You can run an American Truck Simulator (ATS) dedicated server on Linux with SCS Software’s official Dedicated Server tool, Steam app ID 2239530. Install the files with Steam or SteamCMD, launch them through SCS’s server_launch.sh wrapper, create the required package files from a normal ATS installation, configure the session and ports, then allow both TCP and UDP traffic through your firewall and router.
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The dedicated process remains available when nobody is connected, does not require the server machine to own ATS or its DLC, and can run on a home Linux box or a rented VPS. The published Steam hardware figures are game requirements rather than dedicated-server benchmarks, so use them as a floor and leave room for logs, updates and other services.
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What the Linux dedicated server does
An ATS dedicated server is a headless process that keeps a Convoy-style session online independently of a player’s game client. SCS Software described the main benefit on 8 December 2022: a dedicated session “will always be running, even without any players online,” so players can leave and return without waiting for the original host to start the game again.
The server executable is distributed as an official Steam tool under app ID 2239530. The machine running it does not need ownership of the ATS game or its DLC. It also does not download Steam Workshop content itself; the package files must be generated on a normal game installation and copied to the server.
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Hardware, operating-system and account requirements
Steam’s published Linux line lists Ubuntu 14.04 64-bit, a quad-core 3.3 GHz processor, 8 GB of RAM and 25 GB of storage as the baseline. Its recommended Linux line lists a quad-core 4.6 GHz processor, 12 GB of RAM and 25 GB of storage. Valve published those figures in 2016 for the game, not as a measured dedicated-server benchmark. A maintained 64-bit distribution is a better starting point today; keep additional disk space for crash dumps, logs, package changes and system updates.
| Item | Practical requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Supported, maintained 64-bit distribution | The old Steam baseline is useful for sizing, but an obsolete distribution is a security and compatibility risk. |
| CPU | At least a modern quad-core class processor | Use the 3.3 GHz published baseline only as a floor; busy sessions and other services need headroom. |
| Memory | 8 GB minimum reference; 12 GB recommended reference | These are Steam’s game figures, not a dedicated-server capacity guarantee. |
| Storage | 25 GB published reference plus free space | Reserve room for logs, crash files, updates and backups. |
| Network | Stable connection, public reachability or port forwarding | The dedicated server does not perform NAT punching for browser visibility. |
| Linux account | A separate unprivileged service account | Limits the impact of a crash or compromise and keeps server files isolated from personal data. |
Install the official server files with SteamCMD
SteamCMD is the practical route on a headless machine without the graphical Steam client. It does not auto-update the server, so plan a scheduled update job or a documented manual update procedure.
- Create a service account and directory. Use your distribution’s normal account-management tools to create a user such as
ats-server. Give that user ownership of a dedicated directory, for example/srv/ats-server, and do not run the server as root. - Install SteamCMD. Use the package supplied by your distribution or Valve’s documented SteamCMD distribution. Keep the SteamCMD executable and the ATS installation in locations writable by the service account.
- Download app 2239530. From the SteamCMD directory, run a command equivalent to
./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +force_install_dir /srv/ats-server +app_update 2239530 validate +quit. Replace the directory with the path you selected. Thevalidateoption checks downloaded files; omit it on routine updates if you want a faster operation. - Record the update step. SteamCMD will not update this installation by itself. Before an update, stop the running process, back up
server_config.siiand the package files, runapp_update 2239530, inspect the log, and start the server again.
If you use the full Steam client instead, install the ATS Dedicated Server tool by its app ID and use the same Linux launch requirements below.
Start it correctly on Linux
Linux launches need either SCS’s supplied server_launch.sh wrapper or a visible steamclient.so library. Starting the executable without either arrangement commonly produces [S_API FAIL] SteamAPI_Init() failed; unable to locate a running instance of Steam, or a local steamclient.dll.
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Recommended launch method
- Change to the directory containing the downloaded server files.
- Ensure the wrapper is executable with
chmod +x server_launch.shif your installation did not preserve its mode. - Run
./server_launch.shas the dedicated account. Add your normal service-manager or terminal logging around this command, but do not invoke it as root.
Direct executable method
If you have a reason to launch the server executable directly, make steamclient.so available at ~/.steam/sdk64/steamclient.so using the symlink arrangement documented by SCS. The wrapper is less error-prone because it sets up the expected Steam library path for you. If SteamAPI_Init fails, check the library path and the account’s home directory before changing any game settings.
