nightdragon1/ark-docker repository overview

⁠ARK: Survival Evolved - Docker

Docker build for managing an ARK: Survival Evolved server.

This image uses Ark Server Tools⁠ to manage an ark server and is forked from boerngenschmidt/Ark-docker⁠

If you use an old volume, get the new arkmanager.cfg in the template directory.
Don't forget to use docker pull NightDragon1/ark-docker to get the latest version of the image

IMPORTED INFO for those who wanna migrate! If you haven't been using this docker-image before, just go ahead creating it like explained in "Usage". If you have been using another image before, like boerngenschmidt/Ark-docker, you'll have to two do things:

1. Remove the old container instance using docker rm....
2. Recreate the new container instance with the same parameters as before, optionally: add/set the new ENVIRONMENT variable "RCONPORT" to your docker create
3. In case you are using your existing arkamanger.cfg, add the following lines to your file:

ark_Port=${STEAMPORT}
ark_QueryPort=${SERVERPORT}
ark_RCONEnabled="True"
ark_RCONPort=${RCONPORT}

⁠Features

• Easy install (no steamcmd / lib32... to install)
• Use Ark Server Tools : update/install/start/backup/rcon/mods
• Easy crontab configuration
• Easy access to ark config file
• Mods handling (via Ark Server Tools)
• Docker stop is a clean stop
• Auto upgrading of arkmanager
• An Up to date Docker Images for ARK-Docker
• Docker Healthcheck

⁠Usage

Fast & Easy server setup :
docker run -d -p 7778:7778 -p 7778:7778/udp -p 27015:27015 -p 27015:27015/udp -e SESSIONNAME=myserver -e ADMINPASSWORD="mypasswordadmin" --name ark nightdragon1/ark-docker

You can map the ark volume to access config files :
docker run -d -p 7778:7778 -p 7778:7778/udp -p 27015:27015 -p 27015:27015/udp -e SESSIONNAME=myserver -v /my/path/to/ark:/ark --name ark nightdragon1/ark-docker
Then you can edit /my/path/to/ark/arkmanager.cfg (the values override GameUserSetting.ini) and /my/path/to/ark/[GameUserSetting.ini/Game.ini]

You can manager your server with rcon if you map the rcon port (you can rebind the rcon port with docker):
docker run -d -p 7778:7778 -p 7778:7778/udp -p 27015:27015 -p 27015:27015/udp -p 32330:32330 -e SESSIONNAME=myserver --name ark nightdragon1/ark-docker

You can change server and steam 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 STEAMPORT, SERVERPORT & RCONPORT variable) docker run -d -p 7779:7779 -p 7779:7779/udp -p 27016:27016 -p 27016:27016/udp -p 32331:32330 -e SESSIONNAME=myserver2 -e SERVERPORT=27016 -e STEAMPORT=7779 --name ark2 nightdragon1/ark-docker

You can check your server with :
docker exec ark arkmanager status

You can manually update your mods:
docker exec ark arkmanager update --update-mods

You can manually update your server:
docker exec ark arkmanager update --force

You can force save your server :
docker exec ark arkmanager saveworld

You can backup your server :
docker exec ark arkmanager backup

You can upgrade Ark Server Tools :
docker exec ark arkmanager upgrade-tools

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

You can check all available command for arkmanager here⁠

⁠Crontab - Job automation

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.

After updating the /my/path/to/ark/crontab please run the command
docker exec ark crontab -u steam /ark/crontab

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.

⁠Recommended Usages

⁠Simple container

• First run

docker run -it --name ark \
 -p 7778:7778 -p 7778:7778/udp \
 -p 27015:27015 -p 27015:27015/udp \
 -p 32330:32330 \
 -e SESSIONNAME=myserver \
 -e ADMINPASSWORD="mypasswordadmin" \
 -e TZ=Europe/Vienna \
 -v /my/path/to/ark:/ark \
 Nightdragon1/ark-docker

• Wait for ark to be downloaded installed and launched, then Ctrl+C to stop the server.
• Edit /my/path/to/ark/GameUserSetting.ini and Game.ini
• Edit /my/path/to/ark/arkserver.cfg to add mods and configure warning time.
• Add auto update every day and autobackup by editing /my/path/to/ark/crontab. See⁠
• Start the container docker start ark
• Check your server with : docker exec ark arkmanager status

