ARK Survival Evolved Server Deployment Overview¶

Prerequisites¶

The following parameters and components are required for the server to function correctly:

• Operating System: Ubuntu (Debian family).

• System User: steam.

• Access: Superuser privileges (sudo) for package installation and system service configuration.

• Network Requirements: Open UDP ports for game traffic, queries, and RCON.

Available Connection Ports¶

To ensure server operation, the following ports must be opened (UDP protocol):

Application Installation Process¶

Server deployment is performed by automating environment setup and downloading game files via SteamCMD:

1. Installation of system dependencies (curl, lib32gcc1, lib32stdc++6, screen, wget, tar).

2. Creation of the steam system user.

3. Downloading and extracting SteamCMD into the /home/steam/steamcmd directory.

4. Using the install.sh script to download ARK game files via the command: steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir /home/steam/ARK +login anonymous +app_update 376030 validate +quit

5. Creation of a systemd system service for automatic server startup.

Permissions and Security¶

• User: All game processes are executed as the steam user.

• Firewall: Configuration of ufw (if using a Debian-family OS) to allow incoming UDP traffic on ports 7777, 27015, and 32330.

• Restrictions: Game files are owned by the steam user and the steam group.

Starting and Stopping the Application¶

Server management is performed via the systemd system service:

• Start server:

  sudo systemctl start ark
  

• Stop server:

  sudo systemctl stop ark
  

• Restart server:

  sudo systemctl restart ark
  

• Check status:

  sudo systemctl status ark
  

Permission Settings (File and Directory Permissions)¶

The following access permissions are set during the deployment process:

Configuration Files and Data Locations¶

All primary application data is located in the steam user's home directory:

• Game Directory: /home/steam/ARK

• Server Startup Script: /home/steam/ARK/ark_server_start.sh

• SteamCMD Utility: /home/steam/steamcmd

• System Unit (service): /etc/systemd/system/ark.service