Run Eco Dedicated Server as a Windows Service with FireDaemon Pro

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction
• Download, Install, and Update SteamCMD
• Download and Install Eco Dedicated Server
• Download and Install DirectX
• Download, Install, and Run FireDaemon Pro
• Setup the Eco Dedicated Server FireDaemon Pro Windows Service
• Setup a Scheduled FireDaemon Pro Service to Update Eco Dedicated Server

Introduction

Eco is an online game where players must collaborate to build a civilization in a world where everything they do affects the environment. You can set up and run the Eco Dedicated Server component as a Windows service with FireDaemon Pro. You can also use FireDaemon Pro to schedule updates to the dedicated server.

Download, Install, and Update SteamCMD

Download SteamCMD. Unpack the contents of the ZIP file into C:\SteamCMD. Then open an elevated Command Prompt (WIN+X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Terminal (Admin)), then copy / paste:

cd /D C:\SteamCMD
:: This updates SteamCMD
.\steamcmd +quit

At the same Command Prompt, copy / paste the following to download and install Eco Dedicated Server. The dedicated server is installed into C:\SteamCMD\steamapps\common\Eco Server:

:: This command downloads the dedicated server from Steam
.\steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 739590 validate +quit

Download and Install DirectX

Download and install DirectX End-User Runtime from Microsoft.

Download, Install, and Run FireDaemon Pro

Download and install FireDaemon Pro. Once the installation has been completed, double-click the FireDaemon Pro icon on your desktop to launch the FireDaemon Pro GUI.

Setup the Eco Dedicated Server FireDaemon Pro Windows Service

In the FireDaemon Pro GUI type Ctrl+N to create a new FireDaemon Pro service per the screenshot below.

The Eco Dedicated Server needs to be sent a Ctrl+C to shutdown cleanly. Configure that via the Lifecycle tab. Once that is done, click the "tick" button to run the Eco Dedicated Server. Note that the Eco Dedicated Server will run on Session 0 and not be visible on your desktop. You can optionally use FireDaemon Zero to access Session 0.

Setup a Scheduled FireDaemon Pro Service to Update Eco Dedicated Server

This step is entirely optional. Create a batch file called UpdateEco.cmd in the folder C:\SteamCMD\steamapps\common\Eco Server containing the following lines:

:: Script to stop, update, and start the dedicated server
:: Adjust paths and service name as required
@echo off

set FDCLI="C:\Program Files\FireDaemon Pro\firedaemoncli"
set FDSVC="Eco Dedicated Server"
set FDSTOP=control stop
set FDSTART=control start

:: Stop the FireDaemon Pro service
%FDCLI% %FDSTOP% %FDSVC%

:: Change directory to SteamCMD
cd /D C:\SteamCMD

:: Update the dedicated server
.\steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 739590 validate +quit

:: Start the FireDaemon Pro service
%FDCLI% %FDSTART% %FDSVC%

Then create a schedule via the FireDaemon Pro Scheduling tab per the screenshot below to update Eco Dedicated Server. Click the "+" button to create a new schedule. Note that your dedicated server will be shut down for the duration of the update. Change the Start Time of the schedule to a time that suits you. You can also create multiple schedules. Click the "tick" button, the service will be installed, and the batch file will be scheduled to be run at the time nominated in the schedule.

And that's it! You should now have two FireDaemon Pro services setup and running. One runs the Eco Dedicated Server, the second runs the update script periodically. Your FireDaemon Pro GUI should look similar to the following once both services are installed and running.