ARK: Survival Ascended VPS Set Up
Install and host an ARK SA on a Linux Server (VPS or Dedicated)
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Install and host an ARK SA on a Linux Server (VPS or Dedicated)
Last updated
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A complete step-by-step guide for a Linux ARK Server
If you find you need help with installing this please open a ticket and our team can do it for you!
~12 GB RAM usage per server instance
~19 GB disk space (server files only)
Login to your VPS via or Console
Then let's enter this
a bunch of lines will process, once completed you can continue to the next step
Start docker daemon
Create the Docker Compose Config
Create a directory called asa-server in the main directory
now we'll download the file to the asa-server folder
The First Server Start Now start the server for the first time. It will install Steam, Proton, and downloads the ARK: Survival Ascended server files. In the folder you have the docker-compose.yml file we downloaded, you'll execute the command
If you want to follow the download and install, you can watch with this command
you can CRTL+C to exit the log, and it will not stop the installation
Once the log shows the following line:
... the server should be reachable and discoverable through the server browser in ~2-5 minutes.
The Server name is randomly generated on the first start, use this command to see the name.
Once you've connected and ensure the server works, let's stop the server so you can modify it
Edit The Server
The GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini file can be found at /var/lib/docker/volumes/asa-server_server-files-1/_data/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer. The Game.ini file is not there by default, so you might want to create it yourself
To edit the GameUserSettings.ini you can do
Use your arrow keys to scroll the lines of code and backspace to edit once you're happy with your changes do CTRL + X then Y then Enter the editor will close and your changes have been saved.
Changing the startup parameters & Player Limit
Use your arrow keys to scroll the lines of code and backspace to edit once you're happy with your changes do CTRL + X then Y then Enter the editor will close and your changes have been saved.
Start/restart/stop
To perform any actions listed below, you will need to be back in the asa-server folder (where the docker-compse.yml file is)
Adding Mods
Mods can be added by adjusting the docker-compose.yml file and adding a -mods option to the start parameters.
e.g.
Once done, restart the server using docker-compose up -d. It might take longer until the server comes up, because the server has to download the mods first.
Mod IDs are usually somewhere listed on the mod page of a mod on curseforge.com.
in the docker-compose.yml you'll edit the following. for a list of startup commands
The value before ?listen is the name of the map the server launches with. ()
