Setting Up a Server

Eco servers are relatively easy to get running, and there are a couple ways to set one up.

If you own the game through Steam, you can get the server files and run the server through Steam. If you have a Strange Loop Games account, you can download the server files directly through Eco's website.

There are many server hosting companies that offer hosting for Eco servers if you don't want to or can't run an Eco server on your computer.

Installing


To run an Eco server through Steam, you must also own the game on Steam.

First, download and install the server. To do this, go to Steam -> Library -> Tools. There should be an entry in there called "Eco Server". Installing this will provide you with a copy of an Eco server that you can launch through Steam. The server is installed to: Steam\steamapps\common\Eco Server

Running
The server can be launched like any other Steam game. It will show up in your recently played games if it has been run recently, or it can be launched through the Tools section of your Steam library.

You are also able to navigate to the server's install location and launch EcoServer.exe manually.

Updating
Eco Servers installed through Steam will update automatically just like any other Steam game.

To use other versions besides the current release, you can opt in to "betas" like other Steam games. This can be done by viewing the server in your Steam Library -> Tools, right clicking the server and selecting the properties, clicking the "Betas" tab, and selecting a different version from the drop-down.

If the drop-down menu has no options available, leave the code blank in the box below the drop-down and click "Check Code". You might need to close out of the properties window and re-open it to see the betas list after entering the blank code.

Updating a Steam server will not wipe the world, but may wipe configurations. Make sure you back up your configuration files before updating.

Installing
Another way to install the Eco Server is to download it through SteamCMD. Steam WIKI article about steamCMD

Download steamCMD, unpack and launch it.

Manually
Guide to downloading cthe server manually through SteamCMD: Double Click the steamcmd.exe Wait until it finishes updating and deploying SteamCMD Once loaded login by typing in: login anonymous Set the install directory by typing: force_install_dir ./Eco_Server This will install the server in a subdirectory within the SteamCMD directory called "Eco_Server". Finally to download the server itself type: app_update 739590 validate This will download the server. Or when you want to update the server will start downloading the latest version overwriting all the files of the downloaded server.

(Please make sure you do not run your server from the same directory just in case you decide to use this method to update and forget to back up your data.)

With a .bat file
If you want to use a batch file (.bat) make a batch file and put one of the following codes into the file. These commands assume the .bat file is located inside the SteamCMD directory or pointing towards it.

Suggestion A: steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir "./Eco Server" +app_update 739590 validate +quit

Suggestion B: steamcmd.exe +@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 1 +@NoPromptForPassword 1 +login anonymous +force_install_dir "./Eco Server" +app_update 739590 validate +quit

These commands will automatically download the eco-server and place it in a folder named "Eco Server". (Inside the SteamCMD folder). Please copy the new folder and the server data in it to the location you want to host your server from.

When needing to update that server just run the .bat file again and it will update the base game server files inside the SteamCMD then you can follow the other update instructions to update your game server.

Do not run the downloaded server inside the SteamCMD folder itself. You want to keep that version as a backup and reference to an unedited server.

Installing


To run a server locally without Steam, you first need to grab the server files from Strange Loop Game's website under "Account". This requires you to sign in to your SLG account, and to have purchased Eco through that account or a linked Steam account. On the account page, there is a section that lists the current version of Eco and the current staging release with download links for both. Clicking on the "Server" link for the version you want will download a .zip file of the server.

When the server is done downloading, move the .zip file to wherever you want to install the server. It is recommended to install the server into an empty folder. When you have the .zip file in the location where you want to install the server, unzip it using whichever compression program you prefer (common programs include WinRar, 7-zip, and WinZip).

At this point, your install folder should have a handful of folders with various files and the EcoServer.exe. You are now able to run your server, but to make the server publicly visible, you need to do port forwarding. The process for port forwarding is different for different routers, and there are plenty of detailed tutorials on how to this process around the internet. The ports you need to open are 3000 UDP and 3001 TCP.

*IMPORTANT* If you are installing a dedicated server on the same computer you have or will be running the client from, Network.eco will need to use 2 different ports other then 3000 and 3001. [Example = 4000 and 4001] Port Forward these two new ports.

Running
To run the server, you just have to launch the EcoServer.exe file in the server's install.

The first time the server is run it may take a while for the world to generate. This is normal. Some settings, such as the world's size, can make this a longer or shorter wait. The main server UI won't appear until the world is done generating and loading.

Updating
Updating the server must be done manually. This will require you to go back to SLG's website and download the new version of the server files. You can replace the older version of the server files with the newer version's files. But if you want to keep the same world and the same configuration settings, you have to make sure not to overwrite those files (the Storage and Configs folders).

It is a good idea to always backup your server files before updating. That way you can revert to the old version if the install gets messed up or if there is some issue with the new version.

See Updating a Server for more details on updating your server manually.

