Server Configuration - Nitrox Unlocked

The server configuration file (server.cfg) controls all aspects of your Nitrox server’s behavior. This file is automatically created in your save directory when you first start a server.

Configuration File Location

The server.cfg file is located in your server’s save directory:

%APPDATA%/Nitrox/saves/<ServerName>/server.cfg

Replace <ServerName> with your actual server name.

Configuration Format

The configuration file uses a simple key-value format:

# Comment lines start with #
PropertyName=Value
AnotherProperty=100

Network Settings

ServerPort

integer

default:"11000"

The port number the server listens on for incoming connections.Example:

ServerPort=11000

If you change this port, players must specify it when connecting. Make sure to forward this port in your router if hosting publicly.

MaxConnections

integer

default:"100"

Maximum number of players that can connect simultaneously.Constraints: Must be greater than 0Example:

MaxConnections=20

ServerPassword

string

default:""

Password required for players to join the server. Leave empty for no password.Example:

ServerPassword=MySecurePassword
# or leave empty for public access
ServerPassword=

AutoPortForward

boolean

default:"true"

If enabled, the server attempts to open the port on your router via UPnP.Example:

AutoPortForward=true

Your router must support UPnP for this to work. If it fails, you’ll need to manually port forward.

LANDiscoveryEnabled

boolean

default:"true"

Determines whether the server responds to LAN discovery requests.Example:

LANDiscoveryEnabled=true

When enabled, your server will appear in the LAN servers list for players on the same network.

World Settings

Seed

string

default:""

World generation seed. Leave blank for a random spawn position.Example:

Seed=MyCustomSeed123
# or leave empty for random
Seed=

GameMode

enum

default:"SURVIVAL"

Default game mode for the server.Possible Values:

SURVIVAL - Standard survival mode with hunger, thirst, and oxygen
FREEDOM - No hunger or thirst requirements
HARDCORE - Permadeath mode
CREATIVE - Creative mode with unlimited resources

Example:

GameMode=SURVIVAL

KeepInventoryOnDeath

boolean

default:"false"

Prevents players from losing items when they die.Example:

KeepInventoryOnDeath=false

PvPEnabled

boolean

default:"true"

Enables or disables player versus player damage and interactions.Example:

PvPEnabled=true

Save Settings

SaveInterval

integer

default:"120000"

Time in milliseconds between automatic world saves.Constraints: Must be at least 1000 (1 second)Example:

# Save every 2 minutes (default)
SaveInterval=120000

# Save every 5 minutes
SaveInterval=300000

DisableAutoSave

boolean

default:"false"

Disables automatic world saving.Example:

DisableAutoSave=false

Disabling autosave may result in data loss if the server crashes. Use the /save command manually if disabled.

MaxBackups

integer

default:"10"

Maximum number of backup saves to keep.Constraints: Must be 0 or greaterExample:

MaxBackups=10

Setting to 0 disables backups entirely. Older backups are automatically deleted when this limit is reached.

DisableAutoBackup

boolean

default:"false"

Disables automatic backup creation.Example:

DisableAutoBackup=false

PostSaveCommandPath

string

default:""

Path to a script or executable to run after each successful save.Example:

# Windows
PostSaveCommandPath=C:\Scripts\backup-world.bat

# Linux
PostSaveCommandPath=/home/user/scripts/backup-world.sh

Useful for custom backup solutions or external monitoring scripts.

Performance Settings

InitialSyncTimeout

integer

default:"120000"

Time in milliseconds to wait for initial world sync when a player connects.Example:

InitialSyncTimeout=120000

Increase this value if players are timing out during initial connection on slower networks.

CreateFullEntityCache

boolean

default:"false"

If enabled, caches entities for the entire map on next server start.Example:

CreateFullEntityCache=false

WARNING! Enabling this will make server startup significantly longer, but players will experience better performance when exploring new areas.

SafeBuilding

boolean

default:"true"

When enabled, rejects build actions detected as desynchronized.Example:

SafeBuilding=true

This prevents building glitches but may occasionally reject legitimate builds on high-latency connections.

Permission Settings

AdminPassword

string

default:"randomly generated"

Password players use with /login command to gain admin permissions.Example:

AdminPassword=MySecureAdminPass123

This password is auto-generated on first run. Change it to something secure and keep it private!

DefaultPlayerPerm

enum

default:"PLAYER"

Default permission level for new players.Possible Values:

PLAYER - Basic player permissions
MODERATOR - Can kick, mute, and use moderation commands
ADMIN - Full server control

Example:

DefaultPlayerPerm=PLAYER

LocalhostIsAdmin

boolean

default:"true"

If enabled, players connecting from localhost automatically get admin permissions.Example:

LocalhostIsAdmin=true

Disable this if you’re using a proxy server or want stricter permission control.

Player Default Stats

These settings control the starting stats for new players.

DefaultOxygenValue

float

default:"45"

Starting oxygen level for new players.Example:

DefaultOxygenValue=45

DefaultMaxOxygenValue

float

default:"45"

Maximum oxygen capacity for new players.Example:

DefaultMaxOxygenValue=45

DefaultHealthValue

float

default:"80"

Starting health for new players.Example:

DefaultHealthValue=80

DefaultHungerValue

float

default:"50.5"

Starting food level for new players.Example:

DefaultHungerValue=50.5

DefaultThirstValue

float

default:"90.5"

Starting water level for new players.Example:

DefaultThirstValue=90.5

DefaultInfectionValue

float

default:"0.1"

Starting Kharaa infection level for new players.Example:

DefaultInfectionValue=0.1

Recommended to keep at 0.1 (the default starting value). Setting to 0 means new players are cured by default.

