DayZ Server Hosting

Why rent a DayZ community server?

Renting a DayZ community server lets you decide everything you cannot change on official servers — the map, loot rates, number of vehicles, day-night cycle, mods and rules — to suit your own community. Official servers give everyone the same experience, while community servers are shaped around different play styles such as PvE, roleplay, trading or intense PvP.

A DayZ server is not suited to running on a home computer. The server constantly computes thousands of items, zombies, animals and vehicles on the map, along with the structures players build, and writes persistence data to disk at regular intervals. A 60-player server easily saturates the upload capacity of a home connection, and sharing a home IP address opens the door to attacks.

A dedicated server stays online 24/7 in a data center; dedicated CPU and memory keep the server frame rate up even at peak hours. NVMe storage lets persistence saves be written quickly. For players connecting from Türkiye and the surrounding region, a server located in Türkiye keeps the route short; in DayZ's long-range firefights, this helps hits register more consistently.

How much RAM does a DayZ server need per player count?

The resource needs of a DayZ server are determined by player count, the total number of items and structures on the map, and the mods in use; a vanilla 60-player Chernarus server runs with 8–12 GB of memory, while the same server with comprehensive mods such as Expansion can exceed 16 GB. The table values are estimated ranges that reflect these differences.

Factors to watch when planning resources:

• Item economy: the nominal values in types.xml set how many items exist on the map at once. Increasing loot also increases the number of objects the server tracks.
• Base structures: the walls, gates, tents and storage players build enlarge the persistence data. On servers that go a long time without a wipe, this build-up noticeably affects performance.
• Vehicles and zombies: vehicles that require physics calculations and crowded zombie areas increase CPU load.
• Mods: mods that add new maps, vehicles, trading systems and structures increase both memory and startup time.

A DayZ server benefits noticeably from high clock speed cores; when the server frame rate (server FPS) drops, players experience delayed hit registration and desync.

Ready-made package or VDS for a DayZ server?

The most suitable infrastructure for a DayZ server is a VDS with resources reserved for you and an operating system of your choice; DayZ's high memory needs, preference for Windows Server and mod management all require full administrator rights. The package table on this page shows the current VDS options suitable for DayZ live.

You can open a DayZ server in two ways:

1. Your own installation: when ordering a VDS server, choose Windows Server, log in to SteamCMD with a Steam account that owns DayZ and run app_update 223350. Unlike many other games, DayZ Server cannot be downloaded with an anonymous login.
2. Installation via support ticket: after ordering the VDS, you can open a ticket for a DayZ installation from the Support section of the customer panel. Just specify the map, player limit and the mods you want; do not share your Steam account details in the ticket — we will plan the download step together with you.

On a VDS you can open a test server on the same machine, try mod updates there first and take backups on whatever schedule you like. You can find a comparison of the two routes on the game server package or VDS page.

Which ports does a DayZ server use?

By default, a DayZ server uses port 2302/UDP for game traffic; this value is changed with the -port launch parameter. For the server to appear in the Steam server list, the steamQueryPort value in serverDZ.cfg must also be defined and open. Because sources give different values for the default query port, the safest approach is to set it explicitly and open the same value in the firewall.

Since a few UDP ports right above the game port can also be used by server components, common practice is to open a small range starting from the game port (for example 2302–2305). If you run a second DayZ server on the same machine, give it a clearly different game port so the ranges do not overlap. Open the RCon port only to your own IP address.

Which settings are configured in serverDZ.cfg?

The core settings of a DayZ server are kept in the serverDZ.cfg file in the server root folder; the server name, passwords, player limit, time settings and the mission (map) to load are defined here.

hostname = "Your Server Name | PvE | Weekly Wipe";
password = "";
passwordAdmin = "a-long-and-unique-password";
maxPlayers = 60;
verifySignatures = 2;
forceSameBuild = 1;
serverTimeAcceleration = 4;
serverNightTimeAcceleration = 8;
instanceId = 1;
steamQueryPort = 27016;
class Missions { class DayZ { template = "dayzOffline.chernarusplus"; }; };

• verifySignatures = 2: verifies players' files with signature keys; on modded servers, the mods' .bikey files must be in the keys folder.
• serverTimeAcceleration and serverNightTimeAcceleration: set how fast daytime and night-time pass; night acceleration shortens the dark period.
• instanceId: sets the number of the storage_ folder where persistence data is kept.
• template: the mission folder to load; dayzOffline.chernarusplus for Chernarus, dayzOffline.enoch for Livonia.

The query port in the example above is just an example; choose your own value and open the same port in the firewall. Changes to the file apply when the server restarts.

How do you configure the Central Economy on a DayZ server?

DayZ's Central Economy system manages which items, vehicles and events appear on the map, how often and where, through XML files in the mission folder. Loot abundance, vehicle counts and events such as helicopter crashes — the things that define a community server's character — are set in these files.

• db/types.xml: for each item, the target count on the map (nominal), the lower bound (min), the despawn time (lifetime) and restock settings. The abundance of weapons and medical supplies is set here.
• db/events.xml: the number and frequency of events such as vehicles, helicopter crashes, police cars and animal herds.
• db/globals.xml: general values such as zombie and animal limits and cleanup times for dead bodies and items on the ground.
• db/economy.xml: which systems (items, vehicles, player structures) are saved to persistence.
• cfgspawnabletypes.xml: which attachments and contents items spawn with; for example, whether a weapon comes with a magazine.

Proceed in small steps when editing economy files: multiplying loot all at once both breaks game balance and lowers performance by raising the number of objects the server tracks. A single syntax error in the XML files can cause the economy to load with default values or the server to fail to start; check the server log after every change.

