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How to Open Ports for Ark: Survival Evolved on a Windows Server Firewall ​

When hosting a dedicated server for Ark: Survival Evolved on a Windows Server, it is essential to configure the built-in Windows Firewall to allow incoming and outgoing traffic through the correct ports. Without proper firewall rules, players will be unable to connect to your server, and critical services such as Steam query and remote management via RCON will not function correctly.

Below is a detailed step-by-step guide to opening the required ports for Ark: Survival Evolved on a Windows Server operating system.

Required Ports for Ark: Survival Evolved ​

Before configuring your firewall, you need to know the specific ports that Ark: Survival Evolved requires to be open for server communication. These ports handle game data, server queries, and optional remote management.

1. Game Client Port (Default) ​

  • Port: TCP/UDP 7777
  • Purpose: This port is the core communication channel between your server and connected players. It handles all game data, including player movement, actions, and interactions within the game world. Both TCP and UDP protocols should be enabled to ensure smooth communication without interruptions.

2. Query Port ​

  • Port: UDP 27015
  • Purpose: The query port allows players to discover your server in the Steam Server Browser. It handles server pings, player counts, and connection requests. This port must be open for your server to be listed and visible on the Steam platform.

3. RCON (Remote Console) Port (Optional) ​

  • Port: TCP 27020
  • Purpose: This port is used to manage your server remotely using the Remote Console (RCON) protocol. If you want to control server settings, issue commands, or monitor player activity from another machine or tool, this port must be open. Though optional, it is highly recommended for administrators.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Opening Ports on Windows Server Firewall ​

Follow these detailed steps to properly configure the Windows Firewall on your server to allow Ark: Survival Evolved traffic.

Step 1: Access Windows Defender Firewall ​

  1. Open Server Manager:

    • Start by logging into your Windows Server.
    • Launch Server Manager from the taskbar or the Start menu. Server Manager provides administrative tools for managing roles, features, and security settings, including the firewall.

  2. Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security:

    • In Server Manager, click on Tools in the upper-right corner.
    • From the dropdown list, select Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security. This will open the firewall management console, which allows you to create and manage inbound and outbound firewall rules.

Step 2: Create New Inbound Rules ​

  1. Inbound Rules:

    • On the left-hand side of the firewall management window, click on Inbound Rules. Inbound rules determine what types of traffic are allowed to enter your server.

  2. Create a New Rule:

    • In the right-hand actions pane, click New Rule to launch the New Inbound Rule Wizard.
    • In the wizard, choose Port as the rule type and click Next.

  3. Select Protocols and Ports:

    • Choose TCP and UDP for protocols. Both protocols are necessary to ensure all types of network communication work correctly.
    • Under Specific Local Ports, enter the port number that corresponds to the Ark: Survival Evolved service you’re configuring. Start with 7777 for the game client port.
    • Click Next when finished.

  4. Allow the Connection:

    • In the next window, choose Allow the connection. This setting ensures that traffic through the specified port is permitted.
    • Click Next.

  5. Configure Profiles:

    • The wizard will ask which profiles (Domain, Private, Public) this rule applies to:
      • Domain: Choose this if your server is connected to an internal domain (corporate network).
      • Private: Select this for internal networks (e.g., home or trusted networks).
      • Public: Use this for untrusted or public networks (e.g., Internet access).
    • For a game server, it's common to select all three profiles to ensure it works across various network environments.
    • Click Next.

  6. Name the Rule:

    • Give the rule a descriptive name such as Ark: Survival Evolved Game Client Port.
    • Optionally, add a description for clarity, especially if you are managing multiple services or ports.
    • Click Finish to save the rule.

Step 3: Repeat for Each Required Port ​

Now that the rule for port 7777 is created, repeat the above steps to create new inbound rules for the other required ports:

  1. Port 27015 for Steam Query:

    • Use the UDP protocol.
    • Enter port 27015 under Specific Local Ports.
    • Follow the same steps to allow the connection and name it something descriptive, such as Ark: Survival Evolved Query Port.

  2. Port 27020 for RCON (Optional):

    • Use the TCP protocol.
    • Enter port 27020 under Specific Local Ports.
    • Name this rule Ark: Survival Evolved RCON Port if you're using remote console access.

Step 4: Verify Firewall Rules ​

After creating the necessary inbound rules, it’s important to double-check that everything is configured properly:

  1. Review Inbound Rules:

    • Return to the Inbound Rules section in the Windows Defender Firewall interface.
    • Scroll through the list and ensure your newly created rules for ports 7777, 27015, and (optionally) 27020 are active and properly configured.
    • Verify that the Action column shows Allow for each rule.

  2. Test the Connection:

    • Once all the rules are in place, it's time to test your server. Try connecting to the Ark: Survival Evolved server from a remote machine, or use an online port-checking tool to confirm that the ports are open and reachable.

Step 5: Configure Outbound Rules (Optional) ​

If your server's security policy restricts outbound traffic, you’ll need to configure Outbound Rules to ensure the Ark: Survival Evolved server can send traffic out through the same ports:

  1. Outbound Rules:

    • In the Windows Defender Firewall window, click Outbound Rules in the left-hand pane.

