Thanks for the patience

As of 2021-02-18 :latest is stable and will stay that way. Changes will begin in :dev. Please communicate any issues. Thanks, jkread.

arkserver

Docker image for a dedicated ARK Server with arkmanager.

Overview

This is an image for running an ARK: Survival Evolved server in a Docker container. It uses FezVrasta's arkmanager (ark-server-tools) to managed a single-instance ARK: Survival Evolved server inside a docker container.

For more information on arkmanager, see the repo here: https://github.com/FezVrasta/ark-server-tools

Features

• Automated install (pull the image and run, no additional commands necessary)
• Configuration via Environment Variables
• Easy crontab manipulation for automated backups, updates, daily restarts, weekly dino wipes, etc
• Simple volume structure for server files, config, logs, backups, etc
• Inherently includes all features present in arkmanager

Tags

Tag	Description
latest	stable build
dev	working build (not-stable)

Usage

Installing the image

Pull the latest (or any other desired version):

docker pull jkread/arkserver:latest

Running the server

To run a generic server with no configuration modifications:

$ docker run -d \
    -v steam:/home/steam \  # mounted so that workshop (mod) downloads are persisted
    -v ark:/ark \  # mounted as the directory to contain the server/backup/log/config files
    -p 27015:27015 -p 27015:27015/udp \  # steam query port
    -p 7778:7778 -p 7778:7778/udp \  # gameserver port
    -p 7777:7777 -p 7777:7777/udp \ # gameserver port
    jkread/arkserver

Docker compose sample (change or remove environment variables as the suit you):

version: '3'
volumes:
  ark:
  steam:
services:
  ark:
    image: jkread/arkserver:latest
    container_name: ark
    network_mode: bridge
    restart: always
    ports:
      - 7777:7777
      - 7777:7777/udp
      - 7778:7778
      - 7778:7778/udp
      - 27015:27015
      - 27015:27015/udp
    volumes:
      - ark:/ark
      - steam:/home/steam
    environment:
      - TZ=America/Chicago
      - am_ark_SessionName=Ark Docker Session
      - am_serverMap=TheIsland
      - am_ark_ServerPassword=letmein
      - am_ark_ServerAdminPassword=pleasechangeme
      - am_ark_MaxPlayers=70
      - am_ark_QueryPort=27015
      - am_ark_Port=7778
      - am_ark_RCONPort=32330
      - am_arkwarnminutes=15
      - am_arkAutoUpdateOnStart=true
      - am_arkBackupPreUpdate=true
      - am_arkMaxBackupSizeMB=500
      - am_arkflag_crossplay=false
      - am_arkflag_NoBattlEye=true
      - am_ark_GameModIds=111111111,566885854,731604991,761535755,821530042,889745138,1404697612

If the exposed ports are modified (in the case of multiple containers/servers on the same host) the arkmanager config will need to be modified to reflect the change as well. This is required so that arkmanager can properly check the server status and so that the ARK server itself can properly publish its IP address and query port to steam.

Environment Variables

A set of required environment variables have default values provided as part of the image:

Variable	Value	Description
TZ	N/A	Timezone
am_ark_SessionName	Ark Server	Server name as it will show on the steam server list
am_serverMap	TheIsland	Game map to load
am_ark_ServerPassword	N/A	Server password to connect
am_ark_ServerAdminPassword	k3yb04rdc4t	Admin password to be used via ingame console or RCON
am_ark_MaxPlayers	70	Max concurrent players in the game
am_ark_QueryPort	27015	Steam query port (allows the server to show up on the steam list)
am_ark_Port	7778	Game server port (allows clients to connect to the server)
am_ark_RCONPort	32330	RCON port
am_arkwarnminutes	15	Number of minutes to wait/warn players before updating/restarting
am_arkflag_crossplay	false	Allow crossyplay with Players on Epic
am_arkAutoUpdateOnStart=true	-	-
am_arkBackupPreUpdate=true	-	-
am_arkMaxBackupSizeMB=500	-	-
am_arkflag_crossplay	false	Allow crossyplay with Players on Epic
am_arkflag_NoBattleEye	false	Disable BattleEye
am_ark_GameModIds	N/A	List of game mod ids, comma delimited

Adding Additional Variables

Any configuration value that is available via arkmanager can be set using an environment variable. This works by taking any environment variable on the container that is prefixed with am_ and mapping it to the corresponding environment variable in the arkmanager.cfg file.

For a complete list of configuration values available, please see FezVrasta's great documentation here: arkmanager Configuration Files

Volumes

This image has two main volumes that should be mounted as named volumes or host directories for the persistence of the server install and all related configuration files. More information on Docker volumes here: Docker: Use Volumes

Path	Description
/home/steam	Directory of steam cache and other steamcmd-related files. Should be mounted so that mod installs are persisted between container runs/restarts
/ark	Directory that will contain the server files, config files, logs and backups. More information below

Subdirectories of /ark

Inside the /ark volume there are several directories containing server related files:

Path	Description
/ark/backup	Location of the zipped backups genereated from the arkmaanger backup command. Compressed using bz2.
/ark/config	Location of server config files. You can place customized config files here. AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt, Engine.ini, Game.ini, GameUserSettings.ini, crontab
/ark/log	Location of the arkmanager and arkserver log files.
/ark/server	Location of the server installation performed by steamcmd. This will contain the ShooterGame directory and the actual server binaries.
/ark/staging	Default directory for staging game and mod updates. Can be changed using in arkmanager.cfg

GameUserSettings.ini

Example GameUserSettings.ini

Your GameUserSettings.ini must contain the following or it will be overwritten:

[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameUserSettings]
Version=5