extra_cfg.yml is AssettoServer’s extension configuration file. It is generated in the server’s cfg directory on first startup and controls most AssettoServer-specific behavior, including Custom Shaders Patch (CSP) requirements, track metadata handling, plugins, downloadable content details, replay clips, and several player permissions. It does not replace server_cfg.ini, and CSP gameplay sections belong in cfg/csp_extra_options.ini instead.
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This guide explains where the file belongs, what the important option groups do, how the YAML and INI files work together, and how to migrate settings safely when updating AssettoServer.
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AssettoServer uses three different configuration layers:
server_cfg.inicontains the stock Assetto Corsa dedicated-server settings.extra_cfg.ymlcontains AssettoServer extensions and server-side policy.csp_extra_options.inicontains CSP gameplay sections that compatible clients read.
Keeping those roles separate matters. Copying an INI section into YAML will produce a parsing error or simply fail to enable the feature. Conversely, adding an AssettoServer option to server_cfg.ini will not make the application recognize it.
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- Extremely detailed with single player and multiplayer options, exclusive licensed cars reproduced with the best accuracy possible, thanks to the official cooperation of Car Manufacturers.
- ASSETTO CORSA has been developed at the KUNOS Simulazioni R&D office, located just inside the international racing circuit of Vallelunga, allowing the team to develop the game with the cooperation of real world racing drivers and racing teams.
AssettoServer creates extra_cfg.yml if it is absent when the executable starts. The generated file is the safest reference for the exact option names supported by that release, because configuration parameters and plugin settings can change between versions.
Where to find and edit the file
For a normal dedicated server, edit the file at:
<AssettoServer folder>/cfg/extra_cfg.ymlIf you launch servers through Content Manager, use its Folder control to open the preset’s actual server directory. This avoids editing a similarly named copy elsewhere on the computer.
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Safe editing workflow
- Stop AssettoServer so it is not reading the file while you save it.
- Make a backup copy of
cfg/extra_cfg.ymland note the server version. - Edit with a YAML-aware text editor. Use spaces, not tabs, and preserve indentation.
- Save the file without changing its extension or character encoding.
- Start AssettoServer again.
- Read the startup log. YAML parsing errors, unsupported options, missing metadata and unsafe combinations are normally reported there.
YAML is indentation-sensitive. In this example, the child keys must be indented beneath IgnoreConfigurationErrors:
IgnoreConfigurationErrors:
MissingTrackParams: trueA misplaced space can change the structure, and a tab can make the file invalid. Change one related group at a time so a new log error is easy to identify.
Require a minimum CSP build
MinimumCSPVersion sets the minimum CSP build ID permitted to join. The beginner documentation for the documented build uses 1937, corresponding to CSP 0.1.77.
# Require CSP build 1937
MinimumCSPVersion: 1937Players can see their build ID in Content Manager under Settings > Custom Shaders Patch > About & Updates. Tell drivers the required build before they connect; otherwise they may be rejected at the lobby or server handshake.
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Remove the CSP requirement
Leaving the value empty removes the requirement:
MinimumCSPVersion:This permits clients without CSP to join, but CSP-dependent menu features may not be exposed consistently. A server can still contain compatible CSP settings, yet a client that lacks the required support may not see the corresponding chat commands.
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- Assetto Corsa features an advanced DirectX 11 graphics engine that recreates an immersive environment, dynamic lighthing and realistic materials and surfaces.
- Extremely detailed with single player and multiplayer options, exclusive licensed cars reproduced with the best accuracy possible, thanks to the official cooperation of Car Manufacturers.
- ASSETTO CORSA has been developed at the KUNOS Simulazioni R&D office, located just inside the international racing circuit of Vallelunga, allowing the team to develop the game with the cooperation of real world racing drivers and racing teams.
Choosing a requirement
| Setting | Effect | Operational consequence |
|---|---|---|
MinimumCSPVersion: 1937 |
Requires build 1937 or newer | Players need a compatible CSP installation; documented baseline is CSP 0.1.77 |
| Another numeric build ID | Requires that build or newer | Use the build ID shown in Content Manager and test the features you depend on |
MinimumCSPVersion: |
No CSP minimum | Non-CSP clients may join, but some CSP-driven features may not appear |
Server details and downloadable content
Set EnableServerDetails: true to enable Content Manager server details. You can then provide a cm_content/content.json file describing download URLs or local archives for cars and tracks.
