Dedicated server running... but not running?

[slapnuts]

Trying to play on a dedicated server I've been running in my house for myself and my kids for a month. Have changed zero settings and running no mods, but as of today cannot access it.

I've updated/relaunched/rebooted the physical machine, etc. What's strange is the server says it's running, and task manager confirms that it's using a ton of RAM as usual, but it doesn't show up in the server browser NOR can I connect to it directly via the local IP - when I try my screen just goes black and the game never loads.

One thing I found interesting is I used 'DNSchecker dot ORG' to verify the ports were open while the server was running. They all came back as "timed out". However, if I launched a CS:Source server the ports would report back as open. So it seems that the server is not actually running at all, or at least not reporting that it is.

Another thing I noticed is that the current "TheIsland_WP" file in the SavedArks folder was 72,072 kb, whereas the previous day's was 78,816 kb. So I renamed the current one as .old, copied the previous days and renamed it in place of "TheIsland_WP". After launching, it again was 72,072 KB as if it had been rewritten.

Final note: I know Microsoft pushed an update on Wednesday night (12/13) that force rebooted my server. My kids and I didn't play at all yesterday, so it's *possible* this problem started Wednesday night and might be a combination of a Microsoft/Wildcard problem, but I can't say for certain.

I've given up for now - does anyone have any ideas?

[Probitas]

Check to make sure your server IP hasn't changed. Also check router settings to ensure all IP everywhere match, same with ports. Also, ever since the original ASE came out, even minor updates are known to cause server faults. It's nothing you did, it's changes to base code, either MS updates, or game updates, or both. It could be as simple as your router getting IP locked to your modem (unless you are foolishly using a combo router/modem). I'd try a hard reset on the modem and reboot of server as well, making note of any IP changes. Hopefully you own your own hardware, if renting from IP then you might be SOL. At bare minimum reboot all machines, sometimes an update says you don't need to update but the machines always work better if they get loaded fresh with the new set of instructions on how to work.

The above information assumes you run your own server locally and not through some company like Nitrado - they use bargain basement equipment.

[slapnuts]

Originally posted by Probitas:

Check to make sure your server IP hasn't changed. Also check router settings to ensure all IP everywhere match, same with ports. Also, ever since the original ASE came out, even minor updates are known to cause server faults. It's nothing you did, it's changes to base code, either MS updates, or game updates, or both. It could be as simple as your router getting IP locked to your modem (unless you are foolishly using a combo router/modem). I'd try a hard reset on the modem and reboot of server as well, making note of any IP changes.

Verified all that. Even did a firmware upgrade on my router since I was rebooting it anyways. No dice.

But even ignoring all that I should still be able to connect via the local IP, and I can't.

[Probitas]

Check firewall settings, they may have been overwritten from the MS update.

[docslop]

ARK is having issues where when you access the game your server is not refreshing on your server browser. This is happening to a friend and I at the moment. It started with the update yesterday. I'm not sure what the solution is, some people are saying check the player run servers.

[MAOwarrior]

Got the same issue....they broke something

[slapnuts]

Originally posted by Probitas:

Check firewall settings, they may have been overwritten from the MS update.

Server firewall is completely disabled.

Originally posted by MAOwarrior:

Got the same issue....they broke something

Well at least it isn't just me.

[Andros]

make sure console is enabled and put Ark.UseServerList 0 into it while in the main menu

[slapnuts]

After the latest update my server is now working again *shrug*.
Just throwing this in here for anyone who was following.

[Giacomo]

Search for it on battlemetrics. That will tell you if it is actually running. There is a lot of buggy stuff happening around dedicated servers atm, most likely not your fault.