The Tool Desk
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Godlike.Host offers hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
This guide covers a self-hosted installation from an empty machine through first connection, memory planning, network forwarding, maintenance, and the fixes for the most common Valguero startup and visibility problems.
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What you need before installing
Valguero is downloadable content for ARK: Survival Evolved. The dedicated-server workflow is software configuration: you do not need a physical Valguero disc. The host must have access to the ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated-server files and must run a 64-bit operating system. The ARK Official Community Wiki describes the dedicated server executable as a 64-bit application, so a 32-bit Windows or Linux installation cannot run it.
- A 64-bit host: use 64-bit Windows or a 64-bit Linux distribution.
- SteamCMD: Valve’s command-line Steam client downloads and validates the server files.
- Storage and permissions: create a directory where the account running the server can write the installation, save, and log files.
- Network control: you need access to the host firewall and, for players outside your local network, the router that receives the public connection.
- Administrative credentials: choose a server join password and a separate, stronger administrator password before you expose the server to the internet.
Players still need ARK: Survival Evolved and the Valguero content available to their game installation. The server selects the map with its level name; it does not turn Valguero into a separate physical product.
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Self-hosting or managed hosting?
Running the server yourself gives you direct control, but it also makes you responsible for the operating system, updates, backups, firewall rules, and internet reachability. A managed ARK host can perform those tasks for you, but you trade some system-level access for provider support and the provider’s control panel. Decide before installing because the network and maintenance work is different.
| Decision point | Self-hosted machine | Managed ARK server |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront and recurring cost | You supply the computer, storage, electricity, and network service; there is no universal price. | You pay the provider’s recurring plan; price, supported version, and region vary and must be checked with the provider. |
| Configuration and mods | Direct access to launch arguments, files, saves, and the operating system. | Usually controlled through a panel or support request; the exact mod workflow depends on the provider. |
| Operating-system access | Full control of Windows or Linux services, permissions, and scheduled jobs. | Limited to the access level included in the plan. |
| Backups and updates | You must schedule, test, and retain your own backups and SteamCMD updates. | The provider may offer automation, but retention and restore terms must be confirmed. |
| Network reachability and attack handling | You configure port forwarding and firewall rules and handle outages or attacks yourself. | The provider operates the public network and may include DDoS mitigation; coverage is provider-specific. |
| Capacity and latency | Bound by your hardware, upload capacity, and the players’ distance from your network. | Choose a location and plan appropriate to your intended population; advertised capacity differs by provider. |
| Support | You troubleshoot the process, files, and router. | You can use provider support, with response times and scope set by the provider. |
If you want to learn the server’s file layout and retain complete control, self-hosting is the transparent option. If router access, patching, or 24-hour availability is the main obstacle, managed hosting removes much of that administration.
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Install SteamCMD and the ARK server files
1. Install SteamCMD and make a server directory
Install SteamCMD for your host operating system, then create a dedicated directory for ARK. Keep the directory separate from SteamCMD itself so that saves and logs are easy to back up. Use an account with write permission to this directory; running the process as an account that cannot write its save folder will make a seemingly successful installation fail when it tries to persist the world.
2. Download app 376030
ARK: Survival Evolved’s dedicated-server application is Steam app 376030. From SteamCMD, set the installation directory and run the anonymous update with validation:
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app_update 376030 validateIf you use SteamCMD’s command-line form, provide the same app ID, destination directory, and validation operation in one invocation. Validation is useful on the first install and after an interrupted download because it checks that the server files are complete. Wait for SteamCMD to finish before creating the launch script; starting while files are still downloading can produce a map-load error that looks like a configuration problem.
3. Check the expected executable path
On Windows, the server executable is in ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/. On Linux, use ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/. The executable is named ShooterGameServer.exe on Windows and ShooterGameServer on Linux. If neither path exists after validation, return to SteamCMD and validate app 376030 again rather than copying an executable from another installation.
