Knowledgebase

How to Install Starbound on AnonVM: A Step-by-Step Guide

Starbound is a sandbox adventure game where players can explore, build, and fight in a procedurally generated universe. By hosting your own Starbound server on AnonVM, you can customize the gameplay, control the environment, and invite your friends for a multiplayer experience. This tutorial will guide you through the installation and configuration process.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• AnonVM VPS or Dedicated Server: A server with root or sudo access.
• Operating System: This guide assumes you are using Ubuntu or CentOS.
• SSH Access: You'll need SSH access to your server to run commands.
• Steam Account: A Steam account is required to download Starbound and run the server.

Step 1: Update Your System

Updating your system is essential before installing new software to ensure your server is running the latest security patches.

For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

For CentOS-based systems:

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Starbound requires SteamCMD for installing and updating the game server.

For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

For CentOS-based systems:

Step 3: Install SteamCMD

1. Create a directory for SteamCMD:

    

   mkdir -v /opt/steamcmd cd /opt/steamcmd

2. Download SteamCMD:

    

   wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

3. Extract the SteamCMD files:

    

   tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

4. Navigate to the SteamCMD directory:

    

   cd /opt/steamcmd

Step 4: Install Starbound Server Files

Now that SteamCMD is set up, use it to install the Starbound server.

1. Run SteamCMD:

    

   ./steamcmd.sh

2. Log in to SteamCMD using your Steam account or anonymously:

   • To log in anonymously:

      

     login anonymous

   • To log in with your Steam credentials:

      

     login your_steam_username your_steam_password

3. Set the installation directory for Starbound:

    

   force_install_dir /opt/starbound

4. Install the Starbound server:

    

   app_update 211820 validate

   This will download and install the Starbound server files.

5. Exit SteamCMD:

    

   quit

Step 5: Configure the Starbound Server

Once the server files are installed, you’ll need to configure the server to customize game settings, world rules, and player preferences.

1. Navigate to the Starbound server directory:

    

   cd /opt/starbound

2. Inside this directory, you'll find a storage folder, which holds the server configuration and world files. The main configuration file is starbound_server.config.

3. Edit the server configuration file:

    

   nano starbound_server.config

   Here are some key configuration options:

   • ServerName: Set the name of your server.
   • MaxPlayers: Set the maximum number of players allowed on the server.
   • Port: Configure the port for the server to run on (default is 21025).
   • Password: Set a password if you want to restrict access to your server.
   • World: Choose the default world for the server to load.

   Example configuration:

    

   { "serverName": "My Starbound Server", "maxPlayers": 16, "password": "your_password_here", "port": 21025, "world": "defaultworld" }

4. Save and exit the file (CTRL + X, then Y to confirm).

Step 6: Start the Starbound Server

To start the Starbound server, use the following command:

This will start the server in dedicated mode. You should now see the server console output in your terminal.

Step 7: Set Up Automatic Startup (Optional)

To ensure that your Starbound server starts automatically when your server reboots, you can create a systemd service.

1. Create a systemd service file:

    

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/starbound.service

2. Add the following content:

    

   [Unit] Description=Starbound Server After=network.target [Service] Type=simple WorkingDirectory=/opt/starbound ExecStart=/opt/starbound/starbound_server -force-dedicated User=your_user Restart=always [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target

   Replace your_user with your actual username.

3. Reload systemd to apply changes:

    

   sudo systemctl daemon-reload

4. Enable the service to start on boot:

    

   sudo systemctl enable starbound

5. Start the Starbound server service:

    

   sudo systemctl start starbound

6. Verify the server status:

    

   sudo systemctl status starbound

Step 8: Connect to Your Starbound Server

To connect to your Starbound server:

1. Launch Starbound from Steam.
2. Go to Multiplayer > Join Server.
3. Enter the IP address and port (default is 21025).

If your server is password-protected, you’ll need to enter the password you set in the starbound_server.config file.

Step 9: Secure Your Server (Optional)

For additional security, you may want to set up a firewall and limit who can access your server.

• Firewall Configuration: Make sure the necessary port (21025) is open in your firewall to allow players to connect.

  To allow traffic on port 21025, run:

   

  sudo ufw allow 21025/udp

• Password Protection: If you want your server to be private, ensure that you’ve set a Password in the starbound_server.config file.

Conclusion

You’ve now successfully installed and configured Starbound on your AnonVM server! With your own dedicated server, you have complete control over the game’s environment, world, and player settings. Whether you want to play privately with friends or host a public server, Starbound offers a vast universe to explore.

Key Takeaways:

• SteamCMD is required to install the Starbound server files.
• Systemd allows you to set up automatic server restarts on boot.
• Configure the server settings through the starbound_server.config file.
• Open the correct port in your firewall to allow players to join.

Enjoy your Starbound server hosted on AnonVM, and have fun exploring the stars with friends!