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ARK Survival Ascended server quickstart

Use this guide for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) on FrizzlenHost. It does not describe ARK: Survival Evolved. Open your service in the game panel and allow installation to finish.

1. Check the map and access settings

With the server stopped, open Startup. Our ASA setup provides Server Map, Server Name, Max Players, Server PvE, Server Password, Server Admin Password, MOD IDs and Auto-update server.

  • Keep Server Map on the supplied TheIsland_WP for a first connection test unless you have agreed another map with support. Ask us to check the required map identifier before changing it.
  • Server PvE selects PvE when enabled. Check this before starting a new community.
  • Server Password controls who can join. Keep Server Admin Password private and different from the joining password.
  • Leave query, RCON and game port assignments unchanged. A large Max Players value does not provide additional resources.

2. Start and find the server

Press Start and watch Console. Initial downloads, map loading and mod installation can take time. A running status or an RCON connection alone does not prove that a player can join.

Find the Server Name in ASA’s unofficial server browser. Check the game version, selected map and password filters. Where available, enable Show Player Servers and refresh; Wildcard documents that filter for non-Nitrado unofficial servers in its official ASA patch notes.

If the server is missing, send support your platform, server name and recent startup log. Avoid repeatedly reinstalling it to fix a browser-listing problem.

3. Configuration and mods

This ASA setup uses the Windows server configuration path, even though the hosting node runs Linux. In Files, the main settings file is:

ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini

Use Startup for settings exposed there: the configured launch process controls values including the admin password and player limit. Stop the server before manually editing other settings and retain a copy of the original file.

The MOD IDs field accepts CurseForge project IDs separated by commas, without spaces. Test the unmodded server first, then check each mod’s game-version and platform requirements. For console players, check the mod’s Cross-Platform designation; CurseForge explains platform eligibility. A mod being available on PC does not establish console compatibility.

4. Keep a complete save backup

Use the normal Stop action and wait for shutdown. Download ShooterGame/Saved/ before changing a map, adding mods, updating or moving a world. Retain the configuration and related player/tribe data together; save layouts can vary by server version and options.

For help, open a support ticket with your platform, map, mod IDs and exact error. Remove passwords from shared settings and logs.