--- title: "How to host an ARK: Survival Ascended server | StreetHosting" description: "Host an ARK: Survival Ascended server on a VPS: why official means Windows only, the Linux Proton route, RAM by player count, ports, mods, backup and updates." url: "https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server" type: "page" language: "en-US" --- VPS · 9 min · Advanced Published on Sep 28, 2026 · Updated on Sep 28, 2026 # ARK: Survival Ascended server on a Windows or Linux VPS The ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server only exists for Windows and needs a lot of memory. See the two possible routes on a VPS, how much RAM and disk each scenario needs, and how to keep the world saved and up to date. By [Equipe StreetHosting](https://streethosting.com.br/en/autores#equipe-streethosting) · StreetHosting infrastructure and support team [Linux administration](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/linux) [Windows and RDP](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/windows) [Hardware and datacenter](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/hardware) [Community and game modes](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/community) Summarize with: [](https://chat.openai.com/?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Fhost-ark-survival-ascended-server.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. 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The alternative is Linux with Proton, lighter on memory but without official support. In both cases, a high-clock CPU and an NVMe disk make a real difference. ## Windows or Linux: what is official[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#windows-linux) Unlike Valheim or Palworld, ARK: Survival Ascended has no dedicated server for Linux. The studio only ships the ArkAscendedServer.exe executable, for Windows. That leaves two routes on a VPS, and it is worth understanding the limits of each before you order. | Route | Support | Extra memory | Maintenance | Best for | | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | | Windows VPS | Official, the same build the studio tests | 2 to 4 GB for the system | Updates through SteamCMD, access over RDP | Those who want stability and fewer surprises | | Linux with Proton or Wine | None, maintained by the community | Lower than on Windows | Can break after a game update | Those who already run Linux and accept some tinkering | The Windows route uses the [StreetHosting Windows VPS](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps-windows), which is the same Ryzen or Xeon VPS with Windows Server 2019 or 2022 installed from a template through the control panel. Check the product page or ask support whether the Windows license comes with the plan you picked. If you are still undecided between the two systems, the [Windows Server or Linux on a VPS](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/windows-server-vs-linux-vps) guide compares both for general use. The Linux route is unofficial. It depends on a compatibility layer that translates Windows calls, and every major ARK update can require a new Proton version or changes to the script. If the server is your community's source of income, go with Windows. ## Requirements by player count[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#requisitos) ARK: Survival Ascended is one of the heaviest servers on the market. Just loading an official map already takes close to 10 GB, and usage grows with tamed dinosaurs, structures and mods. The table assumes one map per process; every extra map in a cluster is another whole process. | Scenario | RAM on Linux with Proton | RAM on Windows | vCPU | Disk | | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------ | -------------- | ---------- | -------------- | | 1 map, up to 10 players | 16 GB | 20 GB | 6 | 60 GB | | 1 map, 10 to 30 players or with mods | 20 to 24 GB | 24 GB | 7 to 8 | 100 GB | | 1 map, 30 to 70 players | 32 GB | 32 to 40 GB | 10 | 150 GB | | Cluster with 2 maps | 32 to 40 GB | 40 to 48 GB | 10 to 12 | 200 GB | | Cluster with 3 maps or more | 64 GB or more | 64 GB or more | 14 or more | 300 GB or more | On the CPU side, most of the game logic runs on one main thread, with physics spread across a few others. That is why the usual advice is to reserve about 4 cores per map and favor high clock speeds. On disk, the base install sits in the ten GB range, but saves, logs, mods and backup copies push a single map past 30 GB over time. NVMe shortens loading, which takes minutes in ARK, and avoids stalls during automatic saves. ## Route 1: Windows VPS[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#rota-windows) With the VPS created through the control panel, connect over Remote Desktop by following the guide on [creating a Windows VPS with RDP access](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/create-windows-vps-rdp). Inside Windows, download SteamCMD from Valve's site, extract it to `C:\steamcmd` and run in PowerShell: `C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\asa +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit` Create the file `C:\asa\iniciar.bat` with the launch line. In ASA, the player limit goes in the WinLiveMaxPlayers parameter, and the admin password must be the last item in the question-mark sequence. `@echo off cd /d C:\asa\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64 ArkAscendedServer.exe "TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=ARKBrasil?Port=7777?RCONEnabled=True?RCONPort=27020?ServerAdminPassword=TroqueEstaSenha" -WinLiveMaxPlayers=20 -log` ASA maps end in \_WP, such as TheIsland\_WP and ScorchedEarth\_WP. Run the bat once and wait: the first load takes several minutes. If the server closes right after opening, complaining about a missing DLL, install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable x64 package from Microsoft's site. To have the server come back on its own after a Windows reboot, create a task in Task Scheduler with the At startup trigger, the action pointing to iniciar.bat and the option to run whether the user is logged on or