{"id":111816,"date":"2024-06-25T08:44:24","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T08:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"\/tutorials\/?p=111816"},"modified":"2026-03-10T09:27:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:27:32","slug":"how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark","title":{"rendered":"How to Run a Dedicated Server on ARK Using Hostinger Game Panel and Manual Set-Up"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><p><strong>ARK: Survival Evolved<\/strong> is an ever-popular open-world game that challenges players to survive in a harsh enviroment filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.<\/p><p>Its successor, <strong>ARK: Survival Ascended<\/strong>, offers enhanced graphics and improved performance, making the gameplay even more enjoyable.<\/p><p>Setting up your own dedicated server for ARK provides numerous benefits over playing on public servers, such as customizable game difficulty levels, player slots, and mods. You can also build a private community with friends and control server wipes and resets, preventing unexpected data loss.<\/p><p>In this article, you&rsquo;ll learn how to set up, configure, and manage a dedicated ARK server. Whether you&rsquo;re playing Survival Evolved or Survival Ascended, our comprehensive guide will help you get started with your game server.<\/p><p>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-prerequisites\">Prerequisites<\/h2><p>Here are the hardware specifications to run an ARK dedicated server, which are applicable to both versions. Please note that these requirements are based on resources used after installing one server.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Operating system<\/strong>. 64-bit major <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/best-linux-distro\">Linux distributions<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>. At least a dual-core Intel or AMD-based processor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>RAM<\/strong>. A minimum of 12 GB of RAM.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage<\/strong>. At least 20 GB of free hard disk space.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>For a smooth ARK server installation, use a stable internet connection, whether broadband or Wi-Fi.<\/p><p>If you want to host the game on a Linux VPS, we recommend having a basic understanding of Secure Shell (SSH) and <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/linux-commands\">Linux commands<\/a>. These skills are essential for ARK server setup and management through the command line interface (CLI).<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-set-up-a-dedicated-ark-server-using-hostinger-game-panel\">How to Set up a Dedicated ARK Server Using Hostinger Game Panel<\/h2><p>Using Hostinger&rsquo;s Game Panel is the easiest way to set up a dedicated ARK server. Available on all our game hosting plans, including <a href=\"\/ca\/vps\/ark-hosting\">ARK server hosting<\/a>, this <strong>graphical user interface (GUI)<\/strong> tool helps you install and manage your game server with minimal effort.<\/p><p>This approach is suitable for beginners or players who want to quickly enjoy the game on their server rather than dealing with a complex manual setup process.<\/p><p>Here are the steps to get your own ARK server up and running on Hostinger&rsquo;s Game Panel:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose a game server plan that meets your needs. Based on the requirements in the previous section, we highly recommend <strong>Game Panel 4<\/strong> with a quad-core AMD processor, 16 GB RAM, and 200 GB NVMe storage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After purchasing, follow the on-screen onboarding instructions to pick a server location near your player base and create a secure password for your Game Panel profile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Access the <strong>VPS<\/strong> <strong>Overview<\/strong> menu and click <strong>Manage panel<\/strong> to open Game Panel.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f50489\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1460\" height=\"238\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/the-game-panel-access-button-on-the-vps-overview-page.png\" alt=\"The Manage panel button on hPanel's VPS Overview menu\" class=\"wp-image-125930\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1460px) 100vw, 1460px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Enter your username and password on the login page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After logging in, click <strong>Create Instance<\/strong> and choose either <strong>ARK: Survival Ascended<\/strong> or <strong>ARK: Survival Evolved<\/strong> from the dropdown menu.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f510bf\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"743\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-create-new-instance-ark-survival-ascended-highlighted-1024x743.png\" alt=\"Survival Ascended instance on Game Panel\" class=\"wp-image-111820\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"6\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Assign a unique server name and click <strong>Create Instance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wait for the installation to complete within 10-15 minutes. Once done, click <strong>Manage<\/strong> to explore your newly created ARK server.