= ARK: Survival Evolved Linux Server Tools
This tool allows you to manage any ARK: Survival Evolved linux server without having to remember long commands.
It provides a lot of features, to get the full list check the <> section.
Installation
Prerequisites
ARK Server Tools requires certain packages be installed in order to function correctly.
If running under CentOS or RHEL, you will need the following packages installed:
```
perl-Compress-Zlib
curl
lsof
glibc.i686
libstdc++.i686
bzip2
```
If running under Debian or Ubuntu, you will need the following packages installed:
```
perl-modules
curl
lsof
libc6-i386
lib32gcc1
bzip2
```
Common prerequisites which should normally already be installed are:
```
>=bash-4.0
>=coreutils-7.6
findutils
perl
rsync
sed
tar
```
If using CentOS 6 or earlier, or Debian 7 or earlier, you will need to compile a newer version of glibc.
See https://github.com/FezVrasta/ark-server-tools/wiki/Install-of-required-versions-of-glibc-and-gcc-on-RHEL-CentOS
To use ARK Server Tools, you will need to install **SteamCMD** following this guide:
https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD#Linux
We assume you have created the `steam` user to store steamcmd and your ARK server.
Requirements
~~~~~~~~~~~~
To allow your ARK server to communicate with the outside you have to open some ports in your firewall:
```sh
iptables -I INPUT -p udp --dport 27016 -j ACCEPT
iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 27016 -j ACCEPT
iptables -I INPUT -p udp --dport 7778 -j ACCEPT
iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 7778 -j ACCEPT
iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 32330 -j ACCEPT
```
NB: Change the ports according to the ones set in your `arkmanager.cfg` file.
Install ARK Server Tools
To install ARK Server Tools run this command:
[source,sh]
curl -sL http://git.io/vtf5N, sudo bash -s steam
NB: You may want to change the bash -s parameter to fit your steam user if different from steam.
This will copy the arkmanager script and its daemon to the proper directories and will create an empty log directory in /var/log for ARK Server Tools.
To instead perform a user-install of ARK Server Tools as an unprivileged user, run this command:
[source,sh]
curl -sL http://git.io/vtf5N, bash -s -- --me
Configuration
Stored in `/etc/arkmanager/arkmanager.cfg` and `/etc/arkmanager/instances/<instancename>.cfg` you can find the variables needed to start the server, like the port numbers, the system environment variables and so on.
You will need to modify these files with any options you wish to give to the server, and any
paths that are non-standard in your environment (e.g. one common one is the path to the appinfo cache).
See <<Configuration files>> for options.
Also, in these files, you can specify any parameter you want to add to the startup command of ARK server.
These parameters must be prefixed by the `ark_` string, some example could be:
[source,sh]
ark_SessionName="My ARK server"
ark_MaxPlayers=50
ark_ServerPVE=False
ark_DifficultyOffset=1
Your session name may not contain special characters (eg. `!![EU]!! Aw&some ARK`) as it could break the startup command.
In this case you may want to comment out the `ark_SessionName` variable and define it inside your **GameUserSettings.ini** file instead.
To specify an option without an argument (e.g. `bRawSockets`), specify an empty argument (e.g. `ark_bRawSockets=""`).
To specify a dash-option without an argument (e.g. `-log`), add the option="" prefixed with `arkflag_` (e.g. `arkflag_log=""`).
To specify a dash-option with an argument (e.g. `-StructureDestructionTag=DestroySwampSnowStructures`), add the option=value prefixed with `arkopt_` (e.g. `arkopt_StructureDestructionTag=DestroySwampSnowStructures`).
You can override or add variables for a specific system user creating a file called `.arkmanager.cfg` in the home directory of the system user.
Each server instance must have its own set of ports.
These ports are specified using the `ark_Port`, `ark_QueryPort` and `ark_RCONPort` settings in the instance configuration.
If the QueryPort or Port settings are shared between multiple instances, then the server will often either crash or hang
without being able to be queried.
If the RCONPort setting is shared between multiple instances, the server will hang at 0/0 players.
See <<Configuration files>> for more options.
