VEIN is a post-apocalyptic survival sandbox from Ramjet Studios, built on Unreal Engine and currently in Early Access. Players scavenge abandoned buildings, gather supplies, fight off bandits, and rebuild a home base together, and like most survival games it is far more fun as a persistent world your whole group can drop into rather than a session tied to one player’s PC. Hosting a dedicated VEIN server on Loafhosts gives you a permanent IP and port, a server that keeps running whether or not you are online, and a panel that handles the config, backups, and restarts for you. This guide covers what VEIN is, how to deploy it, the startup settings you actually need to set, where its save data and config files live, how to connect, and which Loafhosts tools work with it today.
Why Run a Dedicated VEIN Server
VEIN can be played in a co-op session hosted from inside the game, but that ties the world to whoever’s PC is running it, their upload bandwidth, and their play session. Close the game and everyone is disconnected. A dedicated server runs the standalone VEIN server process on hardware built for it, so your base, scavenged loot, and world state stay up around the clock. It also gives your group one fixed address to connect to instead of chasing down whoever is hosting that night.
Tip: A dedicated server keeps your base and world state online 24/7, not just while one player is in the game
Tip: Players connect to one fixed IP and port instead of a host who comes and goes
Note: VEIN is Early Access and still receiving frequent updates, so keep an eye on the changelog before assuming a save carries cleanly across a major patch
Choosing a Plan
VEIN is a relatively light Unreal Engine title compared to some open-world survival games, but it still benefits from headroom. Plan for at least 4 GB of RAM to run it at all, and 8 GB or more if you want comfortable performance with a fuller player count. You will also want at least 10 GB of free disk space for the server files and world saves. Loafhosts runs one configurable Custom server: you slide RAM from 1 to 32 GB and storage from 10 to 500 GB and pick a protection tier, so you pay for exactly the headroom VEIN needs. Pricing starts at $13.50/mo, and longer billing cycles save up to 25%.
Tip: Budget at least 4 GB of RAM as a minimum, and 8 GB or more for a smoother, fuller server
Tip: Every Custom server uses AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPUs, DDR5 memory, and NVMe storage
Note: Every Custom server includes unlimited player slots, so sizing is about performance headroom, not a seat cap
Picking a Server Region
Latency affects how responsive combat and building feel, so host close to the bulk of your players. Custom servers are available in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Frankfurt, which covers US East, Central, West, and EU, with Montreal available for Strict protection.
- List where your core players actually live, not where you live
- For a US East or Canadian group, choose New York, or Montreal if you want Strict protection
- For a Central US group, choose Dallas
- For a US West or Pacific group, choose Los Angeles
- For a European group, choose Frankfurt
- If your group is split, favor the region with the most players and the lowest average ping
Deploying Your Server
Loafhosts runs the LPV5 panel inside LoafHub at hub.loafhosts.com. After checkout your VEIN server deploys quickly with no setup fees.
- Configure your Custom server, pick your region, and complete checkout at loafhosts.com
- Open LoafHub at hub.loafhosts.com and log in
- Select your new VEIN server to open the LPV5 panel
- Wait for the first install to finish while the server downloads its files
- Open the Console tab so you can watch the first boot
- Press Start and wait for the console to report the server has started
If you already have a Loafhosts server running a different game, you do not have to order a new one from scratch. The panel’s Change Game tool lets you switch an existing server over to VEIN, reinstalling it with the VEIN egg while keeping the same allocation.
Tip: There are no setup fees, so the price you saw at checkout is the price you pay
Tip: Bookmark hub.loafhosts.com for quick access to the panel
What Happens on First Install
VEIN’s dedicated server is a free tool distributed over SteamCMD, separate from the paid game on Steam, and Loafhosts installs it anonymously; you do not need a Steam account or credentials for the install to work. On a brand-new server, the installer also seeds a starting Game.ini and Engine.ini so the server has something to boot with the first time, then writes your Startup settings into Game.ini before the server starts.
The server binary itself is an Unreal Engine dedicated server build, and the console log line the panel watches for to mark the server as fully up is Created session GameSession.. Depending on your connection, the initial download can take a few minutes, so let the install finish before pressing Start.
Note: VEIN’s dedicated server tool is free and installs anonymously over SteamCMD; no Steam login is required
Note: The panel treats the console line
Created session GameSession.as your signal that the server has finished booting
The Startup Settings You Set
VEIN’s core settings live on your server’s Startup tab in the LPV5 panel, and the panel writes them into Game.ini automatically each time the server starts.
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Server Name | The name shown in the in-game server browser and to connecting players | Vein Server |
| Server Password | Password players must enter to join | (required, must be set) |
| Max Players | Maximum concurrent players | 16 |
| Public Server | Whether the server is advertised in VEIN’s in-game server browser | True |
| Query Port | The separate UDP port used for server-browser queries; shown for reference, not user-editable | 27015 |
| Auto Update | Updates the server files to the latest build on start | enabled |
Two things are worth knowing about these fields. First, Server Password is a required field with a specific format: it must be 4 to 32 characters and can only contain letters, numbers, dashes, and underscores, so a blank or overly simple value will be rejected rather than silently accepted. Second, VEIN needs two separate ports to work correctly: your main game port (handled by your server’s allocation, same as any other game) and the Query Port, a second UDP port the in-game browser uses to look your server up. Both are provisioned for you automatically; you do not need to configure the Query Port yourself.
