Alchemy Factory Server Setup: Settings, Joining, Admin

You set up an Alchemy Factory server at RespawnHost in three steps: order the server, start it once so it downloads the roughly 413 MB of server files, then set server name, player count, password, autosave and visibility in the panel under Server → Settings → Startup variables. Your friends connect via IP:Port, via the join code from the server console or through the in-game server list. You become admin in-game with /admin <admin password>, and we generate the admin password automatically when you order.

Step 1: Order your server

1. Open the page Alchemy Factory server hosting.
2. Pick a plan. You can choose 4, 6, 8 or 12 GB RAM. As a guideline we recommend 4 players for 4 and 6 GB and 6 players for 8 and 12 GB. More than 6 players aren’t possible.
3. Choose a fixed plan or pay-per-use billed by the second. Pay-per-use suits Alchemy Factory well, because the server pauses anyway when nobody is playing.
4. Choose your location: Germany/EU, Salt Lake City, Charlotte or Noida.
5. Complete your order. The server then shows up in your panel, and we automatically generate a random admin password for it.

Step 2: First start

Start the server in the panel. On the first start it downloads the server files via SteamCMD, about 413 MB. You can follow the progress in the console. Once the server is running, it creates a new world.

The official server is only available for Windows. At RespawnHost it runs on Linux through a Windows compatibility layer, so you don’t need to worry about that.

Where do I configure my Alchemy Factory server?

You set everything in the panel under Server → Settings → Startup variables. On every start the server writes these values into ServerConfig.ini, so you don’t have to touch the file yourself. The table shows which startup variable maps to which key:

Setting	Where in the panel	Key in ServerConfig.ini	Default
Server name	Startup variables	server_name	Alchemy Factory
Max players	Startup variables	max_clients	6 (adjustable from 1 to 6)
Show in server list	Startup variables	server_public	1 (on)
Server password	Startup variables	server_password	empty
Admin password	Startup variables	admin_password	random, generated when you order
Max admins	Startup variables	max_admins	1
Autosave mode	Startup variables	autosave_mode	1 (every 5 minutes)
Pause when empty	Startup variables	pause_when_empty	1 (on)
Automatic updates	Startup variables	no key, update on start	on
Ports	managed by RespawnHost	server_port, query_port	ports from the panel
Steam Relay	managed by RespawnHost	server_relay	0 (off, join via direct IP)
LAN	managed by RespawnHost	server_lan	0 (off)
Steam session retry (seconds)	managed by RespawnHost	session_retry_seconds	10

RespawnHost manages ports, Steam Relay, LAN and the Steam session retry, you can’t change these values.

What do the autosave modes mean?

autosave_mode	Behavior
0	saves when players sleep
1	saves every 5 minutes (default)
2	saves every 10 minutes
3	never saves

We recommend keeping the default 1. With pause_when_empty = 1 the server pauses the simulation while nobody is connected and saves automatically as soon as the last player leaves.

ServerConfig.ini reference for SFTP users

ServerConfig.ini sits in the server’s root directory, reachable through the file manager or via SFTP. This is what it looks like with the game’s default values:

[ServerSettings]
server_name=Alchemy Factory
server_public=1
server_port=9877
query_port=9878
server_relay=1
server_lan=0
server_password=
admin_password=
max_clients=4
max_admins=1
autosave_mode=1
pause_when_empty=1
session_retry_seconds=10

At RespawnHost the following applies:

• We manage ports, relay and LAN. The default ports are 9877 (game) and 9878 (query), both UDP. Your server gets the ports shown in the panel.
• Relay is off on our servers (server_relay=0). With relay on, joining via direct IP wouldn’t be possible, only via join code or server list. Since your server has a public IP, the direct route stays open.
• All other values come from the startup variables. Change them there, not in the file.

How do my friends join the server?

There are three ways:

Method	How it works	Requirement
Direct IP	Enter IP:Port from the panel in-game, a domain works too	Relay off (default at RespawnHost)
Join code	Enter the code from the server console in-game	Server is running
Server list	Find the server in the multiplayer lobby	”Show in server list” on

Where do I find the join code?

The join code is shown in the server console in the panel. Look for the line starting with [ServerConfig] join address:. At the end it says join code: followed by the code:

[ServerConfig] join address: ... join code: XXXXXXXX

If the line has already scrolled out of the console, restart the server once nobody is playing. The line will appear again.

How do I set a server password?

1. Open Server → Settings → Startup variables in the panel.
2. Enter your password under Server password.
3. Wait until nobody is on the server, then restart it.

To open the server up again, clear the password and restart.

How do I become admin on my Alchemy Factory server?

1. RespawnHost generates the admin password automatically when you order. You find it under Server → Settings → Startup variables. If you want your own, enter it there and restart the server.
2. Connect to the server.
3. Press Enter in-game to open the chat.
4. Type /admin <admin password>, for example /admin MySecretPassword.
5. /help shows you which commands are available.

Frequently asked questions

How many players fit on an Alchemy Factory server? 4 players is the game default (max_clients). At RespawnHost you set 1 to 6 players in the startup variables. The developer hasn’t published an official maximum.

Where do I find my server’s join code? In the server console, in the line [ServerConfig] join address: ... join code: ....

Why aren’t my settings applied? Changes to the startup variables only take effect after the server restarts. The server overwrites direct changes to ServerConfig.ini with the startup variables on start.

Can I use Workshop blueprints on the server? No, the server doesn’t load Workshop content, each player uses blueprints in their own game.

How do I become admin? Press Enter in-game to open the chat and type /admin <admin password>. The admin password is in the startup variables.

Do I need to forward ports? No, RespawnHost sets up the ports, you simply use IP:Port from the panel.

Further reading

• Upload & back up your save: bring your own world to the server and avoid data loss
• Troubleshooting: when friends can’t join or the server is missing from the list

No server yet? Alchemy Factory server hosting at RespawnHost.