Install ARK Server
To install ARK Server just run this command as normal user:
[source,sh]
arkmanager install
Usage
arkmanager [Global Options] <command> [Command Options] [Command Args] [Instances]
Global Options
[horizontal]
`--help`::
Prints some help on using the command
`--version`::
Prints the arkmanager version
Common Options
[horizontal]
--verbose::
Exposes the output of SteamCMD
--dots::
Prints dots for progress
--spinner::
Uses a spinner for progress
Instanceless commands
[horizontal]
`upgrade-tools`::
Upgrades the ARK server tools to the latest version
`uninstall-tools`::
Uninstalls the ARK server tools
`list-instances`::
Lists the available instances
`--brief`;;
prints a single line with just the instance names
`useconfig`::
Legacy command for specifying an instance for the following command(s)
`remove-mods`::
Remove the specified mods from the `steamcmd` workshop directory
Commands acting on instances
All of the following commands take @instancename arguments to specify
one or more instances, with the special @all instance selecting all
instances.
[horizontal]
run::
Runs the server without putting it into the background
start::
Runs the server and puts it into the background
`--noautoupdate`;;
Disables automatic updating on startup if it is enabled
`--alwaysrestart`;;
Enable automatically restarting the server even if it crashes
without becoming ready for player connections.
stop::
Stops the server if it is running
`--warn`;;
Warns any connected players that the server is going down
`--warnreason`;;
Gives a reason for the shutdown. Defaults to `maintenance`
`--saveworld`;;
Saves the world using `saveworld` - usually not
necessary, as server usually saves the world on a graceful
shutdown
restart::
Runs the stop command followed by the restart command.
Accepts and passes the options for those commands
`--warnreason`;;
Gives a reason for the restart. Defaults to `a restart`
install::
Downloads and installs (or validates an existing install) of
the ARK server
update::
Updates an install of the ARK server (or installs it if it's
not already installed)
`--force`;;
Bypasses the check for if an update is available
`--safe`;;
Only shuts down the server when the server has saved in
the past minute
`--warn`;;
Warns any connected players that the server is going down for
an update
`--ifempty`;;
Only updates the server when nobody is connected
`--validate`;;
Re-validates the ARK server install
`--saveworld`;;
Saves the world using `saveworld` - usually not
necessary, as server usually saves the world on a graceful
shutdown
`--update-mods`;;
Updates any installed mods
`--backup`;;
Backs up the saved world and game config before updating
`--stagingdir=<dir>`;;
Sets the staging directory in order to download the update
before shutting down the server
`--downloadonly`;;
Downloads the update but does not apply it. Only has effect
if a staging directory is set.
`--beta=<betaname>`;;
Select the beta to install (use `--beta=public` to reset
to the `public` branch. Note that `--validate` is required
when switching branches.
`--betapassword=<password>`;;
Use password to unlock beta (for password-locked betas).
cancelshutdown::
Cancels a pending update / shutdown / restart that was run with
the --warn option
checkupdate::
Checks if an ARK server update is available
Exit status;;
- 0: No update is available
- 1: An update is available
checkmodupdate::
Checks if any mods need updating on the server
`--revstatus`;;
Reverses the exit code, and adds extra codes for failures
Exit status;;
- 0: An update is available, or workshop files are missing
- 1: No update is available
- 2: One or more mods is missing from the workshop
Reversed status codes (--revstatus);;
- 0: No update is available
- 1: An update is available
- 2: One or more mods is missing from the workshop
- 3: appworkshop_346110.acf is missing
- 4: SteamCMD workshop dir does not exist
installmods::
Installs all mods specified in the instance config into the
ShooterGame/Content/Mods directory
uninstallmods::
Deletes all mods from the ShooterGame/Content/Mods directory
installmod <modnum>[,<modnum>[,...]]::
Installs the specified mods into the ShooterGame/Content/Mods
directory
uninstallmod <modnum>[,<modnum>[,...]]::
Deletes the specified mods from the ShooterGame/Content/Mods
directory
removemod <modnum>[,<modnum>[,...]]::
Deletes the specified mods from the SteamCMD workshop directory
reinstallmod <modnum>[,<modnum>[,...]]::
Runs the uninstallmod command followed by the installmod
command
enablemod <modnum>::
enablemod <modnum>=<modtype>::
Enables the arkmod_<modnum> setting in the instance config.
modtype defaults to game.
