Hosting a Satisfactory Dedicated Server on Linux (Step-by-Step Guide)

 Satisfactory is a popular 3D factory-building simulation game developed by Coffee Stain Studios. Much like Factorio, it allows players to collaborate and build massive automated factories in a multiplayer environment.

Hosting your own Satisfactory dedicated server on Linux lets you enjoy smoother gameplay, offload server resources from your gaming PC, and run the server 24/7 for you and your friends. The official dedicated server also supports cross-play, meaning players from Steam and Epic Games Store can join without issues.

In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through everything you need to set up and run a Satisfactory server on Linux, including installation, configuration, and management.

System Requirements

Before you begin, make sure your machine meets the following minimum requirements:

• 12GB RAM (minimum)
• 16GB RAM (recommended for better performance)
• Linux server or VPS (Ubuntu recommended, but most distros work)
• SteamCMD installed (we’ll cover this below)
• Satisfactory game client (needed for claiming and configuring the server)

Step 1: Install SteamCMD on Linux

SteamCMD is required to download and update the Satisfactory dedicated server.

Follow detailed guide to install SteamCMD on Linux.

Step 2: Create a User for the Server

It’s best practice to run game servers under a separate user for security.

sudo useradd -m satisfactory
sudo -u satisfactory -s
cd ~

This ensures correct file permissions and keeps your system secure.

Step 3: Install the Satisfactory Dedicated Server

Use SteamCMD to download and install the Satisfactory server:

/usr/games/steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType linux +force_install_dir /home/satisfactory/server +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 +quit

After the installation, exit back to your main user:

exit

Step 4: Create a Systemd Service

To make server management easier, create a systemd service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/satisfactoryserver.service

Paste the following configuration:

[Unit]
Description=Satisfactory Dedicated Server
Wants=network-online.target
After=network-online.target

[Service]
Environment=SteamAppId=1690800
Environment=LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/home/satisfactory/server:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
Type=simple
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10
User=satisfactory
Group=satisfactory
WorkingDirectory=/home/satisfactory/server
ExecStartPre=/usr/games/steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType linux +force_install_dir /home/satisfactory/server +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 +quit
ExecStart=/home/satisfactory/server/FactoryServer.sh \
    -unattended \
    -log \
    -BeaconPort=15000 \
    -ServerQueryPort=15777 \
    -Port=7777 \
    -multihome=0.0.0.0

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save and exit (CTRL + X, then Y, then ENTER).

Step 5: Enable and Start the Server

Enable the service to auto-start on boot:

sudo systemctl enable satisfactoryserver

Start the server manually:

sudo systemctl start satisfactoryserver

Step 6: Connect and Configure via Game Client

Now that the server is running, you need to configure it using the Satisfactory game client:

1. Open Satisfactory → Go to Server Manager.
2. Click + Add Server and enter your server’s IP address.
3. The first person to connect can claim the server, assign a name, and set an admin password.
4. Create a new game world by selecting a starting area and session name.
5. Adjust settings like password protection from the Server Settings tab.

Step 7: Monitor and Manage the Server

From the Server Manager, you can:

• View server status and player count.
• Restart or stop the server.
• Join the game directly.

By following this guide, you’ve successfully set up and hosted a Satisfactory dedicated server on Linux. This setup ensures smooth performance, lets you play with friends across different platforms, and keeps the server running independently of your gaming PC.

If you run into any issues, double-check file permissions and firewall settings, or post your questions in the Satisfactory community forums.