How to run Space Engineers as a Windows Service with FireDaemon Pro.

Space Engineers


Space Engineers is a sandbox game about engineering, construction, exploration and survival in space and on planets. Players build space ships, wheeled vehicles, space stations, planetary outposts of various sizes and uses (civil and military), pilot ships and travel through space to explore planets and gather resources to survive.


Space Engineers screenshot


The Space Engineers dedicated server can be run as a Windows service using FireDaemon Pro. This allows you to start and run the dedicated server automatically when Windows boots and before login. FireDaemon Pro also allows you to start multiple instances of the game server, monitoring them and automatically restarting those instances in the event they crash. FireDaemon Fusion can also be used to manage your Space Engineers service, plus other Windows services via your web browser.


Space Engineers Server Setup Under FireDaemon Pro

Please follow the steps below to set up a Space Engineers dedicated server as a Windows service with FireDaemon Pro


Step 1: Download and Install SteamCMD for Windows

SteamCMD is a command-line version of the Steam Client. Its primary use is to install and update various dedicated servers available on Steam using a command-line interface.


  1. Create a folder on your system, for SteamCMD, C:\SteamCMD
  2. Download SteamCMD to this folder. A single ZIP file steamcmd.zip is downloaded.
  3. Extract the contents of the ZIP file into the folder. A single program file, steamcmd.exe, is extracted.
  4. Double-click steamcmd.exe. This will download SteamCMD and corresponding support files into the C:\SteamCMD folder.


Step 2: Download and Install FireDaemon Pro

  1. Download FireDaemon Pro installer
  2. Double-click installer and follow the installation wizard to complete the installation.
  3. For more information about installing FireDaemon, see the FireDaemon Pro Users Guide.


Step 3: Download and Install Space Engineers

  1. Download the Space Engineers files via the Steam SteamPipe servers. Go to the directory where you installed SteamCMD and create a shortcut to "SteamCMD.exe". In the shortcut, edit the properties and in the target box, at the end of it (with a space before the following), put:
+login anonymous +force_install_dir "C:\Space Engineers" +app_update 298740 validate +quit
SteamCMD Shortcut Properties

If the game successfully downloads, the command window will close on its own. Otherwise it will stay open and tell you what went wrong (most likely you don't have enough free disk space).



Step 4: Install Dot Net Framework


The game includes Dot Net Framework 4.6.1, install it from "C:\space engineers\_CommonRedist\DotNet\4.6.1\NDP461-KB3102436-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe"


Step 5: Generate The Configuration File

  1. Run "C:\space engineers\DedicatedServer64\SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe"
  2. Click "Continue to server configuration" button.
    Space Engineers Select Instance
  3. Configure all the settings in the GUI.
    Space Engineers Configuration GUI
  4. If you want to leave "New Game" set to "Alien Planet" then select another map and then reselect "Alient Planet" to get the settings window to display.
  5. Click "Save & Start". Wait for the server to start up fully and then close it.


More information can be found here.


Step 6: Set Up Space Engineers as a FireDaemon Pro Service

Double click the FireDaemon Pro icon on your desktop, then click on the New (i.e. +) button in the toolbar (or type Ctrl + N) to create a new service. Enter the information into the fields as you see below. Adjust the path names to suit your installation. Note the required parameters.


FireDaemon Pro Space Engineers Dedicated Server Service Program Tab


The most important field on the tab is the Parameters. The Parameters define the initial setup of your server. The full parameter list should be as follows:

-console
  • -console skips the GUI configuration and goes straight to the console

Next, click on the FireDaemon Pro Settings tab:


FireDaemon Pro Space Engineers service settings


Enter appropriate values in the fields on the Settings tab as follows:

  • (Required) Job Type: You must set job type to "Global Job".
  • (Required) Logon Account: Enter the Windows account under which the game is to be run, e.g. the current user account.
  • Password / Confirm Password:  Enter the logon account's password twice.
  • (Optional) Interact with Desktop: If this setting is enabled (default), the game server's output messages can be seen in the console window on Windows Session 0. To switch to Session 0, it may be necessary to install FireDaemon Zero and ZeroInput. Alternatively, this setting may be disabled, in which case the game server's messages will be hidden.
  • (Optional) Priority: To allocate more CPU time to the game server, select a higher scheduling priority in this field.
  • (Optional) CPU Bindings: To run the game server on a specific CPU, specify the appropriate CPU in this field.


Next, click in the Lifecycle tab. Set Shutdown By to Forceful Termination and check "Console Program".


FireDaemon Pro Space Engineers lifecycle settings


Lastly, click the Save and Close (ie. the tick) button on the toolbar. If the service's Startup Type is set to Automatic or Automatic (Delayed-Start), it will start immediately.


Step 7: Verify that Space Engineers is Running Correctly

The Space Engineers game server's status can easily be checked on the main FireDaemon Pro Services List - look for a Running Status value and a numeric Process ID (PID) value.


FireDaemon Pro Services list


If the service's Interact with Desktop setting is enabled, the game status can also be verified by switching to Windows Session 0 to view the game's messages.


Space Engineers dedicated server messages window