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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To host a Starbound server, install the separate dedicated-server files on a Windows or Linux machine, launch the server once to generate its configuration, then set up the server in storage/starbound_server.config. For friends outside your home network to join, allow and forward TCP port 21025 to the host machine, unless you have changed the server’s port. Test a vanilla server before adding mods, and back up its storage data before updates or configuration changes.
What you need to host a Starbound server
A Starbound server is a separate program from the game client. SteamDB lists the Starbound Dedicated Server as Steam Tool app 533830, with Windows and Linux launch options. That listing identifies platforms, not a guarantee of compatibility with every operating-system version. The server can run on a machine you control; for a world to remain available, that machine and its network connection must be available when players want to join.
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You will also need a network path players can reach. People on the same local network can test using the host’s local address. Players connecting from elsewhere need the public route to reach the server, which usually means configuring both the host firewall and the router. A loopback address such as 127.0.0.1 is only for the host machine itself; it does not make a server reachable to friends on other networks.
- Required: the dedicated-server files, a machine that can run them, and a reachable network route for the players you want to host.
- Required for internet play from a typical home network: a firewall rule and router port-forwarding rule for the server’s TCP port.
- Optional: mods, query features, RCON, and a containerized Linux setup. Add these only if you need them and understand how they affect administration.
The available setup references do not establish a current minimum CPU, memory, or storage requirement. Do not treat a guessed hardware specification as an official requirement; use the machine you have, test with your expected group, and investigate performance only if you observe a problem.
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Choose where the server will run
| Approach | What it suits | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated-server files on Windows or Linux | Someone comfortable managing files and processes on that operating system. | You control installation, updates, configuration, network rules, and backups. The exact paths depend on where you install the files. |
| Linux Docker setup | Someone already comfortable with Linux and containers who wants to manage the server as a container. | Requires container administration and careful persistent-storage configuration. A community Docker project describes this approach; it is not an official Starbound deployment recommendation. |
| Managed hosting | Someone who does not want to keep a home machine running or administer the network. | Current Starbound support, mod support, backup behavior, and pricing are not established here. Verify those details with any provider before choosing one. |
If you self-host at home, consider whether your network permits incoming connections and whether you are willing to leave the host running. If either is a poor fit, a different hosting arrangement may be more practical, but confirm its Starbound and mod capabilities rather than assuming they are available. One option is Godlike.Host’s Starbound server hosting, which comes with its own game panel, up to three free backups a day with restore, SFTP/FTP access and 24/7 support; see the current plans and check mod support for your setup before you choose.
Install the dedicated-server files
Community setup guides describe using SteamCMD to install or update the server files. SteamDB separately identifies the dedicated server as Steam Tool app 533830. Installation paths vary, so use the directory you selected or the directory shown by your installation method rather than copying a path from an older tutorial.
- Choose a host machine and installation directory. Use a Windows or Linux system listed for the Steam Tool, and choose a location where you can find and back up the server’s files.
- Install or update the dedicated-server files. Follow the SteamCMD installation workflow in the community setup guidance, or locate the installed Steam Tool through the Steam installation you use. Confirm the files are present before proceeding.
- Locate the server executable in the installed directory. The exact filename and path depend on the installation. Do not assume a tutorial’s example path matches your machine.
- Start the dedicated server once. Community instructions recommend this initial launch so the server can generate its configuration and storage structure.
- Stop the server cleanly before editing files. Find
storage/starbound_server.configunder the server installation’s storage directory. If it was not created, check that you launched the dedicated server and are looking in the same installation directory.
The installation guide is a community-maintained Steam Community guide, not a current official manual. SteamDB’s app listing is a secondary index; its record reported a last update of March 10, 2026. Treat these as useful identification and workflow guidance, and verify the files and settings in the version you actually installed.
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Configure the server after its first launch
Edit storage/starbound_server.config only after the first launch has created it. The community server-management guide identifies settings for the server name, player limit, bind addresses, query, RCON, and account-bound passwords. The exact file contents and setting values can differ across installations, so inspect the generated config rather than replacing it with an unrelated example.
Set the server name and player limit
Choose a recognizable serverName and set maxPlayers to a limit appropriate for your group. The sources do not establish an ideal player limit or a hardware-to-player formula, so use a conservative value and adjust based on actual play. If the setting’s expected format is unclear, preserve the generated structure and consult the community management guide rather than guessing at syntax.
Use password and account settings deliberately
If you want a private server, configure the relevant password or account-bound access option shown in your generated configuration. The cited management guidance identifies account-bound passwords as configurable, but does not establish one universal configuration for every version or installation. Choose a unique password that you do not reuse for email, Steam, or another service, and share it only with intended players.
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Leave optional administration features off unless needed
Query and RCON settings are optional. Query can support server-information tools; RCON is a remote-administration mechanism. The community guide lists them as configurable, but enabling them is not necessary for a basic server. Do not expose an administration interface to the internet unless you understand its access controls and have configured strong, unique credentials. Keep management access narrower than ordinary player access wherever your setup allows.