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Create a Valguero launch script
The map name must be the first argument after the executable. For Valguero in ARK: Survival Evolved, that exact level name is Valguero_P. The remaining settings are appended as query-string parameters, each introduced by a question mark.
Windows batch file
Create a file such as start-valguero.bat in ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/. Replace the angle-bracket variables with your values; they are shown in a code block so the separators and capitalization are unambiguous.
ShooterGameServer.exe Valguero_P?SessionName=<server_name>?ServerPassword=<join_password>?Port=<port>?QueryPort=<query_port>?MaxPlayers=<max_players>?ServerAdminPassword=<admin_password>Save the file and double-click it, or run it from a command prompt opened in the same directory. Keeping the command in a batch file makes later restarts consistent and gives you a single place to change the session name, ports, or player limit.
Linux shell script
Create a shell script such as start-valguero.sh in ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/:
#!/bin/sh
./ShooterGameServer Valguero_P?SessionName=<server_name>?ServerPassword=<join_password>?Port=<port>?QueryPort=<query_port>?MaxPlayers=<max_players>?ServerAdminPassword=<admin_password>Make the script executable, then run it from that directory. Keep the process attached to a terminal while testing so that startup errors remain visible. For normal operation, use your preferred service manager or terminal multiplexer, but make sure it launches the same script and working directory.
What each setting does
| Setting | Purpose | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
Valguero_P |
Selects the Valguero level in ARK: Survival Evolved. | Keep the capitalization and underscore exact. |
SessionName |
Text players see in the server browser. | Use a distinctive name that identifies the community or event. |
ServerPassword |
Password required to join, when set. | Give it only to the intended players; changing it requires a restart. |
Port |
The game connection port. | Choose a free port and forward that same value to the server machine. |
QueryPort |
The server-browser query port. | It must be reachable from outside if you expect the server to appear publicly. |
MaxPlayers |
Upper limit for simultaneous players. | Set a limit your hardware and upload capacity can sustain, not merely the largest number you can type. |
ServerAdminPassword |
Password used for administrator commands. | Use a different secret from the join password and do not post it in community channels. |
Do not put a second map name later in the command. If the map is not the first argument, the process may start without loading Valguero or may exit before creating a world.
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Open the firewall and router
A running process is not automatically reachable. Create host-firewall rules that allow the selected game port and query port for the ARK server executable. Then, if the host sits behind a home or office router, forward both selected ports to the host’s local address. The forwarding destination must remain stable; reserve the machine’s local address in the router or configure an equivalent static assignment.
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PortandQueryPortin the launch script. - Allow those two ports through the operating-system firewall, targeting the ARK server process or the appropriate inbound rule.
- Create matching router forwarding entries from the public interface to the server machine’s local address.
- Check that the router is forwarding to the current machine, not an old DHCP address or another computer.
- Give remote testers the correct external address and game port. A private address works only inside the same local network.
Do not change a port in only one place. A mismatch between the script, firewall, router, and the address shared with players produces the same symptom as a stopped server: it will not appear or will reject connections.
Start the world and verify it from a player’s perspective
- Launch the Windows batch file or Linux script and wait for the process to finish its initial map and save initialization. The first start can take longer than subsequent restarts.
- Confirm that the process remains running instead of closing immediately. Read the terminal or console output before changing settings.
- From an ARK client, open the unofficial-server browser and search for the exact
SessionName. Apply the correct filter for ARK: Survival Evolved rather than a different ARK edition. - Join with the configured server password, if one is set. A local test from the same network proves the process works; a test from an outside connection proves forwarding and public reachability.
- Test administrator access with the separate administrator password. Keep this test private and remove any temporary credentials afterward.
- Build or change something small, leave the server, stop it cleanly, and start it again. Verify that the world and change persist. This catches write-permission and save-path problems before inviting players.
If the server is visible locally but not remotely, focus on the query-port forwarding, firewall scope, router destination, and external address rather than reinstalling the map.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How much RAM does a Valguero server need?
