ARK VPS Hosting: Linux Installation Guide

Hosting ARK: Survival Evolved on a VPS gives you control over maps, players, passwords, mods, and backups. This guide covers ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE) on Ubuntu or Debian, not ARK: Survival Ascended.

Recommended VPS Requirements

For a small ARK server, use:

4 modern vCPU cores
8 GB RAM
50 GB SSD storage
Ubuntu or Debian
Public IPv4 address
Root or sudo access

Larger maps, more players, and mods may require additional resources. ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server uses Steam App ID 376030.

Select an ARK server hosting VPS with enough storage for game files, updates, saves, mods, and backups.

Step 1: Prepare the VPS

Connect through SSH and update the server:

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade -y

Create a separate ARK user and install the required packages:

sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" ark sudo mkdir -p /home/ark/steamcmd /home/ark/arkserver sudo chown -R ark:ark /home/ark

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 sudo apt update sudo apt install -y curl tar lib32gcc-s1 ufw

Step 2: Install ARK with SteamCMD

Switch to the ARK user:

sudo -iu ark cd /home/ark/steamcmd curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd\_linux.tar.gz" | tar -xzvf -

Install the dedicated server:

./steamcmd.sh
+force_install_dir /home/ark/arkserver
+login anonymous
+app_update 376030 validate
+quit

Return to the administrator account:

exit

Step 3: Open the ARK Ports

ARK normally requires UDP ports 7777, 7778, and 27015. Allow SSH before enabling the firewall:

sudo ufw allow OpenSSH sudo ufw allow 7777/udp sudo ufw allow 7778/udp sudo ufw allow 27015/udp sudo ufw enable

If you enable RCON, also allow TCP port 27020. Open the same ports in your provider’s firewall when applicable.

Step 4: Create the Start Script

Switch back to the ARK user:

sudo -iu ark nano /home/ark/start-ark.sh

Add:

#!/bin/bash cd /home/ark/arkserver/ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux

exec ./ShooterGameServer
"TheIsland?SessionName=MyARKServer?ServerAdminPassword=ADMIN_PASSWORD?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=20"
-server -log

Replace the server name, administrator password, map, and player limit. Then start the server:

chmod +x /home/ark/start-ark.sh /home/ark/start-ark.sh

The first launch may take several minutes.

Updating and Backing Up ARK

Stop the server before running updates:

sudo -u ark /home/ark/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh
+force_install_dir /home/ark/arkserver
+login anonymous
+app_update 376030 validate
+quit

ARK stores its world and configuration files here:

/home/ark/arkserver/ShooterGame/Saved/

Back up this directory regularly and keep another copy outside the VPS.

Final Check

If the server does not appear, verify that UDP ports 7777, 7778, and 27015 are open. Check memory and storage with:

free -h df -h

A properly configured VPS gives you direct control over your ARK world, settings, updates, and player access.