Hi survivor !
 
 
This guide is made for people who want setup a dedicated server on Linux :]
 
 
Discord of the french speaking community of Project Zomboid : https://discord.gg/NFBA3dZHuC – [discord.gg] 
 
 

1) Setup server on Linux (Debian 11)

This guide requires some knowledge
 
 

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Connection on the VPS

 
 
1) Download PuTTy (https://www.putty.org/) – [] 
 
2) start PuTTy
 
3) enter the IP of your VPS in Host Name
 
4) enter the port of your VPS (22 by default )
 
 

 
 

---

 
 

Connection on the VPS

 
 
1) enter the login
 
2) enter the password
 
 

 
 

Install package

 
 
put the commands in the console in order
 
 

• dpkg –add-architecture i386
• sudo apt install screen libsdl2-2.0-0:i386
• sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade

 

 
 

Create a user

 
 
You can change pzuser by what you want
 
 

• sudo adduser pzuser
• enter the password when the console ask you
• usermod -aG sudo pzuser
• su – pzuser

 

 
 

Install SteamCMD

 
 
You can change pzserver by what you want, it’s the directory of ProjectZomboid Dedicated server files
 
 

• mkdir steamcmd pzserver
• cd pzserver
• wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz – [akamaihd.net] 
• tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

 

 
 

Install ProjectZomboid Dedicated server files

 
 

• ./steamcmd.sh
• force_install_dir /home/pzuser/pzserver/
• login anonymous
• app_update 380870 -beta b41multiplayer validate
• exit

 

 
 
 

2) Start the server

The first launch will create all config files of your server
 
 

• cd
• cd pzserver
• ./start-server.sh

 

 
 
you must put the password of the admin account in Project Zomboid (it’s a new password)
 
 

 
 
after this message, you can launch Project Zomboid and connect to your server
 
 

 
 

Connect to your server

 
 

• Launch Project Zomboid
• Go to Online
• Go to server list
• Enter the IP of you server in IP input
• Enter the port (default : 16261)
• Enter “admin” to username or other name if you don’t want log in admin
• Enter the password admin or the password of your user account

 

 
 
 

2.1) Run server 24h/24h

If you want the server to run in the background 24/24
 
 

---

 
 
Commands
 
 

• screen
• cd pzserver
• ./start-server.sh
• CTRL + A + D

 
You can quit PuTTy, your server will run in background.
 
 
At the next connection to PuTTy to resume the server console
 
 

• screen -r

 
 
 

3) Stop a server

Stop a running server
 
 
Write : quit
 
 

 
 
 

4) Server configuration

• cd
• cd Zomboid
• cd Server

 

 
 
Files :
 
 
> servertest.ini
 
> servertest_SandboxVars.lua
 
> servertest_spawnpoints.lua
 
> servertest_spawnregions.lua
 
 
 

4.1) servertest.ini

This file contains the main configuration of your server
 
 
the description of the parameters is being written
 
 

---

 
 

• nano servertest.ini
• CTRL + O (save)
• CTRL + X (exit)

 

---

 
 
