Ark How To Set Up A Server

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This folio discusses the installation and configuration of a defended ARK server.

For scripts that you lot can run on your own dedicated server, see Defended server scripts.

Contents

• i Prerequisites
  • 1.ane Hardware
  • one.2 Network
  • one.3 Operating system
    • one.3.1 Windows
    • ane.3.2 Linux
      • ane.three.2.ane Open up Files Limit
  • 1.4 SteamCMD
• ii Server Installation
  • 2.1 Run a Beta Branch
• 3 Port Forwarding and Firewall
  • 3.1 Windows (Firewall and Allow Rules)
  • three.2 Os X (firewall application)
  • 3.three Linux
    • iii.3.1 UFW
    • 3.iii.2 FirewallD
    • 3.3.three iptables
  • 3.4 Port Forwarding
  • 3.5 Finding Your Server in Lists
• iv Automatic Startup
  • 4.one Windows (via Scheduled Task)
  • 4.ii Linux (via systemd)
    • 4.2.one Post-Setup Management
• 5 Updating
• 6 Console Commands
• 7 Backing Up Server Data
• 8 Troubleshooting
  • viii.1 Server loses characters or earth data upon restart
  • 8.two Linux server exhibits high CPU usage and depression retentiveness usage (Below 1GB)
• 9 Tool - ARK Server Manager
• 10 Notes
• 11 References
• 12 External links

Prerequisites

Your OS must be a 64-bit OS (ShooterGameServer is a 64-chip executable and as such volition non run on a 32-scrap install of Ubuntu or Windows). The server has been tested on Ubuntu xiv.04 and should likewise support whatever Windows host where the prerequisites found in _CommonRedist can be installed.

Hardware

The server requires at least 6GB of RAM to start. Memory requirements increase every bit the number of connected players increases. This is likewise dependant on your settings/mods and configurable options. Some mods increment RAM more than others. On Windows Server 2022 R2, the server uses 2.3GB of RAM without any clients. On Linux, the installation uses 3.2GB of RAM without any clients.

Network

The server listens for incoming connections on the ports listed beneath. Ensure your network configuration allows incoming connections to these ports and directs them to the host that will be running your dedicated server.

Port	Purpose
UDP 27015	Query port for Steam'south server browser
UDP 7777	Game client port
UDP 7778	Raw UDP socket port (e'er Game client port +1)
TCP 27020	RCON for remote console server access (optional)

You can host multiple defended servers on the aforementioned host, yet be aware that CPU and retentivity should be monitored carefully if they are busy servers rather than test servers. For example:

Server case	Game port	Raw UDP port	Query port	RCON port
Server game instance 1	7777	7778	27015	27020
Server game instance 2	7779	7780	27016	27021
Server game instance 3	7781	7782	27017	27022
Server game instance 4 completely different ports	9999	10000	37015	37016

Notation: Query Port cannot be between 27020 and 27050 due to Steam using those ports.

Operating system

Windows

Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 Redistributable (can be institute in the Steam Ark game folder under _CommonRedist/vcredist/folder).

DirectX (DXSETUP, tin exist found in the Steam Ark game folder under _CommonRedist/DirectX/June2010/ folder).

Linux

64bit Linux servers will require 32 bit binaries to install/run steamcmd.

sudo apt-get install lib32gcc1        

The game server requires glibc two.14 or greater. Ubuntu 14.04 (and newer) and Debian 8 (Jessie) satisfy this requirement automatically, but older versions, such as Debian 7 (Wheezy), practise not. To install the required version of glibc on a Debian seven (Wheezy) host:

1. Add the following lines to /etc/apt/sources.list:

   # Experimental/unstable (sid) repositories deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian experimental main deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian sid primary

2. To update the host's bachelor packages list and install the updated glibc library package, run the post-obit commands via sudo or a root shell:

   apt-get update apt-get -t experimental install libc6-dev

Annotation: This procedure does not upgrade the host to Debian Unstable (sid); only glibc itself and any packages it depends upon are updated.

For other older distributions that don't include glibc 2.14 or newer, refer to the distribution'southward documentation and back up forums for guidance.

