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1. Protect the files that represent your factory
A server world is not just one save file. Back up the live save directory and the blueprint directory together. A save-only backup can restore progression while losing player-created blueprints, and a blueprint-only copy cannot reconstruct the world state.
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Find the correct directories
| Server environment | Save directory | Blueprint directory | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux user installation | ~/.config/Epic/FactoryGame/Saved/SaveGames/server |
The corresponding blueprints directory under the same Saved data location |
The home directory belongs to the account running the server. |
| Windows user installation | %LocalAppData%FactoryGameSavedSaveGamesserver |
The corresponding blueprints directory under %LocalAppData%FactoryGameSaved |
NSSM and Windows service installations can use a different service account profile, so check which account actually runs the process. |
Installation mode and service-account identity matter more than the operating system label alone. If a service runs as LocalSystem, a named Windows user, or another account, its profile may not be the profile you use interactively. Verify the path from the account that launches the server and confirm that recently changed files appear there. A common mistake is copying a similarly named folder from an administrator’s profile while the service is writing to a system profile.
Check permissions as well as the path. The account that launches the process must be able to read the existing save and blueprint files and write new saves. If a copied generation is readable only by an administrator, the server can appear to have lost the world even though the files are present.
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Use the Server Manager for supported save operations
The in-game Server Manager can upload local saves and manage server saves. Use it for those supported operations, but do not treat the manager as your only backup: it still depends on the same host and storage that can fail. Keep an independent copy outside the live server directory.
After an upload or save-management operation, reconnect and confirm that the intended session is listed. This catches a mistaken filename or account path before the original copy is removed. The manager is a convenient control surface; it is not a second physical storage location.
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- Stop or gracefully quiesce the server before copying, so a save is not being written while files are read.
- Copy the complete
SaveGames/serverdirectory and the matchingblueprintsdirectory. - Store the copy on separate physical storage or a separate backup target, not merely another folder on the same disk.
- Use dated generations, such as one copy before an update, one daily copy, and additional copies before major factory or configuration changes.
- Retain enough generations to roll back beyond the most recent failure; do not overwrite the only known-good copy.
- Periodically restore a generation to a test instance and confirm that the session opens and blueprints are present.
Name generations with the date, time and reason, for example 2026-10-14-pre-update. Keep the save and blueprint folders under the same generation label so they cannot be mixed accidentally. If storage is limited, retain fewer recent copies only after confirming that at least one older known-good generation remains available.
A portable external SSD is a practical type of separate storage for this workflow, but capacity, endurance and throughput should be selected from a current product comparison rather than assumed from this guide. Whatever device you use, periodically open a restored copy on a test instance; a copy that has never been read back is only an assumption of recoverability.
2. Set recovery points without creating unnecessary save overhead
Server settings include an autosave interval, an option to save when a player disconnects, and an auto-load session name. These settings complement, rather than replace, file backups.
Choose an interval from acceptable loss
Start with the amount of progress your group can reasonably recreate after a crash. A shorter interval limits lost work but can add disk activity and save overhead, especially in a large, busy factory. A longer interval reduces save frequency but increases the rollback window. There is no documented universal best value; observe your world and adjust after watching save duration and server responsiveness.
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Evaluate the interval during a normal busy session rather than immediately after changing it. Note how long a save takes, whether players notice a pause, and whether disk space and latency remain comfortable. If disconnect-triggered saves create too many closely spaced writes during a busy evening, review that option alongside the interval instead of assuming the interval alone explains the behavior.
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Make a manual checkpoint before risk
- Create a dated copy before installing a server update.
- Create another before changing major configuration, moving the installation, or adding or removing content.
- Keep the session name used by auto-load consistent, and verify it after a restart rather than assuming the setting points to the intended world.
- Tell players when a maintenance save has been made so everyone knows the rollback point.
A manual checkpoint is especially useful before a factory expansion that changes the busiest workload. It gives you a known point for comparing frame-rate, save duration and network behavior after the change, even when no files are corrupted.
3. Select hardware by workload, not by an invented player number
The dedicated-server documentation says that Satisfactory uses multiple CPU cores but favors high single-core performance. That is a selection priority, not a guarantee that a particular processor supports a fixed number of players or a specific factory size.
What to measure on your own server
- Server frame rate or tick behavior while the factory is at its busiest.
- CPU utilization by core, looking for one heavily loaded core even when total utilization appears moderate.
- Memory use over a normal session and during saves.
- Disk latency and available space while autosaves and backups run.
- Network throughput and connection stability when the full group is online.
Record observations with the number of connected players and the factory activity at the time. A quiet exploration session and a production-heavy session are different workloads. Repeat the observation after a major expansion, because a machine that is comfortable early in a world may behave differently once many systems are active.
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No authoritative benchmark establishes a universal RAM minimum, CPU model, guaranteed tick rate, factory-complexity limit or player-capacity figure. Treat any such number presented without a stated workload and measurement method as a host-specific claim, not a game-wide specification. Leave headroom for the operating system, SteamCMD validation and backup copies rather than sizing the machine only to the game process’s quiet-session usage.
