ARK has released its linux dedicated server. This is a short tutorial on “how do i install ark dedicated server on a linux machine”.

You need console access for this tutorial. So fire up your server and enter a shell of your choice.

First you’ll have to download SteamCMD from Valve (Download and Installation Tutorial).

After installation of SteamCMD you’ll have to trigger the following commands for installation of ARK:

mkdir /home/arkdedicated
./steamcmd.sh +login USERNAME PASSWORD +force_install_dir /home/arkdedicated +app_update 376030 validate +quit

You can also use +login anonymous (after June,20 2015).

Remember this command. You need to trigger it each time you want to update the server.

ARK requires to open a hell lot of files. So you may need to increase the maximum file open limit on your host machine if the server doesn’t start as it should. Tutorial

To start the server you’ll have to enter the following commands:

cd /home/arkdedicated/ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux
./ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=ServerName?ServerAdminPassword=whateveradminpass -server -log

We suggest using the Linux Tool “screen” to keep the server alive. Install screen and open it up, then enter the command and press  “CTRL+A” then “D” to deattach it

Of course you can use other commandline options and modify the configuration file like described here. The configfile is located at \ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\GameUserSettings.ini 

If you want to migrate from windows to linux, just copy the folder \ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\SavedArks\ from your windows installation to you linux machine.