This guide covers everything you need to know about setting up and configuring your Stationeers dedicated server on Legion Hosting. Stationeers is a hardcore space station construction and management simulator where players build atmospherics systems, electrical grids, and life support on hostile worlds. For managing your server once it is running, see our Stationeers Admin Commands guide.

What is Stationeers?

Stationeers is a first-person simulation game developed by RocketWerkz that challenges players to construct and manage space stations and planetary bases. The game features deeply realistic atmospheric, electrical, and hydraulic systems that must be carefully designed and maintained to keep your crew alive. Every pipe, cable, and console is individually simulated, making it one of the most detailed engineering sandbox games available.

Key features include:

• Atmospheric Simulation — Realistic gas mixing, pressure, and temperature systems that govern life support
• Electrical Engineering — Build power grids with solar panels, batteries, transformers, and logic circuits
• Multiple Worlds — Build on Mars, Moon, Vulcan, Europa, or Loulan, each with unique environmental challenges
• Programmable Logic — IC10 chip programming for automated systems using an in-game MIPS-like language
• Multiplayer — Cooperative gameplay on dedicated servers for collaborative engineering

First Start

When your Stationeers server is provisioned on Legion Hosting, it comes pre-configured and ready to start. To get your server running for the first time:

1. Log in to GPanel at gpanel.legionhosting.net
2. Select your Stationeers server from the server list
3. Review your Startup Variables to set your world type and server name before the first launch
4. Click Start to launch the server
5. The server will generate the world and default configuration files on first boot
6. Once the console shows the server is ready and listening, players can connect

GPanel Startup Variables

GPanel provides startup variables that let you configure key server parameters without editing files directly. These are passed as command-line arguments when the server starts.

World Types

Stationeers offers five distinct planetary environments, each presenting unique engineering challenges. Choose your world type carefully as it determines the atmosphere, temperature ranges, gravity, and available resources.

Server Configuration (default.ini)

The main server configuration is stored in default.ini (also sometimes called setting.xml depending on the version). You can access this file through GPanel's File Manager. Key configuration settings include:

# Server Settings
SERVERNAME=My Stationeers Server
SERVERPASSWORD=
SERVERMAXPLAYERS=10
GAMEPORT=27016
UPDATEPORT=27014
STARTINGCONDITION=Default
RESPAWNONDEATH=true
AUTOSAVEINTERVAL=300
SERVERVISIBLE=true

Configuration Settings Explained

Advanced World Settings

Additional world settings can be configured to customize the gameplay experience. These are typically found in the world's configuration files within the save directory.

How to Connect

Once your server is running, players can connect using the following methods:

Via Server Browser

1. Launch Stationeers from Steam
2. From the main menu, click Multiplayer
3. Click Server Browser
4. Search for your server name in the list
5. Select the server and click Join
6. Enter the password if one is set

Via Direct Connect

1. Launch Stationeers from Steam
2. From the main menu, click Multiplayer
3. Click Direct Connect
4. Enter your server's IP address and port (e.g., 192.168.1.100:27016)
5. Click Connect

Save Management

Stationeers stores world data in the save directory on your server. Understanding the save structure helps with backups and world management.

Save File Structure

saves/
  YourWorldName/
    world.xml             <-- World state and entity data
    world.bin             <-- Binary world data
    players/              <-- Individual player data files
    snapshots/            <-- Autosave snapshots

Backup Recommendations

• Use GPanel's built-in backup feature to create snapshots before major changes
• You can also download the entire save folder via SFTP for local backups
• The server automatically saves based on the AUTOSAVEINTERVAL setting (default: every 5 minutes)
• You can trigger a manual save using the save command in the server console
• Before updating the game or changing world settings, always create a manual backup

Resetting the World

To start with a fresh world:

1. Stop the server in GPanel
2. Open the File Manager
3. Navigate to the saves/ directory
4. Delete or rename the world folder you want to reset
5. Start the server — a new world will be generated using your startup variables

Performance Tips

• Player count vs. simulation — Stationeers has a detailed physics simulation. More players means more entities being tracked. Keep player counts reasonable for your server's resource allocation.
• Build complexity — Very large bases with extensive pipe networks and logic circuits increase server tick time. Encourage players to build efficiently.
• Autosave frequency — If you experience lag spikes, the autosave interval may be too frequent for large worlds. Consider increasing it to 600 seconds (10 minutes).
• Chunk loading — Players spread across different areas of the map force the server to simulate multiple zones simultaneously. Bases built close together reduce server load.

Related Articles

• Stationeers Admin Commands
• How to Find Your Server IP and Port
• How to Upload Files via SFTP
• Getting Started with Your New Server

Need Help?

If you are experiencing issues with your Stationeers server or need further assistance, our support team is here to help. Submit a support ticket and we will get back to you as soon as possible.