How To Add A Mod To A Dedicated Server In Ark

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This page discusses the installation and configuration of a dedicated ARK server.

For scripts that you can run on your own defended server, run into Dedicated server scripts.

1 Prerequisites
- ane.1 Hardware
- ane.2 Network
- 1.3 Operating system
  - one.3.one Windows
  - ane.3.two Linux
    - 1.3.2.1 Open Files Limit
- 1.4 SteamCMD
2 Server Installation
- ii.ane Run a Beta Branch
3 Port Forwarding and Firewall
- three.one Windows (Firewall and Allow Rules)
- 3.ii OS Ten (firewall application)
- 3.three Linux
  - 3.3.1 UFW
  - iii.3.two FirewallD
  - 3.three.three iptables
- 3.iv Port Forwarding
- 3.5 Finding Your Server in Lists
4 Automated Startup
- four.1 Windows (via Scheduled Task)
- iv.2 Linux (via systemd)
  - 4.2.1 Postal service-Setup Management
5 Updating
vi Console Commands
7 Backing Up Server Data
8 Troubleshooting
- viii.i Server loses characters or world data upon restart
- eight.2 Linux server exhibits loftier CPU usage and depression memory usage (Below 1GB)
9 Tool - ARK Server Manager
10 Notes
eleven References
12 External links

Prerequisites

Your Os must exist a 64-bit OS (ShooterGameServer is a 64-bit executable and every bit such will not run on a 32-flake install of Ubuntu or Windows). The server has been tested on Ubuntu xiv.04 and should also support any Windows host where the prerequisites found in _CommonRedist can be installed.

Hardware

The server requires at least 6GB of RAM to outset. Memory requirements increment as the number of connected players increases. This is as well dependant on your settings/mods and configurable options. Some mods increase RAM more than than others. On Windows Server 2012 R2, the server uses 2.3GB of RAM without any clients. On Linux, the installation uses 3.2GB of RAM without whatsoever clients.

Network

The server listens for incoming connections on the ports listed below. 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'southward server browser
UDP 7777	Game client port
UDP 7778	Raw UDP socket port (always Game client port +i)
TCP 27020	RCON for remote console server access (optional)

You lot tin can host multiple dedicated servers on the aforementioned host, still be aware that CPU and memory should be monitored carefully if they are decorated servers rather than test servers. For case:

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

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

Operating organization

Windows

Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (tin can be establish in the Steam Ark game binder under _CommonRedist/vcredist/folder).

DirectX (DXSETUP, can be establish in the Steam Ark game binder nether _CommonRedist/DirectX/June2010/ folder).

Linux

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

sudo apt-get install lib32gcc1

The game server requires glibc 2.14 or greater. Ubuntu fourteen.04 (and newer) and Debian eight (Jessie) satisfy this requirement automatically, but older versions, such equally Debian 7 (Wheezy), practice non. To install the required version of glibc on a Debian 7 (Wheezy) host:

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 principal

To update the host's available packages list and install the updated glibc library package, run the following commands via sudo or a root shell:
```
apt-get update apt-get -t experimental install libc6-dev
```

Annotation: This process 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 two.xiv or newer, refer to the distribution'due south documentation and support forums for guidance.

Open Files Limit

Note: This section doesn't use if yous'll be using systemd to launch the dedicated server (as described below in #Automatic Startup), every bit it tin set this limit at runtime.

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

Add the post-obit lines to /etc/sysctl.conf:
```
fs.file-max=100000
```
so run the following command via sudo or a root vanquish to utilize the alter:
```
$ sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.conf
```

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

*               soft    nofile          million *               hard    nofile          meg

Add the following line to /etc/pam.d/common-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 v.5GB of RAM, it hasn't been able to open all the files it needs and the to a higher place change should exist applied.

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

Annotation: You need to set tuned to „throughput-performance". Otherwise all changes in /etc/security/limits.conf will 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 curtailed for space considerations.

Warning: [Linux-specific | Windows: written report missing] If you desire to utilize 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

Install SteamCMD on your host.
Create a binder to house the server files on a volume with at least 15GB of free disk infinite. The server files swallow about x.4GB of infinite (Feb 2020 subsequently Genesis i launch), merely information technology's wise to plan for saves and hereafter content updates which will eat additional space.
Launch SteamCMD on your host and apply it to download the server files. (Remove the < > and replace them with double quotes, for example, force_install_dir "C:\Program Files (x86)\Ark Server")

Employ app id 376030 for Survival Evolved or utilize 445400 for Survival of The Fittest.

