What is an ARK Server?
An ARK server is basically a computer that contains an instance of ARK: Survival that other people can connect to and play on. Wildcard hosts its official servers that anyone can join. Many people host their servers and leave them open to the public as well. Some people choose to run private, password-protected servers that require authentication to join or local servers only on their local machine. An ARK Server is set up to run a specific instance of ARK. With ten official maps and several others that are fan-made, many people choose to run a few different servers to have one on Ragnarok and one on Extinction, for example. That’s what I do with my servers so that if I want to experience post-apocalyptic vibes of Extinction, I can get on one server, and if I want a more nature-oriented experience, I can get on the other.
What Kinds of ARK Servers are There?
There are two kinds of ARK servers that you can make: a personal one on a machine you own or a rented one through a game hosting company. There are a few benefits of each one.
Personal Server
As long as you already have the equipment, a personal server is free. Dedicated servers are not incredibly difficult to set up or maintain as long as you can meet the required specifications with what you already own. They do need you to have a strong Internet connection if you want other people to have a smooth experience.
Rented Servers
Rented servers remove all the work involved in setting up your own ARK server. You simply choose a hosting company, determine which map or maps you want to have a server for, and pay for the number of players you want — in addition to other choices. Here are a few things you’ll have to consider if you want to rent a server:
Price: The cost of an ARK server can go up very quickly, especially if you’re looking to host more than ten people. For example, running two servers for 60 players each can cost around $600-700 per year just for the slots and servers.Up-time: You want a host that advertises a high percentage of up-time. There’s no point in paying for a service that experiences frequent failures. Server location: You want a site that’s suited for you and your players. Even though I’m on one side of the USA, I chose a sever with central locations because many of my friends play from other places. They recommend choosing a server within 500 miles of where you’ll be playing, if possible. Bandwidth: The more bandwidth, the better. DDoS protection: Look for a company that offers servers that protect against this kind of attack so that your game safe from DDOS attacks.
Look through a few different server companies before choosing one if that’s how you decide to make your ARK server. Many of them also offer discounts if you pay by the year rather than by the month.
Host Your Server
Hosting your server is easy as long as you have the hardware and a bit of software knowledge.
Requirements For ARK Server Machine
You will have to open additional ports if you’re hosting more than one server. The more players and mods you have, the better hardware you’ll need to have available to host them.
OS :A dedicated ARK: Survival server will only run on a 64-bit Windows system. Processor :At least 2 cores running at 3.0GHz, but more is better, especially with additional players and mods. Physical Quad Core CPU recommended. Memory :6GB of RAM for the server to start. You will need more as the number of players increases. Mods can also increase the amount of RAM required. Open Ports:Open ports for incoming connections. You should open the following ports in your router software: UDP 27015 UDP 7777 UDP 7778 TCP 27020 Common Redist: Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable Latest DirectX-Runtime package. You can find both of these in your Ark Server Dedicated Server folder under the _commonredist folder once you’ve installed the Server. Network bandwidth:A strong network connection. You probably won’t want to host for others unless you have 100+Mbps.
How to Make an ARK Server
There are a few steps on the path to hosting your own ARK server. You have to install the Steam server software, work with it to get the ARK server started, and then configure it to be discoverable.
SteamCMD
SteamCMD is short for Steam Console Client. It allows you to create and update ARK server installations.
ARK Dedicated Server Installation
Once SteamCMD is installed on your machine, it’s easy to download the ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server files. Now the data you need to run your own ARK dedicated server is available on your machine.
Setting Up the Server
In this example, we’ll set up a server for Ragnarok. You will want to replace the word Ragnarok with the name of the map you’re using if you prefer a different map. Your server is now up and running. The next step is being able to join it.
Joining Your Server
Once your server is working, you have to join it. This is an excellent step to take even if you don’t want to play right away because you want to make sure that the server is working and that you can connect to it.
Local Host
Private IP
Public IP
Once you have your server saved to your favorites, open ARK: Survival. Once it’s open, click “Join ARK” and join the server you made from your Favorites menu in-game.
Additional Information
There are a few other things you need to know to run a dedicated ARK server.
Closing the Server
When you’re not using the server, simply close the server window to remove any access to it. You and others will regain access once the server is reopened by double-clicking your .bat file again. To be safe, use the “saveworld” admin command in-game to ensure everything is backed up before closing your server. Remember to type “enablecheats AdminPassword” to enable admin commands before saving.
Opening the Server IP
If you can’t find your server by searching the server name on Unofficial in-game Servers, you need to change settings in-game. Other players should join by finding it in the list of Unofficial Servers after it appears. Be sure to have them add it to their favorites.
Map Names
The official map names you should use when setting up your server are: Make sure to use the correct names when setting up your .bat file.
Updating Your Server
Whenever ARK updates, you must update your server, or players won’t be able to join. Keep an eye on your Steam downloads to see when ARK updates. Once you have your ARK server up, people should be able to join you and your friend as long as you’ve opened the required ports and the server is appealing in the list. You can configure your server to change many different world settings, add mods, or determine which dinosaurs spawn. Running your own dedicated ARK server gives you much more control than merely playing on someone else’s. Also, follow our detailed guide for any Crash Related Issue in ARK.
