letting you focus on building the ultimate base.

Conclusion

You now have everything needed to launch a Factorio dedicated server and build the megafactory of your dreams with your team. From configuring maps and mods to managing player access and performance, you're equipped to run a professional multiplayer operation.

Whether you go the DIY route or choose managed hosting, the most important thing is getting your factory online. Head out there, optimize those supply lines, and let the factory grow.

Happy engineering!

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Need hands-off server management? Check out Factorio server hosting options at EZ Game Host for more multiplayer setup tips and professional infrastructure.