How to Make an ARK Server

ARK has been around for quite a few years and is still gaining popularity. If you wish to play the game with your friends, you will, however, need a server. Today we will show you how to make an ARK server.

Updated: 14 Dec, 21 by Antoniy Yushkevych 7 Min

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If you are looking for the process to create an ARK server, then this is the right place for you. But first, let us make you familiar with an ARK server!

ARK is a game developed by studio wild card. It is an action-adventure game that came out in the market in 2017.

The players are designed to survive on an island with dinosaurs and several other species of animals or even natural hazards. There are single-player and multiplayer options in the game available for you. 

Now, whenever there is a need to play any game online, you need a server. This game also needs one. Therefore, we will make you understand in a step-by-step fashion, how to set up an ARK server.

 

You have two options to launch your ark server, one is Windows and the other one is Linux. 

Now, in order to create your own server, you have to make several changes and you need various resources too. 

But before you dive into the core subject, you must not hold any ambiguities about the requirements and needs. 

Suppose, you want to play with a few friends, in that case, you require lesser resources and power. To fulfill this requirement, you have to set up a private server. 

Whereas, if you wish to form a community, and play with a wider range of audiences, you have to set up a public server. Subsequently, you have to purchase more resources and equipment. 

Not just the resources, you will surely need much wider bandwidth.

Now, how do you configure an ARK server? Let us explore this topic and understand.

How can you configure an ARK server?

This step is a tad complicated. But, here is a simplification for you. 

Firstly, edit these files. 

ark/ShooterGame/Save/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini and 

ark/ShooterGame/Save/Config/LinuxServer/Game.ini.

You have the liberty to carry out changes in the settings or the server name. Easily add a login password to the server or you can also initiate the hard code mode, which can be any welcome message. 

INI is the format that is used in files. This is the way how your content shall look. 

[ServerSettings]

ServerAdminPassword=b31894fa1b3e

ServerPassword=

 

[MessageOfTheDay]

Message=Welcome on your ARK server by mTxServ.com, happy dinos hunting !!!

Duration=25

 

[SessionSettings]

SessionName=mTxServ.com - ARK Survival Server

 

[/Game/PrimalEarth/CoreBlueprints/TestGameMode.TestGameMode_C]

bServerGameLogEnabled=True

 

[/Script/Engine.GameSession]

MaxPlayers=10

Moving on, the next step is to understand the procedure to become an administrator. 

 

In order to manage the ARK server, an in-game command system is available. Additionally, you have to possess specific rights to use the administrator commands. 

Here is a detailed procedure in a step-by-step fashion to become an administrator. Take a look.

  • Head towards your server files. Use WebFTP located in the management panel. Tap on the Files and FTP option. 
  • The next step is to create the below-mentioned file: ark/ShooterGame/Saved/AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt only if required. Further, add it to the list of Steam64 where you wish to give the administrator rights. 
  • To see the required changes, you need to restart the server. 

Now, let us hop onto the next segment. We will understand the Game.ini File.

Game.ini File

Enter the following command lines first: 

[/Script/Engine.HUD]

DebugDisplay=AI

DebugDisplay=collision

Now, in case you need to change engrams assignment conditions, you can use any one of the following command lines:

OverrideNamedEngramEntries=(EngramClassName="EngramEntry_Saddle_Stego_C",EngramHidden=false,EngramPointsCost=15,EngramLevelRequirement=30,RemoveEngramPreReq=false)

Or

OverrideEngramEntries=(EngramIndex=102,EngramHidden=false,EngramPointsCost=15,EngramLevelRequirement=30,RemoveEngramPreReq=false)

Here, the major difference between these command lines is that in the first command line, you simply use the name of the Engram. Whereas, in the second command line, you can use the index number of the Engram.

Now, here is the elaborated meaning of the command details. 

 

EngramClassName: if you wish to modify the Engram, mention the name of the Engram here.

OverrideNamedEngramEntries: it simply tells the system about the modification of an Engram.

EngramHidden=false: if this command is set to true, the Engram becomes invisible for the players and vice versa.

EngramLevelRequirement=30: here, you can set the level for the character of the game in order to learn the engram.

EngramPointsCost=15: in this command, you can easily select the total number of pointers in order to learn the engram. 

RemoveEngramPreReq=false: with the usage of this command, you can activate or deactivate the need to learn an engram. 

Now, The next segment tells you about the procedure to adjust the day duration of a server. Let’s begin!

 

One of the most challenging tasks is to set the value of time cycle management on a server. What happens here is that when we talk about a full day, it lasts for 24 minutes on the server. The value to be set is 1.

In case you want to adjust the day duration, here are two steps:

  1. Edit the below-mentioned file from the ARK server: /shootergame/saved/config/LinuxServer/GameUserSetting.ini
  2. Search for the option, ServerSettings, and add these lines after it: 

DayCycleSpeedScale=1.000000

NightTimeSpeedScale=1.000000

DayTimeSpeedScale=1.000000

Now, what do these terms mean? Well, take a look.

DayCycleSpeedScale: this term defines the complete cycle of a day. Hence, DAY + NIGHT. 

NightTimeSpeedScale: the night time speed.

DayTimeSpeedScale: the daytime speed. 

Now, moving on, let us extend the duration of the day from 24 minutes to 60 minutes. Take a look:

(a / b) * c

Each symbol signifies a different message.

  • a= 1
  • b= length of the day in minutes
  • c= 24

Now, you can apply this equation as shown below:

(1 / 60) *24 = 0.400000

In order to increase the duration of your day, simply insert this value in DayCycleSpeedScale. 

The next segment tells you the process to enable Spectator Mode.

 

On your ARK server, the viewer mode is available. If you wish to let the players use spectator mode, enter the password with requestspectator password.

The first step is to open the below-mentioned file: /shootergame/saved/config/LinuxServer/GameUserSetting.ini.

After this, add the password and save the file:

SpectatorPassword=mtxserv

That’s all. You can restart the server. 

 

These were some of the key aspects related to setting up an ARK server. Hope the information helps you to clear your ambiguities.

Happy learning!

Antoniy Yushkevych

Antoniy Yushkevych

Master of word when it comes to technology, internet and privacy. I'm also your usual guy that always aims for the best result and takes a skateboard to work. If you need me, you will find me at the office's Counter-Strike championships on Fridays or at a.yushkevych@monovm.com