{"id":3789,"date":"2026-10-27T17:10:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gameteam.io\/blog\/dayz-dedicated-server-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T17:10:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:10:20","slug":"dayz-dedicated-server-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gameteam.io\/blog\/dayz-dedicated-server-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make a DayZ Server: Dedicated Server Setup, Requirements and Ports"},"content":{"rendered":"

To make a DayZ server, you run Bohemia’s DayZ Server files on a Windows or Linux machine with at least 6 GB of RAM, configure it in serverDZ.cfg<\/code>, and open UDP port 2302 plus a Steam query port so players can reach it.<\/strong> The files come from SteamCMD (app 223350) with your Steam login, and the server starts with one line: DayZServer_x64.exe -config=serverDZ.cfg -port=2302<\/code>. Below: what it needs, every setup step on Windows and Linux, ports, restarts, admin tools, and the fixes for the errors people actually hit.<\/p>\n

Can you make your own DayZ server?<\/h2>\n

Yes, on PC. Anyone who plays DayZ Standalone on Steam can run a dedicated server on their own Windows or Linux machine, or rent one from a host. On Xbox and PS5 it works differently: console players can’t run the server software, and console private servers are rented through Bohemia’s own console hosting partner, with far fewer options than PC and no Steam Workshop mods. So “how to make your own server in DayZ on Xbox” really means renting a console private server.<\/p>\n

One more distinction: this guide is about DayZ Standalone, Bohemia’s 2018 game. The original DayZ Mod for Arma 2 is a different game with different server software, covered briefly in how to add mods to a DayZ server<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nSelf-hosted PC server<\/th>\nRented PC server<\/th>\nConsole private server<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Who runs the hardware<\/td>\nYou<\/td>\nThe host<\/td>\nBohemia’s console partner<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mods (Steam Workshop)<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Full file access (serverDZ.cfg, XML)<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes, through the panel<\/td>\nLimited<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Port forwarding<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cost<\/td>\nYour PC, power and time<\/td>\nA rental fee<\/td>\nA rental fee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Official vs community servers<\/h2>\n

Official servers are run by Bohemia, play pure vanilla and share one central database, so your character follows you between official servers. Community servers are run by players and groups with their own rules, mods and character saves. In the in-game server browser they sit under separate Official<\/em> and Community<\/em> tabs, and there is a LAN<\/em> tab for servers on your home network. The server you make shows up under Community.<\/p>\n

Bohemia also shuffles its own fleet: when population drops it merges quiet official servers and shuts the rest down, and in busy periods it adds temporary servers for capacity (the “temp servers” people search for). A community server only shuts down when its owner says so.<\/p>\n

What kind of DayZ server should you make?<\/h2>\n

Decide this first, because it decides which files you’ll spend your time in. A vanilla server only needs serverDZ.cfg<\/code>. A high-loot or beginner-friendly server is mostly XML edits. PvE, roleplay and themed servers lean on mods, because vanilla DayZ has no setting that turns PvP off: neither serverDZ.cfg nor cfggameplay.json<\/code> has one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Server style<\/th>\nWhat makes it<\/th>\nWhere you configure it<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Vanilla<\/td>\nOfficial rules, your own population and restarts<\/td>\nserverDZ.cfg<\/code> only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vanilla+ (or “vanilla++”)<\/td>\nVanilla gameplay plus a few quality-of-life mods<\/td>\n-mod=<\/code> and the mods’ own settings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High loot<\/td>\nMore of everything, or more of the good stuff<\/td>\nnominal<\/code> and min<\/code> in db\/types.xml<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beginner-friendly<\/td>\nMore loot, fewer infected, third person on, bases that can’t be wrecked<\/td>\ntypes.xml<\/code>, ZombieMaxCount<\/code> in db\/globals.xml<\/code>, disableBaseDamage<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PvE<\/td>\nPlayers fight the infected, not each other<\/td>\nMods plus server rules<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RP \/ roleplay<\/td>\nCharacters, factions, a whitelist and a Discord to apply through<\/td>\nenableWhitelist<\/code>, mods, community rules<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deathmatch<\/td>\nSpawn geared, fight, respawn fast<\/td>\nspawnGearPresetFiles<\/code> in cfggameplay.json<\/code>, respawnTime<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Custom map<\/td>\nNamalsk, Deer Isle and other community maps<\/td>\nThe map’s Workshop mod plus its mission folder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Themed<\/td>\nSTALKER, Tarkov-style, Star Wars, Walking Dead, dinosaurs<\/td>\nMod packs, mostly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Most good community servers start as vanilla on day one and change one thing at a time. The DayZ server settings guide<\/a> explains every option, and how to add mods to a DayZ server<\/a> covers the Workshop side.<\/p>\n