not. With RDP exposed to the internet, also follow the guide on [protecting RDP against attacks](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/secure-rdp-windows-vps). ## Route 2: Linux with Proton[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#rota-linux) On the Linux route, SteamCMD downloads the Windows version of the server, and Proton, Valve's compatibility layer, runs the .exe. The version the community uses most is `GE-Proton`, published on GitHub. The steps below show the structure; the community projects that automate this install usually list the up-to-date dependencies for each version. `sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash ark sudo add-apt-repository multiverse sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 sudo apt update sudo apt install steamcmd lib32gcc-s1 python3 wget sudo -iu ark /usr/games/steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +force_install_dir /home/ark/asa +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit` The parameter that forces the Windows platform comes before the login, together with the install directory. Next, download the .tar.gz of the latest release of that Proton build to `/home/ark/proton`, extract it with `tar -xzf` and create the script `/home/ark/iniciar.sh`, replacing VERSAO with the name of the extracted folder: `#!/bin/bash export STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/home/ark/.steam/steam export STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/home/ark/asa/steamapps/compatdata/2430930 mkdir -p "$STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH" "$STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH" cd /home/ark/asa/ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64 exec /home/ark/proton/GE-ProtonVERSAO/proton run ArkAscendedServer.exe "TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=ARKBrasil?Port=7777?RCONEnabled=True?RCONPort=27020?ServerAdminPassword=TroqueEstaSenha" -WinLiveMaxPlayers=20 -log` Make it executable with `chmod +x ~/iniciar.sh`, run it once in the terminal to see whether the map loads, then create the service at `/etc/systemd/system/ark.service`, this time from outside the ark user session: `[Unit] Description=Servidor ARK Survival Ascended After=network-online.target Wants=network-online.target [Service] User=ark ExecStart=/home/ark/iniciar.sh TimeoutStopSec=120 Restart=on-failure RestartSec=30 [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target` Enable it with `sudo systemctl daemon-reload` and `sudo systemctl enable --now ark`. Plain Wine also works for some admins, but Proton already ships the libraries Steam games expect and takes less effort. ## Ports and firewall[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#portas) ASA simplified networking compared with the old ARK: players only need one UDP port. The rest is administration and should stay closed to the public. | Port | Protocol | Purpose | Open to | | ----- | -------- | ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------- | | 7777 | UDP | Player connections | Everyone | | 27020 | TCP | RCON for remote administration | Your IP only | | 3389 | TCP | RDP, Windows route only | Your IP only | | 22 | TCP | SSH, Linux route only | Your IP, or everyone with SSH keys | On Windows, open PowerShell as administrator and create the game rule. On Linux, use UFW, always allowing SSH before enabling it: `# Windows (PowerShell as administrator) New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "ARK ASA" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 7777 -Action Allow # Linux (UFW) sudo ufw allow OpenSSH sudo ufw allow 7777/udp sudo ufw allow from SEU_IP to any port 27020 proto tcp sudo ufw enable` Popular ARK maps attract attacks, especially around wipes or events. The StreetHosting VPS filters that traffic before it reaches the server; see how it works in [Anti-DDoS for game servers in Brazil](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/anti-ddos-game-server-brazil). ## Configuration, mods and storage[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#configurar) On both routes, the settings live in `ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/`, since even on Linux it is the Windows build that runs. The GameUserSettings.ini file holds the day-to-day settings: join password, XP, harvesting and taming multipliers, difficulty and session name. Game.ini takes the finer adjustments, such as levels and engrams. Always edit with the server stopped, because it rewrites the files on shutdown. * **Mods:** add `-mods=111111,222222` to the launch line, with the numeric project IDs from CurseForge. The server downloads everything at startup. * **Platforms:** the ServerPlatform parameter decides whether console players join alongside PC players. Check the accepted values in the official documentation before changing it. * **Cluster:** to transfer characters and dinosaurs between maps, each map runs as its own process, on its own port, and all of them share the same clusterid and the same cluster folder. Every new mod raises RAM usage and loading time. Add one at a time and watch memory usage for a day before adding the next. ## Backup and updates[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#backup) The world lives in `ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/`, one folder per map. The server saves on its own from time to time, and the SaveWorld command, sent over RCON or from the in-game admin console, forces a save before maintenance. On the Linux route, as the ark user, create the script `/home/ark/backup.sh`: `#!