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Getting Started

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Zyphro3D edited this page Oct 25, 2026 · 1 revision

Getting started: from zero to your first race

This guide takes you from an empty PC to an Assetto Corsa EVO server that your friends can join, in about 20 minutes. Every step is done in the browser except the install command.

What you need

  • A PC or server that stays on while people race: Linux (Debian, Ubuntu…) or Windows 10 / 11.
  • A Steam account that owns Assetto Corsa EVO. The panel uses it once to download the server files. Your credentials are not saved.
  • Access to your router, if players outside your home network should be able to join (step 7).

1. Install the panel

Run one command. It installs Docker if needed, downloads the panel, generates the passwords and starts everything.

Linux: open a terminal and run:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Zyphro3D/pannel-ac-evo-server/master/install.sh | sudo bash

Windows: right-click the Start button, choose Terminal (Admin), and run:

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Zyphro3D/pannel-ac-evo-server/master/install.ps1 | iex

Windows only: if Docker Desktop was missing, the script installs it and asks you to restart. Restart Windows, open Docker Desktop once, then run the same command again. Docker Desktop must stay running for the panel and the server to work: in Docker Desktop, enable Settings → General → Start Docker Desktop when you sign in to your computer.

The first install takes about 10 minutes. At the end, the script prints:

  • the panel address, for example http://192.168.1.50:4300;
  • two accounts with their generated passwords: superadmin and admin.

Copy these somewhere safe. They are also stored in the .env file of the install folder (/opt/pannel-ac-evo-server on Linux, %USERPROFILE%\ace-evo-panel on Windows).

The installer's messages are in French for now; the panel itself is in English (and four other languages, top-right EN menu).

2. Sign in

Open the panel address in your browser and sign in with the superadmin account.

Sign-in page

3. Download the game server

Right after your first sign-in, the panel offers to download the ACE EVO dedicated server. Enter the Steam account that owns the game:

  • Username and Password;
  • Steam Guard code, only if your account asks for one (check the Steam app on your phone or your email).

Click Install and leave the page open: the download takes a few minutes and the progress is shown live.

Install the ACE EVO server

Closed the window by mistake? The red banner "ACE EVO server not installed yet" stays at the top of every page until it is done: click Install the server.

4. Find your way around

Everything you need as an organiser is in the Admin menu (top right).

The Admin menu

Menu What it is for
Server Start / stop the server, edit what is raced (track, weather, sessions, cars), schedule configs
Drivers Approve the people who registered on your panel
Events Plan a race on a date, with registrations
Access Whitelist, bans, ballast and restrictor per player
Settings Server name and passwords, Discord, accounts, panel updates

Before going further, change the generated passwords: Admin → Settings → Accounts, edit each account and fill in New password. While you are there, you can turn on two-factor authentication in Admin → My account.

5. Name your server and set passwords

Go to Admin → Settings → Server:

  • Server name: the name players will see in the in-game server list.
  • SERVER_MAX_PLAYERS: how many cars can join.
  • SERVER_DRIVER_PASSWORD: the password players must type to join. Leave empty for a public server.
  • SERVER_ADMIN_PASSWORD: the in-game admin password (kick, next session…).

Click Save changes.

Server settings

6. Choose what you race

Go to Admin → Server → Configuration. A configuration is one race setup: track, weather, sessions and allowed cars. You start with default.json; you can create as many as you want with New configuration.

Configurations

Click Action → Edit on a configuration:

  1. Event: pick the Session type (Practice, Race Weekend, or another mode), the Weather and the Circuit.
  2. Sessions: set the duration of each session (practice, qualifying, race) and the in-game time of day.
  3. Vehicles: tick the cars players may use. Select all is a quick start; the search box and the filters (official cars only, mods only, PI range) help you narrow it down.
  4. Click Save all.

Configuration editor

7. Start the server

Click Start (in the editor) or go to Admin → Server → Status and click Start server.

The very first start takes one or two extra minutes: the panel installs a Windows component the server needs. When the status turns Online, the server is running. Turn on Auto-restart if you want the panel to restart it automatically after a crash.

Server status

Server logs shows what the game server is doing, which is the first place to look if something goes wrong.

8. Let players join

On your local network, players can already find the server in the game's server list, under the name you chose in step 5.

From the internet, open these ports on your router and forward them to the PC running the panel (look for "port forwarding" or "NAT" in your router's settings):

Port Protocol Why
9700 TCP and UDP Players connect to the game server
8081 TCP Your server appears in the public server list
4300 TCP (optional) Players can open your panel: results, live timing, registration

On Windows, the install script already opened these ports in the Windows firewall (private network).

Then, in Assetto Corsa EVO, open the online server list and search for your server name. 🏁

Going further

  • Plan a race night: Admin → Events → New event. Pick a date, import a configuration with Import from a config, set Max drivers, and Publish. Tick Launch server automatically and the panel starts the server for you at the right time.

    New event

  • Driver accounts: players can create an account with Register on the sign-in page to sign up for events and keep their lap history. You approve them in Admin → Drivers.

  • Change track automatically: Admin → Server → Scheduling puts several configurations in a queue (config rotation), optionally in a loop.

  • Discord: paste webhook URLs in Admin → Settings → Notifications to get start/stop/crash messages, best laps and end-of-session summaries.

  • Several servers on one PC: Admin → Servers (superadmin). Each extra server needs its own ports (server 2: 9701 TCP+UDP and 8082 TCP).

Keeping things up to date

  • The panel: Admin → Settings → Panel → Panel update, then Update. Every release is signed and verified before it is installed; if the new version does not start, the panel goes back to the previous one.
  • The game server (new ACE EVO build on Steam): Admin → Settings → Server, Game server section, Update. You will be asked for your Steam account again.

Your settings, configurations, results and accounts are kept across updates.

Troubleshooting

Problem What to check
The panel page does not open Use the exact address printed by the installer, from a device on the same network. On Windows, check that Docker Desktop is running.
The download asks for a code / fails Enter the Steam Guard code from the Steam app, then click Install again. The account must own Assetto Corsa EVO.
The server stops right after starting Open Server logs. Check that at least one car is selected and a circuit is chosen in the configuration.
Friends can't find the server Ports 9700 TCP+UDP and 8081 TCP must be forwarded to the right PC. Try first from the same network to rule out the router.
Something else Open an issue with a copy of the server logs.

For every setting in detail, see the README.

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