How To Roll Back Your ARK: Survival Evolved Server

Rolling back your ARK: Survival Evolved server is a crucial skill for any server administrator. Whether you’ve encountered a game-breaking bug, an accidental wipe, or simply want to revert to a previous state, understanding the rollback process is essential. This article will guide you through the process of rolling back your ARK server and provide answers to frequently asked questions.

How To Roll Back Your ARK Server

The process of rolling back your ARK server essentially involves restoring a previous server save file. These backups capture the state of your game world at a specific time. Here’s a general step-by-step guide, keeping in mind that the exact steps might vary slightly depending on your specific server hosting provider:

1. Stop Your Server: Before making any changes, always ensure your server is completely stopped. This prevents data corruption and ensures a smooth rollback process. You can usually do this via your server control panel.
2. Access Your Server Control Panel: Log in to your server control panel. This is typically provided by your hosting service and is where you manage your server’s settings and files.
3. Locate the Rollback/Backup Option: Most hosting panels offer a specific option for server rollbacks. This might be labeled as “Rollback Server,” “Restore Backup,” or similar. Look for it in the administration or backup sections of your panel.
4. Choose the Desired Snapshot: You will be presented with a list of available backups/snapshots. These are usually time-stamped, making it easy to select the point to which you want to roll back. Carefully choose the backup that represents the state of your server you want to restore.
5. Confirm and Execute: After choosing the correct backup, the panel will usually ask you to confirm the rollback action. Read the warning message carefully, and then execute the rollback process. Do not close the window or browser tab until the process is completed, as doing so can interrupt the restoration.
6. Restart Your Server: Once the rollback process is complete, start your server. Your server should now be operating using the restored backup, returning the game to the point in time from which the snapshot was taken.

Manual Rollbacks

If your server provider doesn’t offer an automated rollback feature or if you prefer more control, you can perform a manual rollback. This involves directly accessing your server’s files and restoring a specific save file. Here’s a general approach to performing a manual rollback:

1. Stop Your Server: Similar to automated rollbacks, you must stop your server before proceeding.
2. Access Your Server Files: Use an FTP client or the file manager provided by your host to access your server’s files. Navigate to the save game folder. This is often found at something similar to /steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArksLocal.
3. Locate Backup Files: Look for backups of your save data. These typically include files like your map save file, frequently named something like yourmap.ark. and backup variations of that file with dates/times.
4. Identify the Correct Backup: Use the file name’s date/time stamps to find the backup from the desired date and time.
5. Rename the Chosen Backup: Rename the desired backup file to the original map save file’s name replacing the current map file. For example, if your map save is named “TheIsland.ark”, you would rename the backup file to “TheIsland.ark”. Make sure you don’t overwrite your current map save, it’s best to rename the current map save file before overwriting it with the old backup file. You could rename it to “TheIsland_OLD.ark” as an example.
6. Restart Your Server: Once the file replacement is complete, you can restart your server. The game will now load using the restored backup save file.

Understanding Rollbacks

A server rollback is a significant action that affects all players on your server. It essentially rewinds the game state to a previous point in time. Any progress made between the time of the backup and the rollback will be lost. Therefore, communicate the rollback plans to your players beforehand, as any progress made in that window is lost.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to ARK server rollbacks and management:

1. What is a server rollback in ARK?

A rollback is the process of reverting your ARK server to a previous state by using a backup. It’s a way to undo changes, restore lost progress, or fix issues caused by glitches or unwanted alterations.

2. How do I know which backup to use for a rollback?

Backup files usually include timestamps or dates in their names. Select the backup that represents the server state before the issues or changes occurred that you wish to remove.

3. What is the difference between a rollback and a wipe?

A rollback reverts the server to a past point, keeping previous data. A wipe completely deletes all player data, structures, and creatures, essentially starting the server from scratch.

4. How often should I back up my ARK server?

The frequency of backups depends on the activity level on your server and how much progress you’re willing to potentially lose. A daily backup is a good starting point, but more frequent backups may be necessary for highly active servers. Many server providers offer automatic backup scheduling.

5. Where are the server save files for ARK server manager?

The server save files are typically located in the following directory: steamappscommonARKShooterGameSavedSavedArksLocal. This location may vary slightly depending on your server setup.

6. Can I roll back specific player progress only?

No, a rollback restores the entire server state. You cannot rollback specific player progress without affecting all players.

7. What if my hosting provider does not have an automatic rollback option?

If your provider doesn’t offer an automatic rollback option, you’ll need to perform a manual rollback, which involves accessing your server files and restoring specific save files as described above.

8. Can I restore a backup to a new server?

Yes, you can typically restore a backup to a new server by transferring the backup files to the new server’s save directory. You might need to make configuration changes to ensure compatibility.

9. What file contains the map save data?

The map save data is typically stored in a file with the extension .ark, often named after the map you are playing on. For instance, “TheIsland.ark,” or “Ragnarok.ark.”

10. What happens if the rollback fails?

If a rollback fails, it’s crucial to review the specific error messages provided by the server control panel or your hosting provider to understand why. Double-check your backup files are valid, and always remember to stop your server before any work is done. You might need to contact customer support.

11. How do I save the game while playing?

You can use the command “saveworld” in your server console as an admin. You must first log into the server as admin using the “enablecheats adminpassword” command to do this.

12. Can I change my map while rolling back?

Yes, you can change your map when doing a rollback, by choosing a backup that represents your server on a different map. You’ll also have to make sure your server is configured to run with the chosen map.

13. Can I test the backup on a different server before rolling back?

Yes, you can often create a test server and restore a backup to that server to verify its integrity and accuracy before rolling back the live server. However, this can be resource intensive and may require additional hosting capacity.

14. Are all backups equal in a rollback?

No, backups can vary, especially if your server is under heavy use. Backups made during intensive activity can sometimes be unstable. The most stable backups are often those from periods of lower activity.

15. How long does it take to roll back a server?

The time it takes to roll back an ARK server varies, but typically only lasts a few minutes. If your server uses an SSD, its typically a faster restoration. Larger maps and server populations tend to increase the rollback time. The process should not be interrupted.

Understanding the rollback process and best practices can help you maintain a healthy and enjoyable ARK server. Always prioritize communication with your players when planning a server rollback to minimize confusion or frustration. Back up your server frequently and know how to restore that data properly.