Dedicated Server Information

[ThunderfulPaige | Community]

VIKINGS HELLO

You'll be able to access information on dedicated servers via this google document (read-only):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13N9pDSmmSG9iM5JwS2pjLiyY566XZZd1ED79itIvg4k/edit?tab=t.0

I'll add FAQs below as they appear.

• The server will pause if nobody is online

[Mantase]

For those like myself that struggle with server setup or just need step by step instructions I have made a guide for ASKA updated this morning. https://makeyourownserver.com/how-to-host-an-aska-dedicated-server/]

[Narmiel]

Hello!

I want to thank the developers for this amazing game. I can confirm that the server works on Windows, Linux, and even in Docker (I’m running it in a Debian container) without requiring a second copy of the game (Linux requires wine of course).

Issues I couldn't resolve:
4-player limit. Our group consists of five people, but there’s no setting on the server to increase the default limit 😆. This feels like a serious oversight. Even if it affects balance and makes the game too easy, we'd still prefer to have that option (I suggest leaving this responsibility to the players).

The server is too resource-intensive, even when no players are online. It puts a significant load on the CPU. I understand that fixing this might be difficult. In my experience with similar games, I usually write a script that checks the number of players via RCON or Valve's Server Query Protocol. If the server is empty, the script stops the container and listens for a query or game port connection. When someone tries to join, it starts the container again.
With Aska, this seems impossible (or maybe I just don’t know how). First, it has no RCON and doesn’t respond to Valve's Server Query Protocol (not sure why). Second, it doesn’t support direct connections and relies on Steam servers, so it’s unclear what exactly to listen for.

Not issues, just minor inconveniences:
A startup parameter for save path configuration. Right now, save files are placed in AppData/LocalLow by default, which is inconvenient. The same goes for logs—it would be great to have an option to specify a custom path.

Finding the server in the list. When friends want to join my server, they have to scroll through a large list to find it. (To be fair, once they join, the server gets a star and stays at the top, so this is a one-time issue.)

One of my friends encountered an issue: he joined the server and then realized he should have chosen his character's appearance beforehand (specifically, he wanted to change the gender), but he couldn’t find a way to do it.

[Narmiel]

Btw I think it would be great to have the option to run a server without the Steam Managed Game Server System, like in most other games. For dedicated servers, this only brings disadvantages (such as the inability to connect directly via an IP address). However, I understand that this might be related to anti-piracy protection.

[Maveth]

What is the recommended RAM for a 4 person server?

[MokahTGS]

What is the most current information on Dedicated Servers running on a separate machine? Do I need another steam account to do it? Or has this been fixed?? Last info I can find are posts from February. There have been several major patches since then.

[Elvis is alive]

Hope this helps, but i got my server from https://citadelservers.com/game-servers/aska-game-hosting

[Armaerafaen]

Question- do we know where the server is putting the savegames? I followed the PDF, got my server set up, everyone joined and had fun- but how can I tell where the savegames are going? I want to verify that we won't lose our progress.

[Orv Williams]

To my understanding, you can run the server on separate hardware, but only if you put Steam in Offline mode.
I find this totally unacceptable, since I have other server software that requires Steam to be Online.
If something has changed, I hope someone will correct me on this situation.
I find it difficult to believe that several months have passed and the developers have yet to remedy the situation in the correct fashion.
I am being patient though...

[Max]

I refunded, could not justify running this on a server as it uses as much CPU as 5-10 Ark or Conan Servers combined.
If this is fixed in the future I might pick it up again as the concept seems interesting.

[Max]

Originally posted by MokahTGS:

What is the most current information on Dedicated Servers running on a separate machine? Do I need another steam account to do it? Or has this been fixed?? Last info I can find are posts from February. There have been several major patches since then.

I bought and tried last week, as of then you still needed a separate account with the steam client running in offline mode, this is the only game I had on my server that needs this, all others run with just anonymous steamcmd and no need for the client.

[Max]

Originally posted by Armaerafaen:

Question- do we know where the server is putting the savegames? I followed the PDF, got my server set up, everyone joined and had fun- but how can I tell where the savegames are going? I want to verify that we won't lose our progress.

on my server were located in ...AppData\LocalLow\Sand Sailor Studio\Aska\data\server\

[J35TR]

Originally posted by grimrebuke:

Originally posted by shmafoo:

/edit: Just wish you guys would add a Linux binary for the dedicated server, like any sane person would actually use

I just nailed this down today and got it working. I'm in a Docker image using ubuntu-jammy with Xvfb, screen, wine, and steamcmd. About 10 hours of my life I won't get back, but it's working in Linux in a Docker image (and should work in Linux without a Docker image... though where's the fun in that?).

share the image? or the dockerfile?

[enchanter100]

I'm hosting it on a windows 11 machine, like I have my minecraft, ark, etc. No issues with the machine. But for some reason, the server software is shutting down or crashing? We can have it running and all connect, play, no issues. But then next evening after no one being on at all for the day, the server software isn't running. There seems to be logs, but nothing indicating a crash. What's shutting down the server?

[Shitologist.]

Hello the google link doesnt show any version history, doesnt work for me, any other repo for knowing how to setup or tweak?

[chaddy]

Originally posted by Narmiel:

Hello!

I want to thank the developers for this amazing game. I can confirm that the server works on Windows, Linux, and even in Docker (I’m running it in a Debian container) without requiring a second copy of the game (Linux requires wine of course).

Issues I couldn't resolve:
4-player limit. Our group consists of five people, but there’s no setting on the server to increase the default limit 😆. This feels like a serious oversight. Even if it affects balance and makes the game too easy, we'd still prefer to have that option (I suggest leaving this responsibility to the players).

The server is too resource-intensive, even when no players are online. It puts a significant load on the CPU. I understand that fixing this might be difficult. In my experience with similar games, I usually write a script that checks the number of players via RCON or Valve's Server Query Protocol. If the server is empty, the script stops the container and listens for a query or game port connection. When someone tries to join, it starts the container again.
With Aska, this seems impossible (or maybe I just don’t know how). First, it has no RCON and doesn’t respond to Valve's Server Query Protocol (not sure why). Second, it doesn’t support direct connections and relies on Steam servers, so it’s unclear what exactly to listen for.

Not issues, just minor inconveniences:
A startup parameter for save path configuration. Right now, save files are placed in AppData/LocalLow by default, which is inconvenient. The same goes for logs—it would be great to have an option to specify a custom path.

Finding the server in the list. When friends want to join my server, they have to scroll through a large list to find it. (To be fair, once they join, the server gets a star and stays at the top, so this is a one-time issue.)

One of my friends encountered an issue: he joined the server and then realized he should have chosen his character's appearance beforehand (specifically, he wanted to change the gender), but he couldn’t find a way to do it.

cheers for the write up just tried hosting my own service 65% cpu load with 2 people
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700 8-Core Processor it's insane, put a stop to our aska idea.