Servers and clusters
Create or import multiple ASA servers, manage maps and clusters, apply settings, and control server processes from one dashboard.
AASM v0.9.2 for Linux
ARK: Survival Ascended Server Manager for Linux
Install, update, back up and remotely manage your ARK: Survival Ascended servers and clusters from one Linux desktop application.
Direct answer: AASM runs natively on Linux, and v0.9.2 adds Remote Control so you can manage ASA servers on other Linux and Windows machines from one window. Because Studio Wildcard publishes the ASA dedicated server as a Windows binary, AASM manages that server process through Proton/Wine.
What AASM manages on Linux
The Linux build is the same operations-focused AASM product: the desktop manager is native, while the Windows-only ASA dedicated server runs in its compatibility environment.
Updates and maintenance
Install through SteamCMD, schedule maintenance, stage updates, notify players and restart servers without assembling your own shell-script stack.
Backups and recovery
Automate world backups, protect cluster data, retain restore points and use off-site SFTP backups for a stronger recovery plan.
Remote Web UI
Monitor and operate servers remotely through AASM’s Web UI, with role-based access for trusted co-admins.
RCON and Discord
Use in-app RCON, schedule commands, monitor players and connect operational alerts and controls to Discord.
Mods and configuration
Manage CurseForge mods, edit Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini, copy settings and keep repeatable server configurations.
Linux requirements
AASM is designed for a 64-bit Linux machine with a graphical session. The ASA server itself remains resource intensive, so size the host for the number of maps and players you intend to run.
- Recommended distributions
- Ubuntu 22.04 or newer; Debian 12 or newer.
- Session
- 64-bit graphical desktop session. AASM is not a headless CLI daemon.
- Memory
- 16 GB RAM minimum; 32 GB recommended for multiple servers.
- Processor
- Modern quad-core CPU or better.
- Storage
- SSD recommended, with roughly 30 GB available for each ASA server plus space for backups and updates.
- AASM data
~/.local/share/aasmstores AASM’s servers, settings and local application data across updates.- Licence
- One AASM licence is valid for one machine. The 14-day trial is also available for evaluation.
Install AASM on Linux
The Linux download contains Ark Ascended Server Manager and ASA RCON Manager. It does not require you to launch the Windows AASM build through Wine.
Download and verify
Download the v0.9.2 .tgz archive and compare its SHA-256 fingerprint before extracting it.
sha256sum ASM_v0.9.2.tgz
4278db8c6305a189da4d487378dcdd17865d6e61e85fc0fe4e81c0a872b55f71Extract the archive
Extract the archive inside your home folder. Keep the extracted application files together.
Allow execution if prompted
In your file manager, open the application’s Properties and enable “Allow executing file as program” if the desktop does not already treat it as executable.
Launch Ark Server Manager
Open ARK Server Manager from the extracted folder. AASM registers the included apps in your applications menu after first launch.
Create or import a server
Use Add New Server for a clean install or Import Existing Server when migrating a valid server folder. A SteamCMD console opens while installs and updates run.
Linux setup and migration guides
Install an ASA server on LinuxFrom the AASM archive to your first managed ASA server.
Run an ASA server on LinuxComplete operator walkthrough: configure, schedule, cluster, remotely manage, migrate and troubleshoot.
Migrate Windows to LinuxMove an existing world and configuration with a rollback-safe process.
Troubleshoot AASM on LinuxResolve launch, permissions, SteamCMD, storage and server-start issues.
ARK on Linux: common questions
Does ARK: Survival Ascended have a native Linux dedicated server?
No. Studio Wildcard ships the ASA dedicated server as a Windows binary only; there is no native Linux build. Every Linux hosting method runs that Windows binary through a compatibility layer. AASM runs it under Proton and manages it for you, so the server itself is the same official binary Windows hosts run.
Can I run an ARK: Survival Ascended server on Ubuntu or Debian?
Yes. AASM runs natively on 64-bit Linux and is supported on Ubuntu 22.04 or newer and Debian 12 or newer, in a graphical session. Allow at least 16 GB RAM for a single server; 32 GB is recommended for multiple instances. A single ASA install is roughly 12 GB on disk.
How is AASM different from the Docker and script-based Linux managers?
Most Linux ASA tooling is command-line: Docker Compose images and shell menus, configured through environment variables and by hand-editing GameUserSettings.ini. They work well if you are comfortable in a terminal and want a container host. AASM is a graphical application — the same interface as the Windows version — with an INI editor, mod manager, scheduler, backups, RCON console and a browser-based web interface. If you want a container-native headless deployment, a Docker image is the better fit; if you want to see and click what you are changing, that is what AASM is for.
Do I need a desktop environment on the Linux server?
AASM is a graphical application and expects a 64-bit graphical session. Once servers are running you can administer them from another machine through the built-in web interface, which needs only a browser.
Can I manage a Linux ARK server from a Windows machine?
Yes. From v0.9.2, AASM can add another machine running AASM as a Remote Instance and manage its servers from one window, over HTTPS with role-based access control. The two machines do not need to run the same operating system, so a Windows desktop can manage Linux ARK servers and the reverse also works. Alternatively the browser-based web interface reaches any AASM machine without installing anything locally.
Can I move an existing Windows ARK server to Linux?
Yes. Worlds and configuration transfer between platforms because the underlying server binary is identical. See the Windows to Linux migration guide for a rollback-safe process.
Which Linux download should I use?
AASM publishes three Linux artifacts for v0.9.2: a .tgz archive containing both AASM and the companion RCON manager, an AppImage, and a .deb package. All three are listed with SHA-256 checksums on the download page, and the previous release remains downloadable for Linux if you need to roll back.