Advanced Settings

SerializerMode

enum

default:"JSON"

Format used for saving world data.Possible Values:

JSON - Human-readable JSON format
PROTOBUF - Binary format (smaller file size, faster)

Example:

SerializerMode=JSON

Changing this after creating a world may require migration. Stick with JSON unless you have a specific reason to change.

DisableConsole

boolean

default:"false"

Disables the server console.Example:

DisableConsole=false

IsEmbedded

boolean

default:"true"

When true and started in launcher, uses the launcher UI instead of a separate window.Example:

IsEmbedded=true

Example Configuration

Here’s a complete example configuration file:

server.cfg

# Server settings can be changed here

# Network Settings
ServerPort=11000
MaxConnections=20
ServerPassword=
AutoPortForward=true
LANDiscoveryEnabled=true

# World Settings
Seed=
GameMode=SURVIVAL
KeepInventoryOnDeath=false
PvPEnabled=true

# Save Settings
# Measured in milliseconds
SaveInterval=120000
DisableAutoSave=false
MaxBackups=10
DisableAutoBackup=false
PostSaveCommandPath=

# Performance
# Measured in milliseconds
InitialSyncTimeout=120000
# Set to true to Cache entities for the whole map on next run.
# WARNING! Will make server load take longer on the cache run but players will gain a performance boost when entering new areas.
CreateFullEntityCache=false
# When true, will reject any build actions detected as desynced
SafeBuilding=true

# Permissions
AdminPassword=GeneratedPassword123
DefaultPlayerPerm=PLAYER
# If true, players using localhost get admin by default - disable if you're using a proxy server
LocalhostIsAdmin=true

# Default player stats below here
DefaultOxygenValue=45
DefaultMaxOxygenValue=45
DefaultHealthValue=80
DefaultHungerValue=50.5
DefaultThirstValue=90.5
# Recommended to keep at 0.1f which is the default starting value. If set to 0 then new players are cured by default.
DefaultInfectionValue=0.1

# Advanced
# Possible values: JSON, PROTOBUF
SerializerMode=JSON
DisableConsole=false
# When true and started in launcher, will use launcher UI as opposed to external window
IsEmbedded=true

Runtime Configuration

Some settings can be changed while the server is running using commands:

Change Admin Password

changeadminpassword NewPassword

Change Server Password

changeserverpassword NewPassword

Change Game Mode

changeservergamemode CREATIVE

Toggle PvP

pvp on

Changes made via commands are automatically saved to the configuration file.

Troubleshooting

Configuration not loading

Symptoms: Settings don’t apply, server uses defaultsSolutions:

Check that the file is named exactly server.cfg
Verify the file is in the correct save directory
Check for syntax errors (use Property=Value format)
Look for warnings in the server log

Invalid value warnings

Symptoms: Log shows “invalid value” warningsSolutions:

Check that numeric values are within valid ranges
Verify boolean values are true or false (lowercase)
Ensure enum values match exactly (case-sensitive)

Port forwarding not working

Symptoms: Players can’t connect from outside your networkSolutions:

Set AutoPortForward=true
Check if your router supports UPnP
Manually forward the port in your router settings
Verify firewall allows the port

Server Commands

Control your server with console commands

Getting Started

Set up your first Nitrox server

Commands

Configuration

​Configuration File Location

​Configuration Format

​Network Settings

​ServerPort

​MaxConnections

​ServerPassword

​AutoPortForward

​LANDiscoveryEnabled

​World Settings

​Seed

​GameMode

​KeepInventoryOnDeath

​PvPEnabled

​Save Settings

​SaveInterval

​DisableAutoSave

​MaxBackups

​DisableAutoBackup

​PostSaveCommandPath

​Performance Settings

​InitialSyncTimeout

​CreateFullEntityCache

​SafeBuilding

​Permission Settings

​AdminPassword

​DefaultPlayerPerm

​LocalhostIsAdmin

​Player Default Stats

​DefaultOxygenValue

​DefaultMaxOxygenValue

​DefaultHealthValue

​DefaultHungerValue

​DefaultThirstValue

​DefaultInfectionValue

​Advanced Settings

​SerializerMode

​DisableConsole

​IsEmbedded

​Example Configuration

​Runtime Configuration

Change Admin Password

Change Server Password

Change Game Mode

Toggle PvP

​Troubleshooting

​See Also

Server Commands

Getting Started

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Configuration File Location

Configuration Format

Network Settings

ServerPort

MaxConnections

ServerPassword

AutoPortForward

LANDiscoveryEnabled

World Settings

Seed

GameMode

KeepInventoryOnDeath

PvPEnabled

Save Settings

SaveInterval

DisableAutoSave

MaxBackups

DisableAutoBackup

PostSaveCommandPath

Performance Settings

InitialSyncTimeout

CreateFullEntityCache

SafeBuilding

Permission Settings

AdminPassword

DefaultPlayerPerm

LocalhostIsAdmin

Player Default Stats

DefaultOxygenValue

DefaultMaxOxygenValue

DefaultHealthValue

DefaultHungerValue

DefaultThirstValue

DefaultInfectionValue

Advanced Settings

SerializerMode

DisableConsole

IsEmbedded

Example Configuration

Runtime Configuration

Troubleshooting

See Also