This guide covers how to set up and configure your Space Engineers dedicated server on Legion Hosting, including first start, GPanel startup variables, XML configuration, game modes, world settings, connecting, and save management. For mod installation, see Space Engineers Mod Installation. For common issues, see Space Engineers Troubleshooting.

First Start

When your Space Engineers server is first provisioned, it needs to install the game files and generate its initial configuration. This happens automatically on the first start.

1. Log in to GPanel and select your Space Engineers server from the server list.
2. Click Start on the Console tab. The server will download and install the Space Engineers Dedicated Server files via SteamCMD. This may take several minutes on the first run.
3. Watch the console output for progress. Once you see a message indicating the server is ready and listening for connections, the initial setup is complete.
4. The server will generate its default configuration files, including SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg and a default world save.

Server Configuration -- GPanel Startup Variables

The easiest way to configure your Space Engineers server is through the Startup tab in GPanel. These variables are applied as command-line arguments each time the server starts.

1. Stop your server from the Console tab.
2. Navigate to the Startup tab.
3. Adjust the variables listed below as needed.
4. Return to the Console tab and click Start to apply the changes.

Advanced Configuration -- SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg

For more granular control, you can edit the server's XML configuration file directly. This file controls settings not exposed in the GPanel Startup tab.

Accessing the Configuration File

1. Stop your server from the Console tab.
2. Click the Files tab in GPanel.
3. Locate and open SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg in the root directory of your server.

Key Configuration Settings

The configuration file uses XML format. Below are the most commonly adjusted settings within the <SessionSettings> block:

Example configuration snippet:

<MyObjectBuilder_SessionSettings>
  <ServerName>My Legion SE Server</ServerName>
  <ServerDescription>A Space Engineers server by Legion Hosting</ServerDescription>
  <ServerPassword></ServerPassword>
  <MaxPlayers>16</MaxPlayers>
  <AutoSaveInMinutes>5</AutoSaveInMinutes>
  <PauseGameWhenEmpty>true</PauseGameWhenEmpty>
  <Administrators>
    <unsignedLong>76561198012345678</unsignedLong>
  </Administrators>
</MyObjectBuilder_SessionSettings>

Adding Admins

To grant admin access, add Steam64 IDs inside the <Administrators> block. You can find your Steam64 ID by looking up your Steam profile on steamid.io.

<Administrators>
  <unsignedLong>76561198012345678</unsignedLong>
  <unsignedLong>76561198087654321</unsignedLong>
</Administrators>

Game Modes

Space Engineers offers two primary game modes. The mode is set when the world is first created and can be changed in the configuration file or GPanel Startup tab.

World Settings -- Sandbox.sbc

The world-specific settings are stored in the Sandbox.sbc file inside your world's save folder. These settings control the environment, physics, and gameplay balance of your specific world.

Accessing Sandbox.sbc

1. Stop your server.
2. Open the Files tab in GPanel.
3. Navigate to the world save folder (typically at the path shown in GPanel or inside a Saves/ directory).
4. Open Sandbox.sbc in the file editor.

Key World Settings

The following settings are found within the <SessionSettings> block of Sandbox.sbc:

Example world settings snippet:

<SessionSettings>
  <GameMode>Survival</GameMode>
  <InventorySizeMultiplier>3</InventorySizeMultiplier>
  <AssemblerSpeedMultiplier>3</AssemblerSpeedMultiplier>
  <AssemblerEfficiencyMultiplier>3</AssemblerEfficiencyMultiplier>
  <RefinerySpeedMultiplier>3</RefinerySpeedMultiplier>
  <WelderSpeedMultiplier>2</WelderSpeedMultiplier>
  <GrinderSpeedMultiplier>2</GrinderSpeedMultiplier>
  <MaxFloatingObjects>56</MaxFloatingObjects>
  <EnvironmentHostility>NORMAL</EnvironmentHostility>
  <ProceduralDensity>0.35</ProceduralDensity>
  <EnableSpiders>true</EnableSpiders>
  <EnableWolves>true</EnableWolves>
  <AutoSaveInMinutes>5</AutoSaveInMinutes>
</SessionSettings>

How to Connect

Option A -- Steam Server Browser

1. Open Steam and click View > Game Servers (or View > Servers in older Steam versions).
2. Click the Favorites tab, then click Add a Server.
3. Enter your server IP and port (found in GPanel's Network tab) and click Add this address to favorites.
4. Select the server from your favorites list and click Connect.

Option B -- In-Game Server Browser

1. Launch Space Engineers and click Join Game from the main menu.
2. In the server browser, use the search field to find your server by name.
3. Select your server and click Join World.
4. If the server has a password, you will be prompted to enter it.

Option C -- Direct Connect via IP

1. Launch Space Engineers and click Join Game from the main menu.
2. Click the Direct Connect tab (or enter the IP in the search/filter field).
3. Enter your server IP and game port from GPanel's Network tab:

   <your-server-ip>:<your-game-port>

4. Click Join World and enter the server password if prompted.

Save Management

Auto-Save

Space Engineers auto-saves at the interval configured in <AutoSaveInMinutes> (default: 5 minutes). Auto-saves overwrite the current world save. You can adjust this interval in SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg or the GPanel Startup tab.

Save File Location

World saves are stored on the server in the world save directory. The exact path depends on your server configuration, but it is typically found inside a Saves/ or instance directory visible in the GPanel Files tab. Each world has its own folder containing:

Backing Up Your World

1. Stop your server from the Console tab to ensure the save is not being written to.
2. Connect to your server via SFTP. See How to Upload Files via SFTP for instructions.
3. Navigate to the world save folder.
4. Download the entire world folder to your local machine. This includes all .sbc, .sbs, and .vx2 files.

Restoring a Backup

1. Stop your server.
2. Connect via SFTP.
3. Navigate to the world save folder.
4. Replace the existing save files with your backup files. Make sure you upload all files from the backup (.sbc, .sbs, and .vx2 files).
5. Start the server from GPanel. It will load the restored world.

Transferring a World from Single Player

You can upload a single-player world to your dedicated server:

1. On your local machine, locate your Space Engineers saves folder (typically %AppData%/SpaceEngineers/Saves/).
2. Find the world folder you want to upload.
3. Stop your server and connect via SFTP.
4. Upload the entire world folder to the server's save directory.
5. Update the World Name in GPanel's Startup tab or in SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg to match the uploaded folder name.
6. Start the server.

Related Articles

• Space Engineers Mod Installation
• Space Engineers Troubleshooting
• How to Find Your Server IP and Port
• How to Upload Files via SFTP
• Server Startup Guide

Need Help?

If you continue to experience issues with your Space Engineers server, our support team is available to assist.