First launch and the files the server needs
Launch the server once before customizing it. The first run creates the server home directory and a default server_config.sii. A usable headless installation needs three session files:
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The package files are not normally authored by hand. Generate them from a regular ATS game installation that has the map, DLC and mods you want the server to expose.
Generate and copy the package files
- Open ATS on a normal game installation that contains the intended map, owned DLC and enabled mods.
- Enable the console by setting
uset g_console "1"in the game’s configuration. - Start the game, open the console with the
~key, and runexport_server_packages. - Locate the newly created
server_packages.siiandserver_packages.dat. - Copy both files into the dedicated server’s home directory on Linux, alongside the generated configuration or in the location selected by your
-homediroption.
The exported files describe the active setup. You do not copy the full game, DLC archives or mod data to the headless machine, and the dedicated server cannot access Steam Workshop directly. If you change the active map, DLC or mod list, export the package files again and replace both files as a pair.
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Configure server_config.sii
The configuration stores the session description, virtual and physical ports, the persistent game-server logon token and moderator Steam IDs. Ports and the logon token must be different for every instance running at the same time.
| Setting | Documented example or rule | Configuration advice |
|---|---|---|
max_players |
8 | The current SCS modding documentation shows 8 as the default configuration limit; recheck the file after server updates. |
connection_virtual_port |
100 in the example | Choose a unique value for each simultaneous instance. It is an internal/session value and is not the port you forward. |
query_virtual_port |
101 in the example | Choose a different value from the connection virtual port and from every other instance. |
connection_dedicated_port |
27015 in the example | This is a physical network port; allow and forward it as required. |
query_dedicated_port |
27016 in the example | This is also a physical network port; allow and forward it as required. |
logon_token |
Use a Steam game-server token | Generate the token with the ATS game app ID, not the Dedicated Server tool’s app ID, then paste it into the configuration. |
moderator_list |
Steam IDs | List moderator IDs before opening the server; the headless server has no in-session promotion interface. |
Choose a session policy
- Set a password when the server is for a private group. Share it through a private channel rather than publishing it with the server name.
- Use a clear session description so players can identify the map, rules and mod requirements in the browser.
- Keep the player limit at or below the documented value unless a later SCS release explicitly changes it.
- Use a persistent logon token for a stable server identity. Follow SCS’s token instructions and select the ATS game app ID when creating it.
Open the right network ports
SCS states that the dedicated server does not perform NAT punching. To appear in the public session browser, the host needs a public IP address or router port forwarding. Direct search can still reach a server behind NAT in some situations, but that does not remove the browser-visibility requirement.
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Forward both TCP/IP and UDP for the physical dedicated ports selected in connection_dedicated_port and query_dedicated_port. The virtual ports do not need forwarding. On a home network, forward the ports from the internet-facing interface to the Linux machine’s fixed local address. On a VPS, configure the provider’s security group as well as the Linux firewall.
Firewall checklist
- Allow inbound TCP on the connection and query dedicated ports.
- Allow inbound UDP on the same dedicated ports.
- Permit established and related return traffic.
- Do not expose unrelated administration ports to the public internet; restrict SSH or equivalent access to trusted addresses where practical.
- Keep the operating system and SteamCMD installation patched.
If players can connect by direct search but cannot see the session in the browser, check the public address, router forwarding and both protocol rules before changing the game configuration.
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Run, test and stop the server
- Start the process with
./server_launch.shfrom the server directory. - Watch the terminal for startup errors, then inspect
server.log.txtin the server home directory. - From an external connection, search for the session and join with a test account. Testing from outside your own LAN avoids false positives caused by routers that do not support loopback access.
- Confirm that the expected map, DLC and mods load. A mismatch usually means the package files were exported from a different active setup.
- Stop the foreground process with
Ctrl+C. For unattended operation, run the wrapper under a service manager or a supervised terminal session and make sure logs are retained.
Run more than one ATS instance
Multiple simultaneous servers need isolation. Give each process a separate home directory, configuration and logon token. Use SCS’s -homedir option to point an instance at its own files and -nosingle where required to allow another process to run.
Assign unique connection and query virtual ports and unique physical ports to every instance. Forward and firewall each physical pair. Do not reuse a logon token between concurrently running instances; duplicate identities can cause registration or discovery problems.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep the server maintainable
Updates
Because SteamCMD does not auto-update, choose a maintenance window, announce it to players, stop the process cleanly, back up the configuration and package files, run the app update, and review the startup log before reopening access. Re-export package files after any change to the active map, DLC or mod set.
