How to Host a VEIN Server (Dedicated Server Guide 2026)

To host a VEIN server, install the free dedicated server with SteamCMD (app 2131400), start it once, stop it, and edit Vein/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/Game.ini (LinuxServer on Linux): ServerName, Password, MaxPlayers and your SteamID64 in AdminSteamIDs under [/Script/Vein.VeinGameSession]. Gameplay rules like PvP and loot go in Engine.ini under [ConsoleVariables], not in the save. Open UDP 7777 and the query port, and friends join from the browser or the console.

What do you need to run a VEIN server?

VEIN simulates a whole town full of physics objects, so the server is heavier than it looks. Ramjet's wiki says the server needs a 64 bit OS and at least 8 GB of RAM to start, rising with players and mods. The dedicated server is a free download, and every player needs their own copy of VEIN.

Disk use is about 5 GB for the server plus room for saves and updates.

How do I install the VEIN dedicated server?

1. Install SteamCMD.
2. Download the server anonymously:

steamcmd +force_install_dir C:\vein-server +login anonymous +app_update 2131400 validate +quit

3. Make a start script in Vein\Binaries\Win64\:

VeinServer-Win64-Test.exe -log -port=7777 -QueryPort=7778

On Linux the binary is Vein/Binaries/Linux/VeinServer-Linux-Test with the same arguments.

4. Run it once so it creates its config folder, then stop it before editing.

VEIN is in Early Access and patches often. Run the app_update 2131400 line after each patch and restart, or players on the new build are kicked or cannot connect.

What goes in Game.ini?

Game.ini holds the session: name, password, player cap and admins.

[/Script/Engine.GameSession]
MaxPlayers=16

[/Script/Vein.VeinGameSession]
bPublic=True
ServerName=Maple Street Survivors
ServerDescription=Co-op, PvP off, be nice
Password=Boarded2Up
BindAddr=0.0.0.0
AdminSteamIDs=76561198000000000
SuperAdminSteamIDs=76561198000000001
bAntiCheatProtected=False

[OnlineSubsystemSteam]
GameServerQueryPort=7778
bVACEnabled=0

The section headers matter. Admin IDs placed anywhere other than under [/Script/Vein.VeinGameSession] are ignored, which is the usual reason the admin menu stays locked.

What goes in Engine.ini?

Gameplay settings are console variables, kept in Engine.ini in the same folder:

[ConsoleVariables]
vein.PvP=0
vein.Scarcity.Difficulty=2
vein.Zombies.Health=40
vein.BuildObjectDecay=1
vein.Time.TimeMultiplier=16

Admins can also change these live from the in game admin menu (its Config section), which is handy for testing a value before writing it into the file.

The gotcha: your rules are not in the save

Since VEIN 0.016 Hotfix 5, dedicated servers do not store their settings in the save file. They keep them in console variables, which means Engine.ini and whatever admins set in the menu. Two consequences catch people:

• Moving a save does not move the rules. Upload a world to a new server and it comes up with that server's PvP, loot and XP values, not the old ones. Copy Engine.ini and Game.ini across too, or set the values again.
• Changing a value in the save does nothing. If a guide from an older version tells you to edit settings inside the save, it no longer applies.

Edit both ini files with the server stopped. A running server can write its own values back on shutdown.

What ports does a VEIN server use?

The query port must not sit between 27020 and 27050, which Steam uses. Our port forwarding guide covers the router side.

How do players join a VEIN server?

1. Open the server browser in VEIN and search for the server name.
2. Join and type the password exactly, capitals included.

A brand new server can take a few minutes to be listed. To skip the wait, open the console and type open 203.0.113.10:7777 with your server's address. If bPublic is off, the console is the only way in.

Moving an existing world onto it

The server's world is one file, Vein/Saved/SaveGames/Server.vns. A single player save on Windows lives in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Vein\Saved\SaveGames.

1. Stop the server and back up Server.vns.
2. Upload your save into Vein/Saved/SaveGames.
3. Rename it to exactly Server.vns, replacing the old one.
4. Copy your Engine.ini values across, then start the server.

The server only loads the file named Server.vns, so a save uploaded under its original name is ignored and the old world keeps loading. Full walkthrough: how to move a VEIN save to a dedicated server.

Common problems

• Admin menu greyed out: your SteamID64 is missing or sits under the wrong section header. Fix it with the server stopped.
• Uploaded save does not load: it is not named Server.vns.
• PvP or loot back to defaults after a move: settings are not in the save. Copy Engine.ini.
• Password rejected: passwords are case sensitive.
• Kicked after a patch: the server is a build behind. Update and restart.

FAQ

How do I add admins to a VEIN server?

Add each SteamID64 as an AdminSteamIDs line under [/Script/Vein.VeinGameSession] in Game.ini, then restart.

How do I turn off PvP on a VEIN server?

Set vein.PvP=0 under [ConsoleVariables] in Engine.ini, or change PvP in the admin menu's Config section as an admin.

Where is the VEIN server save?

In Vein/Saved/SaveGames/Server.vns inside the server folder.

Does VEIN have mods on dedicated servers?

Not officially. There is no mod toolkit yet, so servers are customized with Game.ini, Engine.ini and the admin menu.

The easy option: host it with us

VEIN hosting on GamezServers starts at 14.99 USD a month for 6 GB, with 8, 12 and 16 GB plans and 50% off the first month for new customers. Our panel writes the server name, password, max players and query port into Game.ini each time the server starts, so change those in the panel; admins and Engine.ini are yours in the file manager. Sleep when empty saves and stops the world after 4 days with nobody on, and there is a one click Backup before every patch.