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How to Run a Conan Exiles Dedicated Server on Linux

A complete Linux runbook for hosting Conan Exiles headlessly: install app 443030 with SteamCMD, launch through Wine and Xvfb, configure WindowsServer INI files, forward the correct ports, manage mods, and operate the service safely.
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Yes—you can host a headless Conan Exiles dedicated server on Linux. The documented, practical route installs the Windows dedicated-server files with SteamCMD, then runs ConanSandboxServer.exe under 64-bit Wine inside Xvfb. Use Steam app ID 443030, forward UDP 7777, 7778, and 27015, and add TCP 25575 only when you enable RCON. Your server name, passwords, player limit, PvP setting, and administrator password are stored in the generated WindowsServer INI files.

This guide covers an Ubuntu-style installation, but package names, executable paths, and compatibility can vary by distribution and by the current server build. A Linux executable may appear in some build metadata, while the operational Linux procedure still commonly uses Wine and Xvfb; verify the files delivered to your account before choosing a native launch.

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What you are building

A dedicated server has three separate layers:

  • Files: SteamCMD downloads the dedicated-server app into a persistent directory.
  • Runtime: Wine provides the Windows compatibility layer and Xvfb supplies a virtual display so the server can run without a desktop session.
  • Network and data: firewall/router rules expose the game, browser-query, pinger, and optional RCON ports; configuration and saves live below ConanSandbox/Saved.

Run the service as a dedicated, unprivileged Linux account rather than root. Keep the install and saves on persistent storage, because recreating the directory after a reboot or update can remove your world and settings.

Prerequisites and capacity planning

Use a dedicated service account

Create an account such as steam and give it ownership of the server directory. Do not use your personal desktop account for a public service, and do not run the executable as root. The account needs write access to the installation, generated configuration, logs, and save files.

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Choose a persistent directory

The commands below use /home/steam/conan_exiles and a Wine prefix at /home/steam/.wine64. Substitute another persistent volume if your distribution or hosting provider uses a different layout, but use the same paths consistently in SteamCMD, Wine, backups, and your service supervisor.

Decide how the process will stay running

A shell session is useful for the first launch. For normal operation, use systemd, screen, or another supervisor that can restart the process and record logs. Automatic restart does not replace backups or maintenance windows: it can repeatedly restart a broken update just as easily as it can recover from a transient crash.

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Install SteamCMD, Wine, and Xvfb on Ubuntu

The Linux procedure documented for Ubuntu enables the multiverse repository and 32-bit architecture, updates package indexes, and installs SteamCMD, lib32gcc-s1, Wine, and Xvfb. Exact package names can differ on newer or non-Ubuntu distributions.

  1. Enable the multiverse repository using your distribution’s repository tool.
  2. Enable the i386 architecture so SteamCMD and its 32-bit dependencies can be installed.
  3. Refresh package indexes.
  4. Install SteamCMD, lib32gcc-s1, Wine, and Xvfb.
  5. Switch to the non-root service account and create the persistent directory.

On Ubuntu releases where the packages are available under these names, the package portion is typically:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install steamcmd lib32gcc-s1 wine xvfb

If your release asks you to accept a Steam license or provides a differently named Wine package, complete that distribution-specific step before continuing. Confirm the resulting command locations with command -v steamcmd, command -v wine, and command -v xvfb-run.

Download the dedicated server with SteamCMD

The dedicated-server download uses Steam app ID 443030. Force SteamCMD to use the Windows platform, because the operational Linux runbook launches the Windows executable through Wine.

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steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +force_install_dir /home/steam/conan_exiles +login anonymous +app_update 443030 +quit

Run this command as the account that will own the files. Let SteamCMD finish completely and check for an update-success message before attempting the first launch. The directory should contain ConanSandboxServer.exe and a ConanSandbox data tree. If the command is executed as another user, fix ownership before starting the service; mixed ownership commonly causes configuration and save files to be written somewhere unexpected.

Make the first headless launch

Set a 64-bit Wine prefix and start the server through Xvfb. This creates Wine’s prefix and, on a successful first run, generates the server’s saved configuration tree.

export WINEARCH=win64
export WINEPREFIX=/home/steam/.wine64
xvfb-run --auto-servernum --server-args='-screen 0 640x480x24:32' wine /home/steam/conan_exiles/ConanSandboxServer.exe -log

The -log argument keeps useful server output in the process log. Leave this first run attached to the terminal long enough to see initialization complete and to confirm that the executable is not immediately exiting. Stop it cleanly before editing settings or installing mods. If the process fails before creating files, check the Wine prefix, executable path, architecture, and Xvfb installation rather than changing gameplay settings.

