How to Set Up an ARK: Survival Ascended Dedicated Server

An ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server keeps your tribe's world running whether or not anyone is playing, and it is the only way to set your own rates, maps and mods. There are three ways to run one: by hand on Windows, in Docker on Linux, or managed on Flux.

Option 1: by hand on Windows

The dedicated server is a free, anonymous download from Steam (application 2430930). Install it with SteamCMD, then start ArkAscendedServer.exe with the map and your options on the command line.

  1. Install SteamCMD, then run: app_update 2430930 validate
  2. Start ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName="My Server"?ServerAdminPassword=yourpassword -Port=7777
  3. Add -ServerPlatform=ALL to let PlayStation 5 and Xbox players join, and -mods= with CurseForge project IDs for mods.
  4. Open UDP 7777 in your firewall and forward it on your router.

Option 2: Docker on Linux

There is no Linux build of the server, so Linux hosts run the Windows server under Proton. The widely used image is acekorneya/asa_server: it installs and updates the server with SteamCMD, runs it under a pinned GE-Proton, and takes every launch option from environment variables (SESSION_NAME, MAP_NAME, ASA_PORT, MAX_PLAYERS, MOD_IDS, CUSTOM_SERVER_ARGS and the passwords).

  • The server files and saves live under /home/pok/arkserver; mount it on a volume, because the install is about 12 GB.
  • The container runs as user 7777, so the host folders must be writable by it.
  • The image's own README asks for vm.max_map_count of at least 262144 on the host.
  • Give the container about 16 GB of memory: an empty The Island uses around 11 GB.

Option 3: managed on Flux

Deploy an ARK: Survival Ascended server on the Flux decentralized cloud, on that same image, with the ports opened and routed for you, crossplay switched on, DDoS protection included, and a dashboard with your rates in a form, an RCON console, a file browser, a live terminal and backups. Plans start at $11.99 a month.

  1. Pick the 16, 20 or 24 GB plan for your tribe and your mod list.
  2. Choose a region close to your players.
  3. Name the server, pick the map and deploy. The first start downloads about 12 GB of server files.
  4. Find it by name in the in-game unofficial list, on PC, PlayStation 5 or Xbox.
Deploy an ARK server →

Frequently asked questions

Is the ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server free?

Yes. It is a free, anonymous download from Steam (application 2430930); what costs money is the machine that runs it.

Can an ARK: Survival Ascended server run on Linux?

Not natively, as there is no Linux build, but it runs under Proton, which is what Docker images such as acekorneya/asa_server do.

How long does an ARK: Survival Ascended server take to start?

The first start downloads about 12 GB and builds the world, which can take up to half an hour. After that a restart is back to accepting players in a couple of minutes.

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