Watch the video:
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro/Explanation (& Is it free? YES!)0:39 - Requirements for ARK Survival Ascended Dedicated Server1:10 - Download ARK Survival Ascended Dedicated Server (Steam)1:25 - Download SteamCMD2:37 - Download ASA DS with SteamCMD4:04 - Creating server start.bat (Autoupdate & Run Server)6:40 - Running server7:17 - Joining your own server8:44 - Allowing ASA DS through Windows Firewall10:24 - Get local IP11:06 - Port Forwarding13:05 - Multi-router port forwardingYes.
As long as your computer is on, running the server and connected to the internet: People should be able to join you over the internet if you’ve set everything up properly. It’s great.
There was some drama around dedicated servers, but just an hour ago at the time of writing it was mostly resolved. You can now download and host your own server without needing to own ARK: Survival Ascended on another account - like before.
Downloading ASA Dedicated Server
While you can download ARK Survival Ascended Dedicated Server on Steam and continue, skipping the rest of this step… The more “professional” way of doing this is SteamCMD. This uses less resources than running Steam, and doesn’t require an account.
We’ll use SteamCMD to get the dedicated server files.
- Download SteamCMD for Windows here.
- Extract into a folder where you’ll install the server to in a folder called
steamcmd. You don’t need to, but I’ll have this seperated from the game files to keep everything clean. For example:<server dir>\steamcmd\. - Open a Command Prompt in the folder with
steamcmd.exeby clicking the path at the top of your Windows Explorer and typingcmd. Otherwise open a command prompt/terminal and usecd <server dir>\steamcmd\. - Download ASA into a folder called
server, located at<server dir>\server\by running the following command:steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir ../server/ +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit
- Once complete you should see
ArkAscendedServer.exein<server dir>\server\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ArkAscendedServer.exe
Creating server config & launch files
- Create a
server.batfile by creating a new Text Document, renaming it toserver.batand removing.txt. If you don’t see.txtthen make sure you enable File Extensions in Windows Explorer under theViewtab.- If you downloaded using SteamCMD, place this file in
<server dir>\server.bat.
- If you downloaded using SteamCMD, place this file in
- Enter the following and save the bat file:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910@echo offecho ------------------echo Updating serverecho ------------------start SteamCMD\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir ..\server\ +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quitecho ------------------echo Starting serverecho ------------------start server\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=<SERVER_NAME>?ServerAdminPassword=<ADMIN_PASS>?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=32 -NoBattlEye
Don’t forget to replace <SERVER_NAME>, <ADMIN_PASS> as well as the MaxPlayers option with your number. This is your server. Customize it.
If you would like a password for people to join your server, simply add ?ServerPassword=<password> to the long text string above just before ?ServerAdminPassword. The updated last line should look like this: start server\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=<SERVER_NAME>?ServerPassword=<password>?ServerAdminPassword=<ADMIN_PASS>?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=32 -NoBattlEye
Steam CMD note:
When launching the server.bat file for Steam CMD it should update the server making sure it will work online with the most up-to-date clients.
Joining your new ASA server
Simply open the console in-game and run open 127.0.0.1:7777.
Letting others join your new ASA server
This is simpler said than done. There are 2 sections and both need to be done to let friends over the internet play.
Open the server to LAN (Others on your local network)
To let someone on the same local network (router) as you play: You need to allow the ASA server through your firewall.
We need to open ports 7777, 7778, and 27015. If you set a custom port above, then forward that.
If you’re using a third-party antivirus with a firewall; you’ll need to look into how to open the ports.
If you’re using Windows Firewall (by default) then run the following commands in an Administrator Powershell window.
Powershell
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This will open all of the ports and allow people on the same local network as you to connect to your server while it’s running.
All you need is your local IP address.
To get your local IP:
- Run the following in a terminal/CMD/powershell window:
ipconfig - Find the way you’re connected to the internet, for example
Ethernet adapter Ethernet - Find the
IPv4address and copy it - For example, your local IP is
192.168.1.10
Other devices can use this local IP address to connect to your server. Note: This is a LOCAL IP, and your server is not yet accessible over the internet or even routers outside of your own… That’s where we need to
Port Forward
Using your Local IP address we found above (and allowed ports through to) - We need to send traffic from these two ports to our computer.
If you’re using multiple routers in a chain before your computer reaches your fiber box/access box: You’ll need to port forward each router to the next until you finally port forward to your computer.
Port forwarding varies wildly from router to router, and you can look up guides specifically for your router. Essentially you’ll need to forward ports 7777 and 7778 for UDP and 27015 for TCP. If you have an option to choose both TCP/UDP it may be a good idea.
On some routers you can enter ports comma-seperated such as 7777,7778,27015, and even select TCP/UDP instead of needing to create a rule for each type.
Let’s say you have just ONE router between you and the internet (Example: You’re connected directly to the fiber box), you’ll port forward as follows:
- Ports:
7777,7778,27015 - Type:
TCP/UDP - Destination:
192.168.1.10
Now you’re done port forwarding.
Letting others join
At this point you’ve allowed local traffic and over the internet to reach your ASA server. All you need to do is let others join by checking the Server Browser in-game, or by getting your external IP address by Google searching “What is my IP”.
Others can then use the console to connect using open xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:7777.
Have fun!
