How to Switch Your Icarus Server Between the Default and Experimental Branch

Icarus has two versions of the game you can play on: the Default branch and the Experimental branch. Your server and your players must be on the same one, or nobody will be able to connect. This guide shows you how to check and change the branch of your Icarus server from the RiverHosting panel.

Before you start

• You need access to your server in the RiverHosting panel.
• Make sure every player knows which branch they are playing on. The server branch and the player's game branch must match.
• Switching branch reinstalls the server files and restarts the server, so pick a quiet time when nobody is playing.
• Your account needs permission to use the Server Config page and the Backups page. If you are a subuser, ask the server owner to adjust your permissions on the Users page.

1. How to back up your server before switching

A backup gives you something to fall back on if you change your mind or something goes wrong.

1. Log in to the RiverHosting panel and open your Icarus server.
2. If the server is running, open Console and click Stop. Wait until the status badge shows OFFLINE.
3. Click Backups in the left-hand menu.
4. Click Create Backup.
5. Type a Backup Name you will recognise, for example the branch you are leaving. This is optional.
6. Confirm and wait for the new backup to appear in the list.

You can also save a prospect on its own. Open the Prospects page and use the Download button (labelled "Get") next to the prospect you want to keep. Read more in our guide on managing prospects.

2. How to switch the branch from the Server Config page

1. Open your Icarus server in the panel.
2. In the GAME section of the left-hand menu, click Server Config.
3. Find the Branch card.
4. Next to Current Branch, choose either Default or Experimental from the select box.
5. Click Switch & Reinstall.
6. Wait while the panel reinstalls the server and restarts it. The status badge in the server header will change while this happens.

3. How to check that the switch worked

1. Open Console and watch the live console while the server starts. Use the INFO filter if you only want normal messages, or ERROR if something looks wrong.
2. Wait until the status badge shows ONLINE.
3. Check the Server Config page. The Branch card should show the branch you chose as the Current Branch.
4. Ask your players to join. Remind them that they need to be on the same branch as the server.

If you use mods, open the Mods page and check that your installed mods are still listed and enabled. Remember that most content mods must also be installed by every player.

Troubleshooting

• Players cannot connect after the switch: The most common reason is a branch mismatch. Check which branch each player is using, then either change the players to match or switch the server again using the steps above.
• The Server Config fields are greyed out: Icarus writes its own settings back when it shuts down, so the panel locks Server Config while the server runs. Stop the server from the Console page first.
• The switch is taking a long time: A reinstall can take a few minutes. Keep an eye on the status badge and the live console.
• The server is stuck on Installing or Locked: Open Settings, find Repair & Recovery and click Repair Server Status.
• You want to go back to your old files: Open Backups and click Restore on the backup you made. Restoring stops the server and replaces all current files with the backup, and it cannot be undone.

Need help?

If the switch does not finish or your players still cannot join, our team is happy to help. Visit https://riverhosting.com/support and let us know which branch you chose and what you see in the Console.