This tutorial will walk you through an AresMUSH installation from start to finish. Step-by-step instructions with pictures and examples are intended to make the installation painless - even if you have no prior server admin experience.
If at any point you run into trouble, see Getting Help.
There are several ways to get Ares installed.
| Method | Description | Technical Knowledge Required |
|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean 1-Click Droplet | Quickly and easily create a DigitalOcean sever with everything you need pre-installed. All you have to do is configure your game information. | Low |
| DigitalOcean Easy Mode | Faraday will set up an Ares game for you on DigitalOcean. May take a week or so, depending on availability. | Lowest |
| DigitalOcean Self-Install | DIY instructions for installing a game on your own DigitalOcean server. | Medium |
| Custom Server Install | Install Ares in a custom environment using another hosting service. | High |
| Local Setup | Install Ares on your local PC for development/testing. (Not suitable for a real game.) | High |
MUSHes need to be hosted on a cloud server to make the game accessible to the public.
With a built-in web portal/wiki, a database and more advanced coding tools, Ares cannot run on the limited accounts provided by most dedicated “MUSH hosting” services. You’ll need a Virtual Private Server (VPS) where you have admin privileges. I recommend DigitalOcean. It’s what I use for AresCentral and what the automated installer is designed for.