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the <strong>Status<\/strong> menu, you can see your instance&rsquo;s running indicator, resource usage, and action buttons to start, restart, and stop the server. There&rsquo;s also information about the server IP and port for players to join your server.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f51ebb\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-instances-status-selected-1024x578.png\" alt=\"SA's server status on Game Panel\" class=\"wp-image-111822\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"9\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Access <strong>Configuration<\/strong> to explore advanced ARK server options, including tweaking <strong>Cluster<\/strong>, <strong>Gameplay<\/strong>, <strong>Multiplier<\/strong>, and <strong>Structure<\/strong> settings.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f52aab\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-instances-configuration-ark-cluster-settings-selected-1024x578.png\" alt=\"SA's server settings on Game Panel\" class=\"wp-image-111824\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"10\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use the <strong>Backup<\/strong> feature to create and restore backups of your game server data. Meanwhile, <strong>Support and Updates<\/strong> is handy for updating your game instance when a new version is available and getting assistance if needed.<\/li>\n<\/ol><p>Congratulations on successfully setting up your ARK dedicated server. You&rsquo;re now ready to embark on epic adventures, tame dinosaurs, and build bases with your friends.<\/p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a class=\"hgr-tutorials-cta hgr-tutorials-cta-game-server-hosting\" href=\"\/ca\/vps\/game-server-hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Game_panel_in-text-banner-2-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-103282\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-run-a-dedicated-ark-server-manually\">How to Run a Dedicated ARK Server Manually<\/h2><p>In this section, we&rsquo;ll demonstrate how to manually create an ARK: SA server on a <strong>Debian 12<\/strong> VPS. Players choosing ARK: SE might need to use slightly different commands.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-get-a-gaming-vps\">1. Get a Gaming VPS<\/h3><p>To run a dedicated ARK server, the first step is to get a reliable gaming VPS service. Here are key considerations when choosing a gaming provider:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Performance<\/strong>. Make sure the VPS offers sufficient CPU and RAM to handle the demands of hosting an ARK server.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage<\/strong>. Look for ARK VPS hosting plans with ample storage, preferably NVMe SSD, to ensure fast read\/write speeds and adequate space for game files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Server locations<\/strong>. Choose a provider with multiple server locations around the globe to minimize latency when playing the game.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Access and control<\/strong>. Ensure full administrative access to the server so you can completely control your server software.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scalability<\/strong>. Opt for a VPS service that allows easy upgrades to higher plans as your server&rsquo;s needs grow, ensuring you can scale resources without downtime.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>As one of the <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/best-game-server-hosting\">best game server hosting providers<\/a>, Hostinger excels in all these areas, making it an ideal solution for hosting ARK dedicated servers. Our game hosting plans offer <strong>up to 8-core AMD CPUs<\/strong>, <strong>32 GB of RAM<\/strong>, and <strong>400 GB of NVMe storage<\/strong> to ensure top performance.<\/p><p>To provide the best gameplay experience for players worldwide, you can choose server locations available in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.<\/p><p>Built on VPS, Hostinger grants you full root access to the server, allowing you to customize your games to your liking, including installing custom mods.<\/p><p>Last but not least, Hostinger&rsquo;s game hosting service is easily scalable, meaning that you can grow your server as needed. This is particularly beneficial when your player base expands or you want to set up multiple dedicated servers under one account.<\/p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a class=\"hgr-tutorials-cta hgr-tutorials-cta-game-server-hosting\" href=\"\/ca\/vps\/game-server-hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Game_panel_in-text-banner-2-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-103282\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><p>\n<div class=\"protip\">\n                    <h4 class=\"title\">Suggested Reading<\/h4>\n                    <p>Interested in hosting multiple games on a server? Check out our curated list of the <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/games-with-dedicated-servers\">best games to install on a dedicated server<\/a>, including the latest gaming surprise Palworld or classics like Minecraft and Counter-Strike.