Station Profits, Custom Logo and Data Vault Hacking — X4: Foundations

1.Station Modules

Stations are built from modules that act independently but can connect together. Types:

Build: Produce, equip and repair ships.
Defence: Heavily armed; protects the station and claims sector ownership.
Dock: Lets ships of various sizes dock.
Habitation: Houses the workforce.
Other: Connects modules or acts as spacers.
Production: Produces specific wares, usually by consuming others.
Storage: Stores wares of the corresponding type.
Venture: Special-function modules, usually plot rewards.

2.Maximizing Station Profits

Always assign a Manager and at least one trade ship; if basic resources are needed, assign at least one miner. Assigning ships greatly reduces buying costs.
Have ships stationed in the sector before assigning them (bugs otherwise stop them working).
Fund the station generously (Player info → Credit symbol → station funds); the "recommended" amount is what it needs to fill its storage.
Always add Energy Cell production (solar panels) — expensive at first but cost-effective.
Build where there's heavy traffic or near hyperspace routes.
Add turrets for defense (edit the module).
Food production: Each race needs a different food; produced food also supplies workers, so choose habitats together with food production. Most require water and ice.
Raw/refined production: Needs Resource Sites (they refill as used); check with Resource Probes and build close to the site. Your own miners fill storage for free.
Most importantly: Don't specialize on a single product — build a production line! Instead of exporting raw silicon/ore, build Microchips from refined silicon, even Nano technology. Nanotronics, Refined Silicon, Fuel and Food are highly profitable when the line starts from the most basic material.

3.Custom Ship Logo

Logo folder: /Documents/Egosoft/X4/[Numbers]/logos/. Valid formats: BMP, DDS, GIF, JPG, PNG, TGA (GIF animations won't play, transparency works). Save at least once to generate the [Numbers] folder, then create the logos folder inside. Images must be square and a power of two (128×128, 256×256, 512×512…). After placing a logo, restart the game and load the save: ENTER → Player Information tab → Custom Logos.

4.Data Vault Hacking

Data Vaults appear in space as a purple ping on the long-range scanner (so far only in asteroid fields). Fly toward the ping.

Fix the vault: Bring your ship close and get out (a repair laser is needed). Fix the panels lit red saying "pressure leak detected" with your laser until they turn green ("status ok"). Some align solar panels with the sun, others open hatches with more panels to repair or containers to grab. Once all panels are fixed, a final hatch opens.
Get the data: With your scanner on (Shift+2), fly to the last hatch. As you approach you'll hear static; aim at the broken wires under the red mess of lights and slowly approach to get the data.

5.Hacking Stations Yourself

Exploring, you may find parts to craft illegal hacking items. With them in your inventory, apply them to a station's security panel (in rooms like engineering). The hardest is the "Turret Control Panel" (shuts down nearly all defenses) which needs a Security Slicer; most others are hacked with the Security Decryption System.