Put the launch under a supervisor

After the first successful run, move the same environment and command into your supervisor. A minimal systemd unit illustrates the required pieces; adjust the user, paths, and binary locations for your distribution:

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[Unit]
Description=Conan Exiles dedicated server
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=steam
WorkingDirectory=/home/steam/conan_exiles
Environment=WINEARCH=win64
Environment=WINEPREFIX=/home/steam/.wine64
ExecStart=/usr/bin/xvfb-run --auto-servernum --server-args=-screen 0 640x480x24:32 /usr/bin/wine /home/steam/conan_exiles/ConanSandboxServer.exe -log
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save the unit under your system’s service directory, reload the manager, enable it at boot, and start it. Then inspect the service journal and the Conan log. The exact unit design depends on your distribution and service-account paths; the important properties are an unprivileged user, the same 64-bit Wine prefix, a working directory inside the install, and restart behavior.

Configure name, passwords, and gameplay

The first run generates the WindowsServer configuration tree beneath the server’s saved data. Back up ConanSandbox/Saved before changing values or applying an update. The files are Windows-style INI files even though they are being edited on Linux.

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Engine.ini: public identity and connection password

Funcom’s server documentation places the server name and server password in Engine.ini. Open the generated file and change the existing entries in their original sections rather than creating duplicate keys. A password here controls entry to the server; it is different from the in-game administrator password.

ServerSettings.ini: administrator and rules

ServerSettings.ini contains gameplay and administration values. The Linux runbook specifically calls out:

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  • AdminPassword for in-game administrator access.
  • MaxPlayers for the player limit.
  • PVPEnabled for the PvP rule.

Choose values deliberately, use long unique passwords, and keep the file readable only by the service account where practical. Do not assume a setting has taken effect while the server is running: stop the process, edit the INI, and restart so the executable reloads its configuration.

Keep a rollback copy

Before each configuration change, copy the entire ConanSandbox/Saved directory or create a timestamped archive. A backup of only one INI file will not restore your world, player data, or other generated state if an update or manual edit goes wrong.

Open the required network ports

Allow the ports in the Linux firewall and forward them from the router to the server’s private IP. Forward UDP and TCP separately; opening a UDP rule does not open the corresponding TCP port.

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Protocol Port Purpose When it is needed
UDP 7777 Main game traffic (default) Always
UDP 7778 Server-browser pinger; hard-coded as game port + 1 Always for browser visibility
UDP 27015 Server query (default) Always for normal discovery/query
TCP 25575 RCON (default) Only when RCON is enabled

Use the actual configured game and query values if you changed defaults. The pinger remains tied to the game port plus one, so changing the game port changes the expected pinger port as well. RCON should be restricted to trusted source addresses or a private management network; never expose it broadly just to make administration convenient.

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Mod-transfer traffic

Funcom also documents an on-demand TCP mod-transfer port derived from the configured offset. It is separate from the default RCON port and is not a port you should invent or permanently expose without checking the server’s current configuration. Steam clients normally obtain Workshop content through the Steam Workshop API, so many installations do not need a public mod-transfer listener.

Check browser visibility methodically

  1. Confirm the server process is running and listening.
  2. Confirm the Linux firewall permits UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015, plus TCP 25575 only if RCON is active.
  3. Confirm the router forwards each protocol to the correct private address.
  4. Check that the server’s private address has not changed; reserve it with DHCP or configure a static address.
  5. Allow time for the browser query and pinger to reach the process, then inspect logs for bind or firewall errors.

A server can accept direct connections while remaining absent from the public browser if the query or pinger rule is missing. Funcom notes that firewall exceptions may be required for browser visibility.

Install Workshop mods without mismatches

Mods are a client-and-server contract. Every connecting client must have the same enabled mod set and the same order as the server. A server that starts with one list while clients use another can reject connections, fail to load a world, or produce apparently missing content.

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Download the Workshop items

Stop the server before changing mods. SteamCMD provides the workshop_download_item command for fetching each Workshop item. Use the game and item identifiers required by the current Workshop entry, then repeat for every mod:

steamcmd +login anonymous +workshop_download_item <game-app-id> <workshop-item-id> +quit

The angle-bracket values are command placeholders: replace them with the identifiers shown for the item you are downloading. Keep a record of each item ID and version so you can reproduce the installation after a rebuild.

Place files and preserve order

Copy the downloaded .pak files into the ConanSandbox mod directory used by your build, and update the server’s mod-list file in the generated ConanSandbox data tree. Do not rename files casually, and preserve a deliberate, documented order. The exact directory layout can differ with the current build, so use the directories created by the server and the mod’s installation instructions rather than inventing a new path.

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Make clients match

Give players the same Workshop item IDs and required order. A client-side subscription alone does not guarantee a compatible server copy: update the server files, update the list, and restart before asking players to connect. Remove obsolete entries from both sides when a mod is retired.

