ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server (SteamCMD) [English/Englisch] [Windows]

This guide will show you how to set up a server with the SteamCMD.

The following ports must be open:

TCP: 25147, 27015-27030, 27036-27037
UDP: 4380, 7777-7778, 25147, 27000-27031, 27036

It's recommended to have at least 6 GB of RAM available to run an ARK server.
Also you will need 35GB of hard drive disk space.

German Tutorial:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=692129985

I also created a tool, that automates the installation process. You can find this tool here:
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/ServerTool

SteamCMD Download

First of all you need the SteamCMD. You can download it here:
https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip

SteamCMD Login

Now you need to execute this file.
After a few seconds you can login:

login anonymous

By now you should be logged.

Server Files Download

Now you have to create a folder (i.e. Server) in which you will download all required server files.















Furthermore, you have to select the created folder in the SteamCMD with the following command:

force_install_dir ./ark_ds/

Now you have to initiate the download by executing the following command:

app_update 376030 validate

Once this process is complete, you quit the SteamCMD with this command:

exit

Start the Server

It's recommended to start the server using a .bat file, which you have to create in the following directory:

H:\Server\SteamCMD\ark_ds\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64

In order to start the server you have to write the following code in your .bat file:

start ShooterGameServer "TheIsland?listen?SessionName=MY_SERVER_NAME?ServerPassword=TEST?ServerAdminPassword=RCONADMIN"
exit

This is only the basic stuff, of course you can specify additional parameters, such as the port or the maximum players.

?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=100

Now you execute this file, the start of the server may take some time.













In my case it took 5 minutes so just be patient. (You can see, if it´s still booting, because of the RAM Usage.)

Once you see this line your server is running and you can connect to it.














I wish you much fun playing with your ARK Server!

Attention:
It can be helpful, if you run into performence issues to add "-lowmemory" at the end of your batch file.

Server configuration

You can find the Server config file here:

\ark_ds\ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer

In the "GameUserSettings" file you can change things like EXP etc...

If you wanna see all commands, you can find a list of these here:
https://ark.gamepedia.com/Server_Configuration

You can also here create one, if you want to:
http://ini.arkforum.de/index.php?lang=en&mode=all

Using Mods [Steam-Workshop]

1) Download the Mod.
2) Open the Mod folder of your ARK client.

\Steam\SteamApps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Content\Mods

3) Copy the folder and the .mod file to your server in this folder:

C:\Steam-Server\arkds\ShooterGame\Content\Mods

4) Open in the folder

ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\

your "DefaultGameUserSettings.ini."
5) Add at the bottom this:

ActiveMods=483800077

This is in my example the Mod ID, you can get this number from the folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

I can not see my server / No one can connect to my server
Please make sure, that you have opened all the required ports in your router. If the everything is set correctly, but the problem still occurs, please contact your internet provider.
Or look for your router model here:
https://portforward.com/router.htm

Is there another way instead of opening the ports?
Yes, you can also host your server through a VPN network like "Hamachi". Of course only the people in the VPN network will be able to join the server then.
If forwarding your ports doesn´t work, please contact your ISP, i won´t be able to help you.

How can i change my server port?
Just edit the bat file with "-port 27015"

The SteamCMD download failed! What should I do now?
Mostly you just need to retry the download, then the problem should be fixed.

How do I update my server?
Just open the SteamCMD and login again, then retry the Step "Downloading the files" it will be checked which files need to be updated.

Server Creation Tool

To automate these steps to setup/upgrade a server, i created a tool, the group can be founde here:
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/ServerTool

The tool itself is hosted on Github, which can be found here:
https://github.com/Zeromix9/ServerTool

I hope, that will help you in the future!

If you like, you are also welcome to leave a small donation.
https://paypal.me/Zeromix

[_BlackTobi_]

nice

[Zeradios]

nice

[Zeromix]

@Grampz When there is nothing, how it can be the same, as on my picture then?

[Sordros]

its not that i dont want to post its that i cant as there is nothing when i do the screen shot so obviously i am doing something wrong and if i cant do something so simple as a screen shot to work then doing what ur saying is beyond my capability. the little screen shot u have in that one pic is the same one i get without the login portion. this just proves my point in that this is ridiculous and needs to be changed so we simple people can do what everyone else is doing!!!

[Zeromix]

@Grampz Well if u don´t want to post helpful informations, i won´t try to help you anymore now.

[Sordros]

the screen is similar to the one u have in ur first step

[Sordros]

for some reason i am not gettting a screen shot n ive tried it 3 ways

[Zeromix]

@Grampz Make a screenshot.

[Sordros]

i get a screen like the old dos where i am suppose to type in something n i got no idea what to do at that point as there are no instructions for using this tool

[Zeromix]

@Grampz And then? What does happen? What does stan there?...
If you don´t give me any info, i can´t help you.