Host a Factorio Dedicated Server

Factorio is a construction and management simulation game focused on building and maintaining automated factories. Host dedicated multiplayer servers where players collaborate to build complex production lines, defend against alien creatures, and launch rockets.

Skip the Setup — Deploy Now or read the full guide below

Requirements Setup Guide Installation

Hardware Requirements

Here's what you need to run a Factorio dedicated server.

Economy

Small factory, 1-5 players

CPU1 core

RAM1 GB

Storage1 GB

Standard

Medium factory, 5-20 players

CPU2 cores

RAM2 GB

Storage1 GB

Pro

Megabase, 20-40 players

CPU3 cores

RAM4 GB

Storage1 GB

Start hosting from your own computer

Run a Factorio server on your desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine — GameCP automates Docker setup, resource allocation, and Factorio configuration instantly. Automatic port forwarding means your friends can connect without touching your router. Start local, scale to a VPS when you're ready.

Get Started FreeNo credit card required

Setup in 4 Steps

Skip the manual installation, port forwarding, and configuration. Install on your own computer and start hosting instantly.

Step 01

Create a GameCP Account

GameCP gives you a full control panel with Docker containerization, file management, automatic port forwarding, and automatic updates — all built in.

Step 02

Connect Your Hardware

Install GameCP on your own desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine. One-line install — no SSH expertise needed.

GameCP installs Docker, configures networking, and sets up automatic port forwarding so your friends can connect instantly. Start hosting from your own PC and scale to a VPS later. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Step 03

Deploy Factorio

Select "Factorio" from the template library and hit deploy. GameCP handles installation, ports, startup commands, and all configuration automatically.

Includes pre-configured server-settings.json. Uses the yolks:debian image. ~1 GB storage.

Step 04

Start Playing

Hit start and share your server address. Automatic port forwarding handles the rest — no router config needed.

GameCP monitors your server health and provides live logs from your browser. Your friends connect using the address GameCP gives you.

The Manual Way vs. GameCP

Manual Setup

✗ Configure 1+ firewall ports and router settings
✗ Write systemd service files
✗ SSH into server to edit configs
✗ Requires a VPS or dedicated server
✗ 30-60 minutes if experienced

With GameCP

Automatic port forwarding — no router config
Host from your own PC, VPS, or dedicated server
Docker container with auto-restart
Visual config editor in browser
Under 5 minutes total

Under the Hood

The full manual process to host a Factorio dedicated server on a VPS. Or install GameCP on your own computer and skip all of this.

Step 1

Configure & Prepare

Set your server settings, then install Docker, and pull the Factorio container image.

Server ConfigurationEdit values to update all commands

Server NameServer name displayed in the server browser

Server DescriptionServer description shown in the server browser

Max PlayersMaximum number of concurrent players. 0 for unlimi...

Factorio UsernameYour factorio.com username. Required for server qu...

AFK Auto-Kick (minutes)Kick inactive players after this many minutes. 0 t...

Auto PausePause the game when no players are connected.

Save NameName of the save file. Changing this loads/creates...

Autosave SlotsNumber of autosave slots to keep. Default: 5

Factorio TokenYour factorio.com authentication token. Required f...

Factorio VersionVersion to install. Use 'latest' for stable, 'expe...

Autosave IntervalTime between autosaves in minutes. Default: 10

terminal

# Update system and install Docker
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io
sudo systemctl enable --now docker

# Create game server directory
sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver

# Server configuration
export SERVER_DESC="A GameCP hosted Factorio server"
export MAX_PLAYERS="20"
export AFK_KICK="0"
export AUTO_PAUSE="true"
export SAVE_NAME="gamesave"
export AUTOSAVE_SLOTS="5"
export FACTORIO_VERSION="latest"
export AUTOSAVE_INTERVAL="10"

# Pull the container image
docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/yolks:debian

Step 2

Run the Installation Script

Factorio uses a custom install script to download and configure the server files.

Installation Script

#!/bin/bash
# Factorio Headless Server Installation
apt update
apt install -y curl tar xz-utils jq

VERSION_JSON=$(curl -sSL https://factorio.com/api/latest-releases)

latest_stable=$(echo $VERSION_JSON | jq -r '.stable.headless')
latest_experimental=$(echo $VERSION_JSON | jq -r '.experimental.headless')

if [ -z "${FACTORIO_VERSION}" ] || [ "${FACTORIO_VERSION}" == "latest" ]; then
  DL_VERSION=$latest_stable
elif [ "${FACTORIO_VERSION}" == "experimental" ]; then
  DL_VERSION=$latest_experimental
else
  DL_VERSION=${FACTORIO_VERSION}
fi

mkdir -p /opt/gameserver
cd /opt/gameserver

echo "Downloading Factorio ${DL_VERSION} headless server..."
curl -sL https://www.factorio.com/get-download/${DL_VERSION}/headless/linux64 -o factorio-${DL_VERSION}

tar -xf factorio-${DL_VERSION} --strip-components=1 -C /opt/gameserver
rm factorio-${DL_VERSION}