Mod types:
`game`;;
A mod in `GameModIds`
`map`;;
The `MapModId` mod
`tc`;;
`totalconversion`;;
The `TotalConversionMod` mod
backup::
Backs up the saved world and game config files to a compressed
tar file in the backups directory specified in the config
broadcast "message"::
Broadcasts a message to players connected to the server using
the RCON broadcast command
saveworld::
Saves the world using the RCON saveworld command
rconcmd "command"::
Sends the specified RCON command to the server and prints its
response
notify "message"::
Sends the specified message using the configured Discord
webhook
status::
Prints the status of the ARK server
install-cronjob <command>::
Installs a cron job that executes the specified command.
This accepts any of the options the specified command accepts,
as well as the following options. In order to specify an
argument to the command (e.g. to the broadcast command),
use the --arg=<arg> option.
Please read your man 5 crontab manpage to determine what
minute and hour values are valid, as some implementations
may not accept e.g. the */n minute / hour specification.
`--daily`;;
The command should be executed daily
`--hourly`;;
The command should be executed hourly
`--hour=<hour>`;;
Specifies one or more hours when the command should execute.
This is the hour field of the cron job.
If you want to have the command execute every n hours, then
use `--hour='*/n'`
Default: `*` (i.e. all hours)
`--minute=<minute>`;;
Specifies one or more minutes of the hour when the command
should execute. This is the minute field of the cron job.
If you want to have the command execute every n minutes,
then use `--minute='*/n'`
Default: `0` (i.e. the first minute of the hour)
`--enable-output`;;
Enables the output from the command - the cron daemon usually
emails this to the user specified in the cron configuration
`--arg=<arg>`;;
Specifies an argument to pass to the command
remove-cronjob <command>::
Removes a cron job previously installed by install-cronjob
wait::
Waits until any or all instances are stopped or online
Defaults to any stopped
`--any`;;
Waits until any specified instance is in specified state
`--all`;;
Waits until all specified instances are in specified state
`--stopped`;;
Waits until instances are stopped
`--online`;;
Waits until instances are online
Configuration files
Global configuration
Global configuration is stored in `/etc/arkmanager/arkmanager.cfg`
and/or `~/.arkmanager.cfg`.
The following options cannot be overridden in the instance config
files:
[horizontal]
`arkstChannel`::
Specifies the release channel (git branch) to use when
upgrading the ARK server tools
`install_bindir`::
`install_libexecdir`::
`install_datadir`::
Set by the installer to specify where to install the executable
and data files
`configfile_<name>`::
Paths to the specified instance config files
`defaultinstance`::
The default instance to use if no instance is specified
`steamcmd_user`::
The user under which the tools should be run. Set to `--me`
in `~/.arkmanager.cfg` in the case of a user-install
The following options can be overridden on a per-instance basis:
[horizontal]
`steamcmdroot`::
The directory in which `SteamCMD` is installed.
Change this to `/usr/games` if you have the `steamcmd` package installed on Debian, Ubuntu, or CentOS
`steamcmdexec`::
The `steamcmd.sh` executable.
Change this to `steamcmd` if you have the `steamcmd` package installed on Debian, Ubuntu, or CentOS
`steamcmd_appinfocache`::
The path to the Steam appinfo cache file.
Most systems will have this in `$HOME/Steam/appcache/appinfo.vdf`,
but some systems (especially with the `steamcmd` package installed)
have this instead in `$HOME/.steam/appcache/appinfo.vdf`.
You will need to modify this setting if this is the case.
`steamcmd_workshoplog`::
The path to the Steam workshop log file.
Most systems will have this in `$HOME/Steam/logs/workshop_log.txt`,
but some systems (especially with the `steamcmd` package installed)
have this instead in `$HOME/.steam/logs/workshop_log.txt`.
You will need to modify this setting if this is the case.
`steamdataroot`::
The path to the SteamCMD data.
Defaults to `$steamcmdroot`
Some SteamCMD installations (especially with the `steamcmd` package installed)
store downloaded files (workshop files, etc.) in /home/.steam instead of in the steamcmd
directory.
