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You can host a Subnautica Nitrox server on Linux, but there is no project-maintained Linux procedure comparable to the official Windows-oriented guides. As of October 14, 2026, the practical choices are an unofficial Docker image that targets the current 1.8.x line, or an older Steam/Wine helper script pinned to Nitrox 1.7.1.0. For a new installation, Docker is the better starting point because its maintainer reports support for Nitrox 1.8.1.0 on x86-64 and ARM64, including Ubuntu 24.04.
Whichever route you use, the server must be reachable on UDP port 11000. Forward that port from your router to the Linux host, allow it through the host firewall, or put the players and server on a VPN/mesh network instead. The instructions below show the complete setup, version checks, networking choices, and recovery steps.
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- A legal Subnautica installation whose files can be read by the Linux host. The Docker method mounts that installation into the container at
/mnt/subnautica. - A Linux server with Docker Engine (and optionally Docker Compose) for the recommended method. The image maintainer reports x86-64 and ARM64 support and has tested Ubuntu 24.04, but other distributions are not guaranteed by that statement.
- A Nitrox client installation for every player. Clients should use the same Nitrox build as the server; mixing releases commonly produces protocol or connection errors.
- Administrative access to the Linux machine, its firewall, and—when hosting over the public internet—your router.
- An available UDP port 11000. Nitrox’s hosting guide identifies this as the listening port: Nitrox server hosting guide.
The Nitrox project site describes the mod as available for Windows and Linux, while the setup guides located for this subject are written primarily for Windows. Treat both Linux procedures in this article as community-supported methods rather than official Linux support.
Choose a Linux hosting method
| Method | Nitrox version target | What it does | Maintenance and status | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Docker image cuteminded/nitrox-server |
1.8.x; maintainer reports 1.8.1.0 | Runs the server in a container and mounts your Subnautica files at /mnt/subnautica; publishes UDP 11000 |
Unofficial; the most recently maintained Linux route found; x86-64 and ARM64 are reported | New deployments and repeatable upgrades |
Docker image qub1/nitrox-server |
Not stated | A separate image exists, but its setup and compatibility details were not verified | Unofficial; insufficient published information for a confident recommendation | Only if you independently validate the image |
Steam/Wine helper script xdrm-io/nitrux |
1.7.1.0 | Places Nitrox in the Subnautica Steam/Wine prefix and starts it with a Nitrox launch argument | Older and unofficial; version is pinned | Legacy environments that must stay on 1.7.1.0 |
| Manual Wine or Proton setup | Not established | No source located that confirms a working, supported Linux procedure | Unverified | Do not select as your first path |
The current GitHub release page labels Nitrox 1.8.1.0 as “Latest,” and the project site announces that release. The release date was not verified, so record the date of your own deployment and check the release page before upgrading: Nitrox releases.
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Method 1: run Nitrox in Docker
1. Install Docker and prepare a readable game directory
Install Docker Engine using your distribution’s supported package method, then verify that your account can run containers. Add your Subnautica files to a stable path rather than a temporary Steam cache. This example uses /srv/nitrox/subnautica; substitute the real path on your machine.
sudo mkdir -p /srv/nitrox/subnautica
sudo chown -R "$USER":"$USER" /srv/nitroxCopy or link the complete Subnautica installation into that directory. Do not mount only the executable: the server image needs the game data beneath the mount point. Confirm that the directory is readable by Docker’s daemon and that it remains present after reboots.
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2. Open the host firewall for UDP 11000
If uncomplicated firewall (UFW) is enabled, the following rule permits Nitrox traffic:
sudo ufw allow 11000/udp
sudo ufw statusFor firewalld, nftables, cloud security groups, or a hosting control panel, create the equivalent inbound UDP rule. TCP 11000 is not a substitute; clients need the UDP listener.
