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To run Crystal Isles on an ARK: Survival Evolved server, install the ASE dedicated-server files with SteamCMD app ID 376030, launch ShooterGameServer with the exact map token CrystalIsles, forward the game, peer, and query UDP ports, and keep persistent rules in the two INI files. A hosted panel follows the same principle through its map selector. Before changing maps or updating, copy the complete ShooterGame/Saved directory so your world, players, tribes, and cluster data can be restored.
This guide covers a Windows or Linux self-host, a Nitrado-style control panel, firewall and router settings, map-switch behavior, and the recovery checks that prevent a missing or apparently reset world.
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What do I need before setting up Crystal Isles?
You need an ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE) dedicated-server installation, a host computer or paid game-server account, administrator access to the host, and a router/firewall you can configure if the server is self-hosted. Crystal Isles uses the ASE dedicated-server executable and map name; it is not launched by typing the map’s display name with a space.
- Self-hosted server: Install SteamCMD, reserve a server directory, and allow the server process through the operating-system firewall.
- Hosted server: Use the provider’s control panel to stop the server, select Crystal Isles in the map field, save, and restart.
- Client testing: Keep an ARK: Survival Evolved client available so you can test a local or remote connection after the server starts.
- Recovery plan: Make a copy of
ShooterGame/Savedbefore the first major configuration change, every update, and any map switch.
The server can be private or public. A password is optional; if you omit ServerPassword from the launch command, players are not prompted for one.
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How do I install the Crystal Isles dedicated server with SteamCMD?
SteamCMD downloads the ASE server files. The official app ID used for Survival Evolved dedicated-server files is 376030.
1. Create a dedicated server directory
Choose a directory that the account running the server can read and write. On Windows this might be C:ARKServer; on Linux it might be /srv/arkserver. Avoid placing the files in a personal desktop folder that may have restrictive permissions or be moved accidentally.
2. Run the SteamCMD update command
Open a terminal or command prompt in the SteamCMD directory and point +force_install_dir at the directory you selected:
steamcmd +force_install_dir C:ARKServer +login anonymous +app_update 376030 +quitOn Linux, use the Linux path instead:
steamcmd +force_install_dir /srv/arkserver +login anonymous +app_update 376030 +quitWait for SteamCMD to finish downloading before creating the launch script. Re-run the same app_update 376030 command when you deliberately update the server, then restart the process and verify that the map argument still says CrystalIsles.
3. Find the server executable
On Windows, the launch file is normally under ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/. On Linux, use ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/. The executable is named ShooterGameServer (with .exe on Windows).
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What launch command loads Crystal Isles?
Put CrystalIsles immediately after the executable name. The executable, map token, and question-mark options form one command line; the map token is case-sensitive.
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Windows example
ShooterGameServer.exe CrystalIsles?SessionName=MyCrystalServer?ServerPassword=join-password?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=20?ServerAdminPassword=admin-passwordLinux example
./ShooterGameServer CrystalIsles?SessionName=MyCrystalServer?ServerPassword=join-password?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=20?ServerAdminPassword=admin-passwordReplace MyCrystalServer, the two password values, and 20 with your own settings. Remove the entire ?ServerPassword=join-password segment for an open server. Keep the separators exactly as shown: the map follows the executable, and each option is appended with a question mark.
| Option | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
CrystalIsles |
Loads the Crystal Isles world. | CrystalIsles |
SessionName |
Name displayed to players in the server browser. | MyCrystalServer |
ServerPassword |
Optional join password. | join-password |
Port |
UDP game port. | 7777 |
QueryPort |
UDP Steam-query port used for browser information. | 27015 |
MaxPlayers |
Maximum simultaneous players for this launch. | 20 |
ServerAdminPassword |
Password used for server administration commands. | admin-password |
Keep identity, map, ports, passwords, and player count in the launch script. Put gameplay rates and persistent rules in the INI files described below; this prevents a later script edit from silently removing them.
