Troubleshooting

Most problems come down to one of three things: a map not running the plugin, a map that cannot reach the database, or configuration that differs between servers.

First checks

• If you have set AdminWebhookUrl, check your admin alerts first: problems an admin has to fix are posted there.
• Confirm the plugin is loaded on every map you expect to be synchronized.
• Confirm each map's log says its licence was confirmed. If it says the map is not syncing, the line says why — see Your licence.
• Confirm every server can reach the database.
• Confirm every map uses the same database.
• Confirm every map has its own unique MapTag. A tag already used by another server, including one that differs only in capital letters, is refused at start-up and the log says so.
• Confirm all maps are running the same plugin version.
• Check the logs on both maps involved.

Give changes time to settle

Wait several seconds and check again before treating something as broken.

Where the log is

The newest file in this folder — one is written per server start:

ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/logs/ArkApi_<pid>_<date>_<time>.log

If the plugin does not start

A missing or invalid required setting stops ClusterSync from starting, and the reason is written to the log as a single line. Check the log rather than assuming a silent failure.

Diagnostics

DebugLogging adds detailed output for a specific problem. It only takes effect while debug logging is allowed for your licence, which support switches on when it is needed — see Your licence. Turn it off again afterwards.

What a support report needs

1. The version line from the top of the log — ClusterSync v0.13.1 starting up. It exists so a report can identify the exact build.
2. Logs from both maps involved, not only the one where it looked wrong.
3. What was done, in order, and roughly when.

Why does the tribe log say a rank was changed?

Opening a member in the Tribe Manager makes the game record a rank change for the rank they already have. This is ARK's own behaviour and happens without ClusterSync installed.