ArcheanArchean server.ini Settings Explained (Every Key)
What every key in Archean's server.ini does, from game_mode and server_online to updates_per_second and physics_steps_per_update, plus admins.txt and mods.txt.
Updated Oct 7, 2026 · 5 min read
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Archean keeps its server settings in Archean-data/server/server.ini, split into [server], [networking] and [game] sections. The ones most owners change are game_mode (0 creative, 1 adventure), server_online (public listing), max_simultaneous_players, password, spawn and auto_save_interval_seconds. The two performance keys, updates_per_second and physics_steps_per_update, are the levers for lag on heavy builds. Admins live in a separate admins.txt, and mods in each world's mods.txt.
Where the files are
| File | Path | What it holds |
|---|---|---|
server.ini |
Archean-data/server/server.ini |
All server, network and game settings |
admins.txt |
Archean-data/server/admins.txt |
Admin Steam64 IDs, one per line |
mods.txt |
Inside each world's folder | Mods enabled for that world |
Stop the server before editing. The server reads server.ini on start, so changes made while it runs do nothing until the next restart.
A full default file
This is the shape of a fresh server.ini:
[server]
server_public_name=
game_mode=0
server_online=0
accept_remote_connections=1
max_simultaneous_players=4
password=
[networking]
listen_port=8881
listen_new_connection_timeout_ms=500
automatic_blacklist=0
[game]
spawn=earth
updates_per_second=25
physics_steps_per_update=8
auto_save_interval_seconds=30
screens_compression_level=2
server_loop_thread_cpu_affinity=-1
The [server] section
| Key | What it does | Notes |
|---|---|---|
server_public_name |
Name shown in the public list | Once set, the server stops asking setup questions on launch |
game_mode |
0 creative, 1 adventure |
Creative gives free building, adventure adds gathering and survival |
server_online |
Lists the server publicly | Off keeps it private, friends join by IP and port |
accept_remote_connections |
Lets other machines connect | Must be on for anyone except the host to join |
max_simultaneous_players |
Player cap | Up to 16; smaller crews run lighter |
password |
Join password | Empty means no password |
Creative versus adventure is the big choice. Creative suits groups who want to design and test machines without grinding for parts. Adventure makes resources matter and gives a reason to explore. Switching modes on an existing world is possible, but decide with your crew first, since adventure progress means little after a stretch of free creative building.
The [networking] section
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
listen_port |
The port players connect to, 8881 by default. Open it for UDP and TCP |
listen_new_connection_timeout_ms |
How long the server waits on a new connection handshake |
automatic_blacklist |
Automatically blocks addresses that misbehave on connect |
Leave the timeout alone unless players on very high ping connections fail during the handshake. Raising it a little can help them; lowering it gains nothing for normal play.
The [game] section
| Key | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
spawn |
earth |
Starting planet for new players, for example earth or moon |
updates_per_second |
25 |
How many times per second the server updates the world |
physics_steps_per_update |
8 |
Physics calculations per update |
auto_save_interval_seconds |
30 |
Seconds between autosaves |
screens_compression_level |
2 |
Compression for in game screen data sent to players |
server_loop_thread_cpu_affinity |
-1 |
Pins the main loop to a CPU core; -1 lets the OS decide |
The two performance keys
Together, these decide how much physics work the server does each second: updates_per_second multiplied by physics_steps_per_update. At the defaults that is 25 times 8, so 200 physics steps a second.
- Lowering
physics_steps_per_updatefrom 8 to 6 cuts physics work by a quarter. Fast moving vehicles and tight joints get slightly less precise, but most builds behave the same. - Lowering
updates_per_secondreduces both physics and everything else, and players notice it as less smooth movement.
When a big rocket or a crawler with dozens of pistons drags the server down, change physics_steps_per_update first, one step at a time, and test with the build that caused trouble. If you want the background on why a server's update rate matters, see what is tick rate in games.
Autosave
A 30 second autosave is safe but writes often. On a large world you can raise it to 120 or 300 seconds to cut disk work, at the cost of losing up to that much progress after a crash. Pair a longer interval with regular backups.
admins.txt
Put one Steam64 ID per line:
76561198000000001
76561198000000002
Restart after editing. Admins press F4 in game for the server panel: performance stats, connected players and entities, teleporting players, spawning blueprints and bans.
mods.txt
Workshop mods are enabled per world. Download the mods to the server, set external_mods_dir to where they live, then list each mod's name in that world's mods.txt. Players need the same mods, and a mod that breaks after a game update can stop the world loading, so keep a backup from before each change.
The same settings in a control panel
On a GamezServers Archean server, the main keys are fields in the panel: Server Name, Game Mode, Online Mode, Max Players, Password, Spawn Planet, Autosave Interval, World Name, the two advanced tick settings and an Admins box that writes your Steam IDs to admins.txt on every start. The rest of server.ini and every mods.txt are in the file manager. New to the panel? The control panel docs show where everything is.
FAQ
What does game_mode 0 mean in Archean?
0 is creative mode and 1 is adventure mode. Change it in server.ini and restart the server.
How do I make an Archean server private?
Leave server_online off and set a password. Friends join with the IP and port from the launcher.
Which setting reduces lag on an Archean server?
Lower physics_steps_per_update slightly first. It cuts physics work without making movement feel choppy the way a lower updates_per_second does.
Do server.ini changes need a restart?
Yes. Archean reads the file on start, so stop the server, edit, and start it again.
Skip the setup. Your own Archean server.
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