How to run Empyrion Galactic Survival Dedicated Server as a Windows Service with FireDaemon Pro


Empyrion - Galactic Survival Logo


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Empyrion Galactic Survival (Empyrion) is an open-world sandbox adventure game where players must survive a hostile environment full of strange creatures on an alien planet. You can set up and run the Empyrion 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


Download and Install the Empyrion Dedicated Server

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


:: This command downloads the dedicated server from Steam
.\steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 530870 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 is complete, double-click the FireDaemon Pro icon on your desktop to launch the FireDaemon Pro GUI.


Setup the Empyrion Dedicated Server FireDaemon Pro Windows Service

In the FireDaemon Pro GUI, type Ctrl+N to create a new FireDaemon Pro service, as shown in the screenshot below.


FireDaemon Pro Program Tab showing Empyrion Dedicated Server settings


FieldValue
Service NameEmpyrion Dedicated Server
Display NameEmpyrion Dedicated Server
Startup TypeAutomatic (Delayed Start)
ProgramC:\SteamCMD\steamapps\common\Empyrion - Dedicated Server\DedicatedServer\EmpyrionDedicated.exe
Working DirectoryC:\SteamCMD\steamapps\common\Empyrion - Dedicated Server
Parameters-batchmode -nographics -logFile "Logs/%FDDATE%.log"
TypeAlways Running Program


The Empyrion 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 Empyrion Dedicated Server. Note that the Empyrion Dedicated Server will run on Session 0 and not be visible on your desktop. You can optionally use FireDaemon Zero to access Session 0.


FireDaemon Pro Lifecycle Tab showing Empyrion Dedicated Server settings


FieldValue
Console ProgramChecked
Shutdown By
Ctrl+C


Setup a Scheduled FireDaemon Pro Service to Update the Empyrion Dedicated Server

This step is entirely optional. Create a batch file called UpdateEmpyrion.cmd in the folder C:\SteamCMD\steamapps\common\Empyrion - Dedicated 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="Empyrion 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 530870 validate +quit

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


Open the FireDaemon Pro GUI. Type Ctrl+N to create a new service as follows:


FireDaemon Pro Program tab showing how to run the UpdateEmpyrion.cmd script


FieldValue
Service NameUpdate Empyrion Dedicated Server
Display NameUpdate Empyrion Dedicated Server
Startup TypeAutomatic (Delayed Start)
ProgramC:\SteamCMD\steamapps\common\Empyrion - Dedicated Server\UpdateEmpyrion.cmd
Working DirectoryC:\SteamCMD\steamapps\common\Empyrion - Dedicated Server
TypeSelf Completing Task


Then, create a schedule via the FireDaemon Pro Scheduling tab shown in the screenshot below to update the Empyrion 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.


FireDaemon Pro Scheduling tab showing how to schedule the UpdateEmpyrion.cmd script


And that's it! You should now have two FireDaemon Pro services setup and running. One runs the Empyrion 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.


FireDaemon Pro GUI showing the Empyrion Dedicated Server service, Update Empyrion Dedicated Server service, Event Log, and Resource Monitor