`steamworkshopdir`::
The path to the SteamCMD workshop directory.
Defaults to `$steamdataroot/steamapps/workshop`
Some SteamCMD installations (especially with the `steamcmd` package installed)
use `SteamApps` as the steamapps directory instead of `steamapps`
`arkserverexec`::
The relative path within an ARK server install where the
ARK server executable can be found.
For the standard ARK server, this should be `ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/ShooterGameServer`
`arkbackupdir`::
The directory in which to store backups. Can be overridden in
the instance config.
`arkwarnminutes`::
The number of minutes over which the shutdown and update warnings
should be run
`arkautorestartfile`::
The relative path within an ARK server install to place the
autorestart lock file
`arkAlwaysRestartOnCrash`::
Set to `true` to enable automatically restarting even when the
server has not become ready for player connections.
Be aware that this may cause the server to enter an endless
crash-restart loop if the cause of the crash is not resolved.
`arkAutoUpdateOnStart`::
Set to `true` to enable updating before server startup
`arkBackupPreUpdate`::
Set to `true` to enable automatic backups before updating
`arkStagingDir`::
Sets the staging directory in order to download updates
before shutting down the server
`arkMaxBackupSizeMB`::
Limits the size of the stored backups
`arkPriorityBoost`::
Attempts to boost the priority of the ARK server.
Negative values give a higher priority, and positive values give a lower priority.
Requires `sudo` and `renice`
`arkCpuAffinity`::
Attempts to set the CPU affinity of the ARK server.
Setting is a comma-delimited list of processor indices on which the server should run.
Requires `sudo` and `taskset`
`msgWarnUpdateMinutes`::
`msgWarnUpdateSeconds`::
`msgWarnRestartMinutes`::
`msgWarnRestartSeconds`::
`msgWarnShutdownMinutes`::
`msgWarnShutdownSeconds`::
Templated messages for warnings, where `%d` is replaced with the
number of minutes / seconds before the update / restart / shutdown
`msgWarnReason`::
`msgTimeMinutes`::
`msgTimeSeconds`::
`msgReasonUpdateApp`::
`msgReasonUpdateMod`::
`msgReasonUpdateAppMod`::
`msgReasonRestart`::
`msgReasonShutdown`::
Alternative templated messages for warnings with the following
replacement parameters:
`{reason}`;;
Valid in `msgWarnReason`, replaced at runtime with the appropriate `msgReason*` template
`{time}`;;
Valid in `msgWarnReason` and `msgReason*`, replaced at runtime with the appropriate `msgTime*` template
`{modnamesupdated}`;;
Valid in `msgReason*Mod`, replaced at runtime with a comma-delimited list of updated mod names
`{minutes}`;;
Valid in `msgTimeMinutes`, replaced at runtime with minutes remaining until shutdown
`{seconds}`;;
Valid in `msgTimeSeconds`, replaced at runtime with seconds remaining until shutdown
`discordWebhookURL`::
Discord Webhook URL - server status messages and update warning messages will be sent through
this if specified
`notifyTemplate`::
Template to use for sending messages through Discord webhook, with
the following replacement parameters:
`{instance}`;;
Instance name
`{server}`;;
Server hostname
`{msg}`;;
Message
`notifyMsgShuttingDown`::
Message to be sent when shutting down. Use `-` to disable.
`notifyMsgStarting`::
Message to be sent when starting. Use `-` to disable.
`notifyMsgServerUp`::
Message to be sent when server starts listening. Use `-` to disable.
`notifyMsgStoppedListening`::
Message to be sent when server has stopped listening for more than 1 minute. Use `-` to disable.
`notifyMsgServerTerminated`::
Message to be sent when server has crashed and is being restarted. Use `-` to disable.
`notifyvar_<varname>`::
Extra variables to be used to replace `{<varname>}` replacement parameters in notify message.
e.g. `notifyvar_instancename="My Instance"` will replace `{instancename}` with `My Instance` in the notify message.
