Connect to Lan servers over the internet so you can jump through your locally hosted clustered ark servers.(without a VPN)

[Arzingoth]

This is the solution to connecting to your own LAN servers and jumping through the cluster as if you were on the internet, if not using a VPN, which you totally can, and I have been, until now. I didn't want to spend another $150+ to renew for 3 years.

I am hosting my servers on a different PC than the one I am playing on, but in the same local lan.

1st VPN - easiest as many people probably already have one.

2nd enable NAT -loopback if your router supports it. (does come with security risks, many routers do not support it.)

3rd: this (Which does come with the same security risks as #2, most of which can be negated by firewall rules.)

Details on NAT loopback can be found here:
https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/16343/is-nat-loopback-on-my-router-a-security-problem

On the pc you are playing the game on or PC hosting the ark servers:

1.) Install the Microsoft loopback adapter: how to: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc708322%28v=ws.10%29.aspx

then setup dynamic dns I'm using no-ip it's free

2: enter your dynamic dns address in:

Device manager, Microsoft Loopback Adapter, properties, advanced tab

click ok

add your servers to your steam favourites using your dynamic IP address done.

I came across this old thread today
https://steamcommunity.com/app/346110/discussions/0/615086038676188026/
and through a little experimentation got it to work to allow me to jump through my clustered servers on my lan. I have been trying to figure this out for years, and I'm excited to share it at long last!

4th:

You could get into Vlan's and subnetting But I am also open to hearing other options.

[ANUBIS]

..or you can just run a VPN on the non server pc on your network (the one your playing on), and you get the same result. ..assuming the server is running on a separate pc on your lan. Assuming you are already using a vpn for other reasons, then this option would cost you nothing. Both options are 'ways' that will work.

I've havn't suceeded doing a cluster server (client and server) all on one pc..and don't believe it's possible. Far as I know, you need the server on a different pc, to use the tricks you and I suggested, in case others are curious.

Reason these solutions are needed is because if your running a cluster on a lan, and your connecting to it on a pc on that network ..Ark won't look on the lan for the Cluster server...when you try traveling at an Obelisk. It's an issue the Devs have never fixed.
Start a VPN on the pc your playing on, then Ark doesn't think your connecting on a lan, and your cluster is visible at Obelisks..like it is to everyone else.

Like you, I added my server to steam favorites, but just used the local ip of the server for me..my friends (not on my lan ) added the servers public ip to their steam favorites.

[Arzingoth]

VPN = Costs money.
Router that supports NAT loop-back if yours doesn't. (mine don't) = Costs money.
This= Free.

Pretty much the reason I set this up, I'm lazy and cheap, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Also running multiple VPN on one network isn't ideal. So if you have 3-4 people in the same house playing the game (I do) this will save some network bandwidth.

Also an update, this can be done on the server side and it should work for the whole network, at least in my testing.

[ANUBIS]

VPN does cost money, but I need it for Many reasons..and $9.00 month isn't bad for all I can do with it. I'm not saying my solution is better than yours, I'm just showing other people (many people have vpns) a much quicker and easier solution..IF you have a VPN.
..and in my situation.. only I am running my vpn..all my other friends connect from their pc's. If you have 3-4 people run the vpn on your router instead of each device.

[Arzingoth]

I've updated my post to say without a VPN. So people don't have to think my way is the only way.

[ANUBIS]

Thanks for adding my 'Vpn solution" to your original post.

[Zaj]

Thank you so much for sharing this!

I found this post through another: "Cluster on LAN not working" - https://steamcommunity.com/app/346110/discussions/0/3200370144978983081/

I'm using a 5G router (with SIM) as my main source of internet - behind that I have a RT-AX82U Asus Router that all my devices and computer are connected to.
I'm trying to setup a LAN ARK cluster. Servers are working independently, showing up and all that, but transfering is not working.
----------------------------------------
As for installing Microsoft Loopback adapter (3rd option) for a novice like me, I would like to add a few comments for installation on Windows 11, as I had trouble installing the Microsoft Loopback Adapter:

Press Start, or the Windows-button on the keyboard.
Search for "Device Manager".
Click on "Network adapters" to highlight it in the list.
Then click on "Action" in the top of the window

Only by highlighting "Network Adapters" did I get to see the option "Add legacy hardware", otherwise I would only show "Help".
----------------------------------------
Questions:

With reference to the first post;
"then setup dynamic dns I'm using no-ip it's free

enter your dynamic dns address in:"

1: What does it mean that you are using no-ip?

