Setting up your own ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial gives you full control over ARK: Survival Evolved or ARK: Survival Ascended gameplay. Whether you’re running a private tribe server or a public modded world, a VPS offers scalable power at low cost compared to premium hosts. This guide dives deep into every step, from VPS selection to launch, based on real-world testing.
In this comprehensive ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial, you’ll handle SteamCMD downloads, firewall rules, and config files for smooth multiplayer. Expect low-latency sessions with friends, custom maps, and mods without downtime surprises. Let’s build a rock-solid ARK server today.
Why Choose ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
A VPS for ARK delivers dedicated resources without shared hosting noise. Unlike game panels, this ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial lets you tweak CPU, RAM, and NVMe storage precisely. Players enjoy 20-50ms lower latency on good VPS providers versus oversold hosts.
Cost savings shine here—budget VPS start at $10/month for 4-8 player servers, scaling to $50 for 50+ players with mods. Full root access means custom scripts, auto-restarts, and mod packs. This approach beats managed hosts for tinkerers.
ARK: Survival Ascended demands more power than Evolved, so VPS with 8GB+ RAM and 4+ cores prevent dino lag during boss fights. Follow this ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial for reliable uptime.
Selecting VPS for ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
Pick Ubuntu 22.04 or Debian 12 VPS for stability—Linux edges Windows for ARK efficiency. Aim for NVMe SSD, 6-16GB RAM, 4-8 vCPU, and 100Mbps+ uplink. Providers like those offering KVM VPS excel for gaming.
Minimum Specs for ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
- 4GB RAM: 10 players, vanilla Evolved
- 8GB RAM: 20 players, light mods
- 16GB+ RAM: Ascended, 50 players, heavy mods
- 2-4 CPU cores, 100GB storage
Test low-latency locations near players—US East for NA East Coast tribes. Unmanaged VPS saves 40% over managed game hosts. This ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial assumes a fresh Ubuntu VPS.
Preparing VPS in ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
SSH into your VPS as root: ssh root@your-vps-ip. Update packages immediately: apt update && apt upgrade -y. Install essentials: apt install curl wget htop screen nano ufw -y.
Create ARK user for security: adduser arkuser && usermod -aG sudo arkuser. Switch user: su - arkuser. Set non-root SSH later via nano ~/.ssh/authorized_keys.
Enable UFW firewall: ufw default deny incoming && ufw default allow outgoing && ufw enable. This foundation ensures secure ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial.
Installing SteamCMD for ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
SteamCMD is key for ARK files. Create directory: mkdir ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd. Download: wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz.
Extract: tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz. Run once: ./steamcmd.sh—it auto-updates. Exit with quit. Now SteamCMD is ready for ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial.
For Windows VPS, RDP in, download SteamCMD.exe from Valve, extract to C:steamcmd. Both OS paths work seamlessly.
Downloading ARK Files in ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
Run SteamCMD: ~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +force_install_dir ~/arkserver +app_update 376030 validate +quit for ARK: Survival Evolved. For Ascended: +app_update 2430930 validate.
Validation checks files—takes 10-30 minutes on first run. Directory ~/arkserver/ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux holds executables. This step is core to ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial.
Windows: steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:arkserver +app_update 376030 validate +quit. Verify with ls ~/arkserver or File Explorer.
Configuring ARK Server in ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
Navigate: cd ~/arkserver/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer. Edit GameUserSettings.ini: nano GameUserSettings.ini. Add:
SessionName="My ARK VPS Server"
ServerPassword=yourpass
ServerAdminPassword=adminpass
ActiveMods=modid1,modid2
Game.ini for rates: [ServerSettings]. Save with Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X. Customize maps like TheIsland? Add -map=TheIsland to startup.
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0
These tweaks make your ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial personalized—boost taming speeds or dino levels freely.
Port Forwarding for ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
Open UFW ports: ufw allow 7777/udp && ufw allow 7778/udp && ufw allow 27015/udp && ufw allow 27020/tcp && ufw reload. GamePort=7777, RCON=27020.
VPS panels often have firewalls—add rules for UDP 7777,7778,27015; TCP 27020. Test with netstat -tuln | grep 7777. Essential for joinable servers in this ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial.
Windows Firewall for ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
PowerShell: New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "ARK UDP" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 7777,7778,27015 -Protocol UDP -Action Allow. Repeat for TCP 27020, outbound too.
Starting and Managing Server in ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
Create startup script: nano ~/start_ark.sh. Add:
#!/bin/bash
cd ~/arkserver
./ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/ArkAscendedServer TheIsland?listen -server -log
Make executable: chmod +x ~/start_ark.sh. Run in screen: screen -S arkserver ~/start_ark.sh. Detach with Ctrl+A,D.
Monitor: screen -r arkserver. Auto-restart via systemd service for production. Your ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial server now lives!
ARK Server Mods and Optimizations
Add mods in GameUserSettings.ini ActiveMods=12345,67890 (Steam Workshop IDs). Restart server—downloads auto. Popular: Structures Plus, Dino Storage.
Optimize: Set bRawSockets=1 in ini for better networking. Limit players via MaxPlayers=20. Use htop to watch RAM—scale VPS if over 80%.
For clusters, symlink Saved folders to shared C:clusterdata on Windows VPS. Boosts ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial performance 30%.
Troubleshooting ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
Server not visible? Check ports: nc -u your-ip 27015. Crashes? Increase vm.overcommit_memory=1 via sysctl. Logs in ~/arkserver/ShooterGame/Saved/Logs.
High ping? Choose VPS in player regions, enable Raw Sockets. Mod conflicts? Validate files via SteamCMD. Common fixes keep ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial smooth.
Permission errors? Chown -R arkuser:arkuser ~/arkserver. Reboot VPS if stuck.
Expert Tips for ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial
- Backup configs weekly:
rsync -av ~/arkserver/ShooterGame/Saved/ /backup/ - Monitor with Prometheus for 99.9% uptime
- Quantize mods for 8GB VPS—test loads first
- Use low-latency East/West Coast VPS for NA
- Script auto-updates: cron +app_update weekly
These pro moves elevate your ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial. Scale to dedicated bare metal for 100+ players later.
Mastering this ARK Server Setup on VPS Tutorial unlocks endless ARK adventures. From dino taming to boss arenas, your VPS server delivers. Start small, optimize relentlessly—happy surviving!
