If you’ve ever wanted to run a cozy PvE survival world for your casual friends and a chaotic PvP arena for your more competitive crew at the same time, you’ve probably asked: can i host 2 ARK servers on the same machine? The short answer is yes, but you’ll need to plan for hardware limits, port settings, and a few small tweaks to avoid crashes or crippling lag. I’ve run up to three small ARK instances on my home setup for the last two years, so I’ll walk you through exactly what works, what doesn’t, and what mistakes to avoid so you don’t waste hours troubleshooting mid-game night.
Can I Host 2 ARK Servers on the Same Device? Hardware Requirements First
Before you start downloading server files, you need to make sure your machine can handle the load. ARK is notoriously resource-heavy even for single instances, and running two will double almost every requirement. The specs you need will also change a lot depending on if you run modded servers or vanilla, and how many players you plan to host at once.
16GB of RAM is the absolute minimum for two small, vanilla ARK servers with 10 players or less each. If you plan to use mods, that number jumps way up: each modded ARK server can eat 8-12GB of RAM on its own, so you’ll want 32GB of RAM minimum for a modded two-server setup. If you skimp on RAM, you’ll face constant crashes, long load times, and even save file corruption that can wipe weeks of progress.
Your CPU is just as important, since ARK relies heavily on processing power to maintain server tick rate and handle in-game events. You’ll need a 6-core processor with a 3.5GHz+ clock speed to keep both servers running smoothly for most play sessions. For storage, always use an SSD instead of an HDD—two servers writing save data at the same time will cause crippling lag spikes on a spinning hard drive. Your internet connection matters too: aim for 10Mbps of upload speed per server if you’re hosting for 10 players each, so no one gets kicked mid-fight because your bandwidth ran out.
Step-by-Step Setup for Running Two ARK Servers Simultaneously
Once you confirm your hardware is up to par, setting up two servers is simpler than you might think. I recommend using the official ARK Server Manager tool for Windows, since it automates most of the tricky configuration work and lowers your risk of making a mistake. If you’re on Linux, you can use SteamCMD to set up separate instances manually, but the core rules are the same.
First, you need to assign unique ports to each server instance. The default ARK server uses port 7777 for game traffic, 27015 for query traffic, and 27020 for RCON access. For your second server, change these to unused ports, like 7779, 27017, and 27022. You’ll also need to port forward both sets of ports on your router, so external players can connect to both servers. Don’t forget to allow both server applications through your Windows Firewall, too—this is another common mistake that makes servers invisible to other players.
Next, set up separate save file folders and mod directories for each server. If both servers use the same mod list, you can share a single mod folder to save storage space, but if you’re running different mod setups (like one vanilla and one modded), separate folders will prevent file conflicts. Always run both servers as administrator if you’re on Windows to avoid permission errors that can stop servers from launching or saving progress. Test each server one at a time first to make sure they work individually, then launch both at once to confirm they don’t conflict.
Common Mistakes That Break Multi-Server ARK Setups
I’ve messed up almost every part of this process at least once, so I can tell you exactly what to watch out for to save yourself hours of frustration. Most issues with multi-server setups come from small, easy-to-fix oversights, not major hardware limitations. Here are the most frequent mistakes I see new server hosts make:
- Forgetting to assign unique ports to every server instance, leading to constant crashes or one server not showing up in the public server browser
- Running too many mods on both servers without upgrading your RAM, which causes long load times and frequent save corruption that can erase player progress
- Ignoring background processes that eat up CPU/RAM, like streaming software or other game launchers, while both servers are running
- Using the same administrator password for both servers, which creates a security risk if one instance is compromised by a bad actor
On a personal note, I once spent three hours troubleshooting a second server that wouldn’t show up for my friends, only to realize I’d accidentally used the same query port for both instances. I also tried running two modded servers off a single HDD once, and both had 2-second lag spikes every time the server auto-saved. Never run both servers off a single HDD, even if you think it’s fast enough—switching to separate SSD partitions fixed that issue immediately for me.
Should You Host 2 ARK Servers at Home or Pay for Separate Hosting?
Home hosting works great for casual use, but it’s not the right fit for everyone. If you only plan to run the servers a few nights a week for a small group of friends, hosting on your own PC is totally free and gives you full control over every setting. But if you want your servers to be up 24/7 for public players, or you don’t have a powerful enough PC to run two instances, paid hosting is probably a better call.
Home hosting has a few hidden downsides you might not think of at first. You’ll have to leave your PC running 24/7 if you want constant uptime, which will raise your electric bill and put extra wear on your components. If your internet goes out or your PC crashes, both servers will go down for everyone. Paid hosting plans solve all these problems, with 99.9% uptime guarantees, separate hardware resources for your servers, and support teams that fix technical issues for you. Most plans for two small ARK servers cost between $15 and $30 a month, depending on how many players and mods you use.
Most budget paid hosting plans let you run two small ARK servers on a single plan if you ask support to adjust your resource allocation, so you don’t have to pay for two separate plans. This is a great middle ground if you don’t want to leave your PC running all the time but don’t want to spend a fortune on hosting.
At the end of the day, the answer to can i host 2 ARK servers comes down to your hardware, your technical comfort level, and how you plan to use the servers. If you have a mid-to-high end gaming PC and only need the servers up for occasional group play, you can set everything up in less than an hour with the tips above. If you run into lag or crashes, start by cutting back on mods or upgrading your RAM before you give up entirely. Whether you’re running separate PvE and PvP worlds or two different modded scenarios for different groups of friends, running two ARK servers is way more accessible than most people think.