Open Files Limit

Annotation: This section doesn't apply if you'll be using systemd to launch the defended server (every bit described below in #Automatic Startup), as it can set this limit at runtime.

To ensure that the host's open files limit is high enough to support the game server:

1. Add the post-obit lines to /etc/sysctl.conf:

   fs.file-max=100000

   then run the following control via sudo or a root shell to utilize the change:

   $ sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.conf

2. Add the following lines to /etc/security/limits.conf:

   *               soft    nofile          1000000 *               hard    nofile          1000000

3. Add together the following line to /etc/pam.d/mutual-session:

   session required pam_limits.so

Warning: Without these changes, the game server may not successfully launch. If the server appears to start, but uses a high amount of CPU time without using at to the lowest degree 5.5GB of RAM, it hasn't been able to open all the files it needs and the above change should exist applied.

Tuned is a daemon that monitors the use of organisation components and dynamically tunes arrangement settings, currently merely on RHEL7, CentOS7.ten and Fedora.

Note: You need to set tuned to „throughput-performance". Otherwise all changes in /etc/security/limits.conf volition ignored!

SteamCMD

The dedicated server is available for both Linux and Windows platforms. For both platforms, SteamCMD is used to download the server files. Refer to that page for detailed instructions on its installation and usage; the instructions included in the steps below are deliberately concise for space considerations.

Alert: [Linux-specific | Windows: report missing] If you desire to use a SSD to run the server, merely your normal steam folder is on your main HDD, check the soft-links of the folders located in '.steam'

Server Installation

1. Install SteamCMD on your host.
2. Create a binder to house the server files on a volume with at least 15GB of free disk space. The server files consume nearly 10.4GB of space (Feb 2022 after Genesis 1 launch), merely it'due south wise to plan for saves and future content updates which volition consume additional space.
3. Launch SteamCMD on your host and utilise information technology to download the server files. (Remove the < > and supplant them with double quotes, for example, force_install_dir "C:\Programme Files (x86)\Ark Server")
4. Utilize app id 376030 for Survival Evolved or utilise 445400 for Survival of The Fittest.

   Steam> login anonymous Steam> force_install_dir <install_dir> Steam> app_update 376030 validate Steam> go out

5. Or, run from command line:

   steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir <install_dir> +app_update 376030 +quit

   Replace <install_dir> with the full path to the binder created in Step two. On Linux, this volition be a path like /dwelling house/steam/servers/ark. On Windows, this volition exist a path like c:\arkserver.

6. Create a script to launch the server with your desired options and settings. For simplicity's sake, place it in the same folder where the server files were downloaded. On Windows, this is a batch file; on Linux, this is a shell script. Examples are provided below. For both platforms, the server options are specified with the same basic syntax. For Windows, create start_server.bat and place it in YOUR_ARK_SERVER_FOLDER/ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/ (remove the '<' '>' symbols!)

   start ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?listen?SessionName=<server_name>?ServerPassword=<join_password>?ServerAdminPassword=<admin_password>?Port=<port>?QueryPort=<query_port>?MaxPlayers=<max_players> exit            

   For Linux, create server_start.sh and place it in YOUR_ARK_SERVER_FOLDER/ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/ (remove the '<' '>' symbols!)

   #! /bin/fustigate ./ShooterGameServer TheIsland?mind?SessionName=<server_name>?ServerPassword=<join_password>?ServerAdminPassword=<admin_password> -server -log            

   On Linux, after creating the script, make it executable:

   $ chmod +10 server_start.sh

   In both of these examples, replace <server_name> with the desired name for your server, <join_password> with whatever password players must provide to join your server and <admin_password> with the password that must be provided to proceeds ambassador admission to the server. If no player join password is desired, remove the entire choice from the list (including the ?ServerPassword= parameter itself).

7. Finally, to launch the server, run the script created in the previous step.

Run a Beta Branch

Sometimes events are not implemented in the primary game but into a and then called branch. To run this event you modify to this branch.

Add together -beta with the branch name to the app_update control, like

Steam> app_update 376030 -beta branchname validate        

Additionally start the server with -branchname.

Of course change the branchname to whatever the name of the branch is. When the effect is or should be finished, merely remove the additions.

