Deploy an ARK Survival Evolved Server through the Linode Marketplace

ARK: Survival Evolved is a multiplayer action-survival game released in 2017. The game places you on a series of fictional islands inhabited by dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. In ARK, the main objective is to survive. ARK is an ongoing battle where animals and other players have the ability to destroy you. To survive, you must build structures, farm resources, breed dinosaurs, and even set up trading hubs with neighboring tribes.

This Marketplace App deploys the ARK: Survival Evolved server software through SteamCMD. Hosting an ARK server gives you control of the entire game. You can define the leveling speed, the amount of players, and the types of weapons that are available. While no additional license is required to run the server, each client needs to have a license for the game.

Deploying a Marketplace App

The Linode Marketplace lets you easily deploy software on a Compute Instance using Cloud Manager. See Get Started with Marketplace Apps for complete steps.

1. Log in to Cloud Manager and select the Marketplace link from the left navigation menu. This displays the Linode Create page with the Marketplace tab pre-selected.

2. Under the Select App section, select the app you would like to deploy.

3. Complete the form by following the steps and advice within the Creating a Compute Instance guide. Depending on the Marketplace App you selected, there may be additional configuration options available. See the Configuration Options section below for compatible distributions, recommended plans, and any additional configuration options available for this Marketplace App.

4. Click the Create Linode button. Once the Compute Instance has been provisioned and has fully powered on, wait for the software installation to complete. If the instance is powered off or restarted before this time, the software installation will likely fail.

To verify that the app has been fully installed, see Get Started with Marketplace Apps > Verify Installation. Once installed, follow the instructions within the Getting Started After Deployment section to access the application and start using it.

Configuration Options

• Supported distributions: Debian 11
• Recommended plan: Depends on the amount of traffic and players you expect. An 8GB Dedicated CPU or Shared Compute Instance is a good starting point.

ARK Options

• RCON Password (required): Your password for RCON, a protocol which allows ARK administrators to remotely execute commands on the game server.
• Server Name: Your ARK server’s name.
• Message of the Day: A message that is displayed whenever a player logs on to the server.
• Server Password: Your ARK server’s password, if you want the game server to be password protected.
• Hardcore Mode Enabled: Enables Hardcore mode, which resets a player to level 1 after dying.
• XP Multiplier: Increases or decreases the amount of experience awarded for various actions.
• Server PvE: Disables player vs player combat and enables player vs environment combat.

Getting Started After Deployment

Ensure that you have installed Steam on your personal computer and bought the ARK: Survival Evolved game on your Steam account before getting started with this section.

After the Ark: Survival Evolved Server Marketplace App has finished installing, you will be able to access your server by copying your Linode’s IPv4 address and entering it into the favorite servers list in your computer’s Steam client:

1. Click on the Linodes link in the sidebar. You will see a list of all your Linodes.

2. Find the Linode you just created when deploying your app and select it.

3. Navigate to the Networking tab.

4. Your IPv4 address will be listed under the Address column in the IPv4 table. Copy the address.

5. On your personal computer, open Steam. Click on View > Servers, then click on the Favorites tab.

6. Click on Add a Server, then paste in your Linode’s IP address. Click on Add This Address to Favorites.

7. Once you have added your Linode’s IP address to your Steam favorites list, open ARK: Survival Evolved. Click on Join ARK. At the bottom of the screen, click on the Session Filter drop down list and select Favorites. Your ARK Linode should appear:

   Click on the server and then select Join at the bottom of the screen. You will be loaded into your server.

Software Included

The ARK: Survival Evolved Marketplace App will install the following required software on your Linode:

More Information

You may wish to consult the following resources for additional information on this topic. While these are provided in the hope that they will be useful, please note that we cannot vouch for the accuracy or timeliness of externally hosted materials.

• The Official ARK: Survival Evolved Wiki