Getting started with ARK Survival Evolved

This guide helps you set up your ARK: Survival Evolved server on ServerPrism. You will learn how to order a server, configure its basic settings, and connect to it.

Before you start

Ensure you have a ServerPrism account and are ready to order a server or have one already deployed.

Ordering on ServerPrism

1. Select a plan: For ARK: Survival Evolved, a minimum of 6 GB RAM is recommended for a basic server. For larger maps or more players, consider plans with 12 GB RAM or more, up to 32 GB. You can upgrade your plan later from your ServerPrism customer dashboard.
2. Choose your region: Select a server location closest to you and your players for the best latency.
3. Deploy: During the order process, select the "Ark: Survival Evolved" runtime. Your server will begin deploying automatically.

First boot

After deployment, your server will start for the first time. The game server files will download and install, which can take several minutes. You can monitor the progress in the ServerPrism panel's Console tab. The server is ready when you see messages indicating successful startup and the server is listening for connections. You should see output similar to LogNet: GameNetDriver SteamNetDriver_0 IpNetDriver_0 listening on port: 7777.

Connecting / inviting players

Players can join your ARK server in several ways:

• In-game server browser: Open ARK: Survival Evolved, go to "Join ARK", and set the server filter to "Unofficial PC Sessions". Search for your server name. This is the most common method.
• Direct IP connection: In the game's main menu, select "Join ARK", then at the bottom left, click "Add Server". Enter your server's IP address and port (e.g., 192.0.2.1:7777). You can find your server's IP and port on the ServerPrism panel's Console or Overview tab.
• Steam server browser: You can add your server to your Steam favorites. Open Steam, go to View > Servers, then select the "Favorites" tab. Click "Add a Server" and enter your server's IP and query port (e.g., 192.0.2.1:27015). The default query port for ARK is typically 27015.

Configuration basics

Most server settings are managed through the ServerPrism panel's Startup tab or by editing configuration files directly via the File Manager.

Startup variables

The Startup tab allows you to easily change common settings without editing files. Key variables include:

• Server Name: The name displayed in the server browser. Default: My ARK Server.
• Server Password: Sets a password for your server. Leave blank for no password.
• Max Players: The maximum number of players allowed on your server.
• Map Name: The map your server will load (e.g., TheIsland, Ragnarok, Valguero).
• Admin Password: Sets a password for in-game admin commands.

After changing any startup variables, restart your server for the changes to take effect.

Configuration files

For more advanced settings, you will edit files in the ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ directory via the File Manager.

• GameUserSettings.ini: Contains settings like server name, password, max players, and various gameplay multipliers (e.g., XP, harvest rates, taming speed). For example:

  [ServerSettings]
  ServerPassword=YourSecurePassword
  ServerAdminPassword=YourAdminPassword
  MaxPlayers=70
  DifficultyOffset=1.0
  XPMultiplier=2.0
  HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0
  TamingSpeedMultiplier=3.0
  

• Game.ini: Used for more advanced game rule modifications, such as dino spawns, custom engrams, and specific mod configurations. For example:

  [/script/shootergame.shootergamemode]
  bPvPEnabled=True
  bAllowFlyerCarryPVP=True
  

After modifying any .ini files, restart your server for the changes to apply.

Common issues

• Server not appearing in browser: Ensure your Server Name is unique. Check the console for errors during startup. Sometimes, it can take a few minutes for the server to appear in the in-game browser. Verify the server is fully started and listening for connections.
• Connection timed out: This often indicates a firewall issue or incorrect port forwarding, though ServerPrism handles port forwarding automatically. Double-check you are using the correct IP and port. If you are using a custom port, ensure it's allowed.
• Admin commands not working: Make sure you have set an Admin Password in your startup variables or GameUserSettings.ini and are using the enablecheats YourAdminPassword command in the in-game console before attempting admin commands.
• Low performance / lag: If you experience consistent lag, consider upgrading your server plan for more RAM and CPU resources. You can do this from your ServerPrism customer dashboard. Check the console for any recurring errors or warnings that might indicate a problem with a mod or configuration.

Next steps

• Install Mods: ARK has extensive mod support. You can install mods by adding their workshop IDs to the ActiveMods setting in your GameUserSettings.ini or via the dedicated mod management options if available on the Startup tab. Remember to restart your server after adding mods.
• Switch Maps: Change the Map Name in your Startup variables to explore different ARK worlds.
• Backup your server: Regularly backup your server data from the ServerPrism panel's Backups tab to protect your progress.
• Get support: If you encounter persistent issues, open a support ticket at https://serverprism.com/tickets. Provide your server ID and relevant console logs for quicker assistance.