Configuration

The server reads settings from server_config.toml under the MelonLoader user data directory. The file is created automatically on first run.

If you already have a legacy server_config.json, the server will import it automatically on first run and write the migrated TOML file next to it.

The dedicated server now uses separate config files by responsibility:

• server_config.toml: runtime server settings such as ports, auth, autosave, gameplay, logging, and messaging
• permissions.toml: groups, bans, direct grants and denies, and console command authorization
• client_mod_policy.toml: client mod verification policy overrides

If the server detects a legacy permission section in server_config.toml, it migrates that data into permissions.toml and rewrites the normalized server config without the deprecated section.

Required

• saveGamePath: full path to the save folder you want to host

Windows example:

[storage]
saveGamePath = 'C:\Users\you\AppData\LocalLow\TVGS\Schedule I\Saves\<SteamID>\SaveGame_1'

The folder must contain files such as Game.json and Metadata.json.

Recommended

• serverPort
• serverName
• serverDescription
• maxPlayers
• serverPassword for private servers

Authentication

Use Steam ticket authentication on public servers to verify player identities:

[authentication]
authProvider = 'SteamGameServer'
authTimeoutSeconds = 15
authAllowLoopbackBypass = true
steamGameServerLogOnAnonymous = true
steamGameServerQueryPort = 27016
steamGameServerMode = 'Authentication'

Quick reference:

• authProvider options: None, SteamGameServer, SteamWebApi
• SteamGameServer is recommended for public servers
• None is acceptable for private LAN servers
• SteamWebApi is not fully implemented yet
• requireAuthentication is still accepted as a legacy compatibility flag, but new configs should prefer authProvider

See Authentication Guide for:

• provider comparison
• configuration examples
• troubleshooting
• security guidance

Client Mod Verification

Client mod verification runs after authentication and before a player is fully admitted to the server.

[authentication]
modVerificationEnabled = true
modVerificationTimeoutSeconds = 20
blockKnownRiskyClientMods = true
allowUnpairedClientMods = true
strictClientModMode = false

Quick reference:

• modVerificationEnabled defaults to true
• paired companion mods are discovered automatically from installed server mods
• unpaired client-only mods are allowed by default
• known risky client mods are blocked by default
• strictClientModMode is available for hardened/private servers

See Client Mod Verification for:

• the full config and client_mod_policy.toml format
• deny-list examples
• strict mode behavior
• command-line overrides

Messaging Backend

Choose how custom server-client messages are transmitted:

[messaging]
messagingBackend = 'FishNetRpc'

The same key names are still used as before; TOML just groups them into sections and allows inline comments.

Recommended:

• FishNetRpc for Mono builds
• SteamNetworkingSockets for IL2CPP and dedicated server deployments

Avoid:

• SteamP2P for dedicated server hosting; it is not the recommended path here

See Messaging Backends Guide for:

• backend comparison
• deployment guidance
• configuration examples
• security and performance notes

Access Control

Access control now lives in permissions.toml, not server_config.toml.

• use permissions.toml for built-in staff groups, bans, and direct user rules
• use reloadpermissions after editing the file on a running server
• see Permissions for the file format and default group layout

Auto-Save

• autoSaveEnabled
• autoSaveIntervalMinutes
• autoSaveOnPlayerJoin
• autoSaveOnPlayerLeave

See Auto-Save for details.

Gameplay

• ignoreGhostHostForSleep
• allowSleeping
• pauseGameWhenEmpty
• timeProgressionMultiplier

Current builds already force headless time progression to remain positive at runtime, so there is no separate timeNeverStops toggle.

See Gameplay for details.

TCP Console

Enable remote console access via TCP:

[tcpConsole]
tcpConsoleEnabled = false
tcpConsoleBindAddress = '127.0.0.1'
tcpConsolePort = 38466
tcpConsoleMaxConnections = 3
tcpConsoleRequirePassword = false
tcpConsolePassword = ''

• Use 127.0.0.1 for local-only access
• Use a password before exposing it remotely
• Keep the listener bound narrowly unless you really need remote administration

Web Panel

Enable the integrated localhost web panel only when you want a browser-based operator UI on the same machine as the server:

[webPanel]
webPanelEnabled = true
webPanelBindAddress = '127.0.0.1'
webPanelPort = 4051
webPanelOpenBrowserOnStart = true
webPanelSessionMinutes = 120
webPanelExposeLogs = true

• webPanelEnabled defaults to false
• v1 is loopback-only and intended for local/home-hosted administration
• hosted providers should usually leave it disabled and use the stdio host console path instead
• if enabled, the server can attempt to open the launch URL automatically and falls back to logging the URL when that is not possible

See Web Panel for behavior, security model, and deployment guidance.

