How to Set Up a Euro Truck Simulator 2 Dedicated Server

A dedicated convoy server keeps a session open for your trucking group, whoever is driving, without anyone hosting from their own game. SCS gives it away free on Steam, for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator alike, and it runs on Linux and Windows.

Option 1: by hand with SteamCMD

The servers are free, anonymous downloads from Steam: application 1948160 for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and 2239530 for American Truck Simulator, about 1.3 GB each. You do not need to own the game on the server.

  1. Install SteamCMD, then run: +login anonymous +app_update 1948160 +quit (2239530 for American Truck Simulator).
  2. Start the server once (bin/linux_x64/eurotrucks2_server on Linux) so it writes server_config.sii in its home folder: ~/.local/share/Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Linux, Documents\Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Windows.
  3. Edit server_config.sii: lobby_name, password, max_players, traffic, player_damage and the rest.
  4. Copy server_packages.sii and server_packages.dat from your own game into the same folder (see the DLC and mods guide). Without them the server does not start.
  5. Forward the connection and query ports, 27015 and 27016 by default, TCP and UDP, so the session is listed in the browser.
Tip:Every driver needs the same game version as the server. After a game update, update the server too, or nobody on the new version can join.

Option 2: Docker

runonflux/truckersim-server-flux, our image, runs either game's server (SCS_GAME=ets2 or ats), installs and updates it with SteamCMD on every start, writes server_config.sii from environment variables (SCS_LOBBY_NAME, SCS_MAX_PLAYERS, SCS_PASSWORD, SCS_TRAFFIC, SCS_MODERATORS...), ships the base map's packages until you add yours, and restarts onto new game builds once nobody is driving. Its source is on GitHub, RunOnFlux/truckersim-server-flux.

  • Mount /mnt/scs/data on a volume: the config, your packages and the log live there.
  • Mount /mnt/scs/server too, or every start downloads the 1.3 GB server again.
  • Publish 27015 and 27016, TCP and UDP.

Option 3: managed on Flux

Deploy a convoy server on the Flux decentralized cloud, on that same image, with the ports opened and routed for you, DDoS protection included, and a dashboard with the drivers and chat, a Server Packages tab for your DLC and mods, every server setting, a file browser, a live terminal and backups. Plans start at $3.49 a month.

  1. Pick Euro Truck Simulator 2 or American Truck Simulator, and the 8, 16 or 32-driver plan.
  2. Choose a region close to your drivers.
  3. Name the convoy and deploy. The first start downloads about 1.3 GB.
  4. Drivers find it by name in the game's convoy browser. Upload your packages for your DLC map and mods.
Deploy a convoy server →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Euro Truck Simulator 2 dedicated server free?

Yes. It is a free, anonymous download from Steam (application 1948160; 2239530 for American Truck Simulator). You do not need to own the game on the server.

Does the ETS2 dedicated server run on Linux?

Yes, natively: bin/linux_x64/eurotrucks2_server, with its home folder in ~/.local/share/Euro Truck Simulator 2.

Why does my ETS2 server not start?

Usually because server_packages.sii and server_packages.dat are missing from its home folder: without them the server stops at once. Export them from your game, or use a base-map pair.

Related Euro Truck Simulator 2 guides