How do I update my Conan Exiles server?

Stop the server, run SteamCMD again with the “app_update” command from the Updates section (with validate), then restart. Back up before big updates.

Do I need to own the game to host a Conan Exiles server?

No: the dedicated server downloads for free through SteamCMD with an anonymous login. Only players need the game.

What should I back up before an update?

The world save folder and the configuration folder (see the Backups section): copy them with the server stopped to get a consistent state.

Can I host Conan Exiles on Linux?

The server is a Windows executable: on Linux it needs Wine (community method, sometimes less stable). Windows remains the simplest route.

Install a Conan Exiles server: local, VPS, dedicated, ports

The Conan Exiles dedicated server (SteamCMD AppID 443030) is a Windows executable; Funcom also provides a Dedicated Server Launcher. On Linux it runs through Wine, a community solution that may be less stable. Allow 30 to 60 minutes.

Step-by-step installation

Check the OS and hardware (“Requirements” section).
Install SteamCMD, Steam's command-line tool.
Download the Conan Exiles server files with AppID 443030 (anonymous login).
Start the server once to create its configuration files, then stop it cleanly.
Set the name, passwords, slots and rules with this site's tools.
Test the connection locally (localhost / 127.0.0.1) before opening the server to the Internet.
Open the ports in the system firewall, the host's firewall and, at home, on the router (NAT).
Set up a service (systemd or a Windows scheduled task) for automatic start and restart after a crash.
Schedule updates and backups, then restart regularly.
Add your server to game-rank.com so players can find it.

Requirements

OS: 64-bit Windows (recommended) or Linux with Wine (ConanSandboxServer.exe, community solution).
Hardware: no stated minimum could be confirmed in the sources consulted. Rule of thumb (unofficial): 8 GB of RAM or more and an SSD; more with many players or mods.
Accounts: none, SteamCMD logs in anonymously; only players need the game.

Local install (Windows)

Unzip SteamCMD to C:\steamcmd and download the server. Run ConanSandboxServer.exe -log once: it creates ConanSandbox/Saved/Config/WindowsServer. Stop it, configure with the “ServerSettings.ini / Engine.ini” tool, then restart. Funcom's Dedicated Server Launcher (official forum) automates these steps. To host on the same PC as the game, add -Multihome=<local IP>.

cd C:\steamcmd
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\conan-server +login anonymous +app_update 443030 validate +quit

cd C:\conan-server
ConanSandboxServer.exe -log

Install on a Linux VPS / dedicated server (Ubuntu/Debian)

On Linux, install Wine and screen, download the server with SteamCMD (Windows platform) and run it in a screen session. This method is community-made: Funcom does not document it in the sources consulted. On a Windows Server VPS, simply follow the local install.

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y steamcmd wine64 screen
sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" conan
sudo -iu conan
/usr/games/steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +force_install_dir /home/conan/server +login anonymous +app_update 443030 validate +quit
cd /home/conan/server && screen -dmS conan wine ConanSandboxServer.exe -log

Ports to open

Hosting provider (OVH, Hetzner, Scaleway…): open the same ports in the provider's firewall / security group on top of the system one. At home: forward (NAT) each port with the right UDP or TCP protocol to the machine's local IP, ideally a fixed one. Test from outside (a friend connecting, or a UDP port tester): a UDP port does not always answer a plain scan.

7777/UDP — game port (Engine.ini, [URL] section, Port=7777)
7778/UDP — raw UDP port (default in Funcom's Dedicated Server Launcher)
27015/UDP — Steam query (Engine.ini, [OnlineSubsystemSteam], GameServerQueryPort=27015)
25575/TCP — RCON (optional, value quoted by third-party guides; the Launcher lets you choose the port)

Linux firewall (ufw)

For a Wine server on Linux, allow the ports then enable ufw (SSH first).

sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw allow 7777:7778/udp
sudo ufw allow 27015/udp
sudo ufw allow from <ADMIN_IP> to any port 25575 proto tcp
sudo ufw enable

Windows firewall (netsh)

On Windows, open the ports in an administrator prompt.

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Conan UDP" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=7777,7778,27015
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Conan RCON" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=25575

Automatic start and supervision

On Windows, create a scheduled task at startup. On Linux/Wine, a systemd service runs Wine in the server folder and restarts on failure.

# /etc/systemd/system/conan.service (Linux + Wine, community method)
[Unit]
Description=Conan Exiles server (Wine)
After=network-online.target

[Service]
User=conan
WorkingDirectory=/home/conan/server
Environment=WINEDEBUG=-all
ExecStart=/usr/bin/wine ConanSandboxServer.exe -log
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=20

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Updates

Stop the server, run SteamCMD again with app_update 443030 validate, then restart. The Dedicated Server Launcher can also check for updates.

C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\conan-server +login anonymous +app_update 443030 validate +quit

Backups and scheduled restarts

Stop the server then copy game.db (in ConanSandbox/Saved) or, better, the whole Saved folder (Logs, Config, modlist.txt). ServerSettings.ini changes only take effect after a restart: use a scheduled daily restart.

# Linux (Wine) — cron: backup at 05:00
0 5 * * * systemctl stop conan && tar czf /root/conan-$(date +\%F).tar.gz -C /home/conan/server/ConanSandbox Saved && systemctl start conan

List and find your server

Once the server is reachable from the Internet, add it at https://game-rank.com/jeux/conan-exiles: players discover it, vote and follow its ranking. Keep the query port open, otherwise the server will not show up in server lists.

Troubleshooting

The server is not in the list: the query port (UDP) is closed or the list takes several minutes to refresh; try adding it directly by IP:query port.
Cannot connect from the Internet but fine locally: missing system firewall rule, provider security group or port forwarding (NAT); check each rule's protocol (UDP/TCP).
The client reports a different version: the game was updated; stop the server, run SteamCMD with “app_update … validate” again, then restart.
My settings are not applied: edit ServerSettings.ini with the server stopped and check the key spelling; then restart.
Under Wine, the server crashes or shows nothing: run it via screen with -log, check the Wine version and, if needed, a virtual display (xvfb) — a community lead not officially verified.

Frequently asked questions

How do I update my Conan Exiles server?: Stop the server, run SteamCMD again with the “app_update” command from the Updates section (with validate), then restart. Back up before big updates.
Do I need to own the game to host a Conan Exiles server?: No: the dedicated server downloads for free through SteamCMD with an anonymous login. Only players need the game.
What should I back up before an update?: The world save folder and the configuration folder (see the Backups section): copy them with the server stopped to get a consistent state.
Can I host Conan Exiles on Linux?: The server is a Windows executable: on Linux it needs Wine (community method, sometimes less stable). Windows remains the simplest route.