The current ARK Official Community Wiki server-setup documentation gives an empty Valguero_P Survival Evolved world a baseline of approximately 3–4 GiB of memory. That is an empty-world figure, not a safe maximum for a populated server. Memory rises as players connect and as structures, creatures, storage, save data, and mods accumulate.
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| Server state | What the documented figure means | Planning action |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh, empty Valguero world | About 3–4 GiB in the cited setup documentation. | Leave operating-system headroom instead of allocating the entire machine to ARK. |
| Players connected | Usage increases with active players and their activity. | Observe memory during a realistic peak, not only immediately after boot. |
| Older world | Structures, creatures, inventories, and save data accumulate over time. | Recheck capacity after the world has aged and the save has grown. |
| Modded world | Installed mods can add memory demand and instability. | Add mods one at a time and monitor after each change. |
The documentation explicitly notes that requirements vary by map, connected players, world age, and installed mods. If the host begins swapping, players disconnect, or the process crashes under load, compare available memory with the 3–4 GiB empty-map baseline and the additional workload rather than treating that baseline as a universal server specification.
Keep the server maintainable
Back up before changes
Copy the server’s save directory before updating the server files, changing launch settings, or adding or removing mods. Keep at least one copy separate from the live installation. A backup is useful only if you can identify which world it belongs to and restore it without overwriting the only current copy.
Update deliberately
Stop the server cleanly, retain the save backup, and run SteamCMD’s app_update 376030 validate before restarting. Watch the first startup after an update for map-load errors, missing files, or mod-related failures. Do not update while the process is writing a save.
Change one variable at a time
When diagnosing crashes or disconnects, change one mod, launch setting, or network rule per restart. Recording the old value makes it possible to reverse a change. If a problem begins after a mod update, remove or update that mod before altering unrelated ports or passwords.
Protect credentials and access
Use a long administrator password that is not reused for the join password or the host account. Restrict operating-system access to trusted administrators, and avoid pasting the full launch command into public logs because it contains both passwords.
Troubleshooting Valguero setup problems
| Symptom | Checks | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Server does not appear in the unofficial-server list | Confirm the process is running; verify the query port in the script, firewall, and router; check that the forwarding target is the correct host; confirm players are using the external address and correct port. | Correct the mismatched value or rule, restart the server, and search again after the process has completed startup. |
| Players can see the name but cannot join | Check the game Port, not only QueryPort; verify the join password and external address. |
Make the game-port forwarding and firewall rule match the launch script exactly, then retest from outside the host network. |
| Map fails to load or the process exits | Inspect the command for the exact spelling Valguero_P; confirm app 376030 finished validation. |
Correct the map identifier or rerun SteamCMD validation, then start from the known-good script. |
| Frequent disconnects or crashes | Compare available memory with the empty-world baseline and account for players, world age, structures, saves, and mods. | Reduce the load, remove or update mods one at a time, and provide more memory headroom where possible. |
| World changes disappear after a restart | Check that the process account can write the save directory and that the server was stopped cleanly. | Fix directory permissions, restore the appropriate backup if necessary, and perform a controlled persistence test. |
| Server starts on the wrong map | Read the first argument after the executable and look for a second or misspelled map value. | Make Valguero_P the first argument and remove conflicting map arguments. |
Valguero setup checklist
- 64-bit Windows or Linux host prepared.
- SteamCMD installed and ARK app
376030downloaded with validation. - Executable located in the expected
Win64orLinuxdirectory. - Launch script starts with
Valguero_P. - Session name, join password, administrator password, player limit, game port, and query port set.
- Host firewall rules match both selected ports.
- Router forwards both ports to the correct server machine for outside players.
- Server appears in the ARK unofficial-server browser.
- Join, administrator access, and save persistence tested.
- Save backup made before updates, configuration changes, or mod changes.
With those checks complete, you have a reproducible Valguero dedicated server rather than a one-time process launch. The essential details are the 64-bit host, Steam app 376030, the exact map identifier Valguero_P, matching game and query-port rules, and enough memory headroom for the population and content you actually run.
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