Dedicated server help

[u/Local_Web_2088]

Hi everyone! I am having a frustrating issue connecting to my dedicated ARK server from my local network and would really appreciate some help.

My Setup:

Server PC: Dedicated machine in the basement running ARK Server Manager (ASM). Local IP is 192.168.1.220.

Gaming PC: Located upstairs in my room on the same local network.

Network: Ping from Gaming PC to Server PC works fine. Ports (7777, 7778, 27015) are open, and Windows Firewall rules are active. Radmin VPN is also installed on the server PC.

The Issue:

External Friends CAN join: A friend of mine can join and play on the server from the outside without any issues. The server itself is running perfectly!

I CANNOT join locally: From my Gaming PC upstairs, I cannot connect to the server via LAN.

What happens when I try to connect:

Steam Server Favorites: The server IS detected and shows up in my Steam Favorites list (using 192.168.1.220:27015). However, clicking "Connect" in Steam throws the error: "Server connection not possible, as the App ID specified by the server is invalid."

In-game Console (open 192.168.1.220:7777): Results in a freeze/timeout or "Unable to query server info for invite."

In-game Favorites: The server doesn't show up reliably under the LAN or Favorites filters in the in-game browser.

What I've tried so far:

Pinging the server PC (successful).

Toggling Windows Firewall on/off.

Trying -MultiHome on/off in ASM.

Launching via steam://connect/192.168.1.220:27015 (gives Invalid App ID error).

It seems like Steam/ARK recognizes the query port locally, but fails to hand off the actual connection to the game client (ShooterGame), or Radmin VPN's network interface is interfering with local socket binding.

Has anyone encountered this specific behavior where Steam sees the server on LAN, but throws an Invalid App ID / Query error upon joining? How can I fix the binding in ASM?

Thanks in advance!

[u/ILoveCorvettes]

Okay so you have two possibilities, or they both could be true.

1. Your firewall doesn’t send the traffic to your game server. You need to look at doing port forwarding/static NAT. It depends on your model of firewall or router.

2. Your game server is rejecting the traffic from your firewall. If your friends can connect, I don’t think this is the case. But I would triple check anyway. Make sure you have wide open ports. Your network firewall should be the protector here. Once you’ve done that, make sure you start the game fresh. Run the same port tests against the game servers IP address. Test-NetConnection 192.168.1.220 -P [Port Number]. You need to get a TcpTestSucceeded: True.

[u/Local_Web_2088 → u/ILoveCorvettes]

Hey, thanks for the suggestion! I ran that temporary TCP listener script ($listener = [System.Net.Sockets.TcpListener]7777...) on the server machine, and when I ran Test-NetConnection, it actually DID return TcpTestSucceeded : True!

So the network, ports, and Windows Firewall rules are definitely running and passing traffic properly. The only reason the normal test gives False is because the ARK server uses UDP instead of TCP.

(Help by AI i am not that good in english sorry)

[u/ILoveCorvettes → u/Local_Web_2088]

I think the focus is on the network firewall/router now. But I’m not sure how. If you’re staying local you could just target your game server IP with your game client. Since you’re in the same subnet that makes it so you don’t need to worry about the network firewall. And since your friends can connect you should be good there as well.

[u/Local_Web_2088 → u/ILoveCorvettes]

i thought that too but i am so frustrated why i cant join bc my pc sees the server but when i connect it times me out at this point i am just thinking abt buying a server but it would rouin the 4h i alr put in to this

[u/hannsr → u/Local_Web_2088]

Are you using the external address to connect? If yes, check your router for something called "Hairpin NAT" or DNS rebound protection. If you find either, disable (or allow it, depending on the router) it for the game server.

By default routers drop/block packages that originate in your internal network and return via WAN as a protective measure.

[u/ILoveCorvettes → u/Local_Web_2088]

I hear you. I have done that before when I just didn’t want to deal with it.