Hosting Local Server - Help please?

[TypeFive]

Hello!

I just got a new computer system for gaming and other various uses. I tried playing Ark on one of the official servers, but they are so build up that I ran around for 2 hours just to find a small place to put down my fire...and could not...but that's beside the point.

I want to host a local server on my rig to play Ark and I was wondering if it would work ( Yes I've looked at older post about this, but they are from like early 2016 and older.)

My rig: Ryzen 7, water cooled by a kraken 6.1, 32 GB ram, small ssd and large hdd, and from what i understand (which is not much, tbh), a very good GPU.

My server desires: I don't really plan on having a massive amount of people on the server, probably max 3 people. I of course want to game to run smoothly and with all setting on medium-high.

I have owned a 2011 13 inch Macbook Pro for the last 6 years....I have NO clue at what this new rig can handle or what running a server does CPU handling wise. The main thing is that I don't want to burn anything out...so if it's unfeasible...I would really like to know before I try to do it.

...with my luck, I can imagine my entire tower busting into flames...

[EzRyder]

'a very good GPU; isnt real helpful, but im guessing your question is will 'hosting' a server cost too much cpu-gpu? if so consider its about the same as Single Player for just you and grows with more people using it. So if its just you and a couple friends it wont tax your pc much more than a Single Player game would (which basically runs its own server)
Ofcourse the gpu will come into effect when you log in to the server so you still need a decent one to 'play' on the server

[Max]

You should be able to run a dedicated server next to your game. Do keep in mind that the ARK server can consume up to 10 GB of RAM.
Currently the gameclient uses quite a lot of RAM as well, so I advice to keep an eye on it at the beginning. If it runs out of RAM, the server or your client will crash.

There are ARK tools, like ARK manager, that you can use to easily setup a server :)

Have fun!

[=Sarsante=]

Ark server manager will help you to get it started. I dont think you'll have a problem running both. Server doesnt uses any gpu resources, its only a window prompt. Server is gonna use ram and cpu only.

[TypeFive]

Originally posted by AirCaptain:

'a very good GPU; isnt real helpful, but im guessing your question is will 'hosting' a server cost too much cpu-gpu? if so consider its about the same as Single Player for just you and grows with more people using it. So if its just you and a couple friends it wont tax your pc much more than a Single Player game would (which basically runs its own server)
Ofcourse the gpu will come into effect when you log in to the server so you still need a decent one to 'play' on the server

Sorry. My gpu is a single Radeon RX580. I forgot the name before...

Does that mean that with a server, I won't make too much of a difference than just running the game if I'm playing by myself or with a friend?

Sorry if I sound noobish...it's cuz I am.

[EzRyder]

Originally posted by a.bromberg93:

Sorry. My gpu is a single Radeon RX580. I forgot the name before...

Does that mean that with a server, I won't make too much of a difference than just running the game if I'm playing by myself or with a friend?

Sorry if I sound noobish...it's cuz I am.

You wont have problems with that rig at all. you probly wont see any difference with 32Gb of ram and that card from SP or hosted, likely mp will vary on the servers anyway but you have plenty of pc to host your own server for several people

edit and yea get the server manager its too easy, even dl's the server files for you :)
edit2 http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=468312476

[ExavierMacbeth]

The "Server" itself isn't too bad on hardware as long as the player count isn't two high. I personally run a clustered (Island, Center, & SE maps) servers using Ark Server Manager (ASM) on a 10 year old Phenom II with 8GB memory that will handle 10-25 players easily enough.

If your running it on the same machine you are playing on though there are two thigns to keep in mind.
- First you will effectivly installing the game 3 times. Once through steam that you will be using as the client and then twice through ASM since it maintains a download cache & install location seperatly. So you will eat alot of hard drive space.
- Second you will be effecitvly running the game Twice at the same time. Again once for the client & once for the server. Luckily the server only needs about 2-3GB of Ram Memory & at least 1 deticated processor core (though you can set ASM to use all and it will adapt).
- Finally your GPU will only be used for the Client instance of the game so if you can run the game normally off your current graphics card you should be fine in this department.

I would say you are probobly good with your configuration.

The downside:
- Learn port forwarding for your router as it will be manditory to allow your friend to connect to the server.
- If you plan to cluster so you can get all the maps, YOU as the host WILL NOT be able to jump servers using the Terminal unless you have a router that supports NAT Pinholing/Loopback (rare these days as it is a security flaw in router designs companies have been closing). I actually have to log into the game using a wireless hotspot to conenct from outside my network for the terminal to let me transfer my character.
- You might see minor lag spikes when the server does its save operation. This also applies to processor spikes (that can affect other operations) if you are working/playing something else and leaving the server running for your buddy to play on without you.

[TypeFive]

Thank you all so much for your help! I really appreciate it, but I do have 1 last question:

Is there really a difference between dedicated and undedicated? I know it's whether or not you want the server to run when you are not playing the game, but is it important if you will only be playing at the same time as another person or two players utilizing the same rig?

I have another person who wants to play, but has to use my rig to play it. So we generally will not be playing at the same time...

[=Sarsante=]

If you need it to be running all the time its dedicated, like ark server manager helps to do the settings or rent a server.

Rent a server might be the way to go if you want it to be available 24/7, or your pc must be running the server 24/7 which could be a pain.

[ExavierMacbeth]

Basically a Deticated Server is something that runs outside the game either using the command line interface or something liek ASM. It basically runs the server as a background service so you can do whatever you want on the PC while its running... If you are theo nly person playing on it I recommend either setting the spoil timer setting up or shutting down the server when no in use so your dinos don't starve lol

Undeticated more or less means that you are allowing people to join your game while you are playing it. Think traditional multiplayer functionality. The game will only be avalible while you are actually logged in.

EDIT: Either way as Sarsante mentions, If you want the server up 24/7 and don't wana leave your PC running constantly you might need to rent a service. Personally I use a retired machine i just recently replaced which is why it was running 10 year old hardware lol.

[sendjes]

http://steamcommunity.com/app/346110/discussions/10/

[margalus]

Yes run a dedicated server on your computer. Your system will run it flawlessly while also playing. And it will run much better than any server you could rent.