Balance Network Quality against server frame rate
The Network Quality setting can improve client load times and network performance, but the documentation warns that raising it can reduce server frame rate. Change it one step at a time, then test while players are active during the most demanding factory activity. Record the setting, the observed server behavior and the players’ connection experience. If frame rate worsens, return to the previous value rather than assuming a higher setting is automatically better.
Use the same test conditions when comparing settings: similar player count, the same busy area and enough time for everyone to load in. Otherwise, a change can appear better simply because the factory was idle. Keep a short change log so the group can return to the last stable value after an update or hardware move.
4. Run the process as a supervised service
A service manager gives the server a predictable boot sequence, restart behavior and controlled shutdown. It also removes the need to keep an interactive terminal open.
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Required service behaviors
- Start after the operating system has booted and the required network and storage are available.
- Restart after an unexpected failure, with a sensible delay so a crash loop does not consume the host.
- Stop gracefully during maintenance so the game can finish writing files.
- Run under the account whose save and blueprint paths you have verified.
- Write logs where you can inspect startup, update and shutdown results.
Document the service account, executable path, installation directory and save path in one administrator note. When a server is moved or rebuilt, this record makes it easier to distinguish a missing world from a process launched with a different profile. A restart policy is useful only if the service still points to the intended data directories.
Linux systemd update-and-start pattern
The documented Linux example runs SteamCMD with +app_update 1690800 validate before launching the server. Adapt the executable and installation paths to your host, and place that update check in the service’s start or restart path. This makes a reboot or supervised restart verify the installed files before the game process begins.
- Stop the service through systemd rather than killing the process.
- Make and label a backup of both saves and blueprints.
- Run the SteamCMD update command with app ID
1690800and thevalidateoption. - Start the service and inspect its log for a clean launch.
- Confirm that the expected session loads before players reconnect.
On Windows, use the service wrapper or service mechanism appropriate to the installation, and apply the same principles: verified account, graceful stop, automatic start, crash recovery and an update step that you can audit. Avoid testing an update by repeatedly force-closing the process; that removes the very clean-shutdown step intended to protect the files.
5. Update without losing the world
Updates should be maintenance events, not an improvised restart while players are building. Schedule a window, communicate it, and preserve a rollback point.
Safe update sequence
- Announce the maintenance window and ask players to leave the server normally.
- Stop the server through the service manager or the documented shutdown method; do not abruptly close the process.
- Wait for the process to exit and verify that the latest save files have a current timestamp.
- Copy the save and blueprint directories to a separate, dated backup target.
- Apply the server update. On a Linux SteamCMD service, the documented validation command is
+app_update 1690800 validate. - Start the server and watch logs for errors, failed file validation or an unexpected data path.
- Use Server Manager or the normal client connection flow to confirm that the expected session and recent progress load.
- Only then invite players back; keep the pre-update backup until the group has played successfully.
Keep the maintenance window open for a real connection test, not just a process check. A server can report that it started while still loading the wrong profile or session. Have one player confirm recent construction, inventory and blueprints before declaring the update complete.
If the updated server does not load the expected session
- Stop it gracefully before trying repeated launches.
- Check the service account and installation mode; a restart under another account can make the server appear to have no saves.
- Confirm that the save directory and blueprint directory were copied to the path used by the service.
- Restore the dated pre-update copy to a separate test instance first, so you can distinguish a path problem from a world-file problem.
- Do not overwrite the original backup while troubleshooting.
Preserve logs from the failed start and note which account and command were used. That information helps identify whether validation changed installation files, whether the service used another profile, or whether the expected session name was not selected.
6. Configure Internet access and firewalls
As of Patch 1.1.0.0, the Official Satisfactory Wiki documents these forwarding requirements:
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| Port | Protocol | Purpose described in the documentation |
|---|---|---|
| 7777 | TCP and UDP | Dedicated-server game traffic. |
| 8888 | TCP | Reliable messaging. |
- Forward the configured ports from the router to the server’s fixed local address.
- Allow the same port and protocol combinations through the host firewall.
- Confirm that the server is listening on the intended interfaces and ports.
- Test from outside the local network; a test performed from inside can be misleading when the router lacks NAT loopback.
- Re-check the current documentation after a major patch because port requirements are version-sensitive.
Only expose the ports the server requires. Keep the operating system and service account secured, and avoid using a changing DHCP address for the forwarding rule. If the local address changes, the router can continue forwarding correctly configured ports to the wrong machine.