# Set up config files from examples if they don't exist
if [ ! -e data/map-gen-settings.json ]; then
    echo "Copying default map-gen settings"
    cp data/map-gen-settings.example.json data/map-gen-settings.json
fi

if [ ! -e data/map-settings.json ]; then
    echo "Copying default map settings"
    cp data/map-settings.example.json data/map-settings.json
fi

if [ ! -e data/server-settings.json ]; then
    echo "Copying default server settings"
    cp data/server-settings.example.json data/server-settings.json
fi

mkdir -p /opt/gameserver/saves

echo "-----------------------------------------"
echo "Factorio ${DL_VERSION} installed."
echo "-----------------------------------------"

Step 3

Open Firewall Ports

Factorio requires 1 port to be open for game traffic and queries.

terminal

sudo ufw allow 34197/udp

34197/UDP(PORT)

Step 4

Launch the Server

Start the Factorio server using the configuration from Step 1.

terminal

docker run -d \
  --name factorio-server \
  -p 34197:34197/udp \
  -e SERVER_DESC="A GameCP hosted Factorio server" \
  -e MAX_PLAYERS="20" \
  -e AFK_KICK="0" \
  -e AUTO_PAUSE="true" \
  -e SAVE_NAME="gamesave" \
  -e AUTOSAVE_SLOTS="5" \
  -e FACTORIO_VERSION="latest" \
  -e AUTOSAVE_INTERVAL="10" \
  -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \
  -w /opt/gameserver \
  ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/yolks:debian \
  if [ ! -f "./saves/gamesave.zip" ]; then ./bin/x64/factorio --create ./saves/gamesave.zip --map-gen-settings data/map-gen-settings.json --map-settings data/map-settings.json; fi; ./bin/x64/factorio --port 34197 --server-settings data/server-settings.json --start-server saves/gamesave.zip

Or skip all of this

GameCP automates every step above: Docker, port forwarding, startup, and config. Install on your own PC and deploy a Factorio server in under 5 minutes.

Deploy with GameCP

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Host Factorio from your own computer. Automatic port forwarding. Zero config.

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Host a Factorio Dedicated Server

# Update system and install Docker sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io sudo systemctl enable --now docker # Create game server directory sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver # Server configuration export SERVER_DESC="A GameCP hosted Factorio server" export MAX_PLAYERS="20" export AFK_KICK="0" export AUTO_PAUSE="true" export SAVE_NAME="gamesave" export AUTOSAVE_SLOTS="5" export FACTORIO_VERSION="latest" export AUTOSAVE_INTERVAL="10" # Pull the container image docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/yolks:debian

#!/bin/bash # Factorio Headless Server Installation apt update apt install -y curl tar xz-utils jq VERSION_JSON=$(curl -sSL https://factorio.com/api/latest-releases) latest_stable=$(echo $VERSION_JSON | jq -r '.stable.headless') latest_experimental=$(echo $VERSION_JSON | jq -r '.experimental.headless') if [ -z "${FACTORIO_VERSION}" ] || [ "${FACTORIO_VERSION}" == "latest" ]; then DL_VERSION=$latest_stable elif [ "${FACTORIO_VERSION}" == "experimental" ]; then DL_VERSION=$latest_experimental else DL_VERSION=${FACTORIO_VERSION} fi mkdir -p /opt/gameserver cd /opt/gameserver echo "Downloading Factorio ${DL_VERSION} headless server..." curl -sL https://www.factorio.com/get-download/${DL_VERSION}/headless/linux64 -o factorio-${DL_VERSION} tar -xf factorio-${DL_VERSION} --strip-components=1 -C /opt/gameserver rm factorio-${DL_VERSION} # Set up config files from examples if they don't exist if [ ! -e data/map-gen-settings.json ]; then echo "Copying default map-gen settings" cp data/map-gen-settings.example.json data/map-gen-settings.json fi if [ ! -e data/map-settings.json ]; then echo "Copying default map settings" cp data/map-settings.example.json data/map-settings.json fi if [ ! -e data/server-settings.json ]; then echo "Copying default server settings" cp data/server-settings.example.json data/server-settings.json fi mkdir -p /opt/gameserver/saves echo "-----------------------------------------" echo "Factorio ${DL_VERSION} installed." echo "-----------------------------------------"

docker run -d \ --name factorio-server \ -p 34197:34197/udp \ -e SERVER_DESC="A GameCP hosted Factorio server" \ -e MAX_PLAYERS="20" \ -e AFK_KICK="0" \ -e AUTO_PAUSE="true" \ -e SAVE_NAME="gamesave" \ -e AUTOSAVE_SLOTS="5" \ -e FACTORIO_VERSION="latest" \ -e AUTOSAVE_INTERVAL="10" \ -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \ -w /opt/gameserver \ ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/yolks:debian \ if [ ! -f "./saves/gamesave.zip" ]; then ./bin/x64/factorio --create ./saves/gamesave.zip --map-gen-settings data/map-gen-settings.json --map-settings data/map-settings.json; fi; ./bin/x64/factorio --port 34197 --server-settings data/server-settings.json --start-server saves/gamesave.zip