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Understand bind addresses
The configuration includes bind-address options. These determine which network interface or address the server listens on; they are distinct from the public address friends use to connect. Avoid changing a bind setting just to enter your public IP. If the default configuration allows the server to listen on the intended interface, changing it unnecessarily can make the server inaccessible.
Make the server reachable outside your home network
The older Steam Community multiplayer guide identifies TCP 21025 as the port to allow and forward for default internet hosting. Confirm the port in your installed server configuration: if you changed it, use that configured port instead. The forwarding destination must be the host computer’s local network address, not the router’s public address.
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- Start the server and test from the host. Confirm that the server process launches and that the configuration is accepted before troubleshooting router settings.
- Test from another device on the same local network. Use the host’s local address for this test. If local access fails, check that the server is running, listening on the intended interface, and using the port shown in its configuration.
- Allow the server through the host firewall. Create an inbound rule for TCP on the server’s configured port. Apply it to the network profile you actually use, and avoid opening unrelated ports.
- Forward the same TCP port through the router. Set the router’s forwarding rule to the host machine’s local address and the configured server port. If that local address changes, the rule can point to the wrong device; use a stable local address or update the rule when needed.
- Ask a friend on a different network to test. A successful local test does not prove the public route works. Give remote players the public connection details appropriate to your setup, not the loopback or private local address.
Firewall permission and router forwarding solve different parts of the route: the firewall permits traffic on the host, while forwarding directs incoming router traffic to that host. A rule on only one side may leave remote connections unable to reach the server. The cited multiplayer guide is old, so verify the port and network settings against the configuration generated by your installed version.
If remote players cannot connect
- Local test also fails: confirm the dedicated server is running, inspect its generated config, and check the bind address and port before changing the router.
- Local test works but remote test fails: verify that the host firewall permits inbound TCP on the configured port and that the router forwards that same port to the host’s current local address.
- The server port was changed: update both the firewall rule and router forwarding rule to match it.
- The router rule appears correct but inbound access still fails: your network may restrict inbound connections. The available community instructions do not establish a universal workaround. Ask your network provider whether incoming connections are supported or consider another hosting arrangement.
Add mods only after a vanilla server works
A community guide describes a SteamCMD-based modded-server setup and adding mods to the server installation. It does not establish that every mod works in every client/server combination. Start with a vanilla server so you know that installation, configuration, and connectivity work before adding mod-related variables.
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- Check the mod’s own compatibility and installation instructions. Mod requirements and procedures may differ; do not assume that adding a mod only to the server is sufficient.
- Add a small number of mods at a time. This makes it easier to identify which change introduced a startup, connection, or gameplay problem.
- Align the server and clients. Make sure the players’ client setup is compatible with the server’s mod setup, following each mod’s instructions.
- Retest after each change. Check that the server starts and that intended players can join before adding more mods.
If a modded setup fails, return to the last known working configuration, then check the server and client mod lists and the mod-specific instructions. The cited guide is community guidance, not a guarantee that a particular combination will work.
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Keep the world persistent and recoverable
Back up the server’s storage directory before configuration changes, updates, or mod changes. Community Docker instructions identify persistent storage as important and describe server storage locations for universe saves and mods. For a non-Docker installation, the exact storage path depends on where the files were installed; identify the directory used by your running server rather than assuming a standard absolute path.
- Stop the server cleanly before making a backup so files are not being written during the copy.
- Keep at least one backup separate from the live server directory; a second copy on another device or storage location protects against loss of the host machine.
- Record which server and mod configuration was in use when you made the backup, so you can restore a compatible set of files.
- After updating or changing mods, start the server and verify that the world and expected settings are present before treating the change as successful.
The Docker project is a third-party community approach, not an official Starbound recommendation. Container users should verify that their persistent mount actually maps the server’s storage to durable host storage; a container alone does not guarantee that world data survives container replacement.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Editing before the first launch: the recommended workflow is to let the server generate its configuration, then edit the generated file.
- Using a local or loopback address for remote friends: those addresses are for the host or local network, not the public route.
- Forwarding the wrong port or protocol: the community multiplayer guide identifies TCP 21025 for default internet hosting; match the installed config if the port has changed.
- Opening administration features without a reason: query and RCON are optional; do not expose remote administration casually.
- Adding many mods before testing connectivity: first establish that vanilla hosting works, then change one small group at a time.
- Updating without a recoverable copy: back up storage data before changing the server or its configuration.
- Assuming a Docker container automatically saves the world: persistence depends on storage being mounted and retained correctly.
Source limits to keep in mind
The platform listing comes from SteamDB, a secondary app-configuration index. The installation, multiplayer, and administration instructions come from Steam Community guides, including older guidance; the persistence example comes from a third-party GitHub project. These references do not establish current minimum hardware, universal network workarounds, a guaranteed mod compatibility matrix, or a verified managed-hosting provider. Check your installed files and configuration when a detail differs from an older guide.
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