Steam> login anonymous Steam> force_install_dir <install_dir> Steam> app_update 376030 validate Steam> exit

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 2. On Linux, this will be a path similar /home/steam/servers/ark. On Windows, this will be a path similar c:\arkserver.
Create a script to launch the server with your desired options and settings. For simplicity's sake, identify it in the aforementioned folder where the server files were downloaded. On Windows, this is a batch file; on Linux, this is a beat script. Examples are provided beneath. 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!)
```
commencement 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/bash ./ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=<server_name>?ServerPassword=<join_password>?ServerAdminPassword=<admin_password> -server -log            
```
On Linux, after creating the script, make information technology executable:
```
$ chmod +x 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 gain administrator access to the server. If no player join password is desired, remove the unabridged option from the list (including the ?ServerPassword= parameter itself).
Finally, to launch the server, run the script created in the previous step.

Run a Beta Branch

Sometimes events are non implemented in the main game simply into a and so chosen branch. To run this event yous alter to this co-operative.

Add -beta with the branch name to the app_update command, like

Steam> app_update 376030 -beta branchname validate

Additionally start the server with -branchname.

Of course modify the branchname to whatever the name of the co-operative is. When the event is or should exist finished, just remove the additions.

Port Forwarding and Firewall

For your server to get visible in both the Ark server lists and the Steam lists, practise the following:

Windows (Firewall and Allow Rules)

If you're on Windows 10, click on Starting time and search for "wf.msc" without the quotes. Click the "Run as ambassador" option.
Click "Inbound Rules" on the left console, so click "New Rule..." on the right panel.
When the New Entering Rule Wizard opens upwards, select Port, then Next.
The magician will present options for choosing the protocol and specifying ports. Go out the default choice of the TCP protocol and "Specific local ports". Listing the ports you lot plan to frontward into the box (default 27020 for RCON). Use a comma to separate multiple ports. Select Adjacent to go along.
Select "Allow the connection" and continue with the wizard.
Make certain all of the boxes are selected for where the rule applies.
Enter a name (required) and a description (optional). It is recommended to append the protocol (TCP or UDP) to the rule name.
Echo these steps, merely choose UDP on the "Protocol and Ports" folio. Brand certain to enter your steam browser/query port (27015 default) and game port (7777 default). Yous also demand the raw udp socket port (7778 default, e'er your game port +1) if using ?bRawSockets.
When finished, you should have a rule for TCP and a rule for UDP in the Entering Rules department.
This department and the port forwarding section become hand in hand.
Close the advanced firewall window and open Windows Firewall once more.
Click "Permit an app or feature through Windows Firewall". Scroll down to ShooterGame. Make certain all apps named ShooterGame have the Private and Public boxes checked.
You're washed. If your ports don't piece of work when y'all forwards them, you can edit your Firewall entering rules by going back to the avant-garde tab, selecting the Entering Rules tab, right-clicking the rules you lot created, then clicking properties.

OS X (firewall awarding)

Input needed.

Linux

For most Linux distros, if in that location is a firewall at all it will be iptables based. Almost modern distributions will use a different interface, information technology'south a good idea to use that instead of direct iptables commands.

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

UFW

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

          #!/bin/sh  if [[ $EUID -ne 0 ]]; then      echo "This must be run every bit root"      exit one  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 permit 27020/tcp

FirewallD

This script will open up the ports in a mode that will persist beyond 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 i  fi  for port in 7777 7778 27015; practice      firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port $port/udp  washed  #Uncomment the next if yous want to open the default rcon port  #firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port 27020/tcp  firewall-cmd --reload

iptables

Keep in listen that this is merely a temporary solution and should only be used if neither of the other scripts apply for your system. To make it condom for reboots see the documentation of your distribution, how to add together firewall ports to the existing configuration files - or how to add scripts to the boot process.

          #!/bin/sh  if [[ $EUID -ne 0 ]]; then      echo "This must be run equally root"      leave 1  fi  for port in 7777 7778 27015; do    iptables -t filter -I INPUT -p udp --dport $port -j ACCEPT  done  #Uncomment the side by side if you desire to open up the default rcon port  #iptables -t filter -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 27020 -j Have

Port Forwarding

There are many websites with tutorials on port forwarding. It is highly suggested you visit portforward.com, which offers tutorials for the majority of routers.

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

You must forward both TCP and UDP for your server to testify upwardly on any lists. You lot can make sure your ports are open up past using the tool from portforward.com, that is, subsequently yous enter the ports that y'all accept forwarded in the start_server.bat file you lot should have created earlier.

For case, start ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?listen?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 piece of cake.

Finding Your Server in Lists

You tin access your server via the Steam servers listing or the Ark unofficial listing. Simply search for your name in the Ark list, or discover your IP accost in the Steam server list. It is best to add together 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 show at one time. There is no guarantee your server will appear in the unofficial lists all the time.

Good luck!

Automatic Startup

Windows (via Scheduled Task)

You tin configure a scheduled job to automatically run a batch file and beginning the dedicated server when the system boots.

Open 'Task Scheduler'
Create Basic Task
The 'Create Bones Task Wizard' volition appear, name the chore whatever yous want
Set the Trigger to 'When the computer starts'
Fix the Action to 'Start a program'.
You will need to browse to the programme/script you wish to start (which is your .BAT batch file that starts your server).
