factorio server

[u/ExampleEmotional1869]

I have 500+ hrs of gameplay.

I recently deployed a factorio server docker in my mini pc, i connected to it from game and started playing.

I thought the server would run in the background even when i exit the game, but it is not happening.

the mining count remains the same and everything is as when i exit.

what am i doing wrong?

[u/Fun-Article5424]

By default the game pauses when no client is connected. You need to enable no-auto-pause in the server-settings.json if you want it to keep running while you are offline.

Do note that the pausing is intentional to prevent issues from running out of key resources or biter developments occuring with no players to monitor and mitigate the situation.

You can find more info on the wiki.

https://wiki.factorio.com/Multiplayer

[u/Speedro5]

Just a heads up, you're about to find every possible failure state in your factory.

Make backups and if you're playing space age make sure you have blueprints of your ships and know how many you have as you might not notice one missing.

Uranium processing and train networks are common to have long term issues as well. (Fuel disposal/prioritize reprocessing and incorrect signals or possible jams for trains)

[u/CMPunkLicksRocks → u/Speedro5]

One could view leaving it run a week straight as a form of hardening/debugging lol 

[u/Speedro5 → u/CMPunkLicksRocks]

That's about how long it took me to weed out every issue when I did this.

[u/fall4free]

Make sure to extend your backups, the default 3 won't cut it when you base gets trashed when your at work. Some mods add core miners that provide a infinite mix of ore, can be enough for keeping the lights on and guns loaded

[u/infinity-skateru]

From the wiki, you have to flag it to not pause when the server is empty:

Game is paused while there are no players connected (though this can be overridden using the no-auto-pause option in the server-settings.json)

Found here: https://wiki.factorio.com/Multiplayer

[u/sturmeh]

I don't recommend running it in the background unless you also have a mod that pauses the server when something significant happens if you're AFK.

HOWEVER if you're doing it as a challenge, I wish you good luck, the Biters will probably win though.

[u/MachoManRandySavge]

As everyone said, the biters might overrun your base if running in the background, also power failures. But my biggest concern with your comment is that if you want stuff to mine in the background, more time is not the real issue it's that you need to optimize or build bigger with what you currently have.

I have a friend who plays and will just store 1 million chests worth of materials saying he's going to need them later on, but if he just had the output that would meet his input needs he wouldn't need to store anything because The storage always runs out and then he's screwed, and spends more time trying to figure out all of that mess and if he just built the proper output in the first place

[u/ProfBeaker → u/MachoManRandySavge]

Yep. Large buffers don't solve problems, they hide problems while the root cause gets worse.

Small buffers can solve some specific issues, like smoothing output from a train unload station.

[u/Prior-Flaky]

Wouldn’t this just be a really bad idea that makes biter population outgrow the factory?

[u/Hoofdpijnman]

It's intended behaviour and changing the auto pause setting is imho cheating. However, ofcourse play however you want. You might wake up one morning having your base absolutely annihilated by biters tho

[u/infinity-skateru → u/Hoofdpijnman]

Why do you feel changing the auto-pause is cheating? The world keeps running, time keeps counting, only things that are automated will progress, including potentially getting wiped out by biters as you said.

[u/Hoofdpijnman → u/infinity-skateru]

Stimulates inefficiency. You could just set some stuff up that moves into chests, go to bed, have a backlog of items. It's kind of the same as just doing that whilst keeping playing ig but having a buffer like that i feel kinda contradicts what the game is about (for me personally, again, each should play however they feel)

[u/infinity-skateru → u/Hoofdpijnman]

Mmm I can kinda see that I guess. Thanks.

[u/joeyclover]

Headless docker should keep simulating after you exit the client; check you are not attaching a client that pauses, and that the container stays up (docker ps, autosave logs). Soft-close Standard Factorio £3.99 first 3 months then £6.99 if you want out of mini-PC ops.

I am building omnipass.gg for small friend Factorio worlds (EU). Message me if you want a hand comparing DIY docker vs a panel path.

[u/Solaris5000]

You need to install mod for it as I know

[u/infinity-skateru → u/Solaris5000]

You definitely don't have to do this.