ark-survival-evolved

Start the server with a specific map

$ [path/to/ShooterGameServer] [TheIsland]

$ [path/to/ShooterGameServer] [TheIsland]?SessionName=[session_name]?ServerPassword=[server_password]?ServerAdminPassword=[admin_password]

$ [path/to/ShooterGameServer] [TheIsland]?Port=[7777]?MaxPlayers=[1..70]

$ [path/to/ShooterGameServer] [TheIsland]?ServerPVE=true

$ [path/to/ShooterGameServer] [TheIsland]?DifficultyOffset=[1.0]

$ [path/to/ShooterGameServer] [TheIsland] -ActiveEvent=[Summer]

$ [path/to/ShooterGameServer] [TheIsland] -automanagedmods

$ [path/to/ShooterGameServer] [TheIsland] -crossplay -PublicIPForEpic=[ip_address]

ShooterGameServer MAP_NAME?listen?Port=PORT?QueryPort=Q_PORT[options] -server -log

MAP_NAME
    Specifies the map to load (e.g., TheIsland, Aberration, Extinction, Fjordur). This is the first argument without a preceding dash.

?listen
    Required argument to indicate the server should listen for incoming connections.

?Port=PORT
    Sets the primary game port (default: 7777). Used by players to connect to the server.

?QueryPort=Q_PORT
    Sets the Steam query port (default: 27015). Used by Steam to list the server in the server browser.

?RCONPort=R_PORT
    Sets the RCON (Remote Console) port for administrative commands (default: 27020).

?SessionName=SERVER_NAME
    Defines the name of the server as it appears in the in-game server list.

?ServerPassword=PASSWORD
    Sets a password for players to join the server.

?ServerAdminPassword=ADMIN_PASSWORD
    Sets the password for in-game administrators to use commands.

?MaxPlayers=NUM
    Limits the maximum number of players that can join the server.

?AltSaveDirectoryName=NAME
    Specifies an alternative directory name for save files, useful for multiple server instances.

?GameModIds=ID1,ID2
    A comma-separated list of Steam Workshop Mod IDs to load on the server.

-server
    Indicates that the application should run as a dedicated server instance.

-log
    Enables logging of server output to the console and/or a log file.

-NoTransferFromFiltering
    Allows item, dino, and character transfers from other servers without filtering.

-multihome=IP_ADDRESS
    Binds the server to a specific IP address on the host machine.

-crossplay
    Enables cross-play compatibility between Steam and Epic Games Store clients.

-epiconly
    Restricts server access to Epic Games Store clients only.

-PublicIP=IP_ADDRESS
    Forces the server to advertise a specific public IP address, useful behind NAT.

-PreventHibernation
    Prevents parts of the map from 'hibernating' (unloading) when no players are nearby, affecting resource spawns and dino behavior.

The Ark: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server application allows users to host their own persistent game worlds for the popular survival game ARK: Survival Evolved. Unlike playing the game client, this command-line tool runs a server instance without a graphical interface, managing game logic, player connections, and world state. It's essential for players who wish to create private servers for friends, communities, or for those who need more control over game settings than official servers provide.
The server handles aspects such as dinosaur spawning, resource regeneration, player data, and mod integration, enabling a customizable multiplayer experience. It's a resource-intensive application, typically run on dedicated hardware or virtual machines.

The Ark: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server is not a standard Linux command-line utility. It's an application provided by the game developers, typically managed through SteamCMD. Configuration extends beyond command-line parameters to specific `.ini` files (GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini) for detailed gameplay adjustments. It requires significant CPU, RAM, and storage resources, especially with multiple players and mods. Updates are managed externally via SteamCMD, not through traditional Linux package managers.

Beyond command-line arguments, many server settings are controlled via .ini files located in the server's configuration directory, typically server_root/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/.

• GameUserSettings.ini: Contains settings like server name, passwords, difficulty, XP rates, harvest rates, and administrator settings.
• Game.ini: Contains more advanced gameplay overrides, dino spawning rules, and specific mod configurations.

The ARK Dedicated Server is typically installed using SteamCMD. The process involves installing SteamCMD itself, then using it to anonymously download the dedicated server application. For example:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /path/to/ark/server +app_update 376030 validate +quit
This ensures the server files are downloaded and kept up-to-date.

ARK: Survival Evolved was first released in early access in 2015, with Linux support for both the client and dedicated server shortly thereafter. The dedicated server has evolved alongside the game, with new maps and features often requiring updates to the server application and its command-line parameters. Its core `ShooterGameServer` executable (based on Unreal Engine) has remained the central component, with ongoing adjustments to support game balance, performance, and anti-cheat measures. The command-line interface has been consistently the primary method for Linux users to launch and configure their server instances, offering granular control over the game environment.

steamcmd(1) - Steam Command Line Utility for game server installation and updates., screen(1) - A full-screen window manager that multiplexes a physical terminal., tmux(1) - A terminal multiplexer, similar to screen, for running processes in detachable sessions., systemctl(1) - Control the systemd system and service manager (for running server as a service).