How to Host Your Own Dedicated ARK Server

Hello Dev! Are you tired of playing ARK on someone else’s server? Do you want to have complete control over your gaming experience? If so, then hosting your own dedicated ARK server is the perfect solution for you. In this article, we will guide you through the process step-by-step, so that you can host your own dedicated ARK server without any hassle.

Step 1: Hardware Requirements

The first thing you need to do before setting up your own ARK server is to ensure that you have the necessary hardware. Here are the minimum requirements:

Component	Minimum Requirement
CPU	Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better
RAM	8GB
Storage	100GB
Bandwidth	10Mbps or higher

Keep in mind that these are just the minimum requirements, and you may need more powerful hardware depending on the number of players you plan to host on your server.

Choosing the Right Hardware

When choosing hardware, make sure to prioritize the CPU and RAM. ARK is a CPU-intensive game, so having a powerful CPU is crucial for smooth gameplay. Additionally, the more RAM you have, the more players you can host on your server without experiencing lag or crashes.

It’s also important to choose dedicated hardware, rather than a virtual server or shared hosting. This will ensure that your server has the necessary resources to run smoothly, even during peak traffic.

Once you have the hardware requirements sorted, you can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Installing SteamCMD

In order to host an ARK server, you need to install SteamCMD on your server. SteamCMD is a command-line utility that allows you to install and update Steam games, including ARK. Here’s how to install SteamCMD:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open a terminal on your server.
2. Create a new directory where you want to install SteamCMD: mkdir ~/steamcmd
3. Download SteamCMD using the following command: curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | tar zxvf - -C ~/steamcmd
4. Navigate to the SteamCMD directory: cd ~/steamcmd
5. Run SteamCMD to update it: ./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +quit

Once you have successfully installed SteamCMD, you can move on to the next step.

Step 3: Downloading and Installing ARK

Now that you have SteamCMD installed on your server, you can use it to download and install ARK. Here’s how to do it:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open SteamCMD using the following command: ./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +force_install_dir ~/arkserver +app_update 376030 validate +quit
2. This will download and install ARK to the directory ~/arkserver.

Once ARK is installed, you can move on to the next step.

Step 4: Configuring ARK

Before you can start your ARK server, you need to configure it to meet your specifications. Here are the basic steps for configuring your ARK server:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Navigate to the ARK configuration files: cd ~/arkserver/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer
2. Edit the file GameUserSettings.ini to change the server settings. Here are some of the main settings you should consider changing:
   • ServerName: The name of your server.
   • ServerPassword: Set a password for your server if you want to restrict access.
   • MaxPlayers: The maximum number of players that can join your server.
   • ServerAdminPassword: Set a password for server administration.
   • DifficultyOffset: Change the game difficulty.
3. Edit the file Game.ini to change the server settings. Here are some of the main settings you should consider changing:
   • GameMode: Choose between PvE and PvP modes.
   • bUseSinglePlayerSettings: Enable or disable single player settings.
   • OverrideOfficialDifficulty: Change the maximum level of wild dinos.

Once you have configured your server, you can move on to the next step.

Step 5: Starting Your ARK Server

You’re now ready to start your ARK server! Here’s how to do it:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Navigate to the server directory: cd ~/arkserver
2. Start the server using the following command: ./ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=[yourservername]?ServerPassword=[yourserverpassword]?ServerAdminPassword=[yourserveradminpassword] -server -log
3. This will start your ARK server.

Congratulations, you have successfully hosted your own dedicated ARK server! Now you can invite your friends and customize your gaming experience as you please.

FAQ

What are the hardware requirements for a dedicated ARK server?

The minimum hardware requirements for a dedicated ARK server are an Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 CPU, 8GB of RAM, 100GB of storage, and 10Mbps or higher bandwidth.

Do I need to install SteamCMD to host an ARK server?

Yes, you need to install SteamCMD on your server in order to download and install ARK.

What settings should I change in the ARK configuration files?

You should consider changing settings such as the server name, server password, maximum number of players, server administration password, game difficulty, and maximum level of wild dinos.

How do I start my ARK server?

To start your ARK server, navigate to the server directory and run the command ./ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=[yourservername]?ServerPassword=[yourserverpassword]?ServerAdminPassword=[yourserveradminpassword] -server -log.

That’s it for this guide on how to host your own dedicated ARK server. We hope you found it helpful and informative. Happy gaming!