Set up your ARK: Survival Evolved server

Configure your ARK server's name, map, passwords and mods, and get your tribe connected.

First start

  1. Start the server from your dashboard or panel.ngpcloud.in.
  2. The first start downloads the game files and can take 10-20 minutes. Wait for the console to settle before connecting.

Basic settings (Startup tab)

Stop the server, then set these variables on the Startup tab:

  • Server Name - what appears in the server list.
  • Map - e.g. TheIsland, Ragnarok, ScorchedEarth_P.
  • Server Password - leave empty for a public server.
  • Admin Password - used for in-game admin commands. Always set this.
  • Max Players.

Advanced settings (.ini files)

Rates, taming speed, XP multipliers and more live in two files, found in the file manager at:

ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/Game.ini

Example - double taming, harvesting and XP, in GameUserSettings.ini under [ServerSettings]:

[ServerSettings]
TamingSpeedMultiplier=2.0
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0
XPMultiplier=2.0

Add mods

  1. Find each mod's Workshop ID - the number at the end of its Steam Workshop URL.

  2. In GameUserSettings.ini, under [ServerSettings], add them comma-separated in load order:

    ActiveMods=731604991,1404697612

  3. Start the server. Mods download on startup, so the first boot after adding mods is slower.

Players are prompted to download the same mods when they join.

Connect

  • Steam: View → Game Servers → Favorites → +, enter the IP and port from your panel, then join from ARK's Favorites filter.
  • In-game: search for your server name in Join ARK (tick Show Password Protected Servers if you set one).

Become an admin in-game

Open the console with Tab and run:

enablecheats YourAdminPassword

Still stuck? Open a ticket on Discord - run /ticket in any channel, pick a department, and include your Server ID or Invoice ID so we can jump straight in.