How do I update my ARK: Survival Ascended server?

Stop the server, run SteamCMD again with the “app_update” command from the Updates section (with validate), then restart. Back up before big updates.

Do I need to own the game to host a ARK: Survival Ascended server?

No: the dedicated server downloads for free through SteamCMD with an anonymous login. Only players need the game.

What should I back up before an update?

The world save folder and the configuration folder (see the Backups section): copy them with the server stopped to get a consistent state.

Can I host ASA on Linux?

Not officially: ark.wiki.gg states the server requires Windows or a Windows-like environment. Community Wine/Proton solutions exist but are not covered here.

Install a ARK: Survival Ascended server: local, VPS, dedicated, ports

The ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server (SteamCMD AppID 2430930) runs on 64-bit Windows; there is no native Linux build (ark.wiki.gg). Allow 30 to 60 minutes, a Windows PC or server with a public IP, and plenty of RAM.

Step-by-step installation

Check the OS and hardware (“Requirements” section).
Install SteamCMD, Steam's command-line tool.
Download the ARK: Survival Ascended server files with AppID 2430930 (anonymous login).
Start the server once to create its configuration files, then stop it cleanly.
Set the name, passwords, slots and rules with this site's tools.
Test the connection locally (localhost / 127.0.0.1) before opening the server to the Internet.
Open the ports in the system firewall, the host's firewall and, at home, on the router (NAT).
Set up a service (systemd or a Windows scheduled task) for automatic start and restart after a crash.
Schedule updates and backups, then restart regularly.
Add your server to game-rank.com so players can find it.

Requirements

OS: 64-bit Windows (or Windows Server). Linux is not natively supported; community attempts under Wine/Proton exist but are not covered here.
Hardware: the publisher does not give a fixed minimum in the sources consulted. Community rule of thumb (unofficial): 16 GB of RAM or more per map, an SSD with a few tens of GB, and more RAM for more players or mods.
Accounts: no account or key is needed, SteamCMD logs in anonymously. Only players need the game.
Network: a public IP (ideally static) and decent upload bandwidth; UPnP is not supported, so port forwarding is manual (ark.wiki.gg).

Local install (Windows)

Download SteamCMD (steamcmd.zip), unzip it to C:\steamcmd, then run the command below. Next, generate start.bat with this site's “Launch command” tool, put it in C:\asa-server and run it. To test, join 127.0.0.1 on the game port (7777) from the game; if the list does not show the server, use direct connect.

cd C:\steamcmd
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\asa-server +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit

REM Server executable:
REM C:\asa-server\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ArkAscendedServer.exe

Install on a Windows server (VPS / dedicated)

ASA has no native Linux server: rent a Windows Server VPS or dedicated machine and follow the same steps as the local install (preferably on a fast disk). If the server refuses to start, install the Visual C++ Redistributable x64 (often required, not confirmed by the wiki consulted).

# Windows Server (PowerShell, as administrator)
New-Item -ItemType Directory C:\steamcmd, C:\asa-server
Invoke-WebRequest https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip -OutFile C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.zip
Expand-Archive C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.zip C:\steamcmd
C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\asa-server +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit

Ports to open

Hosting provider (OVH, Hetzner, Scaleway…): open the same ports in the provider's firewall / security group on top of the system one. At home: forward (NAT) each port with the right UDP or TCP protocol to the machine's local IP, ideally a fixed one. Test from outside (a friend connecting, or a UDP port tester): a UDP port does not always answer a plain scan.

7777/UDP — game port (default)
7778/UDP — peer port (game port + 1)
27015/UDP — Steam query port (QueryPort), needed for the server list
27020/TCP — RCON (optional; only open it to your admin IP)
To change the ports: -port=… (game), ?QueryPort=… (query) in the launch line and RCONPort in GameUserSettings.ini. With several servers on one machine, increment every port.

Linux firewall (ufw)

On Ubuntu/Debian, allow the ports then enable ufw (allow SSH first).

sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw allow 7777:7778/udp
sudo ufw allow 27015/udp
sudo ufw allow from <ADMIN_IP> to any port 27020 proto tcp
sudo ufw enable

Windows firewall (netsh)

On Windows, run these commands in an administrator prompt (no outbound rule is needed with default settings).

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="ARK UDP" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=7777,7778,27015
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="ARK RCON" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=27020

Automatic start and supervision

On Windows, create a scheduled task that runs start.bat at boot (SYSTEM account). To relaunch after a crash, add a restart-on-failure setting in Task Scheduler.

schtasks /create /tn "ASA Server" /tr "C:\asa-server\start.bat" /sc onstart /ru SYSTEM /rl HIGHEST

Updates

Stop the server, run SteamCMD again with the same command as at install, then restart. With mods, update them on restart as well.

C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\asa-server +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit

Backups and scheduled restarts

Back up ShooterGame/Saved (SavedArks and Config folders) with the server stopped. Schedule a daily restart to free memory.

schtasks /create /tn "ASA backup" /tr "robocopy C:\asa-server\ShooterGame\Saved C:\backups\asa /E" /sc daily /st 05:00 /ru SYSTEM

List and find your server

Once the server is reachable from the Internet, add it at https://game-rank.com/jeux/ark-survival-ascended: players discover it, vote and follow its ranking. Keep the query port open, otherwise the server will not show up in server lists.

Troubleshooting

The server is not in the list: the query port (UDP) is closed or the list takes several minutes to refresh; try adding it directly by IP:query port.
Cannot connect from the Internet but fine locally: missing system firewall rule, provider security group or port forwarding (NAT); check each rule's protocol (UDP/TCP).
The client reports a different version: the game was updated; stop the server, run SteamCMD with “app_update … validate” again, then restart.
Server will not start on Windows: install the Visual C++ Redistributable x64 and check that ServerAdminPassword is the last element of the “?” string.
The game port stays 7777 despite your setting: with ASA, use -port=… on the launch line (not ?Port=).

Frequently asked questions

How do I update my ARK: Survival Ascended server?: Stop the server, run SteamCMD again with the “app_update” command from the Updates section (with validate), then restart. Back up before big updates.
Do I need to own the game to host a ARK: Survival Ascended server?: No: the dedicated server downloads for free through SteamCMD with an anonymous login. Only players need the game.
What should I back up before an update?: The world save folder and the configuration folder (see the Backups section): copy them with the server stopped to get a consistent state.
Can I host ASA on Linux?: Not officially: ark.wiki.gg states the server requires Windows or a Windows-like environment. Community Wine/Proton solutions exist but are not covered here.