How do you install mods on a DayZ server?

To install mods on a DayZ server, you copy the mod folder (for example @CF) into the server root directory, move the .bikey file from the mod's keys folder into the server's keys folder, and add the mod to the -mod= parameter on the launch line. Mods that should run only on the server side are loaded with -serverMod=.

DayZServer_x64.exe -config=serverDZ.cfg -port=2302 -profiles=profiles -mod=@CF;@YourMod -doLogs -adminLog -freezeCheck

1. Watch dependencies: many mods depend on a library mod such as Community Framework (@CF); the dependency must come first in the list.
2. Update the mission files: mods that add new items need types.xml entries so the items can spawn on the map. Add the XML entries provided by the mod author to the mission folder.
3. Match versions: players download mods from Steam Workshop; the mod version on the server must match the one on the Workshop, otherwise players are kicked with a signature error.
4. Take a backup: removing a mod that adds structures or vehicles deletes that mod's objects from persistence.

Large mod packs such as Expansion add new maps, trading and mission systems; since they increase resource needs considerably, go by the heavily modded row in the table.

How can you improve DayZ server performance?

The key to DayZ server performance is keeping the number of objects on the map under control to protect the server frame rate (server FPS), managing persistence data and restarting regularly. DayZ communities usually restart the server every few hours with an announcement; this clears memory build-up and refreshes the economy cycle.

• Scheduled restarts: the common practice is a restart every 3–4 hours. Use a scheduler that sends warning messages to players before the restart.
• Base structure limits: limit the number of structures per clan with rules or mods; huge bases lengthen persistence saves and player loading times.
• Keep the economy balanced: do not overdo the nominal values in types.xml; keep cleanup times for items on the ground reasonable in globals.xml.
• Vehicle count: because of physics calculations, many vehicles increase CPU load; set a balanced number with events.xml.
• Logging settings: detailed network logging (-netLog) should only be enabled while troubleshooting; leaving it on permanently creates disk and CPU load.

Server FPS and a player's network latency are different problems. Low server FPS affects everyone at once, while high latency usually affects individual players.

How do you protect a DayZ server against cheats and DDoS attacks?

DayZ servers are protected by combining BattlEye anti-cheat, signature verification and network-level DDoS filtering. DayZ's competitive PvP nature can make community servers a target for both cheaters and attacks from rival communities.

• BattlEye: runs from the battleye directory in the server folder. Keep the RConPassword value in BEServer_x64.cfg strong; BattlEye filter files let you log suspicious commands.
• Signature verification: verifySignatures = 2 stops players from connecting with modified game files. Only put keys of mods you trust into the keys folder.
• Admin access: do not share the passwordAdmin value; in admin tools (such as Community Online Tools), grant rights only to specific player IDs.
• Logs: the admin log created with -adminLog is valuable for reviewing player kills and suspicious activity.

On LIONFIN infrastructure, the RouteFence firewall filters DDoS traffic at the network level before it reaches your server; 600 Gbit/s of total upstream capacity and 24/7 NOC and SOC monitoring in our data center are the infrastructure behind this protection. On Windows Server, also protect Remote Desktop access with a strong password and restrict it to your own IP address.

How do you back up DayZ persistence data and run a wipe?

A DayZ server's persistent data — player characters, bases, vehicles, stashed items — is kept in the storage_ folder in the mission folder; the folder number corresponds to the instanceId value in serverDZ.cfg. Backing up this folder regularly is the foundation of protecting the server against corruption or a faulty mod update.

1. Shut the server down cleanly; persistence data is written to disk during shutdown.
2. Archive the mpmissions/mission_name/storage_1 folder and the economy files in the mission folder.
3. If you use mods, note the mod list and versions next to the backup; the same mods are needed to restore.
4. Keep a copy of the backup off the server.

To wipe, that is, to reset the map and player progress, simply delete the storage_ folder while the server is stopped or set a new instanceId value. If you want to reset only structures or only characters, you need to know which data the persistence files hold; a full wipe is the most trouble-free route. Some communities prefer to wipe after major game updates.

What are the most common DayZ server errors?

The most common problems on DayZ servers are signature verification errors, the server not appearing in the list, mod version mismatches and syntax errors in the economy files. The .RPT and .ADM log files in the server's profile folder are the first step of diagnosis.

When a game update arrives, compatible mod versions may be released some time later; on modded servers, check the mod pages before applying the update.

If you hit a problem not in the table, look for error messages in the last lines of the .RPT file; DayZ usually names the mod that failed to load or the faulty XML file there. Disabling half of the mods at a time and retrying the server is a practical way to find a faulty mod. For infrastructure issues, open a support ticket from the Support section of the customer panel and include the log output.

How do you choose between Chernarus, Livonia and Sakhal?

DayZ has three official maps: Chernarus, which comes with the game; Livonia, offered as DLC; and Sakhal, also DLC, with a snowy, cold climate. The map choice determines both the game experience and the content players need to own.

• Chernarus: the largest and best-known map, available to all players. Most busy community servers and modded servers use this map. Its mission folder is named dayzOffline.chernarusplus.
• Livonia: a smaller, forested map with fewer vertical structures, offering closer-range firefights and a faster pace. Its mission folder is known as dayzOffline.enoch.
• Sakhal: a map centred on cold-climate survival, putting warmth and shelter in the foreground; it suits groups who want a tough survival experience.

Players may need to own the relevant content to join a server that uses a DLC map, so if you want to reach a wide audience, Chernarus is the safest choice. Community-made custom maps can also be used as mods; they usually need extra memory and disk. Changing the map makes the existing persistence data unusable, so choose the map correctly from the start.