Which ports do I forward for a Crystal Isles server?
Forward the game, peer, and Steam-query UDP ports from the router to the computer running ShooterGameServer, and allow the same traffic through the host firewall. ShooterGameServer does not provide UPnP port forwarding, so manual rules are normally required.
| Port | Protocol | Role | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Primary game traffic. | Yes for the normal setup. |
| 7778 | UDP | Peer traffic; normally the game port plus one. | Yes for the normal setup. |
| 27015 | UDP | Steam query traffic used by the server browser. | Yes if you want reliable browser visibility. |
| 27020 | TCP | RCON administration. | Optional; open it only when you use RCON. |
Router forwarding
- Give the server computer a stable internal address, or reserve its address in the router.
- Create UDP forwarding rules for
7777,7778, and27015to that internal address. - If you use RCON, create a TCP rule for
27020and restrict access as much as your router and firewall allow. - Allow the same ports in the host operating-system firewall and confirm that the launch command uses matching
PortandQueryPortvalues.
Players on the same LAN may be able to connect even when an internet player cannot. Treat a successful local connection as a process test, not proof that the router and firewall are configured for outside players.
Where do I put rates and gameplay settings?
Persistent settings belong in GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini. Each setting is written as an Option=Value line under the appropriate section, normally [ServerSettings] in GameUserSettings.ini.
Use GameUserSettings.ini for routine server rules
Place basic and intermediate server settings in GameUserSettings.ini. Keep one option per line and preserve the section header expected by the setting. If a line already exists, edit its value rather than creating conflicting duplicates.
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Use Game.ini for advanced changes
Use Game.ini for advanced gameplay changes that are not part of the normal server-settings block. Make a backup before editing, stop the server first, and restart it after saving so the process reads the new values.
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The launch command should identify the world and network endpoint. Rates, harvesting rules, taming rules, and other persistent gameplay choices should remain in the INI files. This split also makes scripted updates safer because replacing a launch script will not erase the rules stored in the configuration files.
How do I back up and update the server safely?
Copy the entire ShooterGame/Saved directory before updates, map changes, or major configuration edits. It contains world, player, tribe, configuration, log, and cluster data, so backing up only one visible world file is not sufficient.
- Stop the server cleanly and wait for the process to exit.
- Copy
ShooterGame/Savedto a separate drive or dated backup location. - Record the date, active map, server version, and any major INI changes alongside the copy.
- Run SteamCMD with
app_update 376030when updating the ASE server files. - Start the server with
CrystalIsles, watch the startup output, and confirm that the expected save loads before allowing players back in.
If a world appears rolled back, stop the process before it writes more data, restore the latest known-good ShooterGame/Saved copy, and verify that the account running the server can write to the installation directory.
How do I select Crystal Isles on a hosted control panel?
On Nitrado’s documented ARK: Survival Evolved workflow, map changes are made while the server is stopped:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches- Stop the server.
- Open Settings, then choose General.
- Under Base settings, open the Mapname dropdown.
- Select Crystal Isles.
- Save the change and restart the server.
Other panels use different labels, but look for the equivalent map or startup setting and apply the change while the server is offline. If the panel exposes both a map selector and a raw startup command, use one method consistently so the two settings do not disagree.
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Will switching to Crystal Isles delete my existing ARK save?
A correctly configured map switch should not delete the save for another official, DLC, or custom map. Nitrado documents separate save folders for those map types, so switching maps leaves the other map’s data available when the server is configured correctly.
Do not treat that separation as a substitute for backups. Stop the server, copy ShooterGame/Saved, switch the map, and check the map-specific save before deleting or overwriting anything. If progress appears missing, restore the backup rather than repeatedly starting and stopping the server over the same files.
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What is the difference between self-hosting and a managed host?