nightlengthmodifier=1
 
PVP=false
 
PauseEmpty=true
 
GlobalChat=true
 
ChatStreams=s,r,a,w,y,sh,f,all
 
Open=true
 
ServerWelcomeMessage=WELCOME<LINE><LINE> Survivor
 
LogLocalChat=false
 
AutoCreateUserInWhiteList=true
 
DisplayUserName=true
 
ShowFirstAndLastName=false
 
SpawnPoint=0,0,0
 
SafetySystem=false
 
ShowSafety=false
 
SafetyToggleTimer=2
 
SafetyCooldownTimer=3
 
SpawnItems=
 
DefaultPort=16261
 
ResetID=831494815
 
Mods=
 
Map=Muldraugh, KY
 
DoLuaChecksum=true
 
DenyLoginOnOverloadedServer=true
 
Public=true
 
PublicName= Public server
 
PublicDescription= Nice server
 
MaxPlayers=32
 
PingFrequency=10
 
PingLimit=400
 
HoursForLootRespawn=48
 
MaxItemsForLootRespawn=4
 
ConstructionPreventsLootRespawn=true
 
DropOffWhiteListAfterDeath=false
 
NoFire=false
 
AnnounceDeath=false
 
MinutesPerPage=0.2
 
SaveWorldEveryMinutes=10
 
PlayerSafehouse=true
 
AdminSafehouse=false
 
SafehouseAllowTrepass=true
 
SafehouseAllowFire=false
 
SafehouseAllowLoot=true
 
SafehouseAllowRespawn=true
 
SafehouseDaySurvivedToClaim=0
 
SafeHouseRemovalTime=144
 
AllowDestructionBySledgehammer=false
 
KickFastPlayers=false
 
ServerPlayerID=313828062
 
RCONPort=27015
 
RCONPassword=
 
DiscordEnable=false
 
DiscordToken=
 
DiscordChannel=
 
DiscordChannelID=
 
Password=
 
MaxAccountsPerUser=0
 
SleepAllowed=false
 
SleepNeeded=false
 
SteamPort1=8766
 
SteamPort2=8767
 
WorkshopItems=
 
SteamScoreboard=true
 
SteamVAC=true
 
UPnP=true
 
UPnPLeaseTime=86400
 
UPnPZeroLeaseTimeFallback=true
 
UPnPForce=true
 
CoopServerLaunchTimeout=20
 
CoopMasterPingTimeout=60
 
VoiceEnable=true
 
VoiceComplexity=5
 
VoicePeriod=20
 
VoiceSampleRate=24000
 
VoiceBuffering=8000
 
VoiceMinDistance=10.0
 
VoiceMaxDistance=20.0
 
Voice3D=true
 
PhysicsDelay=500
 
SpeedLimit=70.0
 
server_browser_announced_ip=
 
UseTCPForMapDownloads=false
 
PlayerRespawnWithSelf=false
 
PlayerRespawnWithOther=false
 
FastForwardMultiplier=40.0
 
PlayerSaveOnDamage=true
 
SaveTransactionID=true
 
DisableSafehouseWhenPlayerConnected=false
 
Faction=true
 
FactionDaySurvivedToCreate=0
 
FactionPlayersRequiredForTag=1
 
AllowTradeUI=true
 
DisableRadioStaff=false
 
DisableRadioAdmin=true
 
DisableRadioGM=true
 
DisableRadioOverseer=false
 
DisableRadioModerator=false
 
DisableRadioInvisible=true
 
ClientCommandFilter=-vehicle.*;+vehicle.damageWindow;+vehicle.fixPart;+vehicle.installPart;+vehicle.uninstallPart
 
ItemNumbersLimitPerContainer=0
 
BloodSplatLifespanDays=7
 
AllowNonAsciiUsername=true
 
BanKickGlobalSound=true
 
RemovePlayerCorpsesOnCorpseRemoval=false
 
ZombieUpdateMaxHighPriority=50
 
ZombieUpdateDelta=0.5
 
ZombieUpdateRadiusLowPriority=45.0
 
ZombieUpdateRadiusHighPriority=10.0
 
TrashDeleteAll=true
 
PVPMeleeWhileHitReaction=true
 
MouseOverToSeeDisplayName=true
 
HidePlayersBehindYou=true
 
PVPMeleeDamageModifier=30.0
 
PVPFirearmDamageModifier=50.0
 
CarEngineAttractionModifier=0.5
 
 

---

 
 
nightlengthmodifier
 
 
The length of the night, this can be modified to change the speed at which a night progresses. 0.5 will make it last twice as normal, 2 will make it go double as fast.
 
 
PVP
 
 
Player vs Player combat – true = on, false = off
 
 
PauseEmpty
 
 
If set to true, this will halt your server if there are no players on it.
 
 
GlobalChat
 
 
If set to true, it allows for the “/all” command in chat, making your players able to safely communicate with everyone.
 
 
Open
 
 
Whitelisting – If true, anyone can join, if false, players need to be added to a whitelist in order to play.
 
 
ServerWelcomeMessage
 
 
Welcome to Project Zomboid MP ! to chat locally press ‘t’, to global chat press ‘y’ or add ‘/all’ before chatting <LINE> Type ‘/help’ to have a list of available commands <LINE> <RGB:1,1,1>
 
Change the message players see each time they log-in.
 