Port Forwarding and Firewall

For your server to become visible in both the Ark server lists and the Steam lists, do the following:

Windows (Firewall and Allow Rules)

1. If you're on Windows x, click on Start and search for "wf.msc" without the quotes. Click the "Run as ambassador" option.
2. Click "Entering Rules" on the left panel, then click "New Rule..." on the right panel.
3. When the New Inbound Dominion Magician opens upward, select Port, then Next.
4. The wizard will nowadays options for choosing the protocol and specifying ports. Leave the default option of the TCP protocol and "Specific local ports". List the ports you plan to forward into the box (default 27020 for RCON). Use a comma to carve up multiple ports. Select Next to continue.
5. Select "Let the connectedness" and continue with the sorcerer.
6. Make certain all of the boxes are selected for where the rule applies.
7. Enter a name (required) and a description (optional). It is recommended to suspend the protocol (TCP or UDP) to the rule name.
8. Echo these steps, but choose UDP on the "Protocol and Ports" page. Make sure to enter your steam browser/query port (27015 default) and game port (7777 default). You lot too demand the raw udp socket port (7778 default, ever your game port +1) if using ?bRawSockets.
9. When finished, you should take a dominion for TCP and a rule for UDP in the Inbound Rules section.
10. This section and the port forwarding section go hand in mitt.
11. Close the advanced firewall window and open Windows Firewall again.
12. Click "Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall". Whorl down to ShooterGame. Make sure all apps named ShooterGame take the Individual and Public boxes checked.
13. Yous're done. If your ports don't work when you lot forward them, you lot tin edit your Firewall entering rules by going back to the advanced tab, selecting the Inbound Rules tab, right-clicking the rules you created, so clicking properties.

Bone X (firewall application)

Input needed.

Linux

For most Linux distros, if there is a firewall at all it will be iptables based. Well-nigh modern distributions will utilize a unlike interface, it's a good idea to employ that instead of straight iptables commands.

All firewall changes must be made either as root or with sudo. These open ports 7777 7778 and 27015 for UDP and optionally 27020 for TCP. Yous may want to adjust the list of ports you lot need by editing the "for port in..." line.

UFW

This script will open up the ports in a way that will persist across reboots. UFW is the firewall on Ubuntu

          #!/bin/sh  if [[ $EUID -ne 0 ]]; then      repeat "This must exist run every bit root"      exit ane  fi  for port in 7777 7778 27015; exercise      ufw allow $port/udp  done  #Uncomment the next if you want to open the default rcon port  #ufw allow 27020/tcp        

FirewallD

This script will open up the ports in a way that will persist across reboots. FirewallD is the firewall on RHEL7, CentOS7.x and Fedora.

          #!/bin/sh  if [[ $EUID -ne 0 ]]; then      echo "This must be run as root"      exit ane  fi  for port in 7777 7778 27015; do      firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port $port/udp  washed  #Uncomment the next if you want to open the default rcon port  #firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port 27020/tcp  firewall-cmd --reload        

iptables

Continue in mind that this is only a temporary solution and should merely be used if neither of the other scripts utilize for your system. To go far safe for reboots come across the documentation of your distribution, how to add firewall ports to the existing configuration files - or how to add scripts to the boot process.

          #!/bin/sh  if [[ $EUID -ne 0 ]]; and so      echo "This must exist run as root"      go out 1  fi  for port in 7777 7778 27015; exercise    iptables -t filter -I INPUT -p udp --dport $port -j ACCEPT  washed  #Uncomment the next if you want to open the default rcon port  #iptables -t filter -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 27020 -j Accept        

Port Forwarding

At that place are many websites with tutorials on port forwarding. Information technology is highly suggested you visit portforward.com, which offers tutorials for the majority of routers.

What ports work depends on you lot. Try forwarding 27015 equally the port and 27016 equally the query port. 27015, 27016 and 7777 are the almost common ports that work.

You must forrard both TCP and UDP for your server to bear witness up on whatever lists. You tin make sure your ports are open by using the tool from portforward.com, that is, after yous enter the ports that you take forwarded in the start_server.bat file you lot should take created before.

