This guide covers first start, map selection, server configuration (GameUserSettings.ini), BattlEye anti-cheat, and how to connect to your ARK: Survival Evolved server on Legion Hosting. For mod installation, see ARK:SE Mod Installation. For admin commands and RCON, see ARK:SE Admin Commands & RCON.
1. First Start
- Log in to GPanel.
- Select your ARK: Survival Evolved server from the server list.
- Click the Console tab, then click Start.
- The server will download and install the ARK dedicated server files automatically via SteamCMD. This initial install can take 15-30 minutes depending on download speed and disk performance.
- Once the console shows the server is listening for connections, the server is ready. Default configuration files (
GameUserSettings.ini, etc.) are generated during the first start insideShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/.
First start takes longer than subsequent starts. ARK: Survival Evolved is a large game (over 50 GB installed). The first startup includes a full download. Future starts will only download updates and typically take 2-5 minutes.
2. Map Selection
ARK: Survival Evolved supports multiple official maps. The map is set via the Startup tab in GPanel under the Map or SERVER_MAP variable. Enter the exact map name from the table below.
| Map Name | DLC? | Description |
|---|---|---|
TheIsland |
Free (base game) | The original ARK map. A large island with diverse biomes including beaches, jungles, mountains, caves, and an ocean trench. Great for new players and servers. |
TheCenter |
Free DLC | A sprawling map with floating islands, underground caverns, and a massive ocean. Roughly double the playable area of The Island. |
ScorchedEarth_P |
Paid DLC | A harsh desert environment with sandstorms, electrical storms, and unique creatures like the Wyvern and Phoenix. Introduces wind turbines and desert-themed items. |
Ragnarok |
Free DLC | A massive community-made map that became official. Features a mix of biomes including a snow region, desert, highlands, and a Wyvern trench. One of the most popular maps. |
Aberration_P |
Paid DLC | An underground map set inside a damaged ARK. Bioluminescent zones, radiation areas, and unique creatures like the Rock Drake. No flyers allowed on most of the map. |
Extinction |
Paid DLC | Set on a ruined Earth with the Wasteland, Sunken Forest, Snow Dome, and Desert Dome. Introduces Titans, Enforcers, and orbital supply drops. |
Valguero_P |
Free DLC | A diverse map featuring chalk hills, a Deinonychus nesting area, an underground aberration zone, and a white cliffs region. |
Genesis |
Paid DLC (Season Pass) | A simulation-based map with five distinct biomes (Arctic, Bog, Ocean, Lunar, Volcanic). Introduces missions, HLN-A companion, and unique tames like the Magmasaur. |
CrystalIsles |
Free DLC | A visually striking map with crystal formations, floating islands, and diverse biomes. Features Crystal Wyverns that can be passively tamed. |
Gen2 |
Paid DLC (Season Pass) | A massive colony ship with two distinct rings (Eden and Rockwell's Innards). Introduces Maewing, Shadowmane, and the Tek Bow. Features space-based gameplay. |
Fjordur |
Free DLC | A Norse-themed map with three realms (Midgard, Asgard, Jotunheim, Vanaheim). Features unique boss fights, teleportation portals, and Andrewsarchus and Desmodus tames. |
Paid DLC maps require the DLC to be installed on the server. If your server does not have the required DLC files, it will fail to start or revert to TheIsland. Check the GPanel Startup tab for any DLC-related options, or contact support if you need assistance enabling a DLC map.
Custom and modded maps are also supported. Enter the mod map's name in the map startup variable. See ARK:SE Mod Installation for how to add the corresponding Workshop mod ID.
3. Server Configuration — GameUserSettings.ini
ARK: Survival Evolved uses GameUserSettings.ini as its primary configuration file. It is located at ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini and is generated automatically on first start.
Always stop your server before editing configuration files. ARK overwrites
GameUserSettings.ini on shutdown, so changes made while the server is running will be lost.
- Stop the server from the GPanel Console tab.
- Open the Files tab and navigate to
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/. - Click
GameUserSettings.inito open it in the editor.