  2. Create New Outbound Rules:

    • Follow the same steps you used for the inbound rules, but select Outbound Rules instead. Specify the same port numbers and protocols (7777, 27015, and optionally 27020).

  3. Apply the Rules:

    • Ensure the new outbound rules are set to Allow the connection and apply to the relevant profiles.

How to Open Ports for Ark: Survival Evolved on a Linux / Pterodactyl System ​

If you're hosting an Ark: Survival Evolved server on a Linux system through Pterodactyl, you'll need to ensure that the appropriate ports are opened on your Linux firewall. This step is crucial to allow external players to connect to your server. Most Linux distributions use either UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) or iptables for managing firewall rules, depending on the configuration.

This guide will walk you through opening the necessary ports for Ark: Survival Evolved, whether you're using UFW or iptables, as well as configuring these settings to work with Pterodactyl.

Required Ports for Ark: Survival Evolved ​

Before setting up firewall rules, you need to know the specific ports Ark: Survival Evolved uses:

1. Game Client Port (Default) ​

  • Port: TCP/UDP 7777
  • Purpose: This port handles the main game data, allowing players to connect and interact with the server. You’ll need to open both TCP and UDP protocols for this port.

2. Query Port ​

  • Port: UDP 27015
  • Purpose: The Steam query port allows players to find your server in the Steam server browser. This port needs to be open for your server to be discoverable.

3. RCON Port (Optional) ​

  • Port: TCP 27020
  • Purpose: The RCON port is used for remote console access to manage your server, including issuing commands and monitoring server activity. This port is optional but useful for remote management.

Opening Ports on a Linux System Using UFW ​

If you’re using UFW, the following steps will guide you through the process of opening ports.

Step 1: Check UFW Status ​

Before you start, check if UFW is installed and active on your server:

bash
sudo ufw status

If UFW is inactive, you can enable it:

bash
sudo ufw enable

Step 2: Open the Necessary Ports ​

To allow traffic through the required ports for Ark: Survival Evolved, run the following commands:

  1. Open Game Client Port (7777):

    • For both TCP and UDP traffic, use:
    bash
    sudo ufw allow 7777/tcp
sudo ufw allow 7777/udp

  2. Open Steam Query Port (27015):

    • Since this port uses UDP only, run:
    bash
    sudo ufw allow 27015/udp

  3. Open RCON Port (Optional - 27020):

    • If you plan to use RCON, you can allow TCP traffic on this port:
    bash
    sudo ufw allow 27020/tcp

Step 3: Reload and Verify UFW Rules ​

After opening the ports, reload the firewall to apply the changes:

bash
sudo ufw reload

Verify that the ports are open by checking the firewall status:

bash
sudo ufw status

You should see rules allowing traffic through the specified ports.

Opening Ports on a Linux System Using iptables ​

If you're using iptables to manage your firewall, follow these steps to open the necessary ports.

Step 1: Open the Ports Using iptables ​

  1. Open Game Client Port (7777):

    • For both TCP and UDP, run:
    bash
    sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 7777 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 7777 -j ACCEPT

  2. Open Steam Query Port (27015):

    • Allow UDP traffic on this port:
    bash
    sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 27015 -j ACCEPT

  3. Open RCON Port (Optional - 27020):

    • If you are using RCON for server management, allow TCP traffic:
    bash
    sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 27020 -j ACCEPT

Step 2: Save iptables Rules ​

After adding the rules, save the configuration to ensure the rules persist after a reboot:

  • On Ubuntu or Debian:

    bash
    sudo netfilter-persistent save

  • On CentOS or RHEL:

    bash
    sudo service iptables save

Step 3: Verify iptables Rules ​

To confirm that the rules have been applied, you can list the active iptables rules:

bash
sudo iptables -L

You should see your new rules for ports 7777, 27015, and 27020 listed.

Configuring Pterodactyl for Ark: Survival Evolved ​

If you're using Pterodactyl to manage your game server, it’s important to ensure that the firewall settings correspond to the ports configured in Pterodactyl’s Wings panel.

Step 1: Set Ports in Pterodactyl ​

  1. Log in to your Pterodactyl Panel.
  2. Navigate to your Ark: Survival Evolved server settings.
  3. Under the Network Configuration, make sure the ports (7777, 27015, and optionally 27020) match the ones opened in your firewall.
  4. Save the settings and restart your server to apply changes.

Step 2: Test the Server ​

After configuring both the firewall and Pterodactyl, test your server by connecting to it from an external machine. You can also use an online port-checking tool to ensure the ports are open and reachable.

All done! ​

By following these steps, you can successfully open the necessary ports for Ark: Survival Evolved on a Linux system, whether using UFW or iptables. Additionally, ensure that the firewall rules align with the ports configured in Pterodactyl to enable seamless gameplay and management. Properly configuring your firewall ensures that players can discover and connect to your server while maintaining security and stability.

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