 
LogLocalChat
 
 
When using the “/say” command nearby people will be able to read it in the chat log, if set to false people can only view the message on their screen.
 
 
SpawnPoint
 
 
To set a custom spawn point, change 0,0,0 to something like 1,2,0 the 1 is the first number, 2 is the 2nd, and 0 is the level. So if you want to be upstairs in a room then you change that number. you can use the Project Zomboid Map Project to look for a specific location to spawn into
 
 
DoLuaChecksum
 
 
Are you getting an error that says “you have been kicked! Your lua version does not match the server.” This usually means you have mods installed and need to either turn off this by setting the argument to false, or you have to uninstall all mods, including ones that directly installed into your media files.
 
 
MaxItemsForLootRespawn
 
 
This option is very important when you want to keep your house items from disapearing because of respawn! whatever this is set at, any chest/item that doesn’t equal this amount will respawn. So if it’s 4, make sure every container in your house has at least 4 items in it or they will respawn!
 
 
AnnounceDeath
 
 
Makes it so your embarrassing death is broadcasted to your friends
 
 
 

4.2) add mods to your server

In servertest.ini
 
 

---

 
 
Search parameters
 
 
mods=
 
WorkshopItems=
 
 
Go to on a Workshop mod page
 
(example : https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2659216714) – [steamcommunity.com] 
 
 
Commands
 
 

• cd Zomboid
• mkdir mods

 
Get the Workshop ID and Mod ID at the end of the description of the mod
 
 

 
 
And copy past here
 
 
mods=OutTheWindow
 
WorkshopItems=2659216714
 
 
(in screen, you can see two mods add separated by “;”
 
 

 
 

 
 

---

 
 
Save your servertest.ini file and exit
 
 

• CTRL + O
• CTRL + X

 
 
 

4.3) servertest_SandboxVars.lua

Sandbox Parameters Configuration File
 
 
the description of the parameters is being written
 
 

---

 
 

• nano servertest_SandboxVars.lua
• CTRL + O (save)
• CTRL + X (exit)

 

---

 
 
SandboxVars = {
 
VERSION = 4,
 
Zombies = 4,
 
Distribution = 1,
 
DayLength = 3,
 
StartYear = 1,
 
StartMonth = 7,
 
StartDay = 9,
 
StartTime = 2,
 
WaterShut = 2,
 
ElecShut = 2,
 
WaterShutModifier = 14,
 
ElecShutModifier = 14,
 
FoodLoot = 2,
 
CannedFoodLoot = 2,
 
LiteratureLoot = 2,
 
SurvivalGearsLoot = 2,
 
MedicalLoot = 2,
 
WeaponLoot = 2,
 
RangedWeaponLoot = 2,
 
AmmoLoot = 2,
 
MechanicsLoot = 2,
 
OtherLoot = 2,
 
Temperature = 3,
 
Rain = 3,
 
ErosionSpeed = 3,
 
ErosionDays = 0,
 
XpMultiplier = 1.0,
 
ZombieAttractionMultiplier = 1.0,
 
VehicleEasyUse = false,
 
Farming = 3,
 
CompostTime = 2,
 
StatsDecrease = 3,
 
NatureAbundance = 3,
 
Alarm = 4,
 
LockedHouses = 6,
 
StarterKit = false,
 
Nutrition = true,
 
FoodRotSpeed = 3,
 
FridgeFactor = 3,
 
LootRespawn = 1,
 
SeenHoursPreventLootRespawn = 0,
 
WorldItemRemovalList = “Base.Vest,Base.Shirt,Base.Blouse,Base.Skirt,Base.Shoes,Base.Hat,Base.Glasses”,
 
