freshly installed server won't load mods

Leethe · Oct 14th 2022

I recently reinstalled my ARK server because it ran into a crashstack after I tried to reinstate a map backup.

Before the crashstack I had used automatic mod updates. Trying to understand the reason for crashing I learned that auto-updating mods might be a bad idea, so I decided to test mods in a single player game and FTP the .mod files and the folders to the server, using "manual update" in the dropdown menu as a setting this time around.

The server starts and the game loads just fine using the files I uploaded from the previous installation, however without any mods at all. Even though I listed them using the web interface field "active mods" ("731604991,1404697612,2179515434,2844898431,1621803973,758620733" in my case) the game does not seem to accept any of them.

Switching to expert mode I realised that that gameusersettings.ini did not contain the mods I entered in the webinterface under "active mods". Instead, the line "activemods" was completely missing in gameusersettings.ini. I then added the line "ActiveMods=731604991,1404697612,2179515434,2844898431,1621803973,758620733" manually, even though I felt a little insecure about the proper location of the line.

Sadly that didn't help - the server would still come online without any of my mods.

Are there any suggestions for further troubleshooting-steps ?

DOAGEN · Oct 14th 2022

The way you are attempting to load mods is not the correct way.

Just add the ModID in the mod page of the webUI. Save, then restart. They will autoload. So remove the ini setting you added, and the .mod files.

If it still fails, check the server settings and make sure you have PC/STEAM only checked. If you do not, the mods will not work.

Also note with that many mods, you may want to wait ~1hr for them to install. OR add 2-3 at a time, save, then restart, test. If test pasts, add some more, save, restart, then test.

Leethe · Oct 14th 2022

thank you so much for your reply! I didn't find a checkbox called "PC/Steam only" but I did find a line called "allowed Platforms". It says "allow only steam players" - is that the one ?

I have reinstalled the server to get my files in the correct order again.

You also said: "Also note with that many mods, you may want to wait ~1hr for them to install" does that mean mod installation may not have completed after the server already started itself up ?

DOAGEN · Oct 14th 2022

""allowed Platforms". It says "allow only steam players":" = yes, that is the only way mods will work.

And yes, perhaps earlier the mods werent fully installed. I run 22 mods, and the first time it took nearly 2 hours. So its why I do 2-3 at a time.

Leethe · Oct 14th 2022

I got !!hang detected!! while waiting, however no crash stack yet. Does that mean I should abort and reinstall again? Or might beeing patient still pay off ?

DOAGEN · Oct 14th 2022

Hang Detected: either reinstall the server, or contact Nitrado Support. I would contact Support.

Leethe · Oct 14th 2022

I wanted to open a ticket.. "your ticket could not be sent". It reminds me why I started to troubleshoot this issue myself several days ago...

trying my luck with the chat instead..

Leethe · Oct 14th 2022

in case anyone gets helped by this, this is what the support suggested I try next:

1st: Reinstall the server again

2nd: Let the server run for 10 minutes (without any reinstated backups)

3rd: Stop the server

4th: Load map saves and files and input mod id's

5th: Save Changes

6th: Start the server

Leethe · Oct 15th 2022

didn't help - yet again another !!hang detected!!

DOAGEN · Oct 15th 2022

Try getting a vanilla server up first, then test that. Could be the mods you are running.

DOAGEN · Oct 15th 2022

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…filedetails/?id=731604991 <--issues all the time with this mod these days. I use SS (SuperStructures)

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=1404697612 <-- works fine. I use it.

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=2179515434 <-- hasnt been updated in over 2years.

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=2844898431 <-- green mod. that means its stackable. Should be fine. never used it.

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=1621803973 <-- Used to use this one years ago. Hasnt been updated since 2019.

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…filedetails/?id=758620733 <-- have used this one in the past. Not updated in almost 2 years. SS and S+ already have something that does this.

Leethe · Oct 15th 2022

thank you so much for this line up!

I believe in another post I saw you mentioning that you "migrated" from s+ to ss. Does that mean I can prevent losing items in s+ containers somehow ?

Leethe · Oct 15th 2022

I took a deeper dive into the workshop now - and somehow it seems there are only very mods that were recently updated. The majority of them go back to 2020, 2019, 2018...

Do you know any "recent" known good mods that help with crafting element ? or finding tribe members on the map ?

Leethe · Oct 16th 2022

I replaced s+ with ss .. after another reinstallation, and it completely solved my issues. Thank you for your guidance.

I will try to live with the other mods for now - but the next time there are issues, I know where to look.

DOAGEN · Oct 16th 2022

99% of the time it is the mods. S+ I used to use for years on several servers. I cant say everything Id say why I moved. But one reason was servers crashed all the time and several posts all over say the same. SS I believe has every single thing the same but maybe 1. lol.

As for crafting element, replacements can be done in so many ways. Use Simple Spawners and just add it. Or use TCRewards (ingame store) and players can buy it with ingame currency called ARc.

Simple Spawners:

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=1295978823

TCRewards:

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=1260983937

Element Refinery:

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=2356904447

Some other QoL mods Ive used and still work. I have used 100s. lol.

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=2658259820

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=1934081600

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=1313029740

https://steamcommunity.com/sha…filedetails/?id=761535755

Leethe · Oct 20th 2022

so - after replacing SS by S+ and removing https://steamcommunity.com/sha…iledetails/?id=2179515434, things became even worse. Occasionally I would be able to use my server for a few hours after reinstating a backup, but after every restart it would run into another hang.

I just did comprehensive troubleshooting (almost 50 steps) by restoring backups and known-good mod configurations. I regained my servers stability by removing this mod, which you considered "green":

Steam Workshop::Breed Better! (steamcommunity.com)

I was so sad to realise this one is an issue. I really loved to use it.

I contacted the mod creator about the issue via workshop and offered to provide additional data. I really hope this can be fixed.

Al the other mods (1999447172,1905043084,1404697612,1621803973,758620733) seem to work just fine. They lived through my comprehensive testing.

DOAGEN · Oct 20th 2022

Good to hear. All green means is that when the creator created it, it would stack. Over time though mods will end up breaking or not working as the core changes. This can affect any gameplay. Glad you figured it out. Folks are really on their own when it comes to mods and their testing.

freshly installed server won't load mods

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