**Purpose**:
This document outlines some of the prerequisites as well as deployment process for an ARK: Survival Ascended Server

## Prerequisites
We need to install the Visual C++ Redistributable for both x86 and x64
- [Download Visual C++ Redistributable (x64)](https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe)
- [Download Visual C++ Redistributable (x86)](https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x86.exe)


## Run Unreal Engine Certificate Trust Script
There is an issue where if you run a dedicated server, part of that requires API access to Epic Games and that will not work without installing a few certificates.  The original Github page can be found [here](https://github.com/Ch4r0ne/UnrealEngine_Dedicated_Server_Install_CA/tree/main), which details the reason for it in more detail.

- [Download Unreal Engine Certificate Install Script](https://github.com/Ch4r0ne/UnrealEngine_Dedicated_Server_Install_CA/blob/main/Install_Certificate.ps1)

!!! note "Run as Administrator"
    You need to run the script as an administrator.  This will require that you run `Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass` in an admin powershell session beforehand, then run the script with something like the following set of commands:
    ```
    Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass
    CD "C:\Users\nicole.rappe\Downloads"
    .\Install_Certificate.ps1
    ```

## SteamCMD Deployment Script
You will need to make a folder somewhere on the computer, such as the desktop, and name it something like "ARK Updater", then put the following script into it:

```jsx title="C:\Users\nicole.rappe\Desktop\ARK_Updater\Update_Server.bat"
@echo off
set STEAMCMDDIR="C:\SteamCMD\"
set SERVERDIR="C:\ASAServer\"
set ARKAPPID=2430930
cd /d %STEAMCMDDIR%
del steamcmd.exe
timeout /t 5 /nobreak
curl -o steamcmd.zip https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip
powershell Expand-Archive -Path .\steamcmd.zip -DestinationPath .\
start "" /wait steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir "%SERVERDIR%" +login anonymous +app_update %ARKAPPID% validate +quit
exit
```

## Launch Script
Now you need to configure a launch script to actually start the dedicated server.  This can be placed anywhere, but I suggest putting it into `C:\asaserver\ShooterGame\Saved` along with the world save data.

```jsx title="C:\asaserver\ShooterGame\Saved\Launch_Server.bat"
@echo off
start C:\asaserver\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ArkAscendedServer.exe ScorchedEarth_WP?listen?SessionName=BunnyLab?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?ServerPassword=SomethingSecure?ServerAdminPassword=SomethingVerySecure -WinLiveMaxPlayers=50 -log -crossplay-enable-pc -crossplay-enable-wingdk -mods=928548,928621,928597,928818,929543,937546,930684,930404,940022,941697,930851,948051,932365,929420,967786,930494
exit
```

!!! tip "Adding Mods"
    When you are adding mods, you will notice they are found on [CurseForge](https://www.curseforge.com/ark-survival-ascended).   When you are looking for the mod ID, it is actually listed under CurseForge as the `Project ID`.  Just copy that number and put it in a comma-separated list such as what is seen in the example above.