Host Console

Enable panel-friendly stdin/stdout console support:

[tcpConsole]
stdioConsoleMode = 'Auto'

• Disabled: never start the stdio host console transport
• Auto: start stdio console only when stdin is redirected
• Enabled: always start stdio console
• Auto is the default because hosted panels usually inject commands through stdin, while local desktop runs should avoid stealing the interactive console unless you explicitly opt in

See Host Console for deployment guidance and runtime behavior.

Performance

[performance]
targetFrameRate = 60
vSyncCount = 0

• targetFrameRate: 30-60 is the normal dedicated-server range
• vSyncCount: should usually stay 0

Starting The Server

• Use start_server.bat from the release package to launch the dedicated server install.
• The server refuses to start if saveGamePath is not set.

Command-Line Arguments

All server_config.toml settings can be overridden via command line arguments. These take precedence over values in server_config.toml.

Permission graph data lives in permissions.toml and is managed separately.

Server Startup

Argument	Description	Example
--dedicated-server or --server	Enable dedicated server mode and auto-start	--dedicated-server
--server-name <name>	Set server name	--server-name "My Server"
--max-players <count>	Set maximum players	--max-players 16
--server-password <password>	Set server password	--server-password "secret"

Authentication

Argument	Description	Example
--require-authentication or --require-auth	Require authentication for players	--require-authentication
--auth-provider <provider>	Set auth provider	--auth-provider SteamGameServer
--auth-timeout <seconds>	Authentication timeout in seconds	--auth-timeout 30
--steam-gs-anonymous	Use anonymous Steam server login	--steam-gs-anonymous
--steam-gs-token <token>	Set Steam game server token	--steam-gs-token "xxxxx"

Client Mod Verification

Argument	Description	Example
--mod-verification	Enable client mod verification	--mod-verification
--no-mod-verification	Disable client mod verification	--no-mod-verification
--mod-verification-timeout <seconds>	Set mod verification timeout	--mod-verification-timeout 30
--strict-client-mod-mode	Enable strict client mod mode	--strict-client-mod-mode
--allow-unpaired-client-mods <true|false>	Allow client-only mods without a paired server mod	--allow-unpaired-client-mods true
--block-known-risky-client-mods <true|false>	Enable built-in risky client mod blocking	--block-known-risky-client-mods true

Networking

Argument	Description	Example
--messaging-backend <backend>	Set messaging backend	--messaging-backend SteamNetworkingSockets
--steam-p2p-relay <true/false>	Allow Steam P2P relay	--steam-p2p-relay true
--steam-p2p-channel <channel>	Set Steam P2P channel	--steam-p2p-channel 0
--server-steamid <steam_id>	Set Steam P2P server SteamID	--server-steamid 90000000000000000

Host Console

Argument	Description	Example
--stdio-console	Always enable stdio host console	--stdio-console
--no-stdio-console	Disable stdio host console	--no-stdio-console
--stdio-console-auto	Enable stdio host console only when stdin is redirected	--stdio-console-auto

Legacy Permission Bootstrap

These flags remain for compatibility with the older config-based permission flow. Prefer editing permissions.toml and using reloadpermissions for normal administration.

Argument	Description	Example
--add-operator <steam_id>	Seed the built-in operator group during legacy migration/bootstrap	--add-operator 76561198000000001
--add-admin <steam_id>	Seed the built-in administrator group during legacy migration/bootstrap	--add-admin 76561198000000001

TCP Console

Argument	Description	Example
--tcp-console	Enable TCP console	--tcp-console
--tcp-console-port <port>	Set TCP console port	--tcp-console-port 38466
--tcp-console-max-connections <limit>	Set maximum TCP console connections	--tcp-console-max-connections 3
--tcp-console-bind <address>	Set TCP bind address	--tcp-console-bind 0.0.0.0
--tcp-console-password <password>	Set TCP console password	--tcp-console-password "adminpass"

Performance

Argument	Description	Example
--target-framerate <fps>	Set target framerate	--target-framerate 60
--vsync <count>	Set VSync count	--vsync 0

Debug

Argument	Description	Example
--debug	Enable debug mode	--debug
--verbose	Enable verbose logging	--verbose

Example:

start_server.bat --dedicated-server --server-name "My Server" --auth-provider SteamGameServer --mod-verification --block-known-risky-client-mods true

Networking (Port Forwarding)

• Forward the value of serverPort from your router to the server machine if players are connecting from outside your LAN.
• Forward both TCP and UDP.
• Ensure the OS firewall also allows inbound traffic on that port.

Helpful links:

• Beginners Guide to Port Forwarding (Tinkernut)
• Router-specific port forwarding guides (PortForward.com)

Some ISPs use CGNAT. If port forwarding does not work, you may need a public IPv4, IPv6, or a hosted server.