2: How do I find my dynamic DNS address? - Is it the regular DNS-address (Found by writing ipconfig /all in the commandprompt)?
Or is it my public IP found by visiting a site like myip.com?


3: Using the 3rd solution means that you can not play from the same machine that you are hosting from? Or does it simply mean that you won't be able to use transfers between servers in the cluster?


Your efforts are much appreciated, thank you!

[Arzingoth]

No-ip is the service provider. If you put it into Google it should show up.

Dynamic DNS is a service. Basically for home based routers you don't get a static IP. So you need a 3rd party service that updates a domain name of your choosing. It's not necessary, but it does spare you from having to redo this step all the time.

So yes its the "my ip". My solution is also for transfers with locally connected clusters. If it's broken for people outside your network, it's a different issue.

Now since I've wrote this things have changed a bit I've heard, but I don't really host ark servers anymore. The electricity prices got so high I did the math and my server was burning more power than just paying arkservers.io for a server.

[Cobretti]

Originally posted by Arzingoth:

The electricity prices got so high I did the math and my server was burning more power than just paying arkservers.io for a server.

That's really interesting. I never thought of it this way.

[Arzingoth]

Originally posted by Cobretti:

Originally posted by Arzingoth:

The electricity prices got so high I did the math and my server was burning more power than just paying arkservers.io for a server.

That's really interesting. I never thought of it this way.

To be fair, Electricity increased fairly substantial in my area so your case may be different.

In my case my server used only for ark, and didn't need to be on 24/7 otherwise, so I retired it, moved to a DAS, and sold the server for a profit, that paid for everything else, i pay ark servers.io and.. im saving like $20 a month.

[Arzingoth]

Originally posted by Zaj:

Thank you so much for sharing this!

I found this post through another: "Cluster on LAN not working" - https://steamcommunity.com/app/346110/discussions/0/3200370144978983081/

I'm using a 5G router (with SIM) as my main source of internet - behind that I have a RT-AX82U Asus Router that all my devices and computer are connected to.
I'm trying to setup a LAN ARK cluster. Servers are working independently, showing up and all that, but transfering is not working.
----------------------------------------
As for installing Microsoft Loopback adapter (3rd option) for a novice like me, I would like to add a few comments for installation on Windows 11, as I had trouble installing the Microsoft Loopback Adapter:

Press Start, or the Windows-button on the keyboard.
Search for "Device Manager".
Click on "Network adapters" to highlight it in the list.
Then click on "Action" in the top of the window

Only by highlighting "Network Adapters" did I get to see the option "Add legacy hardware", otherwise I would only show "Help".
----------------------------------------
Questions:

With reference to the first post;
"then setup dynamic dns I'm using no-ip it's free

enter your dynamic dns address in:"

1: What does it mean that you are using no-ip?

2: How do I find my dynamic DNS address? - Is it the regular DNS-address (Found by writing ipconfig /all in the commandprompt)?
Or is it my public IP found by visiting a site like myip.com?


3: Using the 3rd solution means that you can not play from the same machine that you are hosting from? Or does it simply mean that you won't be able to use transfers between servers in the cluster?


Your efforts are much appreciated, thank you!

I replied to you but I don't think it did it right so replying the same again:


No-ip is the service provider. If you put it into Google it should show up.

Dynamic DNS is a service. Basically for home based routers you don't get a static IP. So you need a 3rd party service that updates a domain name of your choosing. It's not necessary, but it does spare you from having to redo this step all the time.

So yes its the "my ip". My solution is also for transfers with locally connected clusters. If it's broken for people outside your network, it's a different issue.

Now since I've wrote this things have changed a bit I've heard, but I don't really host ark servers anymore. The electricity prices got so high I did the math and my server was burning more power than just paying arkservers.io for a server.

[Ochan_Monkey]

Just a quick question. will the LAN cluster work too if i just run the dedicated server with a VPN? Thx

[Lori37]

holy necro batman

[dragonsphotoworks]

2 weeks is a "holy necro batman"? You would have heart attack seeing some threads necro'ed after YEARS hehe

[killashandrasings]

So what if someone necros a post? If they did, it means they need the information. If you don't like it, the scroll wheel is right there on your mouse.

[Arzingoth]

Originally posted by Ochan_Monkey:

Just a quick question. will the LAN cluster work too if i just run the dedicated server with a VPN? Thx

You can get it to work that way, yes. Not always easy but definitely not impossible.