⁠Docker-Compose

• Modify docker-compose.yml⁠
• run docker-compose up -d ark

⁠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")
• ENABLERCON : valid falues are true and false . If set to true, RCON will be enabled
• SERVERPORT : Ark server port (default : 27015)
• STEAMPORT : Steam server port (default : 7778)
• RCONPORT : Use to set the RCON port (default : 32330)
• MAX_PLAYERS : Number of maximum players (default : 40)
• BACKUPONSTART : Backup the server when the container is started. 0: no backup (default : 1)
• UPDATEPONSTART : Update the server when the container is started. 0: no update (default : 1)
• BACKUPONSTOP : Backup the server when the container is stopped. 0: no backup (default : 1)
• WARNONSTOP : Warn the players before the container is stopped. 0: no warning (default : 1)
• TZ : container timezone (for crontab). (default : "UTC").
• ARK_UID : ARK_UID of the user used. Owner of the volume /ark (default : 1000)
• ARK_GID : ARK_GID of the user used. Owner of the volume /ark (default : 1000)
• ARKCLUSTERID : A string to configure the cluster ID (used for cross server traveling)

⁠Gameplay rates (GameUserSettings.ini, applied via launch parameters on every start)

• GAMERULE_XP_MULTIPLIER : Experience gain multiplier (default : 4.0)
• GAMERULE_TAMING_MULTIPLIER : Taming speed multiplier (default : 8.0)
• GAMERULE_HARVEST_MULTIPLIER : Harvest amount multiplier (default : 5.0)
• GAMERULE_DAY_TIME_SPEED_SCALE : Day cycle speed scale (default : 0.4871104)
• GAMERULE_NIGHT_TIME_SPEED_SCALE : Night cycle speed scale (default : 0.5313034)
• GAMERULE_DINO_DECAY_MULTIPLIER : Wild/tamed dino decay speed on PvE (default : 0.8)
• GAMERULE_STRUCTURE_DECAY_MULTIPLIER : Structure decay speed on PvE (default : 5.0)
• GAMERULE_PVP_STRUCTURE_DECAY : Enable structure decay on PvP servers, valid values true/false (default : true)
• GAMERULE_PVP_DINO_DECAY : Enable dino decay on PvP servers, valid values true/false (default : true)
• GAMERULE_PREVENT_OFFLINE_PVP : Enable offline raid protection on PvP servers (default : true)
• GAMERULE_PREVENT_OFFLINE_PVP_INTERVAL : Seconds offline before offline raid protection kicks in (default : 900)
• GAMERULE_MAX_PLATFORM_SADDLE_STRUCTURE_LIMIT : Max structures per platform saddle (default : 20)
• GAMERULE_PER_PLATFORM_MAX_STRUCTURES_MULTIPLIER : Multiplier for the per-platform structure limit (default : 4.0)
• GAMERULE_AUTO_DESTROY_DECAYED_DINOS : Automatically remove fully decayed dinos (default : true)
• GAMERULE_SHOW_FLOATING_DAMAGE_TEXT : Show floating damage numbers (default : true)

⁠Breeding / difficulty (Game.ini, regenerated fresh on every start)

• GAMEINI_OVERRIDE_DIFFICULTY : Overrides engine difficulty offset, raises max wild dino level/loot quality (default : 5.0)
• GAMEINI_RESOURCE_NO_REPLENISH_RADIUS : Radius around structures where resources won't respawn (default : 0.8)
• GAMEINI_ALLOW_ANYONE_BABY_IMPRINT_CUDDLE : Allow any tribe member to cuddle/imprint, not just the imprinter (default : true)
• GAMEINI_POOP_INTERVAL_MULTIPLIER : Multiplier for how often dinos/players need to poop (default : 2.5)
• GAMEINI_EGG_HATCH_SPEED_MULTIPLIER : Egg hatch speed multiplier (default : 1.5)
• GAMEINI_BABY_MATURE_SPEED_MULTIPLIER : Baby maturation speed multiplier (default : 2.0)
• GAMEINI_MATING_INTERVAL_MULTIPLIER : Multiplier for the interval between matings (default : 2.0)
• GAMEINI_FORCE_ALL_STRUCTURE_LOCKING : Force newly placed structures to be locked by default (default : true)
• GAMEINI_FAST_DECAY_UNSNAPPED_CORE_STRUCTURES : Fast-decay core structures (foundations/pillars) not snapped to anything (default : true)
• GAMEINI_DESTROY_UNCONNECTED_WATER_PIPES : Auto-destroy water pipes not connected to an intake/tap (default : true)
• GAMEINI_FAST_DECAY_INTERVAL : Decay interval in seconds used by the two fast-decay settings above (default : 64800)