Configuring
There are tons of options for configuring your server and your playing experience. You can edit these options by directly changing the files in the Configs folder of the server with any text editor. But doing the edits manually, you will need to restart the server to see the changes in game. Most of these configurations can be changed from the server UI as well, and changes made in the UI don't require a restart from the server.

If you are going to be playing on the same PC as the PC you are hosting the server from please change your ports to something else. The recommended ports are:

- Game Server Port: 3000 UDP (or UDP/TCP)

- Web Server Port: 3001 TCP (or UDP/TCP)

See Setting Up a Server (advanced) for more details on configuring your server.

Configuration Notes

 * 1) Edits to WorldGenerator.eco require a server wipe to take effect.
 * 2) Whitelisting allows whitelisted players to ignore the requirement for a password but for whitelisting to work you must set a password.
 * 3) When changing the mapsize keep the map values divisible by 4 or risk severe issues.
 * 4) When changing map height and depth you will have to do the maths to keep issues away, it is not recommended.
 * 5) When setting up whitelists / admins you must use either a SLG id or Steam64 id, just writing the username does not work. Here is a link to find your steam64id: http://www.steam64.com

Server Folder Breakdown

 * Configs — Files in this folder contain the configurable settings for the server. You can edit any of the .eco files with a text editor but be careful doing so. Keep in mind none of your edits here will take effect unless you restart your game server (Turn it off and on again.)
 * doc — Contains a single file with definitions for the web server.
 * Logs — This folder only appears if you've installed a mod that has crashed. It contains mod crash logs.
 * Dump — Contains crash dump files for when the server crashes.
 * Mods — Contains server gamedata. This is also the folder where you should place any mods you've made or downloaded.
 * Storage — This folder contains a backups folder, a file named "Game.db" and a file named "Game.eco". This is where your current game save is. When wiping the server data/map this is where you will have to go.
 * Web Client — The web server files are found here.

Eco Server UI


The server UI provides access to a wide variety of configuration options. Changes made to config options in the UI will apply to the server without needing to restart the server. However, with any changes you make (such as adding an admin), you must click "File" and "Save" or else you will lose the changes upon reloading the server.

If you are renting a server through a server hosting company, you most likely do not have access to the default server UI. These companies usually provide a custom UI or other options for easily editing the server's configs.

Commands
See Chat Commands for a complete list of commands that are available to both admins and regular users in a default server.

Server UI Notes
(Please do check the normal configuration notes too.)

1. Changing world generator settings won't take effect until you wipe and regenerate the map. This includes map sizes.

2. When making a change to your settings through the Server UI remember to click on file -> save to save the edit to the config files.

LAN
When first attempting to connect to your server, make sure it is running, then enter your game and visit the server browser.

Your server should appear in the server list under "LAN". If the server is public, you should be able to see it in the server browser.

''Note: The latest server versions don't require you to forward your ports, but server versions prior to 0.7.4 require manual port forwarding. If you are using an older server version you will have to manually forward.''

Getting others to connect to your server
NOTE: Before giving others your IP please check that your server is visible with either of these websites.

http://canyouseeme.org/

https://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/open-ports/

Default ports to check are: 2999, 3000 and 3001 (Unless you changed them in the config phase.) Gameport needs UDP and webport needs TCP (Both can be used for each if you want).

Navigate to https://www.whatismyip.com/ and grab your public IP.

Now add the server's configured game port at the end. (Game Port not Web Port) It should look something like this: xxx.xx.xx.xx:3000

For example 290.94.93.89:3000

Now that you have the server address. Give that to your friends and they should be able to connect if you've set up the server correctly.

Troubleshooting
See Setting Up a Server (advanced) for more details on server troubleshooting.

NAT and Network Settings
(NOTE: NAT Punchthrough has been added since version 0.7.4 of the server and NAT based settings have been removed)

You can view the NAT settings for your server in the Network tab of the server UI. When the Network tab is clicked (tab, not the menu option at the top of the UI) it will show 3 tabs, Config, Display, and Graphs. The Display tab will show the status of NAT, and the Config tab will allow you to enable or disable auto-detection for NAT.

The Network option in the top menu of the server UI has a button to refresh NAT. This will cause the server to recheck the NAT and can potentially solve some NAT issues.

Update .NET Framework 4
Eco Server uses the .NET Framework 4. If you are encountering errors, you may be running an out-of-date version. You can get the latest 4.6.2 version here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=53345

Anti-Virus / Firewall
Some Anti-Virus solutions will block your server from talking and subsequently prevent players from seeing it as online.

Either allow the game ports to function through the Anti-Virus.

When it comes to firewalls and NAT your router may not be working correctly with NAT or not have it at all so you may have to manually port forward your ports. On both your pc firewall and the router. See Setting Up a Server (advanced) for more details.

For Further Help
Join the discord server and visit the support staff in the #support channel.