Backups
Back up server_config.sii, server_packages.sii, server_packages.dat, your service definition and any custom scripts. Keep at least one copy off the server disk. Do not place a private logon token in a publicly readable backup; restrict file permissions and redact tokens from shared diagnostics.
Logs and crash evidence
The two first files to inspect are server.log.txt and server.crash.txt in the server home directory. Save the section surrounding the first error, not only the final line. A clean restart after changing one variable at a time makes port, package and library faults easier to separate.
Self-hosting versus a rented Linux server
Both approaches run the same official tool. The choice is mainly about connectivity, uptime and who manages the hardware.
| Decision factor | Home Linux host | Rented VPS or game server |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | No hosting bill, but you pay in electricity and hardware upkeep. | Recurring rental cost; confirm that game servers are permitted. |
| Public reachability | Requires a public address or router forwarding and an ISP that allows the traffic. | Usually includes a public address; verify IPv4/IPv6 behavior and UDP support. |
| Uptime | Depends on home power, router and ISP availability. | Generally easier to keep online continuously, subject to the provider’s service level. |
| Administration | You manage Linux, firewall, router, backups and hardware. | You still manage the game process and updates, while the provider handles the underlying host. |
| Latency | Excellent for nearby players when the uplink is stable. | Choose a location close to the player group and check network quality. |
| Capacity | Can reuse an existing machine, but other workloads compete for CPU, RAM and bandwidth. | Select CPU, RAM and storage headroom appropriate for the session and logs. |
| Control | Full control of the operating system, router and backups. | Control varies by plan; confirm shell access, firewall rules, snapshots and terms. |
Self-hosting is sensible when you already have a reliable always-on Linux machine and can forward ports. A VPS or managed game host is more convenient when you need a public address, persistent power and a data-center connection, but verify Linux image support, UDP handling, bandwidth policy and game-server terms before paying.
Troubleshoot the common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
SteamAPI_Init() fails and mentions steamclient.dll |
The Linux Steam client library is not visible to the process. | Launch with SCS’s server_launch.sh, or provide ~/.steam/sdk64/steamclient.so through the documented symlink arrangement for the service account. |
| Server starts but is not in the public browser | No public address, incorrect forwarding, or missing protocol rule. | Forward the physical connection and query ports for both TCP and UDP; verify the Linux and provider firewalls. |
| Direct search works but browser listing does not | NAT or discovery reachability remains incomplete. | Recheck the public-facing address and router behavior. Direct search does not prove browser publication is configured. |
| Players receive a package or content mismatch | The exported files do not match the active map, DLC or mod setup. | Regenerate server_packages.sii and server_packages.dat from the intended normal game profile and copy both together. |
| Server identity or registration conflicts when two instances run | Ports, home directories or logon tokens were reused. | Give each instance its own -homedir, configuration, virtual ports, physical ports and token; use -nosingle as required. |
| Players cannot moderate anyone | No in-session promotion interface exists on the headless server. | Add the moderators’ Steam IDs to moderator_list in server_config.sii, then restart. |
| Updates appear not to install | SteamCMD was expected to update automatically. | Stop the server and run an explicit app_update 2239530; schedule this operation if regular updates are required. |
| Server exits unexpectedly | Configuration, package, library or system fault. | Read server.log.txt and server.crash.txt, restore the last known-good configuration, and change one setting at a time. |
A practical launch checklist
- Use a maintained 64-bit Linux distribution and a dedicated unprivileged account.
- Install ATS Dedicated Server app ID 2239530 with Steam or SteamCMD.
- Plan explicit updates because SteamCMD does not update automatically.
- Launch through
server_launch.shor expose the requiredsteamclient.sopath. - Run once to create
server_config.sii. - Generate and copy matching
server_packages.siiandserver_packages.dat. - Set a unique token and ports, and use the ATS game app ID when creating the token.
- Configure a password and moderator Steam IDs when the session is private or managed.
- Allow and forward both TCP and UDP on the physical dedicated ports.
- Test from outside the local network, then monitor
server.log.txt. - Back up configuration and package files before updates or major content changes.
Bottom line: the simplest reliable setup
For most Linux administrators, the dependable path is a separate service account, SteamCMD installation of app 2239530, the supplied launch wrapper, package export from a normal ATS installation, and explicit TCP/UDP rules for the two physical ports. A home host works when the router, ISP and power are dependable; a rented Linux server removes much of that network and uptime burden. In either case, treat updates, package regeneration, token security and log review as routine operations rather than one-time setup tasks.
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