ARK Server - Opening Ports - Security risks?? Network gurus needed!

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Bmillerx94

Honorable
Feb 9, 2014
19
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10,510
Hello,

I am thinking about running my Win 10 secondary desktop as a game server for a temporary period of time. I will be forced to open 2 ports on my router 27015, and 7777.

I am wondering if this is a safe practice. The specific game is ARK: Surivival Evolved. Also, will people be able to see my external IP address? Or is that kindof the point of connecting to a server? I'm really bad with networking. Is there any software I can get to further protect my network/devices from attacks? How can I know if im being attacked?

Heres more info:
-Router/Modem is comcast combo.
-No physical firewall between server and router
-All network attached devices have good anti-vi
-No critical data on server machine
-server will be SHUT DOWN every day and only on when I play

Thank you!
 
Solution
Snipergod87
Ok,
So to answer your questions, Yes people will be able to see your external IP as they have to in order to connect to the server
Opening ports is always a security risk but typically isn't very large.
If you only shutdown the ARK server and not the actual computer those ports are still accessible from the outside.
There is probably software you can use to view IP's connecting to 7777 and 27015 and log if it you want to look at it, I don't know of any off hand.
Since forwarding ports (what you want to do) you will need to specify either the host name or IP address of the ARK server in your network, and since the internal addresses may change you might want to assign your "server" a static address.
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Bmillerx94

Honorable
Feb 9, 2014
19
0
10,510
Hi,

I will be hosting it for others to play. Only a few others. Outside my network. I've been playing on LAN and i can't rely on members of my network to play with me often.
 
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Snipergod87

Snipergod87

Splendid
May 26, 2009
5,585
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29,965
Ok,
So to answer your questions, Yes people will be able to see your external IP as they have to in order to connect to the server
Opening ports is always a security risk but typically isn't very large.
If you only shutdown the ARK server and not the actual computer those ports are still accessible from the outside.
There is probably software you can use to view IP's connecting to 7777 and 27015 and log if it you want to look at it, I don't know of any off hand.
Since forwarding ports (what you want to do) you will need to specify either the host name or IP address of the ARK server in your network, and since the internal addresses may change you might want to assign your "server" a static address.
 
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Solution
jsmithepa

jsmithepa

Polypheme
Jun 14, 2014
13,096
263
60,840
Is better if your router has a DMZ, place your server there.

Is better if the server is single purpose, has no access to rest of LAN's. so if even comprised, damage stays in one box.

But don't go the deep end, if you maintain regular backups, u should be OK. Do you have a recovery procedure in place?
 
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