ARK: Survival Evolved - Docker

Docker build for managing an ARK: Survival Evolved server.

The base image used is cm2network/steamcmd, the recommended way for apps using steamcmd running in docker environments.

This image uses Ark Server Tools to manage the ark server.

It is based on the work done here: https://github.com/TuRz4m/Ark-docker but as this is not getting updated anymore I decided to do it myself.

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As this is a new project and I could not test everything yet, some of the features mentioned may not work as expected!

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Features

• Use Ark Server Tools : update/install/start/backup/rcon/mods
• Easy crontab configuration (not tested yet)
• Easy access to ark config files
• Mods handling (via Ark Server Tools)
• Docker stop is a clean stop

Usage

Fast & Easy minimal server setup :
docker run -d -p 7777:7777/udp -p 7778:7778/udp -p 27015:27015/udp wollsi/arkdocker

You can map the ark volume to access config files and persist your data: -v /my/path/to/ark:/ark

You can manage your server with rcon if you map the rcon port:
-p 27020:27020

You can change server and steam query port to allow multiple servers on same host:
(You can't just rebind the port with docker. It won't work, you need to change GAMEPORT & QUERYPORT variable) -e QUERYPORT=27016 -e GAMEPORT=7779

You can check your server with :
docker exec <container_name> arkmanager status

You can manually update your mods:
docker exec <container_name> arkmanager update --update-mods

You can manually update your server:
docker exec <container_name> arkmanager update --force

You can force save your server :
docker exec <container_name> arkmanager saveworld

You can backup your server :
docker exec <container_name> arkmanager backup

You can upgrade Ark Server Tools :
docker exec <container_name> arkmanager upgrade-tools

You can use rcon command via docker :
docker exec <container_name> arkmanager rconcmd ListPlayers
Full list of available command here

You can check all available command for arkmanager here

cron

I did not check if this part still works

You can easily configure automatic update and backup.
If you edit the file /my/path/to/ark/crontab you can add your crontab job.
For example :

# Update the server every hours
0 * * * * arkmanager update --warn --update-mods >> /ark/log/crontab.log 2>&1

# Backup the server each day at 00:00
0 0 * * * arkmanager backup >> /ark/log/crontab.log 2>&1
You can check this website for more information on cron.

Mods

To add mods, you only need to change the variable ark_GameModIds in arkmanager.cfg with a list of your modIds (like this ark_GameModIds="987654321,1234568"). If UPDATEONSTART is enable, just restart your docker or use docker exec ark arkmanager update --update-mods.

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Recommended Usage

• First run
  docker run -d -p 7777:7777/udp -p 7778:7778/udp -p 27015:27015/udp -p 27020:27020 -e SESSIONNAME=YourARKServerName --name container_name wollsi/arkdocker

• Wait for server to be downloaded

• Use arkmanager stop to stop the ark server

• Edit /my/path/to/ark/GameUserSetting.ini and Game.ini

• Edit /my/path/to/ark/arkmanager.cfg to add mods and configure warning time.

• Edit /my/path/to/ark/main.cfg to add mods and configure warning time.

• Add auto update every day and autobackup by editing /my/path/to/ark/crontab with this lines :
  0 0 * * * arkmanager update --warn --update-mods >> /ark/log/crontab.log 2>&1
0 0 * * * arkmanager backup >> /ark/log/crontab.log 2>&1

• Use arkmanager start to start the ark server

• Check your server with : docker exec ark arkmanager status

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Variables

• SESSIONNAME Name of your ark server (default : "Ark Docker")
• SERVERMAP Map of your ark server (default : "TheIsland")
• SERVERPASSWORD Password of your ark server (default : "")
• ADMINPASSWORD Admin password of your ark server (default : "adminpassword")
• QUERYPORT Ark server port (can't rebind with docker, it doesn't work) (default : 27015)
• GAMEPORT Steam server port (can't rebind with docker, it doesn't work) (default : 7778)
• RCONPORT Rcon port
• BACKUPONSTART 1 : Backup the server when the container is started. 0: no backup (default : 1)
• UPDATEPONSTART 1 : Update the server when the container is started. 0: no update (default : 1)
• BACKUPONSTOP 1 : Backup the server when the container is stopped. 0: no backup (default : 0)
• WARNONSTOP 1 : Warn the players before the container is stopped. 0: no warning (default : 0)
• TZ Time Zone : Set the container timezone (for crontab). (You can get your timezone posix format with the command tzselect. For example, France is "Europe/Paris").
• UID UID of the user used. Owner of the volume /ark
• GID GID of the user used. Group of the volume /ark

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Volumes

• /ark : Working directory

  • /ark/Game.ini : Ark game.ini config file

  • /ark/GameUserSetting.ini : Ark gameusersetting.ini config file

  • /ark/arkmanager.cfg : Arkmanager global config file

  • /ark/main.cfg : Arkmanager Instance config file for main instance

  • /ark/crontab : crontab config file

  • /ark/server : Server files and data

  • /ark/log : logs directory

  • /ark/backup : backup directory

  • /ark/staging : default directory if you use the --downloadonly option when updating.

• /home/steam/steamcmd : Installation directory of steamcmd

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Expose

• Port : GAMEPORT : Game port (default: 7777)
• Port : QUERYPORT : Steam query port (default: 27015)
• Port : RCONPORT : Rcon port (default: 27020)

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Known issues

FAQ

Why is there only one port (GAMEPORT) I can change? Don't I need two?

Yes indeed you need 2 (actually 3 if you count the Steam query port and 4 if you want to use rcon). The second port is always GAMEPORT + 1. So make sure that port is available on your host as well! (See: Dedicated_Server_Setup#Network for more information)

I get an ''Connection Timeout'' Error when trying to join the server.

• The ports may not be set correctly in the container. Check used ports using the following:

  • Use docker exec -it <container_name> bash to open bash into your container.
  • Call apt update && apt install net-tools to install netstat.
  • Call netstat -antup to see if the ports are correct.

  You should see something like:

  Active Internet connections (servers and established)
  Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address           Foreign Address         State       PID/Program name
  udp        0      0 127.0.0.1:27015         0.0.0.0.*                           -
  udp        0      0 127.0.0.1:7777          0.0.0.0.*                           -
  udp        0      0 127.0.0.1:7778          0.0.0.0.*                           -
  tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:27020         0.0.0.0.*               LISTEN      -
  

• Check if the ports exposed and forwarded in the container match with the ports used by the ark server.