`noNotifyWarn`::
Disable notification at start of shutdown warning period
`logdir`::
Specifies where to store log files
`appid`::
The Steam AppID of the ARK server
`mod_appid`::
The Steam AppID of the ARK client (used for downloading mods)
`mod_branch`::
The Mod branch (`Windows` or `Linux`) to use. Virtually all mods
use the `Windows` branch for the ARK server, and the `Linux`
branch almost always crashes the server
ARK server options:
[horizontal]
`serverMap`::
The map the server should use
`serverMapModId`::
Uses the `-MapModID=<modid>?...` option to specify the server map
mod ID
`ark_<optname>="<optval>"`::
Specifies the options to use in the `Map?Option=Val?...` option
string passed to the server
`ark_<optname>=""`::
Specifies an option without a value - `Map?Option?...`
`arkflag_<optname>=<anything>`::
Specifies a dash-option without a value (i.e. flag) - e.g.
`arkflag_DisableDeathSpectator=true` adds the
`-DisableDeathSpectator` flag
`arkopt_<optname>="<optval>"`::
Specifies a dash-option with a value - e.g.
`arkopt_StructureDestructionTag=DestroySwampSnowStructures` adds
the `-StructureDestructionTag=DestroySwampSnowStructures`
option.
Instance config files
Instance config files are stored under
/etc/arkmanager/instances/<instancename>.cfg,
~/.config/arkmanager/instances/<instancename>.cfg
or as specified in the configfile_<instancename> options in
the global config.
[horizontal]
arkserverroot::
The directory under which the ARK server is installed
serverMap::
The map the server should use
serverMapModId::
Uses the -MapModID=<modid>?... option to specify the server map
mod ID
ark_<optname>="<optval>"::
Specifies the options to use in the Map?Option=Val?... option
string passed to the server
ark_<optname>=""::
Specifies an option without a value - Map?Option?...
arkflag_<optname>=<anything>::
Specifies a dash-option without a value (i.e. flag) - e.g.
arkflag_DisableDeathSpectator=true adds the
-DisableDeathSpectator flag
arkopt_<optname>="<optval>"::
Specifies a dash-option with a value - e.g.
arkopt_StructureDestructionTag=DestroySwampSnowStructures adds
the -StructureDestructionTag=DestroySwampSnowStructures
option.
arkmod_<modnum>=<modtype>::
Specifies a mod that can be enabled or disabled using
enablemod and disablemod. Note that mod ids specified
using these options are in addition to those specified directly
in the ark_GameModIds option, and override those specified in the
ark_MapModId, serverMapMod and ark_TotalConversionMod
options. Options are processed in the order they are specified
in the instance config file, and arkmod_* options in the
common config file are not applied.
Mod types:
`game`;;
A mod to be specified in `GameModIds`
`map`;;
The mod to be specified in `MapModId`
`tc`;;
`totalconversion`;;
The mod to be specified in `TotalConversionMod`
`disabled`;;
A disabled mod
Common ARK options
[horizontal]
`ark_TotalConversionId=<modid>`::
Specifies the Total Conversion to use
`ark_GameModIds=<modid>,<modid>,...`::
Specifies the Mod IDs to use
`ark_SessionName="<sessionname>"`::
The name under which the server should announce itself
`ark_RCONEnabled="True"`::
Enabled RCON
`ark_RCONPort=<portnum>`::
The port on which the server listens for RCON commands. Must be unique on the host.
`ark_Port=<portnum>`::
The port on which the server listens for client connections. Must be unique on the host.
`ark_QueryPort=<portnum>`::
The port on which the server listens for queries. Must be unique on the host.
`ark_ServerPassword="<password>"`::
Specifies the password needed to connect to the server
`ark_ServerAdminPassword="<password>"`::
Specifies the server admin password, which is also the RCON
password. Use of this option is discouraged - please store
the password in the GameUserSettings.ini file instead.
`ark_MaxPlayers=<numplayers>`::
The maximum number of players allowed to connect to the server
`ark_AltSaveDirectoryName="<dirname>"`::
Alternative directory under `ShooterGame/Saved` under which to
save the world files. If multiple instances run from the same directory, this
must be unique between these instances.
`arkflag_NoBattlEye=true`::
Disables BattlEye