Key Settings in [ServerSettings]
| Setting | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
ServerPassword |
mypassword |
Password required for players to join. Leave empty for a public server. |
ServerAdminPassword |
adminpass123 |
Password used to access in-game admin commands via EnableCheats. Keep this private. |
MaxPlayers |
20 |
Maximum simultaneous players. Should match your hosting plan's slot limit. |
DifficultyOffset |
1.0 |
Controls wild creature level scaling. 1.0 is official difficulty; wild dinos spawn up to level 120 (or 150 with OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0). |
OverrideOfficialDifficulty |
5.0 |
Sets max wild dino level. 5.0 = max level 150 (the official standard). Values above 5 allow higher wild levels. |
XPMultiplier |
2.0 |
Multiplier for XP gained. 1.0 is default; 2.0 doubles XP. |
TamingSpeedMultiplier |
3.0 |
Multiplier for taming speed. Higher values make taming faster. |
HarvestAmountMultiplier |
2.0 |
Multiplier for resources gathered per harvest action. |
bDisableStructureDecayPvE |
True |
Disables structure decay on PvE servers. Set to True if you do not want buildings to deteriorate over time. |
Key Settings in [SessionSettings]
| Setting | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
SessionName |
My Legion ARK Server |
The name shown in the in-game and Steam server browsers. |
QueryPort |
(check GPanel) | The Steam query port for server browser listings. Must match the port assigned in the GPanel Network tab. |
PvE vs PvP
ARK defaults to PvP mode. To enable PvE, add the following under [ServerSettings]:
bDisablePvE=FalseSetting bDisablePvE=False enables PvE mode (structures cannot be damaged by other players). Setting it to True or omitting it keeps PvP active.
Note on the double negative: The setting is named
bDisablePvE. Setting it to False means "do not disable PvE", which enables PvE mode. This is a common source of confusion.
Example Configuration
[SessionSettings]
SessionName=My Legion ARK Server
[ServerSettings]
ServerPassword=
ServerAdminPassword=adminpass123
MaxPlayers=20
DifficultyOffset=1.0
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0
XPMultiplier=2.0
TamingSpeedMultiplier=3.0
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0
bDisablePvE=False
bDisableStructureDecayPvE=True4. BattlEye Anti-Cheat
BattlEye is the anti-cheat system used by ARK: Survival Evolved. When enabled, players must have BattlEye installed and active on their client to join your server.
Enabling or Disabling BattlEye
BattlEye is controlled via GPanel startup parameters:
- Check the Startup tab in GPanel for a BattlEye toggle or variable (e.g.
BATTLEYE). - Set it to enabled (or
1/true) to require BattlEye for all connecting players. - Set it to disabled (or
0/false) to allow connections without BattlEye.
| BattlEye State | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Enabled | Reduces cheating; required for official-style servers | Some players may have BattlEye compatibility issues; slightly longer connection time |
| Disabled | Faster connections; avoids BattlEye compatibility problems; required for some mods | No anti-cheat protection; server may attract cheaters |
BattlEye-enabled and BattlEye-disabled servers use separate browser filters. Players searching with BattlEye enabled in their client will only see BattlEye-enabled servers, and vice versa. Make sure your players know your server's BattlEye setting.
5. How to Connect
There are several ways for players to connect to your ARK: Survival Evolved server. Your server's IP address and ports are shown in the GPanel Network tab.
Method 1 — Steam Server Browser
- Open Steam and click View > Game Servers (or View > Servers in older Steam versions).
- Click the Favourites tab.
- Click Add a Server and enter your server's IP and query port (check the GPanel Network tab for the correct query port).
- Click Add this address to favourites, then select the server and click Connect.
Method 2 — In-Game Server Browser
- Launch ARK and click Join ARK from the main menu.
- In the Session Filter dropdown, select Unofficial.
- Use the search bar to search for your server's
SessionName. - Select your server and click Join.
The in-game browser can be slow. ARK's in-game server list takes time to load all servers. Using the Steam server browser or a direct connect is usually faster.
Method 3 — Direct Connect via Console
- Launch ARK and reach the main menu.
- Press Tab to open the console.
- Type the following command:
Replaceopen IP:PORTIPandPORTwith your server's IP address and game port from the GPanel Network tab. - Press Enter to connect.
Do not guess your port numbers. Always check the GPanel Network tab for your server's exact IP, game port, and query port. Using incorrect ports is the most common reason players cannot find or connect to a server.
Related Articles
- ARK:SE Mod Installation
- ARK:SE Admin Commands & RCON
- How to Find Your Server IP and Port
- Server Startup Guide
- How to Upload Files via SFTP
Need Help?
If you run into an issue not covered here, submit a support ticket and include your server ID, a description of the problem, and any relevant console output from GPanel.