EnableServerDetails: trueThe cm_content directory is not automatically included when a server is packed or copied. Verify that the folder travels with the server executable and cfg directory; otherwise clients will see incomplete or missing detail information even though the YAML switch is enabled.
Track coordinates, time zones and WeatherFX
AssettoServer uses track coordinates and time-zone metadata for features such as live weather. The metadata is stored in data_track_params.ini. If the active track is not listed, the server can report a missing-track-parameters error.
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Add a section containing the track’s name, latitude, longitude and time zone:
[TRACK_FOLDER_NAME]
NAME=Track display name
LATITUDE=00.0000
LONGITUDE=00.0000
TIMEZONE=Region/CityUse the folder name and values appropriate to the track. Correct metadata allows the server and clients to calculate local time consistently.
Fallback: suppress the startup refusal
If you cannot add the metadata immediately, suppress the configuration error:
IgnoreConfigurationErrors:
MissingTrackParams: trueThis only suppresses the refusal; it does not create coordinates or a time zone. With WeatherFX, the resulting time can be unsynchronized. Treat this as a temporary exception, not a replacement for fixing data_track_params.ini.
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- Even the secondary details are faithfully reproduced to make you feel the thrill of being in the cockpit of a real racing car. Doors, windshield wipers, headlights, racing lights, racing equipment and control devices such as ABS, traction control, engine ignition and ECU mapping, are all under the driver’s management to assure the best performance and offer the player total control of the car.
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Force server-supplied track parameters
When every client must use the server’s metadata, the FAQ configuration combines ForceServerTrackParams: true with an appropriate minimum CSP requirement. The documented example uses CSP build 2144:
ForceServerTrackParams: true
MinimumCSPVersion: 2144Use this only when the clients you support meet the stated CSP requirement and the server’s track data is correct.
Configuration-error overrides and trust implications
The IgnoreConfigurationErrors block can suppress several startup checks:
IgnoreConfigurationErrors:
MissingCarChecksums: true
MissingTrackParams: true
WrongServerDetails: true
UnsafeAdminWhitelist: true| Override | What it suppresses | Risk or limitation |
|---|---|---|
MissingCarChecksums |
Refusal caused by absent car checksums | Modified car data may be allowed. Checksums that are present remain loaded. |
MissingTrackParams |
Refusal caused by absent track metadata | WeatherFX time can remain unsynchronized until metadata is supplied. |
WrongServerDetails |
Validation failure for server-details data | Suppresses the check; it does not repair an incorrect cm_content setup. |
UnsafeAdminWhitelist |
Warning about an admin whitelist while Steam authentication is disabled | SteamID spoofing makes this unsafe for a public server. |
These switches are deliberate exceptions. Enabling all four to make a server start can hide the condition that needs correction. For a public server, Steam authentication and checksum enforcement are part of the trust model, not cosmetic validation.
Enable AssettoServer plugins
Plugins are loaded with an EnablePlugins list. The beginner example uses AutoModerationPlugin:
EnablePlugins:
- AutoModerationPluginLaunch the server once after adding a plugin. Many plugins generate their own configuration file on that first run. Stop the server before editing the generated plugin settings, then restart and inspect the log for a successful load message or a missing dependency.
Plugins are different from server scripts. A plugin runs through AssettoServer’s plugin system; a CSP server script is configured in csp_extra_options.ini and can be loaded from a remote URL or from files served by the server’s wwwroot.
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Put CSP gameplay options in csp_extra_options.ini
Create or edit:
cfg/csp_extra_options.iniUse this INI file for CSP sections such as [EXTRA_RULES] and [PITS_SPEED_LIMITER]. Examples in the guide include allowing wrong-way driving and changing pit-lane limiter behavior. Those sections do not belong in extra_cfg.yml.
Teleportation and color-changing permissions
CSP options alone are not enough for these two features. The entry-list skin value must include a permission suffix:
| Suffix | Permission |
|---|---|
/ACA3 |
Allow teleporting |
/ABAH |
Allow color changing |
/ADAn |
Allow both teleporting and color changing |
Example:
[CAR_0]
MODEL=ruf_yellowbird
SKIN=00_yellowbird_black/ADAnIf the chat menu does not show a feature, check both layers: the relevant CSP section in csp_extra_options.ini, and the entry-list suffix for the car. Also check that the server requires a CSP build capable of the option. Without a CSP requirement, a compatible client may still invoke a feature directly while other clients see no menu item.
