How to Host an Unofficial ARK Server – A Comprehensive Guide for Devs

Greetings Dev! Are you looking to host your own unofficial ARK server? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll guide you through the necessary steps to set up your own server and get your friends playing in no time.

What is ARK?

ARK: Survival Evolved is a popular survival game developed by Studio Wildcard in 2015. The game takes place on a mysterious island filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. Players must scavenge for resources, build structures, and tame dinosaurs to survive.

System Requirements

Before you start hosting your own ARK server, you’ll need to ensure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements:

Minimum Requirements	Recommended Requirements
OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit versions)	OS: Windows 10 (64-bit version)
Processor: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better	Processor: Intel Core i7-4770/AMD Ryzen 5 1600X or better
Memory: 8 GB RAM	Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better	Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1070 8GB/AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB or better

If your computer doesn’t meet these requirements, you may experience performance issues when hosting an ARK server.

Step 1: Port Forwarding

The first step in hosting your own ARK server is to forward the necessary ports on your router. This will allow players outside of your local network to connect to your server.

How to Port Forward

The process of port forwarding varies depending on your router. However, the general steps are as follows:

1. Log in to your router’s administration page. This is typically done by typing your router’s IP address into a web browser.
2. Find the port forwarding section. This may be under a different name depending on your router’s make and model.
3. Create a new port forwarding rule for port 7777 (UDP) and port 27015 (TCP).
4. Assign the rule to your computer’s local IP address.
5. Save the settings and restart your router.

Once port forwarding is set up, players outside of your local network will be able to connect to your server using your public IP address.

Step 2: Downloading and Installing SteamCMD

In order to install and manage your ARK server, you’ll need to download and install SteamCMD.

Downloading SteamCMD

You can download SteamCMD from the official website. Choose the appropriate download for your operating system.

Installing SteamCMD

Once you’ve downloaded SteamCMD, you’ll need to extract the files to a folder on your computer.

Next, open a command prompt or terminal window and navigate to the directory where you extracted SteamCMD.

Enter the following command to update SteamCMD:

./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +force_install_dir ./arkserver +app_update 376030 validate +quit

This will install the necessary files for your ARK server.

Step 3: Configuring Your Server

Now that you’ve installed SteamCMD, it’s time to configure your ARK server.

Creating a Configuration File

In order to configure your server, you’ll need to create a configuration file. Create a new text document named “GameUserSettings.ini” in the following directory:

/arkserver/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/

Open the file in a text editor and enter the following settings:

[ServerSettings]ServerAdminPassword=ENTER YOUR ADMIN PASSWORD HEREMaxPlayers=20ListenServerTetherDistanceMultiplier=1.0RCONEnabled=TrueRCONServerGameLogBuffer=600.0RCONServerGameLogFlushInterval=600.0RCONServerMaxBytesPerPacket=2147483647[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]bPvEDisableFriendlyFire=TruebPvEDisableFriendlyFireOnTribe=True[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameUserSettings]ServerName=ENTER YOUR SERVER NAME HERESessionName=ENTER YOUR SESSION NAME HERE[/Script/Engine.GameSession]MaxPlayers=20[/Script/OnlineSubsystemUtils.IpNetDriver]MaxClientRate=96000MaxInternetClientRate=96000[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameUserSettings]ShowFloatingDamageText=True[/Script/Engine.GameNetworkManager]TotalNetBandwidth=104857600MaxDynamicBandwidth=104857600MinDynamicBandwidth=10485760[/Script/OnlineSubsystemUtils.IpNetDriver]NetServerMaxTickRate=30[/Script/OnlineSubsystemUtils.IpNetConnection]InitialConnectTimeout=10000.0[/Script/OnlineSubsystemUtils.IpNetDriver]ConnectionTimeout=600.0InitialConnectTimeout=10000.0KeepAliveTime=0.2MaxClientRate=96000MaxInternetClientRate=96000NetServerMaxTickRate=30[/Script/OnlineSubsystemUtils.IpNetConnection]SimulatedLatencyPacketLoss=0

Make sure to replace “ENTER YOUR ADMIN PASSWORD HERE”, “ENTER YOUR SERVER NAME HERE”, and “ENTER YOUR SESSION NAME HERE” with your own values.

Starting Your Server

With the configuration file in place, you can now start your ARK server. Open a command prompt or terminal window and navigate to the directory where you installed SteamCMD.

Enter the following command to start your server:

./ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=YOUR SESSION NAME?ServerPassword=YOUR SERVER PASSWORD?ServerAdminPassword=YOUR ADMIN PASSWORD -server -log

Make sure to replace “YOUR SESSION NAME”, “YOUR SERVER PASSWORD”, and “YOUR ADMIN PASSWORD” with your own values.

Your ARK server should now be up and running!

FAQ

Can I Run an ARK Server on a Virtual Private Server (VPS)?

Yes, you can run an ARK server on a VPS. However, you’ll need to make sure that the VPS meets the minimum system requirements for ARK. Additionally, you’ll need to make sure that your VPS provider allows game servers to be hosted on their platform.

How Many Players Can Join My Server?

The maximum number of players that can join your server depends on your server’s hardware and bandwidth. However, the default maximum is 20 players.

Can I Modify My Server’s Settings?

Yes, you can modify your server’s settings by editing the “GameUserSettings.ini” file.

Can I Use Mods on My Server?

Yes, you can use mods on your server. However, you’ll need to make sure that any mods you install are compatible with your server’s version of ARK.

Do I Need a Dedicated IP Address to Host an ARK Server?

No, you don’t need a dedicated IP address to host an ARK server. However, you’ll need to make sure that your router is configured to forward the necessary ports to your computer.

Conclusion

Congratulations, Dev! You’ve successfully hosted your own unofficial ARK server. We hope that this guide has been helpful to you and that you and your friends have a great time playing together.