If you’re a Dev who’s passionate about gaming, then you’re probably no stranger to Ark: Survival Evolved. As you may already know, hosting a dedicated server for the game offers a lot of advantages, such as custom settings and mods, better performance, and more control over your gaming experience. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of setting up an Ark server on your PC, so that you can enjoy the game with your friends and community.
Introduction
Before we dive into the technical details, let’s go over some basic concepts and requirements that you’ll need to know in order to set up your own Ark server.
What is an Ark Server?
An Ark server is a dedicated computer that runs the game as a host, allowing other players to connect to it and play together in a multiplayer environment. Unlike playing on public servers, hosting your own server gives you full control over the game settings, mods, and player community.
What are the Benefits of Hosting an Ark Server?
Hosting your own Ark server has several advantages, including:
- Custom game settings: You can tweak the game’s settings to your liking, such as increasing the gather rates, adjusting the difficulty, and enabling or disabling certain features.
- Mod support: You can install mods to enhance the game with new content, features, and gameplay mechanics.
- Better performance: Hosting your own server can result in smoother gameplay, fewer connection issues, and reduced lag.
- Community control: You can manage your own player community, set rules, and enforce them using administrator privileges.
What are the System Requirements?
Before you start hosting an Ark server on your PC, you’ll need to make sure that your system meets the following minimum requirements:
Component |
Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
CPU |
Intel Core i5-2400 / AMD FX-8320 or better |
RAM |
8GB or more |
Storage |
At least 100GB of free space |
Network |
A stable internet connection with at least 10Mbps upload speed |
Note that the above requirements are for hosting a dedicated server for up to 10 players. If you plan to host a larger server, you may need to upgrade your system accordingly.
Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you have a basic understanding of what an Ark server is and what it requires, let’s proceed with the setup process.
Step 1: Download the Dedicated Server Files
The first step in setting up your Ark server is to download the dedicated server files from the official website. You can do this by following these steps:
- Open your web browser and navigate to the official Ark: Survival Evolved website.
- Click on the “Downloads” tab in the menu bar.
- Scroll down until you see the “Dedicated Server” section, and click on the “Windows” button.
- The download should start automatically. Once it’s finished, extract the files to a folder on your PC.
Step 2: Set Up the Server Configurations
Now that you have the server files, you need to configure them to your liking. This involves setting up the game settings, mods, and other parameters. Here’s how you can do this:
- Navigate to the folder where you extracted the server files, and open the “ShooterGame” folder.
- Open the file named “ServerSettings.ini” using a text editor such as Notepad or WordPad.
- Adjust the settings to your desired values, such as difficulty, gather rates, taming speed, and more. You can find a list of available settings and descriptions in the official Ark Wiki.
- If you want to enable mods, create a new folder called “Mods” in the “ShooterGame” folder, and copy the mod files into it.
- Save the changes to the ServerSettings.ini file.
Step 3: Port Forwarding
Once you’ve configured the server settings, you need to enable port forwarding on your router in order to allow other players to connect to your server. Here’s how you can do this:
- Open your web browser and enter your router’s IP address in the address bar. You can find this information in your router’s manual or by searching online for your router model.
- Log in to your router’s control panel using your administrator credentials.
- Locate the “Port Forwarding” or “Applications and Gaming” section in the control panel.
- Create a new port forwarding rule for TCP port 7777 (or whatever port you’ve configured in the ServerSettings.ini file).
- Save the changes and exit the control panel.
Step 4: Start the Server
Now that you’ve configured your server settings and enabled port forwarding, you’re ready to start the server. Here’s how:
- Open the server folder and double-click on the file named “ShooterGameServer.exe”.
- The server will open in a console window. Wait for it to finish loading, which may take a few minutes depending on your system specifications.
- You should now see a message saying “Server Started”. If you encounter any errors or warnings, check the console output for more information.
FAQ
Can I Host an Ark Server on a Laptop?
Yes, you can host an Ark server on a laptop as long as it meets the minimum system requirements and has a stable internet connection. However, keep in mind that laptops may overheat or have limited performance compared to desktop computers.
How Many Players Can Join My Server?
The maximum number of players that can join your Ark server depends on your system specifications, network bandwidth, and other factors. For example, hosting a server for 10 players may require at least 8GB of RAM and a stable internet connection with at least 10Mbps upload speed.
Do I Need a Dedicated IP Address to Host an Ark Server?
While it’s not strictly necessary to have a dedicated IP address to host an Ark server, it can make it easier for other players to connect to your server consistently. If you don’t have a dedicated IP address, you can use a dynamic DNS service to create a hostname that points to your dynamic IP address.
Can I Host Multiple Ark Servers on the Same PC?
Yes, it’s possible to host multiple Ark servers on the same PC, but it may require more system resources and network bandwidth. You can do this by creating multiple copies of the server files and configuring them with different settings and mods.
How Do I Backup and Restore My Ark Server?
To backup your Ark server, you need to copy the entire server folder to a safe location, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage. To restore your server, simply copy the backup folder back to your PC and run the server executable again.
Conclusion
Hosting an Ark server on your PC can be a rewarding experience for players who want more control over their gaming environment. By following the steps and tips described in this article, you should be able to set up your own server and enjoy the game in multiplayer mode with your friends and community. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different settings and mods to create your own unique server!