For example, offset ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?mind?SessionName=<server_name>?ServerPassword=<join_password>?ServerAdminPassword=<admin_password>?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=<max_players></max_players>

Good luck, port forwarding is non very easy.

Finding Your Server in Lists

Y'all can access your server via the Steam servers list or the Ark unofficial list. Just search for your name in the Ark listing, or detect your IP address in the Steam server list. It is best to add your servers IP:PORT to your Steam favorites and joining using the 'favorites' tab in game. The in game list has a limit on the servers it will evidence at one time. There is no guarantee your server will appear in the unofficial lists all the time.

Skilful luck!

Automatic Startup

Windows (via Scheduled Task)

You can configure a scheduled task to automatically run a batch file and start the dedicated server when the system boots.

1. Open 'Job Scheduler'
2. Create Basic Task
3. The 'Create Basic Task Magician' will appear, name the task whatever you want
4. Ready the Trigger to 'When the computer starts'
5. Fix the Activeness to 'First a program'.
6. You will need to browse to the program/script y'all wish to kickoff (which is your .BAT batch file that starts your server).
7. Depending on how your batch file works, you may demand to prepare the "Get-go in (optional)" path, so the working directory of your batch file is correct. (If your batch file merely contains the "start ShooterGame ..." command, then you should set the "Start in (optional)" path of your scheduled task to the directory that contains the batch file)
8. Before you create the scheduled task, click the checkbox to "open properties window" after it's created
9. In the Full general Tab nether the Security Options frame, you probably want to cull "Run whether user is logged on or not"
10. I personally checked "run with highest privileges" just in case. This might not exist necessary.

Linux (via systemd)

Note: systemd is non available for Ubuntu 14.04.

Every bit an alternative to using a script to launch the dedicated server manually, hosts running systemd can be configured to automatically get-go the defended server when the system boots. When using this method to manage the server, using GameUserSettings.ini to specify its settings is highly recommended. Refer to Admin Game Commands for more data.

1. Create a file named /etc/systemd/system/ark-dedicated.service with the following contents:

   [Unit of measurement] Description=ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server Wants=network-online.target Later on=syslog.target network.target nss-lookup.target network-online.target  [Service] ExecStartPre=/home/steam/steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /home/steam/servers/ark +app_update 376030 +quit ExecStart=/abode/steam/servers/ark/ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=<session_name> -server -log WorkingDirectory=/dwelling/steam/servers/ark/ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux LimitNOFILE=100000 ExecReload=/bin/kill -s HUP $MAINPID ExecStop=/bin/kill -s INT $MAINPID User=steam Grouping=steam  [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target

   The ExecStart line specifies the command to run in lodge to start the service. It uses the same syntax as the startup examples shown above (in #Server Installation), with nonetheless arguments, merely hither information technology's important to adjust information technology to reflect the location of your ARK dedicated server on the host. Employ the full path to the server executable, as shown above.

   Be sure to replace <SESSION_NAME> with the desired session name for your server likewise.

   Finally, conform the User and Group settings for your host. Without these two options in ark-dedicated.service, the dedicated server volition be run as the root user. This is unsafe, as any vulnerability in the dedicated server could result in an aggressor gaining remote superuser access on the host.

   It's recommended to run the dedicated server in an unprivileged account used solely for this purpose. In the example above, the user account "steam" is used. Information technology's a member of the "steam" group, which is generally created along with the business relationship.

   WorkingDirectory selection is required to ready some issues. (For instance not having WorkingDirectory set will fail to download mods (if using with -automanagedmods))

2. To install systemd:

   apt-get install systemd systemd-sysv

   You will need to reboot after installation to initialize systemd.

   Activate the new service so information technology starts automatically when the host boots by running the following command via sudo or a root shell:

   # systemctl enable ark-dedicated

   After running this command, the dedicated server will automatically start when the host does. The command doesn't showtime the server immediately, so to launch the dedicated server after enabling it, run:

   # systemctl get-go ark-dedicated

After post-obit these steps, your server should be up and running and be automatically managed past the host on startup and shutdown.

