Trying to invite a friend to my ARK Survival evolved, non dedicated server and steam won't let me.

[Kittinlily]

Hello all I am trying to run a non dedicated server, to invite my friends to. However it is not letting me invite them or when it does the connection times out or nothing happens. I log in set up the pass word, I go itno the friends menu and invite it most often give me the option to invite him to lobby. what does this mean. Can anyone tell me what I may be doing wrong or what I need to do.

[November]

A bit out of topic but can i play with you guys?

[Kittinlily]

ΞLIΓΞ Admin# 432 I can't even get us on my non dedicated server server, not sure what the problem is.

[Fhabreianne]

Do you know the adress for your server? Also in Steam in the top left under View -> Servers loads up this server window, there you have 5 tabs Under Favorites you could add your severs address or they could use the Friends tab to see all servers there firends are playing on (you would have to be loged into your server for this to work)

Anouther option is in Ark you can see if any of your friends are in an ark server (bottom left) there is a session Filter turn that to Friends and they should see any ark Servers there Firends are on (you have to be in your ark server for them to see you)

Once they have logged on they should be able use that to add your server to there favouties (ingame ark) for them to keep logging on even if your not there or they could use the (my Survivors option to see all servers that they have played on)

Hope this helps

[Kittinlily]

Fhabreianne would the server address
be the session name?? How Do I find my server name??

[Fhabreianne]

You have a server name and a server adress.

The server name is a line in the file you use to load your server. ie start ShooterGameServer.exe "TheIsland?listen?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=10?SessionName= Your Serve rName Here " -UseBattleye -NoTransferFromFiltering -clusterid=katgod

The Server adress is like your web adress, you use this to locate the server you want, Ie mc.hypixel.net

Depending on where/what server you are using depends on how to find you ip,
is your ark server Windows or Linux based? Is your server from home or on a hosted site ie Amazon?

[Kittinlily]

Fhabreianne My friend tried opening one. found it on the server list added it to my favorites but, I keep timing out when I try to join it. same happens when he tried to join mine, Do you know what could be causing this?\

[Fhabreianne]

One thing that could be the reason if you dont have the Ports needed to long in it open.
Second thing could be that your game is not in the same patch as the server.
Could you give me the exact wording ark gives you when you try to log in?

[Kittinlily]

Joining failed
Connection Timeout

Is all it says.

[Fhabreianne]

Is the server hosted from a home computer or a company/group?
If your hosting it for home you need these ports open to access the server
https://portforward.com/ark-survival-evolved/

[Kittinlily]

Home and thanks I will try that

[Fhabreianne]

I used this guide on how to build my server at home {the guide is for a windows server}
(the guide is for a multi-map server but you can also use it to make a just one map server)
http://hellcat5.com/ark-survival-evolved-a-steam-guide-to-multi-map-server-cluster-setup-from-scratch/