⁠Volumes

• /ark : Working directory :
  • /ark/server : Server files and data.
  • /ark/log : logs
  • /ark/backup : backups
  • /ark/arkmanager.cfg : config file for Ark Server Tools
  • /ark/crontab : crontab config file
  • /ark/Game.ini : ark game.ini config file
  • /ark/GameUserSetting.ini : ark gameusersetting.ini config file
  • /ark/template : Default config files
  • /ark/template/arkmanager.cfg : default config file for Ark Server Tools
  • /ark/template/crontab : default config file for crontab
  • /ark/staging : default directory if you use the --downloadonly option when updating.

⁠Expose

• Port : STEAMPORT : Steam port (default: 7778)
• Port : SERVERPORT : server port (default: 27015)
• Port : RCONPORT : rcon port (default: 32330)

⁠Known issues

Currently none

⁠Changelog

• 1.0 :
  • Initial image : works with Ark Server tools 1.3
  • Add auto-update & auto-backup
• 1.1 :
  • Works with Ark Server Tools 1.4 See changelog here⁠
  • Handle mods && auto update mods
• 1.2 :
  • Remove variable AUTOBACKUP & AUTOUPDATE
  • Remove variable WARNMINUTE (can now be find in arkmanager.cfg)
  • Add crontab support
  • You can now config crontab with the file /your/ark/path/crontab
  • Add template directory with default config files.
  • Add documentation on TZ variable.
• 1.3 :
  • Add BACKUPONSTOP to backup the server when you stop the server (thanks to fkoester⁠)
  • Add WARNONSTOP to add warning message when you stop the server (default: 60 min)
  • Works with Ark Server Tools v1.5
    • Compressing backups so they take up less space
    • Downloading updates to a staging directory before applying
    • Added support for automatically updating on restart
    • Show a spinner when updating
  • Add UID & GID to set the uid & gid of the user used in the container (and permissions on the volume /ark)
• 1.4 : Maintainer switch: boerngen-schmidt/Ark-docker
  • changed from ubuntu to centOS 7
  • added timezone support
  • image now always pulls latest Ark Server Tools
  • renamed NBPLAYERS to MAX_PLAYERS
  • added prefixc ARK_ to UID & GID to not have conflicts with arkmanager
  • added auto upgrading of arkmanager
• 1.5 :
  • fixed arkmanager upgrade
• 1.6: Maintainer switch: NightDragon1/Ark-docker
  • Initial from boerngen-schmidt/Ark-docker
  • Fixed some bugs
  • Updated from CentOS 7 to CentOS 8
  • Added some modifications to the default config
  • Added RCON Port ENV-Vars
• 1.7:
  • Added Docker-Healthcheck (status becomes unhealthy while arkmanager runns update)
• 1.7.1:
  • Changed Healthcheck for "Server listening" instead of "Server running"
• 1.7.2:
  • Fixed Healthcheck
• 1.7.3:
  • Updated compose-file
  • Repository Cleanup
• 1.7.4:
  • Update to run.sh
• 1.8:
  • Added "arkmanager restart" to health check if failed
• 1.9
  • Update to use new git repository of arkmanager
• 2.0
  • Added crudini to edit Game.ini oder GameUserSettings.ini
• 2.1
  • Made clusterid configureable via docker environment variable
  • Made RCON enabled configurable via docker environment variable
• 2.2
  • Bugfix release regaridng "disk write error" of steamcmd
• 2.3
  • Removed ARK Mod "ACM" to be configured per default as it's not compatible anymore with Gen2 and not maintaned too
• 2.4
  • Bugfix: Fixed an issue where the RCON-Enabled setting from Docker ENV was not properly passed over to the arkmanager.cfg
• 3.0
  • Updates: Switch to Ubuntu 24.04 and general modernizations.
  • Added Some Mods per defaults (Awesom Admin, S+. Platforms +, ... see config)
• 3.1
  • Added some more Game_Variables. The defaults are the ones I use.
• 3.2
  • Bugfix Release. Mods removed, Game-Ini Adaption removed; Left: ENV-Changes and OS upgrade