3. Start the container
The image documentation shows the essential arrangement: mount the Subnautica installation at /mnt/subnautica and publish UDP 11000. A concrete invocation is:
docker run -d
--name nitrox-server
--restart unless-stopped
-p 11000:11000/udp
-v /srv/nitrox/subnautica:/mnt/subnautica
cuteminded/nitrox-serverRead the image’s current instructions before changing tags or adding environment variables: cuteminded/nitrox-server on Docker Hub. The command intentionally leaves the image tag at the registry default because available tags can change. For a production server, pin a documented tag or digest after you have verified it with your clients.
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4. Inspect startup output
docker ps --filter name=nitrox-server
docker logs -f nitrox-serverA running container does not prove that the server has loaded the game files. Look for a normal Nitrox server startup and a listener on UDP 11000. If the container exits immediately, display its final output with docker logs nitrox-server, then check the mount path and permissions before trying another image.
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5. Use Docker Compose for repeatable administration
Create /srv/nitrox/compose.yml:
services:
nitrox-server:
image: cuteminded/nitrox-server
container_name: nitrox-server
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "11000:11000/udp"
volumes:
- /srv/nitrox/subnautica:/mnt/subnauticaStart and follow logs with:
cd /srv/nitrox
docker compose up -d
docker compose logs -f nitrox-serverCompose keeps the port, mount, and restart policy in one file, reducing mistakes when you rebuild the host. Keep a copy of this file and note the image version used for each world.
6. Update without losing the installation
The Subnautica files are outside the container, so replacing the container does not remove them. A cautious update sequence is:
- Tell players to disconnect and back up the mounted game/world data.
- Record the currently running image and Nitrox release.
- Pull the new image:
docker pull cuteminded/nitrox-server. - Recreate the container with the same UDP publication and volume mapping, or run
docker compose up -dfrom the Compose directory. - Watch the logs and have every player update to the same Nitrox release before reconnecting.
Do not update the server alone when the client release is incompatible. If the new image fails, stop it and restore the previous image tag or digest while leaving the mounted data untouched.
Networking: make UDP 11000 reachable
Hosting on a home network
- Give the Linux host a stable LAN address, preferably a DHCP reservation.
- Forward UDP 11000 on the router to that address and port.
- Allow the same port in the Linux firewall.
- Give players your public IP address and the Nitrox server address format required by their launcher.
Forwarding only TCP, forwarding to the wrong host, or allowing the port on the router but not the Linux firewall all produce the same symptom: players time out while local logs appear normal.
Using a VPN instead of port forwarding
If your ISP uses carrier-grade NAT, blocks inbound traffic, or you cannot administer the router, place the server and players on a private VPN/mesh network. The Nitrox hosting guide specifically notes VPN software such as Hamachi as an alternative to forwarding: official hosting guidance. Players then connect to the Linux host’s VPN address, while the container still publishes UDP 11000 on the host.
Confirming the path
Check the server host first: verify the container is running and that a process is bound to UDP 11000. Then test from a different network, such as a phone hotspot; a test from the same LAN can succeed even when the router’s public forwarding is broken. Packet-filter counters, router forwarding logs, and docker logs are more useful than repeatedly restarting the client.
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Method 2: the Steam/Wine helper script
The xdrm-io/nitrux project is an older third-party route. It pins Nitrox 1.7.1.0, so it is not a drop-in replacement for a 1.8.x server. Choose it only when that exact version is required by an existing group or environment.
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How the script is organized
- Install Steam and create a working Wine/Steam prefix for Subnautica.
- Install Subnautica into that prefix and confirm the base game starts.
- Download the Nitrox version expected by the script and unzip it into the prefix’s
C:root, producingC:Nitrox. - Use the Steam launch option
-nitrox C:Nitroxspecified by the project. - Ensure the resulting server still listens on UDP 11000, then apply the same firewall and router/VPN steps described above.
Because the repository is version-pinned and older, inspect its current README and scripts before running them. Do not assume that a Wine installation tested with 1.7.1.0 can load a 1.8.1.0 world or accept current clients.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone..NET runtime requirements: what is known and what is not
Published third-party descriptions disagree about the runtime. DeepWiki lists a .NET 9.0 runtime and says the launcher can install it when missing: DeepWiki installation notes. A separate CLRN article says Linux needs a compatible .NET runtime but cites .NET Framework 4.7.2 in its Windows context: CLRN server article. No authoritative Nitrox server README or release note confirming one exact Linux runtime was established.
