- Joined
- Jan 19, 2018
- Messages
- 514
first off if you want to save money and have better performance and full root access to your actual files, Here's how, this will in no way give you free windows you will have to activate that yourself if you are a student you can likely get the licenses for free from microsoft.com else you can do some not so legal methods to do so or you just simply buy a cheap licenses off of ebay.
Port Forwarding:
this is not required with a vps / dedicated server by default all ports are open and windows firewall handles most that if you plan to use Ark Server Manager it already adds rules to the windows firewall for you and if your using linux well that's a simple in iptable
1. you will need a dedicated server from https://www.soyoustart.com/us/ or https://www.ovh.co.uk/dedicated_servers/ or you can go for a slightly cheaper alternative a vps which will not be as good in performance but a good site is: https://contabo.com/?show=vps (suggested to get ssd and make sure to get windows with it and if you get a vps skip to step 7)
2. Obtaining free windows can be done by simply heading to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kmsclientkeys
3. Get a Windows 2016 Standard or Windows 2008 Standard r2 or another one such as 2012
4. Go to your ovh / sos manager and click 'Licenses' and then click 'Add an SPLA licence' then select your machine
5. Version Type put this as OS Windows SPLA licence then for the license add the one you grabbed from the url above
6. Go back to your dashboard / manager home page then click 'install' and if it worked you should now find windows server (at the bottom i believe) and then Install windows
7.Wait for a email saying your windows was installed and then you will be emailed your username and password
8. Search your pc for 'Remote Desktop Connection' now place the Dedicated Servers Ip Address as the Computer and press connect
9. Now you will be asked for a username and password can be obtained from the email you received earlier
10. Once logged in you can simply start setting up your ark server but its wise to do a few things first so simply search 'control panel' and open it
11. Now search control panel for 'Power Options' and open that then you will see the preferred plan will be on Recommended instead change it to High Performance
12. Now you can either go use steamcmd method (which i use) or for a better choice and a easier method you can get Ark Server Manager (handles updates, downloading, mods)
13. Recommended Software Ark Server Manager Download Link: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=468312476
14. Follow some basic tutorial somewhere out there on the net on how to use Ark Server Manager it is pretty self explanatory
Cheap Windows Server Key's (Please check seller feedback before buying one and don't hold me accountable if it does not show. I bought one and it did so its down to the seller you choose)
Windows Server 2016 License: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...ey.TRS0&_nkw=windows+server+2016+key&_sacat=0
Windows Server 2012 License: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...ey.TRS0&_nkw=windows+server+2012+key&_sacat=0
Windows Server 2008 License: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...TRS0&_nkw=windows+server+2008+r2+key&_sacat=0
Even Newer Dedicated Server Hardware: https://labs.ovh.com/ << can get I8700k here or Ryzen 7 1700
Linux Server Manager Alternative: https://linuxgsm.com/lgsm/arkserver/
Example of what you are given (a pc with remote access and with super fast internet):
Port Forwarding:
this is not required with a vps / dedicated server by default all ports are open and windows firewall handles most that if you plan to use Ark Server Manager it already adds rules to the windows firewall for you and if your using linux well that's a simple in iptable
1. you will need a dedicated server from https://www.soyoustart.com/us/ or https://www.ovh.co.uk/dedicated_servers/ or you can go for a slightly cheaper alternative a vps which will not be as good in performance but a good site is: https://contabo.com/?show=vps (suggested to get ssd and make sure to get windows with it and if you get a vps skip to step 7)
2. Obtaining free windows can be done by simply heading to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kmsclientkeys
3. Get a Windows 2016 Standard or Windows 2008 Standard r2 or another one such as 2012
4. Go to your ovh / sos manager and click 'Licenses' and then click 'Add an SPLA licence' then select your machine
5. Version Type put this as OS Windows SPLA licence then for the license add the one you grabbed from the url above
6. Go back to your dashboard / manager home page then click 'install' and if it worked you should now find windows server (at the bottom i believe) and then Install windows
7.Wait for a email saying your windows was installed and then you will be emailed your username and password
8. Search your pc for 'Remote Desktop Connection' now place the Dedicated Servers Ip Address as the Computer and press connect
9. Now you will be asked for a username and password can be obtained from the email you received earlier
10. Once logged in you can simply start setting up your ark server but its wise to do a few things first so simply search 'control panel' and open it
11. Now search control panel for 'Power Options' and open that then you will see the preferred plan will be on Recommended instead change it to High Performance
12. Now you can either go use steamcmd method (which i use) or for a better choice and a easier method you can get Ark Server Manager (handles updates, downloading, mods)
13. Recommended Software Ark Server Manager Download Link: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=468312476
14. Follow some basic tutorial somewhere out there on the net on how to use Ark Server Manager it is pretty self explanatory
Cheap Windows Server Key's (Please check seller feedback before buying one and don't hold me accountable if it does not show. I bought one and it did so its down to the seller you choose)
Windows Server 2016 License: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...ey.TRS0&_nkw=windows+server+2016+key&_sacat=0
Windows Server 2012 License: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...ey.TRS0&_nkw=windows+server+2012+key&_sacat=0
Windows Server 2008 License: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...TRS0&_nkw=windows+server+2008+r2+key&_sacat=0
Even Newer Dedicated Server Hardware: https://labs.ovh.com/ << can get I8700k here or Ryzen 7 1700
Linux Server Manager Alternative: https://linuxgsm.com/lgsm/arkserver/
Example of what you are given (a pc with remote access and with super fast internet):

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