Tip: Set Server Password to something 4 to 32 characters long using letters, numbers, dashes, or underscores; VEIN will not start without one
Tip: Leave Auto Update enabled so your server pulls new VEIN builds automatically while it is still in Early Access
Warning: VEIN’s server has no in-game text message or “stop” command; the panel’s Stop action sends the server an interrupt signal to shut it down cleanly rather than force-killing the process
Where Save Data and Config Live
VEIN’s dedicated server keeps its configuration and its persistent world state under the same install root. The two config files that matter are:
Vein/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/Game.iniis the main server config: max players, server name, visibility, admin list, and the password and query port the panel manages for you.Vein/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/Engine.iniis Unreal Engine networking and performance tuning, seeded once on first install and rarely touched afterward.
You can browse both of these, along with your world save data, from the File Manager in the LPV5 panel if you ever need to inspect them directly. For routine editing of Game.ini, use the Config Editor described below instead of hand-editing the raw file.
Note: BindAddr in Game.ini is hardcoded to
0.0.0.0by the panel; this is intentional and should not be changed
Connecting to Your Server
Once the console reports the server is up, it should appear in VEIN’s in-game server browser under the name you set, as long as Public Server is turned on. The most reliable way in, especially right after a fresh start, is a direct connection using the IP and game port shown in the panel.
- Confirm the console shows the server has started
- Copy the server IP and game port from the panel
- In VEIN, search for your server name in the in-game browser, or connect directly using the IP and port
- Enter the Server Password when prompted
- Share the IP, port, and password with your group
Using the Config Editor
VEIN ships with a BETA Config Editor in the LPV5 panel that lets you edit Game.ini from a grouped form instead of hand-editing the raw file, with public/private presets and a raw editor for Engine.ini. See the dedicated VEIN Config Editor guide for the full walkthrough of the settings, groups, and presets.
Backups, Schedules, and Auto-Restart
Three panel-wide tools work with VEIN the same way they do with every game on Loafhosts, and are worth setting up before you invite people in.
Backups capture your server’s files, including the Vein/Saved folder where your world state lives, so you always have a recent point to roll back to. Take one before a big config change or before a major VEIN patch lands.
Schedules let you automate routine maintenance: create a schedule, set when it runs, and attach one or more tasks such as a power restart or a backup. A nightly restart during a quiet hour is a good default for a long-running survival world.
Server Auto-Restarter watches your console for known crash signatures and restarts the server automatically when one matches, with a configurable cooldown, restart delay, and hourly rate limit. Start it in Dry run mode to confirm it is matching correctly before switching it to Live.
Tip: Take a backup before any Auto Update pulls a new VEIN build, since Early Access patches can change save compatibility
Tip: Schedule a nightly restart to keep memory clean on a persistent world
What VEIN Doesn’t Support Yet
To set expectations clearly: VEIN currently has no RCON or remote admin protocol, so there is no in-panel live console for sending admin commands the way there is on some other games. In-game admin access is instead granted through the AdminSteamIDs field in the Config Editor, which lists SteamID64 values that get admin privileges once they join. VEIN also has no Steam Workshop or other mod support at this time, so there is no mod manager for this title. Both of these are limits of the game itself rather than Loafhosts, and this guide will be updated if that changes.
Note: There is no RCON console for VEIN; grant in-game admin access through the Admin Steam IDs field in the Config Editor instead
Note: VEIN has no mod or Workshop support at this time
Keeping the Server Healthy
A VEIN server runs best with light routine care: a scheduled restart during a quiet hour, a backup before any Early Access update or config change, and a glance at the console after each restart for errors before your group reconnects.
Note: Loafhosts offers a 3-day money-back guarantee on game servers if the host is not the right fit
Frequently Asked Questions
How much RAM does a VEIN server need?
Plan for at least 4 GB of RAM to run a VEIN server at all, and 8 GB or more for a smoother experience with a full player count. You will also want at least 10 GB of free disk space.
Does VEIN require a Steam account to install?
No. The dedicated server tool is free and Loafhosts installs it anonymously over SteamCMD; you do not need to provide any Steam credentials.
Can I run VEIN with RCON or a remote console?
Not currently. VEIN’s dedicated server does not expose RCON or any remote admin protocol. In-game admin access is granted through the Admin Steam IDs field in the Config Editor instead.
Does VEIN support Steam Workshop or mods?
No, VEIN has no mod or Workshop support at this time, so there is no mod manager for this title on Loafhosts.
How do I set my server’s name and password?
Both are Startup settings in the LPV5 panel. Set Server Name to what you want shown in the in-game browser, and set Server Password to a value 4 to 32 characters long using letters, numbers, dashes, or underscores; VEIN requires a password to be set. Save and restart the server to apply changes.
How much does VEIN server hosting cost?
The Custom server starts at $13.50/mo, and you scale the price by sliding RAM and storage to fit your server. Longer billing cycles save up to 25%, and there are no setup fees.
Where are Loafhosts VEIN servers located?
Custom servers are available in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Frankfurt, with Montreal available for Strict protection.
Can I get a refund if VEIN hosting is not for me?
Yes. Loafhosts offers a 3-day money-back guarantee on game servers, so you can try VEIN hosting and request a refund within that 72-hour window if it is not the right fit.