<\/p>\n                <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-set-up-your-vps\">2. Set up Your VPS<\/h3><p>After selecting a reliable gaming VPS, it&rsquo;s time to set up your server. Follow these steps to get started:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open a remote console server access tool like <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-use-putty-ssh\">PuTTY<\/a> or terminal to log in to your VPS via SSH. Run the following command, replacing <strong>username<\/strong> and <strong>your_server_ip<\/strong> with your actual credentials:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">ssh username@your_server_ip<\/pre><ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Update and upgrade your server&rsquo;s package lists and installed packages to ensure you have the latest versions:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo apt update<br><br>sudo apt upgrade<\/pre><ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Install the <strong>software-properties-common<\/strong> package to your Debian system. This package allows you to add additional architectures and repositories to the package manager:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo apt install software-properties-common<\/pre><ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Add the <strong>i386<\/strong> architecture to your system, as we need it to access 32-bit software like SteamCMD in the subsequent step:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386<\/pre><ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Update your server&rsquo;s available repositories and package managers:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo apt-add-repository non-free<br><br>sudo apt update<\/pre><p>3. Download ARK Server Files<\/p><p>Next, install SteamCMD, configure a new user, and download the ARK dedicated server files. Here&rsquo;s how to do so:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use this command to install SteamCMD, the command-line version of the Steam client, to download and update game servers:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo apt install steamcmd<\/pre><ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For security reasons, it&rsquo;s best to run the ARK server under a dedicated user. Create a new user with a home directory. Here, we name it <strong>arkuser<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo useradd -m arkuser<\/pre><ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Switch to <strong>arkuser<\/strong> and navigate to its home directory by executing these commands:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo -u arkuser -s<br><br>cd ~<\/pre><ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use SteamCMD to download the ARK: Survival Ascended server files:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">\/usr\/games\/steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType linux +force_install_dir \/home\/arkuser\/arkserver +login anonymous +app_update 376030 validate +quit<\/pre><ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For ARK: Survival Evolved, run the following command instead, replacing <strong>376030<\/strong> with <strong>346110<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">\/usr\/games\/steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType linux +force_install_dir \/home\/arkuser\/arkserver +login anonymous +app_update 346110 validate +quit<\/pre><ol start=\"6\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wait around 10 to 15 minutes for the download to finish. Once completed, switch back to the root user with:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">exit<\/pre><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-configure-your-ark-server\">4. Configure Your ARK Server<\/h3><p>Now, you need to create a service to run the ARK server. While you can also initiate it with the server executable file, using a service lets you start, stop, and manage the game server as a background process. Here are the steps:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create the service file and open the <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-install-and-use-nano-text-editor\">nano editor<\/a> by running the following:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo nano \/etc\/systemd\/system\/arkserver.service<\/pre><ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Add the following content to this file to define the ARK server service:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">[Unit]<br><br>Description=ARK Dedicated Server<br><br>Wants=network-online.target<br><br>After=network-online.target<br><br>[Service]<br><br>LimitNOFILE=1000000<br><br>Environment=SteamAppId=376030<br><br>Environment=LD_LIBRARY_PATH=\/home\/arkuser\/arkserver\/linux64:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH<br><br>Type=simple<br><br>Restart=on-failure<br><br>RestartSec=10<br><br>KillSignal=SIGINT<br><br>User=arkuser<br><br>Group=ark<br><br>WorkingDirectory=\/home\/arkuser\/arkserver<br><br>ExecStartPre=\/usr\/games\/steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir \/home\/arkuser\/arkserver +app_update 376030 validate +exit<br><br>ExecStart=\/home\/arkuser\/arkserver\/ShooterGame\/Binaries\/Linux\/ShooterGameServer &lt;MAPNAME&gt;?listen?SessionName=&lt;SERVERNAME&gt;?ServerPassword=&lt;SERVERPASSWORD&gt;?ServerAdminPassword=&lt;ADMINPASSWORD&gt; -server -log -crossplay<br><br>[Install]<br><br>WantedBy=multi-user.target<\/pre><ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Customize the &lt;MAPNAME&gt;, &lt;SERVERNAME&gt;, &lt;SERVERPASSWORD&gt;, and &lt;ADMINPASSWORD&gt; values in <strong>arkserver.service<\/strong>. For the map, you can use the default <strong>TheIsland<\/strong> or other valid map names like <strong>TheCenter<\/strong>, <strong>ScorchedEarth_P<\/strong>, and <strong>Ragnarok<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you&rsquo;re configuring an ARK: SE server, remember to replace the <strong>Environment=SteamAppId<\/strong> value with <strong>346110<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After editing the file, save your changes and exit <strong>nano<\/strong> by pressing <strong>Ctrl + X &rarr; Y &rarr; Enter<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-start-the-ark-server\">5. Start the ARK Server<\/h3><p>Once you&rsquo;re done with the ARK server configuration, you can start managing your dedicated server. Follow the instructions to launch ARK:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure your server starts automatically at boot by enabling the service:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo systemctl enable arkserver<\/pre><ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start the ARK server service using the command:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo systemctl start arkserver<\/pre><ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Verify that the ARK server is running correctly by checking its status:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo systemctl status arkserver<\/pre><ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You should see the following output, indicating that the server is indeed active:<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f54b23\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"230\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/terminal-arkserver-service-1024x230.png\" alt=\"SA's running server on terminal\" class=\"wp-image-111827\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To exit from the server status screen without terminating the server, press <strong>Ctrl + C<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you need to stop the server for any reason, execute the command below:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo systemctl stop arkserver<\/pre><ol start=\"7\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To reboot the server, for example, after applying changes to the configuration file, run:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo systemctl restart arkserver<\/pre><p>You&rsquo;ve successfully created your own ARK server using a manual method. Now, invite your friends or fellow survivors to join and enjoy the thrilling adventure together.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-maintaining-your-dedicated-ark-server\">Maintaining Your Dedicated ARK Server<\/h2><p>It&rsquo;s important to ensure the smooth operation and longevity of your ARK dedicated server. Here are some server maintenance tips you can implement.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-server-updates-and-optimization\">Server Updates and Optimization<\/h3><p>Regular updates and <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-optimize-a-dedicated-game-server\">game server optimization<\/a> are crucial to maintaining a high-performing and stable ARK server, which will improve the experience for all players.<\/p><p><strong>Schedule Server Updates<\/strong><\/p><p>Regularly update your server files to benefit from the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches. For players installing the dedicated ARK server through Hostinger&rsquo;s Game Panel, here&rsquo;s how to schedule server updates:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open your game&rsquo;s instance and go to <strong>Schedule &rarr; Add New Trigger<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f558ed\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"668\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-instances-schedule-add-new-trigger-highlighted-1024x668.png\" alt=\"The Add New Trigger button on Game Panel\" class=\"wp-image-111828\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Select <strong>Event Trigger &rarr; An update is available via SteamCMD &rarr; Add Trigger<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f56505\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"356\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-instances-schedule-add-new-trigger-event-trigger-highlighted-1024x356.png\" alt=\"Select an event trigger on Game Panel \" class=\"wp-image-111829\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click <strong>Add New Task &rarr; Update the application and restart if it was previously running &rarr; Add Task<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f5717b\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"382\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-instances-schedule-add-new-task-what-task-would-you-like-to-perform-highlighted-1024x382.png\" alt=\"Select a new task for the event trigger on Game Panel\" class=\"wp-image-111831\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p>You can also use a<a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/cron-job\"> cron job<\/a> to automate the server updates. For example, to update your server daily at midnight, add the following to your crontab:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">0 0 * * * \/usr\/games\/steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir \/home\/arkuser\/arkserver +app_update 376030 validate +quit<\/pre><p><strong>Automatically Save World Data<\/strong><\/p><p>Configure your server to save world data at regular intervals automatically. This ensures that you don&rsquo;t lose progress due to unexpected server crashes or restarts.