How to Make Your Own DayZ Server (PC)

Want your own rules, your own loot and your own community? This guide walks you through creating a private DayZ server on PC, from install to first launch. You have two options: host it yourself for free, or rent a ready-to-go server.

⚙️ Self-hosting vs. renting

For a one-night session with friends, your PC is fine. For a community that plays every day, a hosted server avoids downtime and connection issues.

⚙️ What you need

• A Windows (or Linux) machine with at least 8 GB of RAM for the server, more for mods.
• A Steam account that owns DayZ: unlike many games, downloading the DayZ server requires a logged-in account.
• A fast upload connection if you host at home.
• At least 20 GB of free disk space for the server and its mods.

⚙️ Step 1: install the server with SteamCMD

1. Download SteamCMD from Valve and extract it to C:\steamcmd.
2. Run steamcmd.exe and type:

force_install_dir C:\dayzserver
login your_steam_username
app_update 223350 validate
quit

223350 is the Steam app ID of the "DayZ Server" tool. You can also install it from your Steam Library under Tools.

⚙️ Step 2: configure serverDZ.cfg

Open serverDZ.cfg in the server folder. Key settings:

hostname = "My DayZ Server | PvE | discord.gg/...";
password = "";              // join password (empty = public)
passwordAdmin = "ChangeMe";
maxPlayers = 60;
verifySignatures = 2;       // verifies mod signatures
forceSameBuild = 1;
disable3rdPerson = 0;       // 1 = first-person only
disableCrosshair = 0;
serverTime = "SystemTime";
serverTimeAcceleration = 6; // time runs 6x faster
serverNightTimeAcceleration = 4;
serverTimePersistent = 0;
instanceId = 1;
storageAutoFix = 1;

class Missions
{
    class DayZ
    {
        template = "dayzOffline.chernarusplus";
    };
};

To switch maps, change the mission: dayzOffline.enoch for Livonia, dayzOffline.sakhal for Sakhal.

⚙️ Step 3: open the ports

DayZ uses UDP port 2302 by default (plus the next ports up to 2305). If you host at home, forward these ports to your PC and allow DayZServer_x64.exe in Windows Firewall. On a hosted server this is already done.

⚙️ Step 4: start the server

Create a start.bat file in the server folder:

@echo off
start "" DayZServer_x64.exe -config=serverDZ.cfg -port=2302 -profiles=profiles -dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheck

Double-click it. After a minute or two, the server appears in the DayZ launcher (Community tab). You can also connect directly by IP and port.

Would rather not keep a PC on around the clock? On a DayZ server hosted by LordHosting, these four steps are already done: the server is installed and up to date, the ports are open and the panel gives you the console and the files.

⚙️ Step 5: log in as admin

In game, open chat and type:

#login ChangeMe

You can then use commands like #kick or #shutdown. To teleport, spawn items or manage players, install an admin tool like VPPAdminTools (see our guide How to install DayZ mods on a server).

⚙️ Common problems

• Server not in the list: check ports and firewall, then search by name. The list can take a few minutes to refresh.
• "Version mismatch": server and game versions differ. Run app_update 223350 validate again.
• Crash on startup: open the latest .RPT file in the profiles folder; it tells you why.
• Players kicked on connect with a signature error: a mod or a .bikey key is out of date, see the mods guide.

⚙️ Ready-to-paste configuration

A complete serverDZ.cfg for a public server on Chernarus. Replace the three values at the top before using it.

// Replace: the displayed name, the admin password, the instance ID
hostname = "My DayZ Server | Vanilla | discord.gg/xxxx";
passwordAdmin = "ChangeMe";
instanceId = 1;

password = "";
maxPlayers = 60;
verifySignatures = 2;
forceSameBuild = 1;
disable3rdPerson = 0;
disableCrosshair = 0;
disableVoN = 0;
vonCodecQuality = 20;
enableDebugMonitor = 0;
steamQueryPort = 2305;
allowFilePatching = 0;
serverTime = "SystemTime";
serverTimeAcceleration = 6;
serverNightTimeAcceleration = 4;
serverTimePersistent = 0;
guaranteedUpdates = 1;
loginQueueConcurrentPlayers = 5;
loginQueueMaxPlayers = 500;
storageAutoFix = 1;
enableCfgGameplayFile = 0;

class Missions
{
    class DayZ
    {
        template = "dayzOffline.chernarusplus";
    };
};

And the matching start.bat:

@echo off
:start
start "" /wait DayZServer_x64.exe -config=serverDZ.cfg -port=2302 -profiles=profiles -dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheck
timeout 10
goto start

The goto start loop restarts the server automatically if it stops or crashes.

✅ Conclusion

A DayZ server comes together in five steps: SteamCMD, serverDZ.cfg, the ports, the launch and the admin password. The next step is adding mods, then giving your server an identity: PvE, PvP or RP. Our two other guides cover both: How to install DayZ mods on a server and DayZ PvE, PvP and RP server setup.

Don't want to deal with SteamCMD, ports and updates? Rent a DayZ server: installed, updated and online 24/7, with anti-DDoS included and human support.

FAQ

The answers to frequently asked questions about making a DayZ server are in the FAQ box below. If a question is missing, contact LordHosting support via Discord or by ticket.