DayZ Dedicated Server: Getting Started Guide

Getting Started with Your DayZ Dedicated Server

DayZ is one of those games that's hard to explain to someone who hasn't played it. You spawn on a coast with nothing, and everything from there is up to you. The game started as an Arma 2 mod by Dean Hall, eventually became its own standalone title under Bohemia Interactive, and the core loop hasn't really changed: scavenge, survive, don't trust anyone. The default map, Chernarus, is about 225 km² of post-Soviet countryside, and the default player cap is 60, though you can raise it if your server can handle it.

Running your own server means you get to decide how the whole thing works. Loot rates, mods, who's allowed in, what map you're playing on. This guide covers how to get a DayZ server set up with LOW.MS and how to connect to it.

Why Bother Hosting Your Own Server?

If you've only played on public servers, hosting your own might sound like a lot of work. Honestly, the initial setup is pretty straightforward, and the payoff is worth it:

You make the rules. Player limits, whitelist, BattlEye, passwords. It's your call.
You control the loot economy. The types.xml file lets you tweak spawn rates for every single item in the game. Want more M4s? Fewer cans of beans? You can do that.
Mods. DayZ has a large and active modding community. Traders, helicopters, expanded base building, new maps, you name it. Steam Workshop makes installing them fairly painless.
It's always on. Your server runs 24/7. Bases stay built, gear stays stashed, the world keeps ticking whether you're online or not.
Better performance. Dedicated hardware means less lag and no host advantage. In a game where a half-second delay can get you killed, that matters.
Community. Some of the best DayZ experiences I've seen are community-run servers with their own identity and regular players.

Step 1: Order Your DayZ Server

Head over to the DayZ server hosting page on LOW.MS and pick a plan that suits what you're after. DayZ is notoriously RAM-hungry, especially once you start adding mods, so keep that in mind when choosing.

You can also grab a dedicated IP if you want a clean address with default ports, which makes it easier for players to remember and connect.

Once you've ordered, the server gets provisioned automatically. You'll get your details by email and in your LOW.MS Control Panel.

Step 2: Access Your Control Panel

Start, stop, and restart the server
Watch the console output in real time via Web Console
Edit config files (serverDZ.cfg, types.xml, etc.) through Configuration Files
Upload and manage mods using File Manager
Set up automated restarts with Scheduled Tasks
Create and restore backups via Cloud Backup and Cloud Restore
Monitor what's happening with Current Activity & Stats

Step 3: Configure Your Server Settings

Your server ships with sensible defaults, but you'll probably want to tweak a few things. The main config file is serverDZ.cfg, and you can edit it through Configuration Files in your control panel.

The Important Settings

Setting	Default	What it does
`hostname`	Your server name	What shows up in the server browser
`password`	(empty)	Set one to make the server private
`passwordAdmin`	(generated)	Your RCON admin password
`maxPlayers`	60	The default is 60 but you can raise it
`verifySignatures`	2	Signature verification. Keep this at 2
`forceSameBuild`	1	Makes sure everyone's on the same game version
`disable3rdPerson`	0	Set to 1 for first-person only
`disableCrosshair`	0	Set to 1 to remove the crosshair
`serverTime`	"SystemTime"	Or set a fixed time like "2025/6/15/12/00" for permanent daytime
`serverTimeAcceleration`	12	How fast time passes. 1 is real-time, max is 24
`serverNightTimeAcceleration`	1	Night speed multiplier relative to daytime (this one goes up to 64)
`serverTimePersistent`	0	Set to 1 to keep the time between restarts
`BattlEye`	1	Anti-cheat. Leave this on
`enableWhitelist`	0	Set to 1 if you want a Steam ID whitelist

Making It Private

If you want a password-protected server, just set this in serverDZ.cfg:

password = "YourSecurePassword";

Players will need to enter it when they connect.

BattlEye

BattlEye is DayZ's anti-cheat and it's on by default. I'd recommend keeping it that way. Turning it off means your server won't show up in the default server browser for most players, and you'll be wide open to cheaters.

Step 4: Connect to Your Server

Once the server is running:

Launch DayZ on Steam
Click Servers from the main menu
Go to the Favourites tab
Click Direct Connect (bottom-right)
Enter your server's IP address and port (default is 2302) from your LOW.MS panel
Type the password if you set one
Hit Connect

You can also search for your server by name in the Community tab and right-click it to add it to Favourites.

DZSA Launcher

A lot of players use the third-party DZSA Launcher, especially for modded servers. It handles mod downloads automatically and makes managing multiple servers a lot easier. You can find your server there by name or IP.

Step 5: Set Up Admin Access

You'll want admin access for kicking players, banning troublemakers, and restarting the server in-game.

Open serverDZ.cfg and note the passwordAdmin value
In-game, press your chat key and type: #login YourAdminPassword
Once logged in, you've got access to commands like:
- #shutdown to gracefully stop the server
- #restart to restart it
- #kick PlayerName to kick someone
- #ban PlayerName to ban them

Step 6: Invite Your Friends

Share these details with anyone you want on the server:

Server name (the hostname value)
IP and port from your LOW.MS panel (default port: 2302)
Password, if you set one
A list of any required mods so they can subscribe on the Workshop before joining

They can add the server to Favourites in the DayZ browser or DZSA Launcher for easy access later.

Maps and DLC

DayZ has a few map options beyond the default:

Chernarus is the classic. ~225 km² of post-Soviet countryside. Included with the base game and still the most popular map by far.
Livonia is a denser, more forested 163 km² map with bears and a different feel. It's been free since update 1.25 (May 2024), so no extra purchase needed.
Sakhal is a harsh, snowy island. Requires the Frostline DLC (~$27).
Community maps like Deer Isle, Namalsk, Esseker, and Banov are available through the Steam Workshop and offer completely different vibes.

To switch maps, you'll need to change the startup parameters and mission file. The DayZ Server Configuration Guide covers how to do that.

What's Next

Now that your server's running, you'll probably want to get into the weeds with configuration:

DayZ Server Configuration Guide for serverDZ.cfg details, types.xml loot tuning, mods, and advanced settings
DayZ Troubleshooting Guide if something's not working right

If you get stuck, our support team is available through the LOW.MS Control Panel.