DayZ server requirements<\/h2>\n

Bohemia’s minimum for a DayZ dedicated server is 6 GB of RAM, a dual-core CPU and 2.5 GB of disk space, on Windows 10 or later, Windows Server, or Linux, with an SSD “highly recommended” for the install and logs. That’s a floor. A public server loaded with mods and months of stored bases will struggle at the minimum, so it needs more headroom than a fresh vanilla one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nBohemia’s minimum<\/th>\nWhat we’d plan for<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
OS<\/td>\nWindows Server 2012\u20132016, Windows 10 or later, or Linux<\/td>\nWhatever you’re comfortable maintaining<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CPU<\/td>\nIntel dual-core 2.4 GHz or AMD dual-core Athlon 2.5 GHz<\/td>\nA modern CPU with fast single cores<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RAM<\/td>\n6 GB<\/td>\n6 GB for a private group, 8 GB for a public server with mods<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Storage<\/td>\n2.5 GB<\/td>\nAn SSD with room for mods, logs and persistence backups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Network<\/td>\nNot specified<\/td>\nStable upload and a router you can forward ports on<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Map choice matters too. Nasdara, the map in the DayZ Badlands expansion (out October 15, 2026), is 267 km\u00b2, the largest terrain Bohemia has made for DayZ.<\/p>\n

Don’t have a spare machine that can stay on? DayZ server hosting<\/a> runs the same server files on rented hardware, so the rest of this guide still applies, minus the port forwarding.<\/p>\n

