Configuring ICARUS Server Shutdown Behavior
How to control when your ICARUS server automatically shuts down using the ShutdownIfNotJoinedFor setting.
Configuring ICARUS Server Shutdown Behavior
By default, an ICARUS dedicated server will automatically shut itself down a few minutes after the last player disconnects. This behavior is controlled by the ShutdownIfNotJoinedFor setting.
The Default Behavior
Out of the box, ICARUS sets:
ShutdownIfNotJoinedFor=300
This means the server will shut down 300 seconds (5 minutes) after the last player leaves. This is designed to conserve resources when the server is idle, but it can be disruptive for servers that want to remain available at all times.
Disabling Auto-Shutdown
To keep your server running indefinitely regardless of whether players are connected, set the value to 0:
ShutdownIfNotJoinedFor=0
File location:
Icarus\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\ServerSettings.ini
After editing, restart the server for the change to take effect.
Setting a Custom Shutdown Timer
You can set any value in seconds. For example, to shut down after 30 minutes of inactivity:
ShutdownIfNotJoinedFor=1800
Common values:
| Value | Behavior |
|---|---|
0 |
Never auto-shutdown |
300 |
Shutdown after 5 minutes (default) |
600 |
Shutdown after 10 minutes |
1800 |
Shutdown after 30 minutes |
3600 |
Shutdown after 1 hour |
When Auto-Shutdown Is Useful
The auto-shutdown feature can be useful in some scenarios:
- Pay-per-use hosting: If your server plan charges for uptime, auto-shutdown saves resources when idle
- Temporary sessions: If you only run the server for specific play sessions, auto-shutdown ensures it stops cleanly
- Shared hosting environments: Reduces resource usage for other tenants
When to Disable Auto-Shutdown
Disable auto-shutdown (ShutdownIfNotJoinedFor=0) if:
- You want the server always available for players to drop in at any time
- You use a startup script or panel that does not automatically restart the server after shutdown
- You are hosting for a community where different players join at different times
Panel-Based Auto-Restart
If you are using DustBowl.Games' WISP or AMP panel, the panel can be configured to automatically restart the server if it goes offline. Combined with ShutdownIfNotJoinedFor=0, this ensures maximum uptime.
See your panel documentation for auto-restart configuration.
Troubleshooting: Server Keeps Shutting Down
If your server keeps shutting down unexpectedly, the first thing to check is:
ShutdownIfNotJoinedFor=
Confirm it is set to 0 in ServerSettings.ini. This is the most common cause of unexpected ICARUS server shutdowns.