<\/p><p>To do so, access <strong>Configuration &rarr; ARK Server Settings<\/strong> via Game Panel. Scroll down to the <strong>Auto Save Period<\/strong> field and set the interval in minutes according to your needs.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f57eb0\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"544\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-instances-configuration-ark-server-settings-auto-save-period-highlighted-1024x544.png\" alt=\"The Auto Save Period option on Game Panel's ARK Server Settings\" class=\"wp-image-111833\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p>Alternatively, run the following command to open the server configuration file named <strong>GameUserSettings.ini<\/strong>:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">nano \/home\/arkuser\/arkserver\/ShooterGame\/Saved\/Config\/LinuxServer\/GameUserSettings.ini<\/pre><p>Then, add the following line under the <strong>[ServerSettings]<\/strong> section, replacing <strong>15<\/strong> with your desired interval:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">AutoSavePeriodMinutes=15<\/pre><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-port-forwarding-and-network-configuration\">Port Forwarding and Network Configuration<\/h3><p>If you use <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-configure-firewall-on-ubuntu-using-ufw\">Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW)<\/a> on your VPS, you need to open specific ARK ports to allow traffic to your server.<\/p><p><strong>Open Firewall Ports<\/strong><\/p><p>ARK servers typically require the following ports to be open:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Game Port (UDP)<\/strong>. 7777<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Query Port (UDP)<\/strong>. 27015<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Socket Port (UDP)<\/strong>. 7778<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>RCON Port (TCP)<\/strong>. 27020<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>In Game Panel, go to your instance&rsquo;s <strong>Main Menu<\/strong> and click the <strong>Network Settings<\/strong> icon.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f58c23\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"345\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-instances-network-settings-highlighted-1024x345.png\" alt=\"The Network Settings icon on Game Panel's ARK instance\" class=\"wp-image-111835\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p>Then, set up the correct port settings for your ARK server according to the numbers listed above.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f59880\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-instances-port-usage-1024x577.png\" alt=\"ARK server's port usage\" class=\"wp-image-111837\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p>Alternatively, you can ask <a href=\"\/blog\/kodee\">our AI assistant, Kodee<\/a>, to open the necessary ports. To do this, simply open the chat interface and enter the following prompt, with <strong>gameserver.hostname.com<\/strong> being your actual VPS hostname:<\/p><pre class=\"EnlighterJSRAW\" data-enlighter-language=\"raw\" data-enlighter-theme=\"atomic\" data-enlighter-highlight=\"\" data-enlighter-linenumbers=\"\" data-enlighter-lineoffset=\"\" data-enlighter-title=\"\" data-enlighter-group=\"\">Open port 7777 UDP, 7778 UDP, 27015 UDP, and 27020 TCP on my gameserver.hostname.com to any IP address.\n<\/pre><p>If you&rsquo;re more comfortable using the command prompt, run these commands in your terminal:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo ufw allow 7777\/udp<br><br>sudo ufw allow 27015\/udp<br><br>sudo ufw allow 7778\/udp<br><br>sudo ufw allow 27020\/tcp<br><br>sudo ufw reload<\/pre><p><strong>Configure Router Port Forwarding<\/strong><\/p><p>To ensure players can connect to your server from outside your local network, you need to configure port forwarding on your router. Follow these instructions:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Access your router&rsquo;s settings page by entering its IP address into your web browser.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find the port forwarding section, which is often under the <strong>Advanced<\/strong> or <strong>Network<\/strong> settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set the internal IP address to your VPS IP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Forward the Game Port (<strong>7777 UDP<\/strong>), Query Port (<strong>27015 UDP<\/strong>), Socket Port (<strong>7778 UDP<\/strong>), and RCON Port (<strong>27020 TCP<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<\/ol><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-managing-server-settings-and-player-slots\">Managing Server Settings and Player Slots<\/h3><p>Ensure a smooth gaming experience for all players by adjusting player slots and other server settings that affect all players equally.<\/p><p><strong>Adjust Server Settings via Game Panel<\/strong><\/p><p>On Game Panel, go to <strong>Configuration &rarr; ARK Server Settings<\/strong>. Here, you can find options to set the maximum number of players, select the default map, list allowed ARK server mods, grant specific players based on their IPs, and kick idle gamers.