Dedicated Server on Linux via Docker

[Manu]

Hey everyone,

I just built a docker image that allows you to run an ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server on a Linux VPS in the Cloud.

In case you are a Linux administrator and want to run your own server without going through setting up Wine or Proton, feel free to pull my docker image and have a look at the README of my GitHub repository:

https://github.com/mschnitzer/ark-survival-ascended-linux-container-image

If you need help, feel free to create an issue on GitHub or ask here.

[Manu]

I'm not an expert in routing, nor iptables, nor nftables, thus I cannot say whether it's dead or not. It is present on the distributions I tested it with and I used iptables in the past to solve some routing problems. I didn't look deeper into what it uses underneath tbh.

/var/lib/docker is the default location for volumes. It is possible to customize this path to some other location though, it is just not explained in the README.

The natting is needed because the ASA server does not tell the masterserver what IP it uses for connections. The masterserver just uses the IP it receives a packet from and assumes there's an ASA server running. Thus, if the packets are routed through a different network interface other than the one the ASA server listens on, then you run into a problem where players connect to an IP address where no ASA server is listening on. This has proofen to be a reliable method for me in the past also for other games (e.g. CS:GO), thus I recommended using it here. If there's another solution, feel free to let me know, I'm not insisting on iptables to be used for this.

[chrisfisher46]

Guys i need to advice, not sure if i am missing a step somewhere but i cant seem to get my server to update to the latest version...i am using sudo docker-compse down then sudo docker-compose up.

It downloads stuff but the server version doesnt seem to be changing? Current healthy version is 26.23 but im stuck on 26.11

[Manu]

26.11 is the latest version for the community. They didn't update the public branch of the ASA server, the last server update was rolled out 8 days ago:

https://steamdb.info/app/2430930/depots/

Everything's fine.

[[KIN] AlphaObeisance]

Have you considered collaborating with Linux Game Server Managers by contributing your work here? This would be an incredible addition to the server community! Thanks for this great work!

[Manu]

I did not really think about this yet. I never used LinuxGSM before.

[[KIN] AlphaObeisance]

Manuel の投稿を引用：

I did not really think about this yet. I never used LinuxGSM before.

It'd be worth considering if you enjoy this kind of thing on Linux. No doubt the Linux DIY server community would very much appreciate it. LinuxGSM and the team behind it basically collaborate to automate the installation process of servers on Linux.

I had no issue following your guide (THANK YOU!), but it's something to consider! Would be so cool to see the ASA server on LinuxGSM =D

[Mike Dagart | Mydeur]

nice work but for sure if you re not using nitrado (which i don t like) you ll get screwed up at some point wildcard will sure work onsomething to prevent you from updating or running your server...

[Manu]

McNan Labat (Mydeur) の投稿を引用：

nice work but for sure if you re not using nitrado (which i don t like) you ll get screwed up at some point wildcard will sure work onsomething to prevent you from updating or running your server...

I don't see this as a realistic scenario at the moment, due to the backlash they got and even if they decide to go down that route, so be it. Right now, I don't see how this could become reality in near future and even if, savegames can be transferred to Nitrado if people want to continue hosting their own server.

As long as it works, people should take advantage of it if they prefer hosting on their own hardware.

AlphaObeisance の投稿を引用：

Manuel の投稿を引用：

I did not really think about this yet. I never used LinuxGSM before.

It'd be worth considering if you enjoy this kind of thing on Linux.

The reason I won't use it, is because I developed a similar tool to administrate my Game Servers through a web dashboard, so I don't have a need for a replacement at the moment.

AlphaObeisance の投稿を引用：

No doubt the Linux DIY server community would very much appreciate it. LinuxGSM and the team behind it basically collaborate to automate the installation process of servers on Linux.

I had no issue following your guide (THANK YOU!), but it's something to consider! Would be so cool to see the ASA server on LinuxGSM =D

Sure, if they want to have a collaboration, you can point them to this repository to get in touch with me. As far as I can see, they started already some kind of investigation how this works. IIRC I saw a GitHub issue recently for LinuxGSM.

[battle_pheasant]

Manuel, believe I installed your docker container right. However, upon exeuction, I can't find my server under Unofficial.
After running docker-compose start asa-server-1 (I made changes to your .yaml file) I am seeing this in the logs:

"Success! App '2430930' fully installed.
Starting the ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server...
Start parameters: TheIsland_WP?listen?Port=7777?RCONPort=27020?RCONEnabled=True -WinLiveMaxPlayers=50
esync: up and running.
Failed to read /etc/machine-id, error Invalid argument.
wine: RLIMIT_NICE is <= 20, unable to use setpriority safely"

My "SessionName=ARK #688864"

Thanks for the awesome work around for we linux gamers!

[Manu]

Are you able to join using the `open $ip` command in the ASA console? I'd recommend to wait some more minutes to see whether it shows up. Also please do post the `docker-compose.yml` of you. Are you running it on a VPS or on a dedicated server? Is it running in your home network or in a cloud?

[battle_pheasant]

I'll try the open $ip command. Do you want the entire .yml file posted or just the uncommented portions? Its rather large...

[battle_pheasant]

Well then. I was able to join with the open ip command. I'm going to try and implement a password next to ensure that I in fact joined my server. Why is the name not showing up in the browser? Yes, using this in a private network at home BUT I do have the same setup on a separate windows server and it does show up in the game's browser...

[BumpInTheNight]

The server name should always be searchable in the client browser, even if you forget to pop open the port forwarding on your router. But I found several times that unless I went specifically searching for a chunk of mine's name they'd not show up in the regular scrolling. If you Tail -F the ShooterGame.log file you'll see your clients connecting when they successfully do so.

Knowing you can console command your way onto the linux one confirms its alive and listening and that its hosted on a machine that knows how to propagate packets through to the container and so such. Just make double sure that there's no conflicts or misconfigs in your router forwarding that's confusing the Windows server and the Linux server and its doing UDP mode for 7777 and the other one for your windows server. As documented earlier in this thread I spent way too much time trouble shooting the wrong problems because I'd glossed over my port forwarding config setup.

[battle_pheasant]

Thanks to all. I do appreciate it.

[battle_pheasant]

I've moved over saved Arks and profiles from the windows server to the correct directory specified with this container. Since doing so, the server will not start. That being said, and before I moved over the saved arks and profiles, when it did start, it is not reading the start params: "ASA_START_PARAMS=TheIsland_WP?listen?Port=7775?RCONPort=27020?RCONEnabled=True?ServerPassword=fake_blah -game -server -log -NoBattlEye -WinLiveMaxPlayers=10 -mods=933099,93176".
Specifically, while using the password, it always shows 50 players, port 7777, and no mods when I clearly state port 7775, 10 players and 2 mods...