Self-hosting gives you direct control over SteamCMD, launch scripts, firewall rules, and INI files. A managed host trades some low-level control for a panel that simplifies map selection and restarts.
| Decision factor | Self-hosted ASE | Managed control panel |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Direct access to executable, scripts, ports, and both INI files. | Settings are exposed through panel fields; advanced file access varies by provider. |
| Operations | You handle OS updates, port forwarding, process supervision, and backups. | The panel simplifies stopping, changing maps, saving, and restarting; provider-specific operations still apply. |
| Cost | No separate panel fee, but you supply hardware, bandwidth, and administration. | Hosting is a paid service category; current prices depend on provider, location, player capacity, and billing term. |
| Recovery | You must maintain and test your own ShooterGame/Saved copies. |
Providers may expose map-specific saves or provider backups, but keep an independent copy whenever possible. |
Choose self-hosting when you need script-level control or already operate a reliable server machine. Choose managed hosting when you prefer a browser workflow for map changes and restarts and do not want to maintain router and operating-system rules yourself.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do I troubleshoot a Crystal Isles server that does not work?
The server starts on The Island
Open the launch script that is actually being executed and check the map token character by character. It must be CrystalIsles, with that capitalization and no space. Also confirm that the script points to the active server directory rather than an older installation.
The server process runs but is not visible
Check UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015 on both the router and host firewall. Confirm that the forwarding target is the current internal address of the server computer and that QueryPort=27015 matches the forwarded query port.
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Players outside the LAN cannot join
Verify that the router forwards to the correct internal host, not a former DHCP address. Compare the command’s Port and QueryPort with the rules, then check the operating-system firewall. A local-LAN test can succeed while an internet connection remains blocked.
The world appears to have rolled back
Stop the server cleanly, restore the latest ShooterGame/Saved backup, and check that the process account has write permission for the installation directory. Do not delete the current save until the restored copy has been tested.
A mod or custom map conflicts with Crystal Isles
Crystal Isles is an official map, but additional custom maps or mods can introduce conflicts. Disable mods, test Crystal Isles by itself, and add mods back one at a time so the failing addition is identifiable.
A map switch seems to lose progress
Inspect the map-specific save folder and compare it with your dated ShooterGame/Saved backup. Restore the backup before overwriting or deleting any folder; separate map saves are useful only while their files remain intact.
What should I check before inviting players?
- The process launches
ShooterGameServerwithCrystalIslesimmediately after the executable. - The session name, player limit, and administrator password are intentional.
- The server password is either set deliberately or removed deliberately.
- UDP
7777, UDP7778, and UDP27015are forwarded and allowed through the firewall. - TCP
27020is opened only if RCON is required. GameUserSettings.iniandGame.inicontain oneOption=Valueline per setting in the correct section.- A dated copy of
ShooterGame/Savedexists outside the live installation. - A test player can find and join the server from outside the host’s LAN, not only from the local network.
What does Crystal Isles add as a map choice?
Nitrado describes Crystal Isles as free DLC with large crystal formations, unique creatures, and extensive cluster-island areas. The map token and server installation steps above apply to the ASE dedicated server; the descriptive features do not change the required executable, ports, or backup procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crystal Isles a paid DLC for ARK: Survival Evolved?
Nitrado describes Crystal Isles as free DLC. You still need a compatible ARK: Survival Evolved installation to connect, and the server must be running the ASE files rather than a different game edition.
Can I keep several map worlds on one server installation?
Official, DLC, and custom maps use separate save folders when the server is configured correctly. Keep dated backups of the whole ShooterGame/Saved directory so you can return to an earlier map without relying on an unverified live folder.
Why does the server browser show no Crystal Isles server even though the process is running?
The browser depends on the Steam query path, not just the game process. Check that UDP 27015 reaches the correct host, that UDP 7777 and 7778 are also allowed, and that the command’s QueryPort matches the forwarded query port.
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Stop the server first, make a dated copy of ShooterGame/Saved, apply the map change, and restart once. This prevents a running process from writing to the files while you are changing or restoring them.
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