Configuring your Starbound server

The main config is storage/starbound_server.config, a JSON file. This guide covers the key settings, account modes, and RCON.

Key Settings

{
  "allowAdminCommands" : true,
  "allowAdminCommandsFromAnyone" : false,
  "allowAnonymousConnections" : true,
  "anonymousConnectionsAreAdmin" : false,
  "gameServerPort" : 21025,
  "maxPlayers" : 8,
  "runRconServer" : false,
  "rconServerPort" : 21026,
  "rconServerPassword" : "",
  "safeScripts" : true,
  "serverName" : "A Starbound Server",
  "serverUsers" : {
    "admin" : { "admin" : true, "password" : "CHANGE_ME" }
  }
}

gameServerPort is the panel's to set

21025 is Starbound's stock port and yours will almost certainly be a different number. The value in this file tracks the allocation shown on the Network tab of your Starbound game server; changing it by hand just moves the server to a port that was never opened for it. How to use your server panel covers where to find the tab.

Restart after editing.

Accounts vs Anonymous Connections

Anonymous: anyone with the IP and optional password joins, no account. Most public servers use this.

Account-based: set allowAnonymousConnections to false and define users:

"serverUsers": {
  "alice": { "admin": true, "password": "alicepw" },
  "bob": { "admin": false, "password": "bobpw" }
}

Players are prompted for a username and password on connect

Common for private friend servers.

RCON

"runRconServer": true,
"rconServerPort": 21026,
"rconServerPassword": "STRONG_PASSWORD"

Starbound plans ship with a single port allocation, so rconServerPort cannot simply be the 21026 shown here — RCON needs an allocation of its own before anything will answer on it. Add one from the Network tab if your plan has a spare, or open a ticket, and use that number.

Restart, then connect with any Source-style RCON tool.

What to Read Next

• Admin and Commands for in-game admin usage
• Maintaining your Starbound server for universe resets and backups

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