For Docker, start with the image’s bundled dependencies and error output rather than installing arbitrary runtimes on the host. For the Wine script, follow that repository’s prerequisites and install only the runtime it explicitly requests. If a launcher reports a missing framework, install the matching Microsoft-supported runtime for your distribution, restart the launcher, and verify the version again; do not treat the conflicting third-party figures as interchangeable.
Client setup and version discipline
Each player installs Nitrox using the project’s installation guidance: Nitrox installation guide. Have everyone update before a session, and write the server’s exact release in your group instructions. A client on 1.7.1.0 should not be expected to join a 1.8.1.0 server, even if both installations can launch locally.
Players also need network access to the host’s UDP 11000 address. If the server is behind a VPN, they must join that VPN first; if it is behind a router, they use the router’s public address rather than the server’s private LAN address unless they are on the same network.
Capacity and practical planning
Nitrox advertises a maximum of 100 connected players but recommends a player count of five: Nitrox server features. The maximum is a product feature, not a promise that every Linux machine, world, or internet connection will perform well at that size. No reliable Linux-specific hardware benchmark or adoption statistic was established, so scale gradually and monitor CPU, memory, network traffic, and tick or simulation behavior during real sessions.
- Start with a small group and increase players only after confirming stable saves and acceptable latency.
- Keep the server host wired or on a reliable low-latency connection when possible.
- Schedule image and operating-system maintenance outside play sessions.
- Back up the mounted data before changing Nitrox versions or replacing the container.
Troubleshooting by symptom
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Container exits immediately | Bad mount path, unreadable files, incompatible image, or missing dependency | Run docker logs nitrox-server; verify /srv/nitrox/subnautica contains the full game and is readable. |
| Players time out from outside your home | UDP forwarding, firewall, CGNAT, or wrong public address | Confirm router forwarding to the host, allow UDP 11000 locally, test from another network, or use a VPN. |
| Local players connect but remote players cannot | Internet edge configuration rather than Nitrox itself | Check the router’s WAN address, carrier-grade NAT, and whether the test used the public address. |
| Launcher reports version or protocol mismatch | Clients and server are on different Nitrox releases | Record the server image/release and update or roll back every client to that same build. |
| Runtime/framework error | Missing or incompatible .NET/Wine dependency | Read the launcher or container error, then follow the method-specific dependency instructions; do not assume the conflicting .NET figures are definitive. |
| ARM host fails while x86 instructions work | Architecture-specific image or dependency issue | Confirm the image maintainer’s ARM64 statement, inspect logs, and test the documented image rather than an unverified replacement. |
| Port is already in use | Another service or old Nitrox container owns UDP 11000 | Stop the old container or service, then recreate the Nitrox container with one publication for 11000/udp. |
Security and maintenance checklist
- Expose only UDP 11000; do not open an unrestricted range of ports.
- Keep Docker, the Linux host, Steam/Wine components, and Nitrox clients patched.
- Run the container with the smallest practical filesystem access: mount the game directory, not your entire home directory.
- Back up world data before upgrades and keep a record of the working image tag or digest.
- Use a VPN when public exposure is impossible or undesirable, but still restrict the host firewall to the VPN interface where your network design permits.
- Tell players which Nitrox release, address, and port to use; ambiguity is a frequent source of failed joins.
Which route should you use?
Use Docker with cuteminded/nitrox-server for a new Linux deployment when your group can run Nitrox 1.8.x. It has the clearest current compatibility statement, supports both major server CPU architectures, and keeps the server configuration reproducible. Use the xdrm-io/nitrux Wine route only when you deliberately need its pinned 1.7.1.0 environment and accept the maintenance burden. There is not enough verified information to recommend the other Docker image or a hand-built Wine/Proton setup over those two paths.
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