How do I setup a DayZ Server on a Windows VPS or Dedicated Server?
Setting up a DayZ Server may seem difficult, but it is actually pretty easy! Follow this guide and you can easily get your server up and running.
Prerequisites
These are the specifications we recommend.
- VPS or Dedicated Server running Windows Server 16, 19, 22
- 4 Core CPU or more - 2.4 GHz +
- 8 GBs of RAM or more
- 25 GBs of Storage or more
- 100 Mbp/s Connection or better
DayZ is a single thread application. We recommend getting our Ryzen VPS lineup for a fast clock speed.
Step 1:
Connect to your hosted machine with Remote Desktop Connection. Not sure how to do this? Check this article.
Step 2:
Create a folder on the Desktop called "SteamCMD".
Step 3:
Open your Web Browser and paste the following link:
https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip
This will download the SteamCMD application.
Step 4:
Extract the exe into the folder we created on the Desktop. Then double click and run it.
Step 5:
Create another folder on your Desktop called "DayZ-Server".
Step 6:
If you closed the SteamCMD window, reopen it. The application is just "steamcmd.exe" in the SteamCMD folder.
Now, we need to set the force install to the DayZ-Server folder in the SteamCMD Window, which is essentially setting the install location. With this example, the users Desktop is the "Administrator" user. If you are installing this on a different user, swap the "Administrator" part for your username.
force_install_dir C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\DayZ-Server
Step 7:
Now, to be able to Download the DayZ Server application, you will need to login with a Steam account that owns the game itself. Replace the username part in the command below with your Steam username.
login usernameOnce you type in the username, it will prompt you for your Steam password. Input this when asked.
NOTE!
If you have SteamGuard Active, you will also have to input the one time passcode sent to your email. The SteamCMD Window will also explain this.
Step 8:
Now we will download the latest version of DayZ Server.
app_update 223350 validateAfter running, the Server will download into the DayZ-Server folder.
Once done, you can close the SteamCMD Window.
Step 9:
Now we need to open the required ports for DayZ.
On the Windows taskbar, search for the following and open it:
Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
Step 10:
DayZ Server uses UDP instead of TCP by default and uses the following ports:
- UDP ports 2302-2305 (Game Ports)
- UDP port 27016 (Steam Query Port)
On the left hand side of the Firewall panel click, "Inbound Rules" then "New Rule on the right.
Once the Window is open, you will select "Port".
Select UDP and then paste the following into the box that says "Specific local ports":
2302-2305,27016
Click Next and make sure "Allow the connection" is selected in the next page. You can then name the Firewall rule what you please.
Repeat these steps for the "Outboound Rules" as well.
Step 11:
Next we need to create a .bat file with some startup parameters. Open the notepad application. Paste the following into the notepad:
start DayZServer_x64.exe -config=serverDZ.cfg -port=2302 --dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheck -profiles=C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\DayZ-ServerBe sure the change the directory of the server if you are not using the Administrator user.
Now, you will need to save this notepad as a .bat file in the DayZ-Server folder. When saving make sure you change the "Save as type" to all files. It should look like this:
Step 12:
Next we need to download DirectX End-User Runtime, else the DayZ Server may not launch and will give a XAPOFX1_5.dll error. Copy and paste this link into your browser and download the required Language version and run the application once downloaded.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35Step 13:
Run the server! Double click the start-server.bat file. This will run the DayZ server! You may need to use Direct Connect to connect right away.
Complete! You now have your own DayZ Server!