Depending on how your batch file works, you may demand to set the "Start in (optional)" path, so the working directory of your batch file is correct. (If your batch file only contains the "start ShooterGame ..." control, then you should prepare the "Get-go in (optional)" path of your scheduled chore to the directory that contains the batch file)
Before you create the scheduled task, click the checkbox to "open up backdrop window" after it'due south created
In the General Tab under the Security Options frame, you probably want to choose "Run whether user is logged on or not"
I personally checked "run with highest privileges" just in case. This might not be necessary.

Linux (via systemd)

Annotation: systemd is not available for Ubuntu 14.04.

As an alternative to using a script to launch the dedicated server manually, hosts running systemd can exist configured to automatically outset the dedicated 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 information.

Create a file named /etc/systemd/arrangement/ark-defended.service with the post-obit contents:
```
[Unit of measurement] Description=ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server Wants=network-online.target After=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=/home/steam/servers/ark/ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=<session_name> -server -log WorkingDirectory=/home/steam/servers/ark/ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux LimitNOFILE=100000 ExecReload=/bin/kill -south HUP $MAINPID ExecStop=/bin/kill -s INT $MAINPID User=steam Group=steam  [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target
```
The ExecStart line specifies the command to run in order to start the service. It uses the aforementioned syntax every bit the startup examples shown above (in #Server Installation), with notwithstanding arguments, but hither it's important to adjust it to reverberate the location of your ARK dedicated server on the host. Use the full path to the server executable, as shown above.

Exist certain to replace <SESSION_NAME> with the desired session name for your server as well.

Finally, adjust the User and Group settings for your host. Without these two options in ark-dedicated.service, the dedicated server will exist run as the root user. This is unsafe, every bit whatever vulnerability in the dedicated server could result in an attacker 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 higher up, the user account "steam" is used. Information technology's a member of the "steam" group, which is generally created forth with the account.

WorkingDirectory selection is required to fix some issues. (For instance not having WorkingDirectory set will neglect to download mods (if using with -automanagedmods))
To install systemd:
```
apt-get install systemd systemd-sysv
```
You will need to reboot after installation to initialize systemd.

Activate the new service then it starts automatically when the host boots by running the following control via sudo or a root shell:
```
# systemctl enable ark-defended
```
After running this control, the dedicated server will automatically start when the host does. The control doesn't kickoff the server immediately, so to launch the dedicated server after enabling it, run:
```
# systemctl start ark-dedicated
```

Subsequently following these steps, your server should be upwards and running and exist automatically managed by the host on startup and shutdown.

Post-Setup Management

The server tin exist stopped by running:

# systemctl cease ark-dedicated

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

# systemctl status ark-defended

Annotation: If you demand to update the ark-defended.service file (to change the dedicated server's startup options or to arrange its path), run the following command to ensure your changes are applied:

# systemctl daemon-reload

Updating

To update the server when a new version is released, repeat the aforementioned SteamCMD commands shown in the previous section. Be sure to use the correct gear 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.

Panel Commands

While running the game, the command panel can exist accessed with either the [~] (tilde) or [TAB] keys (depending on game version, default configuration and your keyboard layout). Once in the console, to activate ambassador commands, enter:

enablecheats <admin_password></admin_password>

Supersede <admin_password> with the server's ambassador password.

Refer to Admin Game Commands for a listing of available commands.

If the console tin can't be opened in-game, leave the game, open the game'southward 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 (most the bottom of the file) that reads:

;+ConsoleKeys=Tab

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

+ConsoleKeys=Tab

Save the file and launch the game. The console should be accessible.

Backing Up Server Information

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

Troubleshooting

Server loses characters or earth data upon restart

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

The first fourth dimension the server is run, information technology should create a binder named ShooterGame/Saved containing various configuration and relieve files. If the server has run at least once but hasn't created this folder, it may not have been able to create new folders and files there. Verify that the folder where the server is installed is readable and writable by the user account that actually runs the server. (For Windows servers, check the condition of User Account Command)

The server software, by default, is ready-up to automatically salvage world data every 15 minutes. If your server crashes earlier the first 15 minutes are up, you will not have whatsoever 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 files limit on the host. Refer to the Linux section above and follow the procedure to increase the host's open up files limit.

Tool - ARK Server Manager

You can besides use 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 prepare up and maintain your ain Ark: Survival Evolved (tm) dedicated servers. It provides a simple user interface assuasive y'all to create and edit server profiles containing all of the settings yous need to customize the playing experience for you and your friends.

What it 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 directly command of server country.
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 you're planning to have players bring together from the EpicGames version of ARK you must take the -crossplay command line option set.

References

External links

This material is partially based on a Server Setup guide past 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 listing of providers with guides and tips

v · d · e Technical & Customization

Technical	ArkML • Beacon IDs • Colour IDs • Brute IDs • DevKit • Engram grade names • GFI Codes • Item IDs • Keyboard Controls • Options • Server Browser • Spawn entries • Spider web API • Level Weight

Individual Servers	Panel Commands • Dedicated server scripts • Defended server setup • Difficulty • Server configuration • Unofficial server hosting guide

Mods	Custom Maps • Modding

External Resources	Apps and Webpages