Hosting Assetto Corsa Server: A Comprehensive Guide for Dev

Greetings Dev! If you are a gaming enthusiast, you may have heard about Assetto Corsa, a popular racing game that offers a realistic driving experience. However, it can be frustrating to experience lags or other issues when playing online. To avoid these issues, it is recommended that you host your own Assetto Corsa server.

In this article, we will guide you through the steps involved in hosting an Assetto Corsa server. We will cover every aspect, including hardware requirements, software installation, and server management. By the end of this article, you will have a fully functional server that can provide you and your friends with an enjoyable gaming experience.

Hardware Requirements

Before we dive into the software installation, let’s talk about hardware requirements. Hosting a server requires a dedicated machine that meets certain specifications. Here are the minimum requirements:

Component	Minimum Requirement
CPU	Intel Core i3-4160 or higher
RAM	4 GB
Storage	50 GB or more
Internet Connection	10 Mbps or higher

Note that the above requirements are the bare minimum. If you want to host a server with better performance, we recommend that you invest in better hardware.

Software Installation

Step 1: Installing Windows Server

The first step to hosting an Assetto Corsa server is to install Windows Server on your machine. Windows Server is a specialized version of Windows that is optimized for server use. You can purchase a license from Microsoft or use a trial version.

Once you have obtained a license, follow these steps to install Windows Server:

1. Download the installation media from Microsoft’s website.
2. Burn the ISO image to a DVD or USB drive.
3. Insert the DVD or USB drive into your server’s optical drive or USB port, respectively.
4. Boot your server from the DVD or USB drive.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows Server.

After the installation is complete, Windows Server should be up and running on your machine.

Step 2: Installing SteamCMD

SteamCMD is a command-line tool that allows you to install and manage game servers on Steam. To install SteamCMD, follow these steps:

1. Download the SteamCMD installer from Valve’s website.
2. Extract the contents of the ZIP file to a folder on your server.
3. Open a command prompt and navigate to the folder where SteamCMD is installed.
4. Type the following command to install Assetto Corsa: steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:\ACServer +app_update 302550 +quit

This will download and install the latest version of Assetto Corsa on your server.

Step 3: Configuring the Server

Now that Assetto Corsa is installed on your server, it’s time to configure the server. Here are the steps:

1. Open the “server_cfg.ini” file in the “C:\ACServer\cfg” folder using a text editor.
2. Set the “Server Name” and “Password” fields to your liking.
3. Set the “UDP Port” field to “9600”.
4. Set the “TCP Port” field to “9600”.
5. Save the changes to the file.

This will configure Assetto Corsa to run as a server on your machine.

Server Management

Starting the Server

To start the server, open a command prompt and navigate to the “C:\ACServer” folder. Then, type the following command: acServer.exe

This will start the Assetto Corsa server on your machine. You can now join the server from within Assetto Corsa.

Stopping the Server

To stop the server, simply close the command prompt window that is running the server. This will terminate the server process and free up resources on your machine.

FAQ

1. How many players can connect to my server?

The number of players that can connect to your server depends on the hardware specifications of your machine. Generally, a machine with better hardware can handle more players.

2. How can I set up custom tracks and cars?

You can add custom tracks and cars by placing the corresponding files in the “C:\ACServer\content” folder. The server will automatically detect any new content and make it available to players.

3. How can I configure server settings?

You can configure server settings by editing the “server_cfg.ini” file in the “C:\ACServer\cfg” folder using a text editor. This file contains various settings that control the behavior of the server.

4. How can I view server logs?

You can view server logs by opening the “logs” folder in the “C:\ACServer” directory. This folder contains log files that record various events and actions performed by the server.

5. Can I run the server on Linux or Mac?

Assetto Corsa is a Windows-only game, so you can only run the server on a Windows machine.

Conclusion

Hosting an Assetto Corsa server can be a fun and rewarding experience. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a server that offers a smooth and enjoyable racing experience for you and your friends. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different settings and configurations to find the perfect setup for your server. Happy racing!