How to Make a DayZ Server on Windows or Linux

Requirements and backup

Use a dedicated operating-system account, install SteamCMD, and reserve separate locations for the service and backups. Bohemia's Linux instructions use a Steam account for the stable installation; run the service without root privileges. On Windows, allow the server through the firewall rather than disabling the firewall.

When replacing an existing instance, stop it gracefully before copying serverDZ.cfg, mpmissions, profiles, BattlEye files, keys and any storage root selected through -storage. Keep an untouched archive before merging data into the new installation.

Install on Windows or Linux

1. Start SteamCMD and select a directory with force_install_dir.
2. Log in with the required Steam account and run app_update 223350 validate for stable.
3. Windows starts DayZServer_x64.exe; Linux starts DayZServer from the installation directory.
4. Provide a valid serverDZ.cfg before launch. It needs at least a hostname, player limit and mission class, such as dayzOffline.chernarusplus when that mission is installed.
5. Use an explicit profile path: -config=serverDZ.cfg -port=2302 -profiles=profiles -dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheck.

The service account must be able to write to the profile path. Without -config, DayZ does not create a complete usable configuration for you and may refuse to start.

Network and first validation

-port=2302 selects the game port in this example. Current documentation also shows steamQueryPort=2305 in serverDZ.cfg for discovery. Allow the UDP game and query ports you actually select, using unique values for multiple instances on one host.

Validate locally before testing from another network:

1. confirm the log loads the mission without errors;
2. join with a client on the same version;
3. create a character and move an item;
4. stop gracefully, restart and confirm persistence;
5. test public discovery and direct IP separately.

Add mods only after this vanilla test. The DayZ Workshop guide covers keys and load order.

Maintenance and common failures

Automate graceful shutdown before app_update, keep several off-server backups and retain profile logs. A server missing from discovery may still work by direct IP; then verify steamQueryPort. A mission error, build mismatch or invalid config is not fixed by opening more ports.

On Linux, start from the expected working directory and respect case-sensitive paths. On Windows, do not place the service where its account cannot write. For managed updates and backups, compare DayZ server hosts.