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Update the server and mods safely

Schedule maintenance rather than updating during active play. The safe sequence is:

  1. Announce a maintenance window and stop the server cleanly.
  2. Archive ConanSandbox/Saved, including the world and configuration.
  3. Run SteamCMD’s dedicated-server update, optionally with validation:
steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +force_install_dir /home/steam/conan_exiles +login anonymous +app_update 443030 validate +quit
  1. Update each Workshop item with SteamCMD, replace outdated .pak files, and verify the mod list and order.
  2. Start the supervised service and watch the log through initial world loading.
  3. Connect with an administrator account, verify the name, password, player limit, rules, and modded content, then reopen the public announcement.

Validation can take longer than a normal update and may redownload files. Keep the backup until players have connected successfully on the new build. If the update changes compatibility, restore the previous server files and saves only when you have a known-compatible backup and a maintenance plan.

Backups, permissions, and routine operations

  • Back up the right directory: archive ConanSandbox/Saved, not just the executable directory.
  • Keep backups off the server: a second disk or remote storage protects against host failure and accidental deletion.
  • Test restoration: periodically copy a backup to a separate test directory and confirm that the world and INI files are usable.
  • Limit administration: use a unique admin password and restrict RCON to trusted networks.
  • Watch disk space: logs, Workshop files, and multiple backups can consume a small volume.
  • Use planned restarts: restart after updates or configuration changes, not on a random schedule that surprises players.
  • Record versions: keep the server build, Workshop IDs, mod order, and backup date together so you can reproduce a working state.

Troubleshooting by symptom

The executable exits immediately

  • Run the launch command interactively and read the -log output.
  • Confirm WINEARCH=win64 and that WINEPREFIX points to a writable prefix owned by the service account.
  • Confirm Xvfb is installed and that xvfb-run can allocate a display.
  • Check that ConanSandboxServer.exe exists at the exact path used by the service.

The server starts but settings revert

  • Stop the process before editing INI files.
  • Check that you edited the generated WindowsServer files under the active install, not a second copy.
  • Check file ownership and permissions; a root-owned file can prevent the service account from saving changes.
  • Remove duplicate keys and keep each setting in its original INI section.

The server is not listed

  • Verify UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015 at both the host firewall and router.
  • Remember that UDP 7778 is the hard-coded pinger port, game port plus one.
  • Confirm the router forwards to the current private IP and that the process is bound to the expected interface.
  • Check logs for bind failures or firewall denials. Direct-connect testing and browser visibility test different paths.

Players receive a mod mismatch

  • Stop the server and compare the server’s mod list with the client’s enabled list.
  • Check spelling, file presence, and ordering of every .pak.
  • Download the current Workshop versions again after a game update.
  • Restart after replacing files; do not change the list while the server is loading a world.

RCON cannot connect

  • Confirm RCON is enabled and that TCP 25575 is forwarded and allowed.
  • Use the configured RCON port if you changed the default.
  • Restrict the source network and verify that the RCON password is separate from the player and administrator passwords.

Self-hosting versus managed hosting

Linux self-hosting gives you direct control, but you become responsible for the compatibility layer, network exposure, updates, saves, and recovery. A managed host trades some control for a provider panel and operational assistance.

Axis Self-hosted Linux Managed host
Control Full OS, files, mods, and launch flags Provider panel and plan limits
Maintenance You handle Wine/Xvfb, updates, backups, and firewall Provider handles much of the platform work
Cost model Infrastructure plus your administration time Recurring hosting fee
Troubleshooting Direct access to logs and processes Provider support plus panel tooling
Portability Move the directory and saves yourself Export and migration depend on provider

Choose self-hosting when you need operating-system access, custom launch behavior, or complete control of files and mods and are comfortable maintaining Wine, Xvfb, firewall rules, and backups. Choose managed hosting when minimizing platform administration matters more than unrestricted system access. Confirm the provider’s supported build, mod workflow, backup export, and port controls before committing; those details vary by provider and change over time.

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Final pre-launch checklist

  • SteamCMD installed the Windows dedicated-server app 443030.
  • The service runs as an unprivileged account from a persistent directory.
  • The first Wine/Xvfb launch completed and created the WindowsServer configuration tree.
  • Engine.ini contains the intended server name and player password.
  • ServerSettings.ini contains the intended administrator password, player limit, and PvP rule.
  • UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015 are allowed and forwarded.
  • TCP 25575 is exposed only when RCON is enabled and restricted to trusted networks.
  • The saved directory has a tested backup.
  • Server and client mod lists contain the same items in the same order.
  • A supervisor restarts the process and logs are available for diagnosis.

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