Self-Hosting a Satisfactory Server with Docker

What Is a Satisfactory Dedicated Server?

Satisfactory is Coffee Stain Studios’ factory-building game where you automate production lines on an alien planet. A dedicated server lets you and friends connect to a persistent world that runs 24/7, even when the host player is offline. The community-maintained Docker image from wolveix packages the official Satisfactory dedicated server with auto-updates, easy configuration, and container-friendly defaults.

Updated March 2026: Verified with latest Docker images and configurations.

Official game: satisfactorygame.com | Docker image

Prerequisites

A Linux server (Ubuntu 22.04+ recommended)
Docker and Docker Compose installed (guide)
30 GB of free disk space (game files are ~15 GB)
8 GB of RAM minimum (16 GB recommended for mid-to-late game)
2+ CPU cores
Ports 7777 (TCP/UDP) open on your firewall

Docker Compose Configuration

services:
  satisfactory:
    image: wolveix/satisfactory-server:v1.9.10
    container_name: satisfactory-server
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "7777:7777/tcp"
      - "7777:7777/udp"
    environment:
      MAXPLAYERS: 4
      PGID: 1000
      PUID: 1000
      STEAMBETA: "false"
    volumes:
      - satisfactory_data:/config
    deploy:
      resources:
        limits:
          memory: 12G

volumes:
  satisfactory_data:

Environment variables:

Variable	Default	Description
`MAXPLAYERS`	4	Maximum concurrent players
`PUID`	1000	User ID for file ownership
`PGID`	1000	Group ID for file ownership
`STEAMBETA`	false	Use experimental branch
`SKIPUPDATE`	false	Skip auto-update on startup
`MAXTICKRATE`	30	Server tick rate
`MAXOBJECTS`	2162688	Max network objects (increase for large factories)

Note: This image uses :latest because the server auto-updates the game on each container start. The Docker image itself is a wrapper that downloads the Satisfactory dedicated server via SteamCMD. Pinning a tag would not pin the game version.

Start the server:

docker compose up -d

The first startup takes 5-10 minutes to download the ~15 GB game server files via SteamCMD. Monitor progress:

docker compose logs -f satisfactory

Initial Setup

Once the server is running:

Open Satisfactory on your PC
Go to Server Manager from the main menu
Click Add Server and enter your server’s IP address (port 7777 is default)
Set an admin password when prompted
Create a new game or upload an existing save

The server generates its configuration files in the /config volume on first run.

Configuration

Server Settings

After the server creates its config, you can edit server settings by modifying the configuration files in the data volume:

docker compose exec satisfactory cat /config/gamefiles/FactoryGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ServerSettings.ini

Key settings include auto-save interval, auto-pause when empty, and network quality.

Save Management

Saves are stored in /config/gamefiles/FactoryGame/Saved/SaveGames/server/. To upload an existing save from a single-player game:

Find your local save: %LOCALAPPDATA%\FactoryGame\Saved\SaveGames\
Copy the .sav file to the server’s save directory
Load it through the in-game Server Manager

Memory Tuning

Late-game factories with thousands of objects consume significant RAM. If players experience disconnections or the server crashes:

Increase the Docker memory limit: change memory: 12G to memory: 16G
Increase MAXOBJECTS if you hit the network object limit
Monitor memory usage: docker stats satisfactory-server

Reverse Proxy

Satisfactory uses a custom UDP/TCP protocol on port 7777, not HTTP. Standard reverse proxies (Nginx, Caddy, Traefik) do not work with game traffic. Players connect directly via IP:port.

For remote access without port forwarding, use a VPN like Tailscale or WireGuard to put the server on a private network.

Backup

Back up your save files regularly:

# Copy saves from the Docker volume
docker compose cp satisfactory:/config/gamefiles/FactoryGame/Saved/SaveGames ./satisfactory-saves-$(date +%Y-%m-%d)

Schedule this via cron for automated backups. The server also auto-saves at configurable intervals (default: 5 minutes).

Backup Strategy

Troubleshooting

Server Not Appearing in Server Manager

Symptom: Can’t find the server when adding by IP. Fix: Verify port 7777 is open on both TCP and UDP. Check firewall rules: sudo ufw allow 7777/tcp && sudo ufw allow 7777/udp. Wait 2-3 minutes after startup — the server needs time to initialize.

Server Crashes with Out of Memory

Symptom: Container exits with OOM error. Fix: Increase Docker memory limit to 16 GB or higher. Late-game factories with 10,000+ objects need 12-16 GB. Set MAXOBJECTS higher if you’re hitting network object limits.

Save File Corruption

Symptom: Server fails to load save. Fix: Check for .sav.bak backup files in the save directory. Satisfactory creates rotating backups. Copy the most recent .bak to replace the corrupted .sav.

Resource Requirements

RAM: 4-6 GB idle (early game), 8-16 GB under load (mid-to-late game with multiple players)
CPU: 2 cores minimum, 4 recommended for large factories
Disk: ~15 GB for game files, plus saves (1-50 MB per save depending on factory size)
Network: Low bandwidth requirements (~100 Kbps per player), but low latency matters

Verdict

The wolveix Docker image makes Satisfactory server hosting straightforward — auto-updates, easy configuration, and clean container isolation. The main challenge is resource requirements: late-game Satisfactory factories are memory-hungry, and you’ll want 16 GB RAM available for a serious multiplayer world. For the cost of a VPS or a mini PC, you get a persistent server that’s always online without paying game server hosting services $15-30/month.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much RAM does a Satisfactory server need?

Early-game worlds need 4-6 GB. Mid-game with moderate factories needs 8-12 GB. Late-game mega-factories with thousands of machines can consume 16 GB or more. Start with 8 GB and monitor usage with docker stats.

Can I upload my single-player save to the server?

Yes. Copy your .sav file from %LOCALAPPDATA%\FactoryGame\Saved\SaveGames\ on your PC to the server’s save directory at /config/gamefiles/FactoryGame/Saved/SaveGames/server/. Then load it through the in-game Server Manager.

Does the server auto-update when Satisfactory releases a patch?

Yes. The wolveix Docker image runs SteamCMD on each container start to check for game updates. Set SKIPUPDATE=true if you want to disable this behavior and control update timing manually.

Can I run a Satisfactory server on a Raspberry Pi?

No. Satisfactory’s dedicated server requires an x86_64 CPU and at least 4 GB of RAM. ARM-based devices like the Raspberry Pi are not supported. Use a mini PC or VPS with adequate specs.

How many players can a self-hosted server support?

The MAXPLAYERS variable defaults to 4. Satisfactory officially supports up to 4 players in multiplayer, though some users run with higher limits. Performance depends on factory complexity and server hardware more than player count.

Do players need to port forward to connect?

No. Only the server needs port 7777 (TCP and UDP) accessible. Players connect directly using the server’s IP address through the in-game Server Manager. For servers behind NAT without port forwarding, use Tailscale or WireGuard for VPN-based access.