Replay clips and incident review
The extra-options documentation supports replay clips that retain the last configured number of seconds and can optionally upload clips to an endpoint. This is useful for reviewing crashes, rule violations and moderation incidents.
Decide the clip duration, endpoint ownership and retention policy together. Uploading creates an operational and privacy responsibility: protect the endpoint, limit access to clips, and remove old files according to your server’s policy. The feature is not a substitute for a moderation process; it supplies evidence for one.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why extra_cfg.yml appears to be ignored
You edited the wrong copy
Multiple server presets can have separate cfg directories. Open the active preset with Content Manager’s Folder control, confirm the executable is in that directory, and edit its cfg/extra_cfg.yml.
The server was not restarted
Stop and start AssettoServer after saving. Do not assume a running process reloads YAML automatically.
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The setting belongs in another file
Move stock server settings to server_cfg.ini, and move CSP sections to csp_extra_options.ini. Keep only AssettoServer extension options in YAML.
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Compare indentation with the file generated by the same release. Use spaces, preserve capitalization and read the first parsing error in the startup log; later messages can be consequences of that initial failure.
The client does not meet the feature’s requirements
Check MinimumCSPVersion, the client’s CSP build ID, and the relevant entry-list permission suffix. A server-side switch cannot make an unsupported client expose a menu command.
How to update AssettoServer without losing settings
Do not overwrite a new release’s generated YAML with an old file blindly. Parameters can change names, defaults or structure between versions.
- Stop the old server and back up the entire server directory, including
cfg, plugin configurations,data_track_params.ini,cm_content,wwwrootand the entry list. - Extract the new release into a fresh directory rather than over the old installation.
- Run the new executable once. It generates the current
extra_cfg.ymland any first-run files. - Compare the old backup with the newly generated files by option name, not just by line position.
- Reapply only settings you still need: CSP requirements, error overrides, plugins, server details, forced track parameters and other intentional choices.
- Copy compatible content and plugin files, checking each plugin’s version requirements.
- Start the new server and resolve every parsing or compatibility message before opening it to players.
This migration takes longer than replacing one file, but it prevents an obsolete parameter from stopping the new executable or silently changing server behavior.
Configuration checklist by administrative goal
| Goal | Check these settings | Verify after restart |
|---|---|---|
| Restrict clients to a known CSP baseline | MinimumCSPVersion |
Build ID shown in Content Manager and join rejection for older builds |
| Keep weather time synchronized | data_track_params.ini, track coordinates and time zone |
Track loads without missing-parameter errors and WeatherFX time is correct |
| Allow teleport or color changes | csp_extra_options.ini plus /ACA3, /ABAH or /ADAn |
Compatible client sees and can use the intended command |
| Offer car and track downloads | EnableServerDetails: true and cm_content/content.json |
Details and archives are present; cm_content was included in deployment |
| Run moderation automation | EnablePlugins and generated plugin configuration |
Startup log confirms plugin loading |
| Preserve server integrity | Steam authentication, checksum policy and admin-whitelist settings | No unsafe whitelist exception is being used unintentionally |
Minimum requirements
You need Assetto Corsa for PC and any DLC required by the cars or tracks on the server. The server operator also needs a compatible AssettoServer release, access to its active server directory, and permission to stop and restart the process. Players need the CSP build required by the server when MinimumCSPVersion is set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does extra_cfg.yml replace server_cfg.ini?
No. server_cfg.ini remains the stock dedicated-server configuration. extra_cfg.yml controls AssettoServer extensions, while CSP gameplay sections belong in cfg/csp_extra_options.ini.
What should I do if the server reports missing track parameters?
Add the track’s NAME, LATITUDE, LONGITUDE and TIMEZONE to data_track_params.ini. You can set IgnoreConfigurationErrors > MissingTrackParams to true as a temporary workaround, but WeatherFX time may remain unsynchronized.
Why do teleportation and color changing not appear?
Check the CSP settings in csp_extra_options.ini, the client’s CSP compatibility, and the entry-list suffix: /ACA3 permits teleporting, /ABAH permits color changing, and /ADAn permits both.
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Do not overwrite the newly generated file blindly. Start the new executable once, then migrate settings by comparing option names because parameters can change between releases.
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