<\/p><p><strong>Configure Server Options by Editing the Configuration File:<\/strong><\/p><p>You can also edit the <strong>GameUserSettings.ini<\/strong> file to customize parameters such as player limits, server passwords, and basic game mechanics:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">[ServerSettings]<br><br>MaxPlayers=70<br><br>DifficultyOffset=1.0<br><br>ServerAdminPassword=YourAdminPassword<\/pre><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-customizing-gameplay-parameters\">Customizing Gameplay Parameters<\/h3><p>Game parameters are configurations that affect the player experience, such as how fast they gain experience, how quickly they tame creatures, or how many resources they gather.<\/p><p><strong>Customize Gameplay via Game Panel<\/strong><\/p><p>For Hostinger customers setting up the server on Game Panel, navigate to <strong>Configuration &rarr; ARK Gameplay Settings<\/strong>. There are plenty of options you can customize to enhance the gameplay, from enabling a third-person view to preventing spawn animation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f5a7f0\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"445\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-instances-configuration-ark-gameplay-settings-highlighted-1024x445.png\" alt=\"The ARK Gameplay Settings menu on Game Panel\" class=\"wp-image-111839\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p><strong>Edit Gameplay via GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini<\/strong><\/p><p>You can also find these settings in the <strong>GameUserSettings.ini<\/strong> file under the <strong>[ServerSettings]<\/strong> section:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Modify the experience gain rate to make leveling up faster or slower:<\/li>\n<\/ul><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">XPMultiplier=2.0<\/pre><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speed up or slow down the taming process:<\/li>\n<\/ul><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">TamingSpeedMultiplier=3.0<\/pre><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Increase or decrease the amount of resources gathered by players:<\/li>\n<\/ul><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.5<\/pre><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Customize the length of day and night cycles to suit your server&rsquo;s gameplay style:<\/li>\n<\/ul><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">DayCycleSpeedScale=0.5<br><br>NightTimeSpeedScale=2.0<\/pre><p>Specifically, to adjust the amount of stat points players receive per level, edit the <strong>Game.ini<\/strong> file by running:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo nano \/home\/arkuser\/arkserver\/ShooterGame\/Saved\/Config\/LinuxServer\/Game.ini<\/pre><p>Then, modify the following lines:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">[\/script\/shootergame.shootergamemode]<br><br>PerLevelStatsMultiplier_Player[0]=2.0<br><br>PerLevelStatsMultiplier_Player[8]=1.5<\/pre><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-troubleshooting-common-issues\">Troubleshooting Common Issues<\/h3><p>Even with a well-configured server, you may encounter some common issues. Here are some tips to identify and resolve these problems effectively.<\/p><p><strong>Server Crashes or Fails to Start<\/strong><\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check the server logs located in the <strong>ShooterGame\/Saved\/Logs<\/strong> directory to identify any errors or issues. Use this command to view the logs:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">cat \/home\/arkuser\/arkserver\/ShooterGame\/Saved\/Logs\/YourServerName.log<\/pre><ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure your configuration files, <strong>GameUserSettings.ini<\/strong> and <strong>Game.ini<\/strong>, are correctly set up. Check for any syntax errors or incorrect values.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure all necessary dependencies are installed on your server. Reinstall any missing packages.<\/li>\n<\/ol><p><strong>Server Loses Characters or Progress<\/strong><\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure your server is configured to save world data automatically. Check the <strong>GameUserSettings.ini<\/strong> file for the auto-save interval:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">AutoSavePeriodMinutes=15<\/pre><ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consider performing manual saves regularly. Type this command in Game Panel&rsquo;s <strong>Console<\/strong> menu or ARK&rsquo;s in-game console to save the game manually:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">SaveWorld<\/pre><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e07a0f5badb\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/game-panel-instances-console-highlighted-1024x577.png\" alt=\"The Console menu on Game Panel\" class=\"wp-image-111840\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p><strong>Players Unable to Connect<\/strong><\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check your router settings and firewall rules to make sure the necessary ports are open.