How to set up a DayZ dedicated server on Windows<\/h2>\n

Creating a server from zero takes three moves: download the server files with SteamCMD, edit serverDZ.cfg<\/code>, then start DayZServer_x64.exe<\/code> from a batch file. Bohemia’s docs say to log in with your Steam account (the DayZ Server app doesn’t download anonymously), and the same command that installs the server also updates it later.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Get SteamCMD.<\/strong> Download it from Valve and unzip it to a folder such as C:\\steamcmd<\/code>.<\/li>\n
  2. Download the DayZ server.<\/strong> From that folder, run (use 1042420<\/code> instead of 223350<\/code> for the experimental branch):\n
    steamcmd +force_install_dir C:\\dayzserver +login your_steam_name +app_update 223350 +quit<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
  3. Edit serverDZ.cfg<\/code><\/strong> in C:\\dayzserver<\/code>. At minimum, set the name, passwords and slots (see the config section<\/a> below).<\/li>\n
  4. Create a start batch file.<\/strong> Save this as start.bat<\/code> in the server folder:\n
    @echo off\ncd \/d \"C:\\dayzserver\"\nstart \"DayZ Server\" DayZServer_x64.exe -config=serverDZ.cfg -port=2302 -profiles=profiles -dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheck<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
  5. Start it and watch the console.<\/strong> The first start builds the mission’s storage folder and writes logs to profiles<\/code>. When the console settles, the server is up.<\/li>\n
  6. Open the ports<\/strong> (next section), then join.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Bohemia also documents a PowerShell Server_manager.ps1<\/code> script in the server’s server_manager<\/code> folder that downloads SteamCMD, the server and mods, and starts the server for you. The wiki notes the script went missing in 1.24, so check whether your install has it before you rely on it.<\/p>\n
    On Linux<\/h3>\n
    Same steps, with SteamCMD’s Linux build and the DayZServer<\/code> binary. Bohemia’s guide says not to run the server as root.<\/p>\n
    mkdir -p ~\/servers\/steamcmd && cd ~\/servers\/steamcmd\ncurl -sqL \"https:\/\/steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net\/client\/installer\/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz\" | tar zxvf -\n~\/servers\/steamcmd\/steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir ~\/servers\/dayz-server\/ +login your_steam_name +app_update 223350 +quit\ncd ~\/servers\/dayz-server\/\n.\/DayZServer -config=serverDZ.cfg -port=2302 -BEpath=battleye -profiles=profiles -dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheck<\/code><\/pre>\n
    On Debian you need lib32gcc-s1<\/code> first. For a server that starts with the machine, Bohemia’s guide wraps that line in a systemd service with Restart=on-failure<\/code>, plus an update script that runs before every start.<\/p>\n
    Configure serverDZ.cfg<\/span><\/h2>\n
    serverDZ.cfg<\/code> holds the server-wide rules: name, passwords, slots, time of day, first- or third-person, and which map to load. There’s no default file name. The server reads whatever you pass with -config=<\/code> and refuses to launch without it. Start with these lines:<\/p>\n
    hostname = \"My DayZ Server | 1PP | Vanilla\";\ndescription = \"Friends-only vanilla Chernarus. Restarts every 4 hours.\";\npassword = \"\";\npasswordAdmin = \"something-long-and-private\";\nmaxPlayers = 60;\ndisable3rdPerson = 0;\nserverTimeAcceleration = 4;\nserverTimePersistent = 1;\nsteamQueryPort = 2305;\n\nclass Missions\n{\n    class DayZ\n    {\n        template = \"dayzOffline.chernarusplus\";\n    };\n};<\/code><\/pre>\n
    The template<\/code> picks the map: dayzOffline.chernarusplus<\/code>, dayzOffline.enoch<\/code> (Livonia), dayzOffline.sakhal<\/code> or dayzOffline.nasdara<\/code>, each matching a folder in mpmissions<\/code>. The description<\/code> (up to 255 characters) appears in the browser’s server details, so use it to say what your server is about. Tags in the name, like | PVE |<\/code> or | 1PP |<\/code>, are how most community servers advertise their style in the list. Every other option is in DayZ server settings explained<\/a>.<\/p>\n
    DayZ server ports and port forwarding<\/h2>\n
    A DayZ server needs its game port, UDP 2302 by default, reachable from the internet, plus the Steam query port you set with steamQueryPort<\/code> (2305 in Bohemia’s example config). The query port is what puts the server in the browser. Forward both on your router to the PC running the server and allow them through the firewall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Port<\/th>\nProtocol<\/th>\nUsed for<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    2302<\/td>\nUDP<\/td>\nGame traffic. Change it with -port=<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    2305 (your steamQueryPort<\/code>)<\/td>\nUDP<\/td>\nSteam query: server browser listing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
    If you run several servers on one machine, give each its own game port, query port and instanceId<\/code> so their storage folders don’t collide.<\/p>\n
    LAN or local play:<\/strong> players on the same network don’t need any forwarding. They find the server under the LAN<\/em> tab, or connect to the server PC’s local IP.<\/p>\n
    How to join (and find) your DayZ server<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Launch DayZ and open the server browser.<\/li>\n
    2. Go to the Community<\/em> tab and type your server name into the search. If it’s slow to appear, search by IP instead (203.0.113.25<\/code>, for example).<\/li>\n
    3. Or skip the list: the DayZ Launcher on Steam has a direct connect window for an IP and port.<\/li>\n
    4. Enter the password if you set one.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      Can’t find your server in the browser?<\/strong> Check three things: that the query port is set and open, that the server has finished starting, and the browser’s ping filter. By default it only shows servers under 100 ms, so a far-away server can be filtered out of your own list.<\/p>\n
      Restarts, persistence and shutdowns<\/h2>\n
      DayZ servers restart on a schedule to save their state cleanly and start fresh. Bohemia recommends a graceful shutdown through messages.xml<\/code> instead of killing the process, because a hard stop can damage player characters and the server’s stored data. The countdown warns players at 90, 60, 45, 30, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2 and 1 minute before it shuts down.<\/p>\n
      <messages>\n  <message>\n    <deadline>240<\/deadline>\n    <shutdown>1<\/shutdown>\n    <text>#name restarts in #tmin minutes.<\/text>\n  <\/message>\n<\/messages><\/code><\/pre>\n
      That file lives at mpmissions\\dayzOffline.chernarusplus\\db\\messages.xml<\/code>, and a deadline of 240 shuts the server down four hours after it starts. Something still has to start it again: a restart loop in your batch file, a systemd service with Restart=on-failure<\/code>, or a host that brings it back up.<\/p>\n