How to Host an Atlas Server: A Comprehensive Guide for Devs

Welcome, Dev! In this article, we will guide you through the steps of hosting an Atlas server. Atlas is a sandbox survival game developed by Studio Wildcard, and hosting your own server can give you complete control over the game environment. However, it can be a challenging task, especially for those who are not familiar with server hosting. This guide will cover everything you need to know, from choosing a hosting provider to configuring your server settings.

1. Choosing a Hosting Provider

The first step in hosting your own Atlas server is to choose a hosting provider. There are many hosting providers that offer Atlas server hosting, and you should choose a provider that suits your requirements in terms of pricing, performance, and features. Here are some popular hosting providers for Atlas:

Hosting Provider	Features	Price
Host Havoc	24/7 support, DDOS protection, automatic backups	$9.00/month
GTX Gaming	Control panel, automatic updates, mod support	$14.00/month
Survival Servers	Custom control panel, full FTP access, instant setup	$11.20/month

It is essential to choose a hosting provider that offers good support and uptime, as well as competitive pricing. Once you have chosen a hosting provider, you can move on to setting up your Atlas server.

2. Configuring Your Server Settings

Before you start your Atlas server, you need to configure your server settings. These settings include server name, password, map, and other options that affect the gameplay experience. Here are the steps to configure your server settings:

Step 1: Download the Server Files

First, you need to download the Atlas server files from the official website. You can find the server files under the “ATLAS Dedicated Server” section. Once you have downloaded the server files, extract them to a folder on your computer.

Step 2: Edit the Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini Files

The next step is to edit the Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini files to configure your server settings. These files are located in the “ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer” folder. Here are some of the settings you can configure:

• Server name: This is the name that appears on the server list.
• Server password: This is the password that players need to enter to join the server.
• Map: This is the map file that the server will use.
• Max players: This is the maximum number of players that can join the server.
• Taming speed: This determines how fast creatures can be tamed.
• Harvesting multiplier: This determines how much resources can be gathered.

Step 3: Start the Server

Once you have configured your server settings, you can start the server. To start the server, run the “StartServer.bat” file in the server files folder. This will start the server and open a console window that shows the server status. You can also use the console window to run server commands and manage the server.

3. Managing Your Atlas Server

After you have started your Atlas server, you need to manage it to ensure that it runs smoothly and provides a good gameplay experience for your players. Here are some of the tasks you need to perform to manage your Atlas server:

Updating the Server

It is important to keep your Atlas server updated with the latest patches and updates. You can update your server by downloading the latest server files from the official website and replacing the old files with the new ones.

Backing Up Your Server

Regular backups are essential to protect your server data from loss and corruption. You can use the backup tool provided by your hosting provider or use a third-party backup tool to create backups of your server data.

Running Server Commands

You can use server commands to perform various tasks on your Atlas server, such as spawning creatures, teleporting players, and changing server settings. You can use the console window to run server commands, or use a third-party tool such as Ark Server Manager to manage your server.

Dealing with Server Issues

Server issues such as crashes, lag, and connectivity problems can affect the gameplay experience of your players. You should be prepared to deal with these issues by monitoring the server performance, troubleshooting problems, and providing support to your players.

4. FAQ

Q: How can I join my own Atlas server?

A: To join your own Atlas server, you need to launch the game and click on the “Join Atlas” button. Then, enter the IP address and port number of your server, and click on the “Join” button. You can find the IP address and port number in the server settings.

Q: How can I add mods to my Atlas server?

A: To add mods to your Atlas server, you need to download the mods from the Steam Workshop and install them on your server. You can do this by adding the mod IDs to the “ActiveMods” field in the GameUserSettings.ini file.

Q: How can I customize the server settings?

A: You can customize the server settings by editing the Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini files in the server files folder. These files contain various settings that affect the gameplay experience, such as map, max players, and taming speed.

Q: How can I change the server name and password?

A: You can change the server name and password by editing the GameUserSettings.ini file in the server files folder. You can find the “ServerName” and “ServerPassword” fields in this file, and edit them to your desired values.

Conclusion

Hosting an Atlas server can be a rewarding experience, but it requires some effort and knowledge. In this guide, we have covered the steps to host an Atlas server, from choosing a hosting provider to managing your server. We hope that this guide has helped you in your journey to becoming a successful Atlas server host. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.