How to Host Ark Server on Raspberry Pi

Hello Dev, are you looking for a way to host an Ark server on your Raspberry Pi? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of setting up your Raspberry Pi as an Ark server. Let’s get started!

What is Ark: Survival Evolved?

Ark: Survival Evolved is a popular survival game that involves crafting, building, and taming dinosaurs. The game can be played in singleplayer mode, but it’s even more fun in multiplayer mode. That’s where hosting your own server comes in! By hosting your own server, you can play with your friends and customize the game to your liking.

Why Host on Raspberry Pi?

Raspberry Pi is a small and affordable computer that’s perfect for hosting games like Ark. It’s energy-efficient, so it won’t cost you much to run, and it’s easy to set up. Plus, it’s a fun project to work on!

Before You Begin

Before we start hosting an Ark server on our Raspberry Pi, there are a few things we need to do. First, make sure you have a Raspberry Pi and a power source. You’ll also need a microSD card with at least 16GB of storage. Finally, you’ll need a stable internet connection.

Downloading Raspbian

The first step in setting up your Raspberry Pi is to download Raspbian, the operating system we’ll be using. We recommend downloading the full version of Raspbian, as it comes with all the necessary software.

To download Raspbian, go to the official Raspberry Pi website and click on the “Downloads” tab. Then, click on “Raspbian” and select “Raspbian Buster with desktop and recommended software”. Once the download is complete, extract the .img file from the .zip file.

Installing Raspbian

Now that we’ve downloaded Raspbian, it’s time to install it on our microSD card. To do this, we’ll need a program called Etcher. Etcher is a free program that allows you to write .img files to a microSD card.

To install Etcher, go to the Etcher website and download the version for your operating system. Once you’ve downloaded Etcher, insert your microSD card into your computer and open Etcher. Then, select the Raspbian .img file and your microSD card. Finally, click “Flash!” to write the Raspbian image to your microSD card.

Setting Up Your Raspberry Pi

Now that we’ve installed Raspbian on our microSD card, it’s time to set up our Raspberry Pi. First, insert the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi and connect it to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Then, connect the power source to the Raspberry Pi to turn it on.

Once your Raspberry Pi is booted up, you’ll need to do a few things. First, you’ll need to set your password. To do this, click on the “Raspberry Pi Configuration” icon on the desktop. Then, click on the “Change Password” button and set your new password.

Next, you’ll need to connect your Raspberry Pi to your Wi-Fi network. To do this, click on the Wi-Fi icon in the top-right corner of the screen and select your network. Enter your network password and click “OK” to connect.

Installing Ark Server

Now that we’ve set up our Raspberry Pi, it’s time to install the Ark server. To do this, we’ll need to use a program called SteamCMD. SteamCMD is a command-line program that allows you to install and update Steam games.

Installing SteamCMD

To install SteamCMD, open the Terminal on your Raspberry Pi and enter the following command:

Once SteamCMD is installed, we need to create a new user for the Ark server. To do this, enter the following command:

Follow the on-screen instructions to set a password for the “arkserver” user.

Downloading and Installing Ark Server

Now that we’ve created a new user, it’s time to download and install the Ark server. To do this, enter the following command:

This will take some time, as the game files are quite large. Once the installation is complete, we need to configure the server.

Configuring Ark Server

Now that we’ve installed the Ark server, it’s time to configure it. There are a few settings we need to change to get the server up and running.

Creating a Server Configuration File

The first thing we need to do is create a server configuration file. This file will tell the Ark server what settings to use. To create the file, enter the following command:

Once the file is open, paste the following text into it:

These settings will configure the server to use a password, enable the crosshair, and set the dino damage multiplier to 1.0. You can change these settings to your liking.

Once you’ve made your changes, press “Ctrl+X” to save the file and exit Nano.

Starting the Server

Now that we’ve configured the server, it’s time to start it up. To do this, enter the following command:

This will start the server, and you should see a lot of text scrolling by in the Terminal window. Once the server is up and running, you can connect to it from the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Ports Do I Need to Forward?

If you want other people to be able to connect to your Ark server, you’ll need to forward some ports on your router. The ports you need to forward are:

How Do I Update the Server?

To update the Ark server, simply run the following command:

How Do I Configure the Server Settings?

To configure the server settings, edit the “GameUserSettings.ini” file we created earlier. This file is located at:

Make your changes to the file, and then save it and restart the server.

In Conclusion

Hosting an Ark server on your Raspberry Pi can be a fun and rewarding project. With the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to get your own server up and running in no time.

Remember to keep your server updated and to configure it to your liking. And most importantly, have fun!