/bin/bash DESTINO=/home/ark/backups mkdir -p "$DESTINO" tar -czf "$DESTINO/ark-$(date +%F-%H%M).tar.gz" -C /home/ark/asa/ShooterGame/Saved SavedArks Config find "$DESTINO" -name 'ark-*.tar.gz' -mtime +5 -delete` 1. Permission: `chmod +x ~/backup.sh` 2. Scheduler: `crontab -e` 3. Every four hours: `0 */4 * * * /home/ark/backup.sh` ARK saves are large, so five days of history already take up considerable space; adjust retention to your plan's disk and send copies off the VPS with the guide on [automatic backups with restic and cron](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/vps-backup-restic-cron). On Windows, the equivalent is a scheduled task that copies the SavedArks folder somewhere else with `robocopy` or compresses it with `Compress-Archive`. To update, force a SaveWorld, stop the server and run the same SteamCMD command used for the install again. On the Linux route, if the server stops opening after a big update, the first suspect is the Proton version: try the newest release before touching anything else. ## Which VPS or dedicated server to choose[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#qual-vps) ARK demands high clock speeds and lots of memory at the same time, exactly the profile of the [Ryzen 9 9950X VPS](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps/ryzen), with up to 5.7 GHz, DDR5 and NVMe. The tiers that make sense: * **1 map, small group, Linux with Proton:** R$ 222.00 per month, with 6 vCPU, 16 GB and 160 GB NVMe. * **1 map, small group, Windows:** R$ 274.00, with 7 vCPU, 20 GB and 200 GB NVMe. * **1 map with mods or up to 30 players:** R$ 326.00, with 8 vCPU, 24 GB and 240 GB NVMe. * **Full server or 2-map cluster:** R$ 430.00 with 10 vCPU and 32 GB, or R$ 534.00 with 11 vCPU and 40 GB. * **Top of the VPS line:** R$ 846.00 with 14 vCPU, 64 GB and 640 GB NVMe. Above that, with three maps or more in the cluster, the [dedicated server](https://streethosting.com.br/en/dedicated) AMD Extreme SM, with a Ryzen 9 9950X and 128 GB DDR5, costs R$ 2,229.00 per month, and the Extreme LG, with 192 GB, R$ 2,599.00. Both come with 2 TB NVMe, dedicated 10 Gbps and delivery within 6 days. For the Windows route on a dedicated server, confirm the Windows Server install with support first. Everything sits in São Paulo, with Anti-DDoS included, and a VPS upgrade through the control panel charges only the prorated difference, so you can start with one map and grow along with the tribe. The Xeon line, with lower clocks, is not recommended for ARK. If your community also plays other titles that only have a Windows server, the guides on [hosting a V Rising server](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-v-rising-server) and [hosting an Enshrouded server](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-enshrouded-server) follow the same two-route logic. In this guide * [Windows or Linux: what is official](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#windows-linux) * [Requirements by player count](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#requisitos) * [Route 1: Windows VPS](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#rota-windows) * [Route 2: Linux with Proton](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#rota-linux) * [Ports and firewall](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#portas) * [Configuration, mods and storage](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#configurar) * [Backup and updates](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#backup) * [Which VPS or dedicated server to choose](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-ark-survival-ascended-server#qual-vps) ## Frequently asked questions Does the ARK: Survival Ascended server run on Linux? Not officially. The dedicated server (app 2430930) is distributed for Windows only. On Linux it runs through compatibility layers such as Proton or Wine, a community path that works but has no support from the studio and can break after game updates. How much RAM does an ARK: Survival Ascended server need? One map with up to 10 players needs about 16 GB of RAM on Linux with Proton and around 20 GB on Windows, which spends memory on the operating system itself. Mods, more players and large bases raise consumption, and every extra map in a cluster adds another whole process. Which ports does the ARK: Survival Ascended server use? The game port is 7777 UDP, and it is the only one players need. RCON, used for remote administration, sits on 27020 TCP and should be open only to your IP. On a Windows VPS, RDP on port 3389 also deserves an IP restriction. How do I install mods on an ARK: Survival Ascended server? ASA mods come from CurseForge. Put the numeric project IDs in the mods launch parameter, separated by commas, and the server downloads everything on its own at startup. Players receive the same mods when they connect. Do I need a dedicated server for an ARK cluster? For two maps, a VPS with 32 to 40 GB of RAM is usually enough. With three maps or more, total memory goes past 64 GB, which is the top of the VPS line, and at that point a dedicated server with 128 GB of RAM becomes the more stable path. Next step See Ryzen VPS Ryzen 9 9950X VPS in São Paulo with root access, NVMe and gamer Anti-DDoS. [See Ryzen VPS](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps/ryzen) [See dedicated servers Exclusive hardware in São Paulo with NVMe and Anti-DDoS.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/dedicated) [See VPS plans Root VPS in Brazil with NVMe and Anti-DDoS.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps) ## Related guides [VPS Beginner How to create a Windows VPS with RDP access From the approved order to the first Windows screen open on your own computer. Learn how to install Windows Server on the VPS from the control panel and get your RDP login details. 4 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/create-windows-vps-rdp) [VPS Beginner Windows Server or Linux VPS: which should you choose? Your choice of operating system decides how much you pay, how much memory is left over and how you manage the machine. Here is when each one makes sense. 3 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/windows-server-vs-linux-vps) [VPS Advanced How to host a V Rising server: Windows or Linux The V Rising dedicated server is only distributed for Windows. See how to run it on a Windows VPS, how to make it work on Linux with Wine and what to configure so no castle disappears after an update. 9 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-v-rising-server) [← Back to the Guide Center](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides)