Host a ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server
As a man or woman stranded, naked, freezing, and starving on the unforgiving shores of a mysterious island called ARK, use your skill and cunning to kill or tame and ride the plethora of leviathan dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the land. Hunt, harvest resources, craft items, grow crops, research technologies, and build shelters to withstand the elements and store valuables, all while teaming up with (or preying upon) hundreds of other players to survive, dominate... and escape!
Hardware Requirements
Here's what you need to run a ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server.
Economy
Small private server, 1-10 players
Standard
Community server, 10-30 players with mods
Pro
Large public server, 30-70 players, heavy mods
Start hosting from your own computer
Run a ARK: Survival Evolved server on your desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine — GameCP automates Docker setup, resource allocation, and ARK: Survival Evolved configuration instantly. Automatic port forwarding means your friends can connect without touching your router. Start local, scale to a VPS when you're ready.
Setup in 4 Steps
Skip the manual SteamCMD installation, port forwarding, and systemd configuration. Install on your own computer and start hosting instantly.
The Manual Way vs. GameCP
Manual Setup
- ✗ Install SteamCMD manually
- ✗ Configure 3+ firewall ports and router settings
- ✗ Write systemd service files
- ✗ SSH into server to edit configs
- ✗ Requires a VPS or dedicated server
- ✗ 30-60 minutes if experienced
With GameCP
- One-click SteamCMD install
- Automatic port forwarding — no router config
- Host from your own PC, VPS, or dedicated server
- Docker container with auto-restart
- Visual config editor in browser
- Under 5 minutes total
Under the Hood
The full manual process to host a ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server on a VPS. Or install GameCP on your own computer and skip all of this.
Configure & Prepare
Set your server settings, then install Docker, SteamCMD, and pull the ARK: Survival Evolved container image.
# Update system and install Docker
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io
sudo systemctl enable --now docker
# Create game server directory
sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver
# Install SteamCMD
sudo mkdir -p /opt/steamcmd
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | sudo tar zxvf - -C /opt/steamcmd
# Server configuration
export SESSION_NAME="${SERVER_NAME}"
export SERVER_MAP="TheIsland"
export AUTO_UPDATE="1"
export WORKSHOP_UPDATE="1"
export BATTLE_EYE="1"
# Pull the container image
docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/games:sourceInstall Server Files via SteamCMD
Download the ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server using Steam App ID 376030.
# Download ARK: Survival Evolved server files (App ID: 376030) /opt/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh \ +force_install_dir /opt/gameserver \ +login anonymous \ +app_update 376030 validate \ +quit
Open Firewall Ports
ARK: Survival Evolved requires 3 ports to be open for game traffic and queries.
sudo ufw allow 27015/udp sudo ufw allow 7777/both sudo ufw allow 27020/tcp
Launch the Server
Start the ARK: Survival Evolved server using the configuration from Step 1.
Create the startup script
# Create the startup script
cat > /opt/gameserver/start.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
# Graceful shutdown function
rmv() {
echo 'Saving world and shutting down...'
rcon -t rcon -a 127.0.0.1:27020 -p saveworld 2>/dev/null
rcon -t rcon -a 127.0.0.1:27020 -p DoExit 2>/dev/null
wait 2>/dev/null
echo 'Server closed.'
exit 0
}
trap rmv 15 2
# Build optional flags
OPTIONAL_FLAGS=''
[ -z "" ] || OPTIONAL_FLAGS="?GameModIds="
[ "1" == "1" ] || OPTIONAL_FLAGS=" -NoBattlEye"
OPTIONAL_ARGS=''
[ -z "" ] || OPTIONAL_ARGS=" -automanagedmods"
# Start the ARK server
cd ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux && ./ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=""?ServerPassword=?ServerAdminPassword=?Port=?RCONPort=27020?QueryPort=27015?RCONEnabled=True?MaxPlayers= -server -log &
ARK_PID=$!
# Wait for RCON to become available
until rcon -t rcon -a 127.0.0.1:27020 -p 2>/dev/null; do
echo 'waiting for rcon connection...'
sleep 5
done
# RCON connected, relay console input
echo 'RCON connected.'
wait
EOF
chmod +x /opt/gameserver/start.shRun the container
docker run -d \
--name ark-survival-evolved-server \
-p 27015:27015/udp \
-p 7777:7777/both \
-p 27020:27020/tcp \
-e SESSION_NAME="${SERVER_NAME}" \
-e SERVER_MAP="TheIsland" \
-e AUTO_UPDATE="1" \
-e WORKSHOP_UPDATE="1" \
-e BATTLE_EYE="1" \
-v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \
-w /opt/gameserver \
ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/games:source \
./start.shOr skip all of this
GameCP automates every step above: Docker, SteamCMD, port forwarding, startup, and config. Install on your own PC and deploy a ARK: Survival Evolved server in under 5 minutes.
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