7. Self-hosting or managed hosting?
The choice is operational rather than purely technical. A managed host can reduce the work of maintaining a machine, while self-hosting gives direct control over files and timing. Compare the actual service terms instead of assuming that either category includes a particular feature.
| Decision axis | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| File and mod control | Direct access to saves, blueprints and installation files. | Depends on the host’s panel and access policy. |
| Updates | You choose the maintenance window and validation process. | May be automated or scheduled by the provider; verify the policy. |
| Backups | You must create, separate and test them. | Confirm retention, restore method and whether backups are included. |
| Restart automation | Configure systemd, a Windows service or another supervisor. | Often available through the control panel, but verify crash-restart behavior. |
| Network setup | You configure router forwarding and the host firewall. | The provider generally supplies public connectivity; you still configure access rules in the panel. |
| Monitoring and support | You inspect logs and hardware yourself. | Support and monitoring vary by service; check response scope and hours. |
| Recurring cost | Uses your existing hardware, power and Internet connection. | Has a recurring hosting charge whose amount depends on the current plan. |
Whichever model you choose, retain an independent copy of saves and blueprints. Hosting convenience does not remove the need for a restore test. Ask a provider how you can download both directories and whether a restore can be tested without overwriting the live instance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.8. Troubleshooting checklist
The server starts with an empty world
- Check the account running the process and its home or profile directory.
- Compare the configured path with the documented OS-specific location.
- Confirm that the save folder contains the expected recent files and that the service can read them.
- Stop the process before copying a known-good generation into place.
- Check that the auto-load session name matches the intended world.
Players cannot connect from the Internet
- Verify both TCP and UDP forwarding for 7777 and TCP forwarding for 8888.
- Check the host firewall as well as the router.
- Ensure forwarding targets the server’s current fixed local address.
- Test from an external connection and confirm the server is listening after a restart.
Players report lag after changing Network Quality
- Return to the previous setting if server frame rate declined.
- Measure during the busiest factory activity, not while the world is empty.
- Change only one step at a time and keep a written record of the result.
- Check CPU-by-core load and disk activity before blaming the network alone.
An update appears to have broken the installation
- Review the service log for a failed SteamCMD validation or a launch under the wrong account.
- Confirm the expected session loads with the server stopped and the pre-update copy available.
- Test the restored copy separately; never experiment on the only backup.
- Keep the maintenance window open until a player has connected and verified recent progress.
9. A repeatable maintenance checklist
- Daily or per session: check that the service is running, logs are advancing and the save target has free space.
- Before every update: announce downtime, stop gracefully, copy saves and blueprints, and label the generation.
- After every update: validate files, start the service, load the expected session and test an external connection.
- Periodically: restore a backup to a test instance, review disk capacity, inspect CPU-by-core behavior and confirm router and firewall rules.
- After a major factory expansion: reassess autosave overhead, Network Quality and observed server frame rate under peak activity.
Keep a short operations log with update dates, backup labels, service-account changes and Network Quality results. It turns troubleshooting from guesswork into a comparison with a known working state.
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The safest operating pattern is straightforward: maintain independent, dated copies of both save and blueprint directories; use the Server Manager for supported save handling without making it your only backup; supervise the server as a service; update with a graceful stop and SteamCMD validation; and treat hardware, Network Quality and player capacity as measurements to make on your own busiest workload. For Internet play, configure 7777 on TCP and UDP plus 8888 on TCP for Patch 1.1.0.0, then verify the requirements again after future patches.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I back up a Satisfactory dedicated server?
Gracefully stop or quiesce the server, then copy both the live SaveGames/server directory and its corresponding blueprints directory. Store dated generations on separate physical storage or another independent backup target, and periodically restore one to a test instance.
Where are Satisfactory dedicated-server saves stored?
Linux user installations commonly use ~/.config/Epic/FactoryGame/Saved/SaveGames/server. Windows user installations commonly use %LocalAppData%FactoryGameSavedSaveGamesserver. NSSM and Windows service installations can use a different service-account profile, so verify the path under the account that actually runs the process.
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How do I update without losing my world?
Announce a maintenance window, stop the server gracefully, confirm the latest save timestamp, and copy both saves and blueprints to a dated backup target. Run the update—Linux SteamCMD documentation uses +app_update 1690800 validate—then start the service, verify the expected session and test a player connection before reopening the server.
Which ports does a Satisfactory server use?
For Patch 1.1.0.0, the Official Satisfactory Wiki lists port 7777 on TCP and UDP and port 8888 on TCP. Forward them to the server’s fixed local address and allow the same protocols through the host firewall. Re-check requirements after major patches.
What CPU and RAM do I need for a Satisfactory dedicated server?
The documentation says the server uses multiple cores but favors high single-core performance. It does not provide an authoritative universal RAM amount, CPU model, player limit or guaranteed tick rate. Measure CPU-by-core load, memory, disk behavior and server frame rate on your own busiest factory workload.
Should I increase Network Quality?
Network Quality can improve client load times and network performance, but increasing it can reduce server frame rate. Change it one step at a time, test with players during the busiest factory activity, record the result and revert if server performance worsens.
Is the Server Manager a complete backup solution?
No. It can upload local saves and manage server saves, but it relies on the same host and storage. Keep independent dated copies of both save and blueprint directories and test a restore.
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First check the service account and its home or profile directory, then compare the configured path with the documented OS-specific location. Confirm the expected files and permissions, verify the auto-load session name, and copy a known-good generation only while the process is stopped.
The Bottom Line
Back up saves and blueprints together, keep dated copies off the live disk, run the server under a supervised service, and validate every update before players return. Measure performance on your own busiest factory, and for Patch 1.1.0.0 forward 7777 TCP/UDP plus 8888 TCP.
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