HoursForWorldItemRemoval = 24.0,
 
ItemRemovalListBlacklistToggle = false,
 
TimeSinceApo = 1,
 
PlantResilience = 3,
 
PlantAbundance = 3,
 
EndRegen = 3,
 
Helicopter = 2,
 
MetaEvent = 2,
 
SleepingEvent = 1,
 
GeneratorSpawning = 3,
 
GeneratorFuelConsumption = 1.0,
 
SurvivorHouseChance = 3,
 
VehicleStoryChance = 3,
 
ZoneStoryChance = 3,
 
AnnotatedMapChance = 4,
 
CharacterFreePoints = 0,
 
ConstructionBonusPoints = 3,
 
NightDarkness = 3,
 
InjurySeverity = 2,
 
BoneFracture = true,
 
HoursForCorpseRemoval = 216.0,
 
DecayingCorpseHealthImpact = 3,
 
BloodLevel = 3,
 
ClothingDegradation = 3,
 
FireSpread = true,
 
DaysForRottenFoodRemoval = -1,
 
AllowExteriorGenerator = true,
 
MaxFogIntensity = 1,
 
MaxRainFxIntensity = 1,
 
EnableSnowOnGround = true,
 
MultiHitZombies = false,
 
RearVulnerability = 3,
 
AttackBlockMovements = true,
 
AllClothesUnlocked = false,
 
CarSpawnRate = 3,
 
ChanceHasGas = 1,
 
InitialGas = 2,
 
FuelStationGas = 4,
 
CarGasConsumption = 1.0,
 
LockedCar = 3,
 
CarGeneralCondition = 2,
 
CarDamageOnImpact = 3,
 
DamageToPlayerFromHitByACar = 1,
 
TrafficJam = true,
 
CarAlarm = 2,
 
PlayerDamageFromCrash = true,
 
SirenShutoffHours = 0.0,
 
RecentlySurvivorVehicles = 1,
 
EnableVehicles = true,
 
Map = {
 
AllowMiniMap = false,
 
AllowWorldMap = true,
 
},
 
ZombieLore = {
 
Speed = 1,
 
Strength = 2,
 
Toughness = 2,
 
Transmission = 1,
 
Mortality = 5,
 
Reanimate = 3,
 
Cognition = 3,
 
CrawlUnderVehicle = 5,
 
Memory = 2,
 
Decomp = 1,
 
Sight = 2,
 
Hearing = 2,
 
Smell = 2,
 
ThumpNoChasing = false,
 
ThumpOnConstruction = true,
 
ActiveOnly = 1,
 
TriggerHouseAlarm = false,
 
ZombiesDragDown = true,
 
ZombiesFenceLunge = true,
 
},
 
ZombieConfig = {
 
PopulationMultiplier = 1.0,
 
PopulationStartMultiplier = 1.0,
 
PopulationPeakMultiplier = 1.5,
 
PopulationPeakDay = 28,
 
RespawnHours = 72.0,
 
RespawnUnseenHours = 16.0,
 
RespawnMultiplier = 0.1,
 
RedistributeHours = 12.0,
 
FollowSoundDistance = 100,
 
RallyGroupSize = 20,
 
RallyTravelDistance = 20,
 
RallyGroupSeparation = 15,
 
RallyGroupRadius = 3,
 
},
 
}
 
 

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4.4) Allocate more ram to Java (IMPORTANT)

If your server crashes it means that you did not allocate a lot of ram to JAVA
 
 

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Commands
 
 

• cd
• cd pzserver
• nano ProjectZomboid64.json
• -Xmx put -Xmx=8g (if your server have 16go RAM).
• CTRL + O
• CTRL + X

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

5) Update server version PZ

If you get this error when trying to connect to a server
 
This means that the server does not have the latest version of Project Zomboid
 
 

 
 

---

 
 
Commands
 
 

• cd
• cd steamcmd
• ./steamcmd.sh
• force_install_dir /home/pzuser/pzserver/
• login anonymous
• app_update 380870 -beta b41multiplayer validate
• exit (at the end)

 
 

 
 
 

6) hard reset

To hard reset the server
 
 

---

 
 
Commands
 
 

• cd
• cd Zomboid
• cd Saves
• cd Multiplayer
• rm -rf servertest

 
 

 
 

• cd
• cd Zomboid
• cd db
• rm -rf servertest.db

 
 

 
 
When you restart the server, it will recreate the original files
 
 
 

7) Youtube example

Quick video to install a Project Zomboid server in 5 min.
 
 
After installation in the video I quickly show what’s in the tutorial
 
 

 
 

 
 
This is all for Project Zomboid How to Host Server Via Linux Tutorial hope you enjoy the post. If you believe we forget or we should update the post please let us know via comment, we will try our best to fix how fast is possible! Have a great day!