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For VPS using a dynamic IP, ensure the server&rsquo;s IP address is correctly updated in the server settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirm that the server is running and accessible by executing the following command:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">sudo systemctl status arkserver<\/pre><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2><p>In this guide, you&rsquo;ve learned how to create a dedicated server for ARK using Game Panel&rsquo;s simple user interface and manually through the command line.<\/p><p>Both options offer unique advantages, whether you prefer an easy setup or more control over server customization.<\/p><p>For a smooth and enjoyable experience when playing with friends, consider fine-tuning server settings, customizing gameplay parameters, and updating your game instance regularly.<\/p><p>Have fun taming formidable dinosaurs and building impressive bases with fellow survivors!<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark-faq\">How to Run a Dedicated Server on ARK FAQ<\/h2><p>This section answers the most common questions on running dedicated ARK servers.<\/p><div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1719304725463\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What Are the Differences Between ARK: Survival Ascended and ARK: Survival Evolved?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">ARK: Survival Ascended is an upgraded version of ARK: Survival Evolved, featuring enhanced graphics, improved performance, and new content. It uses Unreal Engine 5 for better visuals and includes quality-of-life improvements and additional gameplay features.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1719304731206\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Why Run a Dedicated ARK Server?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Running a dedicated ARK server offers better control over game settings, enhanced performance, and a more intimate gaming experience with friends. With a game server, you can build a private community, customize game parameters, and ensure reliable uptime and stability.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1719304740806\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What Ports Do I Need to Open for My ARK Server?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You need to open the following ports for your ARK server &ndash; Game Port (<strong>UDP 7777<\/strong>), Query Port (<strong>UDP 27015<\/strong>), Socket Port (<strong>UDP 7778<\/strong>), and RCON Port (<strong>TCP 27020<\/strong>). These ports ensure proper connectivity and functionality.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1719304755472\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can I Install Mods on My ARK Server?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, you can install mods on your ARK server. Use the Steam Workshop to subscribe to mods and add their Mod IDs to the <strong>GameUserSettings.ini<\/strong> file. After that, restart your server for the added mods to take effect.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ARK: Survival Evolved is an ever-popular open-world game that challenges players to survive in a harsh enviroment filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. Its successor, ARK: Survival Ascended, offers enhanced graphics and improved performance, making the gameplay even more enjoyable. Setting up your own dedicated server for ARK provides numerous benefits over playing on [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":411,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"How to Run a Dedicated ARK Server","rank_math_description":"Learn how to set up a dedicated server in ARK using 2 methods: setting up the server using Hostinger Game Panel and manual configuration.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"how to run a dedicated server on ark","footnotes":""},"categories":[22704,22699],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-111816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-game-server","category-vps"],"hreflangs":[{"locale":"en-US","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark","default":0},{"locale":"en-UK","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/uk\/tutorials\/how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark","default":0},{"locale":"en-MY","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/my\/tutorials\/how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark","default":0},{"locale":"en-PH","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ph\/tutorials\/how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark","default":0},{"locale":"en-IN","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark","default":0},{"locale":"en-CA","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark","default":0},{"locale":"en-AU","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/au\/tutorials\/how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark","default":0},{"locale":"en-NG","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/how-to-run-a-dedicated-server-on-ark","default":0}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/411"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111816"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111816\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":137535,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111816\/revisions\/137535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}