Post-Setup Direction

The server can be stopped by running:

# systemctl finish ark-dedicated

and its current condition can exist viewed (whether it'southward running or not) by running:

# systemctl status ark-dedicated

Annotation: If you demand to update the ark-dedicated.service file (to modify the dedicated server'due south startup options or to adjust its path), run the post-obit command to ensure your changes are applied:

# systemctl daemon-reload

Updating

To update the server when a new version is released, repeat the same SteamCMD commands shown in the previous section. Be sure to utilize the correct set up of commands for your platform. Refer to SteamCMD's documentation for details on automating this process.

If you lot use the systemd startup file you can easily integrate the update-mechanism to be run before every start of the game.

SteamCMD provides additional tools to brand installation and updates easier and more seamless.

Console Commands

While running the game, the command console tin be accessed with either the [~] (tilde) or [TAB] keys (depending on game version, default configuration and your keyboard layout). In one case in the panel, to actuate administrator commands, enter:

enablecheats <admin_password></admin_password>

Supplant <admin_password> with the server's administrator password.

Refer to Admin Game Commands for a list of bachelor commands.

If the console can't be opened in-game, exit the game, open the game's DefaultInput.ini file (located in your Steam library in the folder named steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Config) with a text editor and locate the line (nigh the bottom of the file) that reads:

;+ConsoleKeys=Tab

Remove the semicolon (;), changing the line to read:

+ConsoleKeys=Tab

Salvage the file and launch the game. The panel should be accessible.

Bankroll Up Server Data

To make a backup of the server data, simply re-create the folder named ShooterGame/Saved (and his content) to the desired fill-in location. This folder contains all tribe, player and world information for the server. Performing a backup is recommended before updating a server to a new release.

Troubleshooting

Server loses characters or world data upon restart

If your server isn't retaining characters or world data when it's restarted, it may non have total access to the folder where it's installed.

The first time the server is run, it should create a folder named ShooterGame/Saved containing various configuration and save files. If the server has run at least one time but hasn't created this folder, information technology may not have been able to create new folders and files there. Verify that the binder where the server is installed is readable and writable past the user business relationship that actually runs the server. (For Windows servers, check the status of User Account Control)

The server software, by default, is set-upward to automatically relieve world data every 15 minutes. If your server crashes before the first xv minutes are upward, you will not take any data saved.

Linux server exhibits high CPU usage and depression memory usage (Beneath 1GB)

This can occur when the server can't open all the files it needs due to an insufficient open up files limit on the host. Refer to the Linux department above and follow the process to increase the host's open files limit.

Tool - ARK Server Manager

You can also apply this tool to manage your server when it is installed: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=468312476

The Ark Server Manager is designed to help you ready upwardly and maintain your own Ark: Survival Evolved (tm) defended servers. It provides a uncomplicated user interface allowing you to create and edit server profiles containing all of the settings you lot need to customize the playing experience for y'all and your friends.

What information technology does:

• Manages the SteamCMD tool and Server installations/updates.
• Organizes settings and writes INI files and command-line arguments automatically.
• Tracks server status and allows direct control of server state.
• Save and load server profiles - even import directly from an existing server deployment.
• Scheduled updates server files and mods.
• Works with Survival of the fittest.

Notes

If yous're planning to accept players join from the EpicGames version of ARK you must have the -crossplay control line option set.

References

External links

• This material is partially based on a Server Setup guide by ShuwA.
• gameserversetup.com guide
• survivalservers.com guide
• http://steamcommunity.com/app/346110/discussions/0/615086038673139870/
• hostnoc.com guide
• bestarkhosting.com guide
• comparegamehosting.com guide
• comparegameservers.com list of hosts
• findgameserverhosting.com list of providers with guides and tips

5 · d · east Technical & Customization
Technical	ArkML  •  Beacon IDs  •  Color IDs  •  Creature IDs  •  DevKit  •  Engram grade names  •  GFI Codes  •  Item IDs  •  Keyboard Controls  •  Options  •  Server Browser  •  Spawn entries  •  Web API  •  Level Weight
Private Servers	Panel Commands  •  Dedicated server scripts  • Dedicated server setup •  Difficulty  •  Server configuration  •  Unofficial server hosting guide
Mods	Custom Maps  •  Modding
External Resources	Apps and Webpages

Source: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Dedicated_server_setup

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