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7 Days to Die Server Guide
Complete setup guide for your zombie survival server
Getting Started
Welcome to 7 Days to Die! This guide covers everything you need to run a dedicated server for you and your survivors.
What you'll need:
- Control panel login credentials
- 7 Days to Die on Steam
- Basic understanding of serverconfig.xml (we'll cover it!)
Step 1: First-Time Setup
- Log in to your control panel
- Set your Server Name (shown in server browser)
- Set a Server Password (optional, leave blank for public)
- Configure your world settings (or use defaults)
- Click Start to launch your server
First start takes time! World generation can take 5-15 minutes depending on world size. Be patient and watch the console for progress.
Server Configuration (serverconfig.xml)
The serverconfig.xml file controls all server settings. Access it through your control panel's file manager or config editor.
Essential Settings
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
ServerName | Name shown in server browser | My Game Host |
ServerPassword | Password to join (blank = public) | blank |
ServerMaxPlayerCount | Maximum players allowed | 8 |
GameWorld | World type (see below) | Navezgane |
WorldGenSeed | Seed for random gen worlds | asdf |
WorldGenSize | Map size (4096, 6144, 8192, 10240) | 6144 |
GameDifficulty | 0=Scavenger to 5=Insane | 2 |
World Types
- Navezgane — Hand-crafted map, same every time. Great for beginners.
- RWG (Random World Gen) — Procedurally generated based on seed. Set
GameWorldtoRWG.
Pro Tip: Start with a smaller world size (4096) if you have fewer players. Larger worlds require more RAM and take longer to generate.
Blood Moon / Horde Night
Every 7 days (by default), a blood moon rises and zombies swarm player locations. This is the core survival challenge!
Frequency
Every 7 Days
Starts
22:00 (10 PM)
Ends
04:00 (4 AM)
Duration
~6 Hours
Horde Settings
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
BloodMoonFrequency | Days between hordes (0 = disabled) | 7 |
BloodMoonRange | Random variance in days (0 = exact) | 0 |
BloodMoonWarning | Hours of warning before horde | 8 |
BloodMoonEnemyCount | Max zombies per player (8-64) | 8 |
Performance Warning: Higher
BloodMoonEnemyCount values significantly increase server load. Start with 8 and increase cautiously.Gameplay Settings
Day/Night Cycle
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
DayNightLength | Real minutes per in-game day | 60 |
DayLightLength | Hours of daylight (out of 24) | 18 |
Loot & Difficulty
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
LootAbundance | Loot amount multiplier (%) | 100 |
LootRespawnDays | Days until loot respawns | 7 |
BlockDamagePlayer | Player damage to blocks (%) | 100 |
BlockDamageAI | Zombie damage to blocks (%) | 100 |
XPMultiplier | Experience gain multiplier (%) | 100 |
Zombie Settings
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
ZombieMove | Daytime speed (0-4) | 0 (Walk) |
ZombieMoveNight | Nighttime speed (0-4) | 3 (Run) |
ZombieFeralMove | Feral zombie speed (0-4) | 3 (Run) |
ZombieBMMove | Blood moon speed (0-4) | 3 (Run) |
Speed values: 0=Walk, 1=Jog, 2=Run, 3=Sprint, 4=Nightmare
Multiplayer Settings
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
PlayerKillingMode | PvP mode (0-3, see below) | 3 |
PartySharedKillRange | XP sharing distance (meters) | 100 |
MaxSpawnedZombies | Total zombies in world | 64 |
MaxSpawnedAnimals | Total animals in world | 50 |
EACEnabled | Easy Anti-Cheat | true |
PvP Modes (PlayerKillingMode)
- 0 — No player killing
- 1 — Kill allies only
- 2 — Kill strangers only
- 3 — Kill everyone (full PvP)
Installing Mods
7 Days to Die supports modding through the Mods folder. Most mods work on servers without client-side installation, but overhaul mods require all players to have them.
Installing Mods
- Download mods from 7daystodiemods.com or Nexus Mods
- Upload the mod folder to
/Mods/on your server - Restart the server
- Check console for mod loading confirmation
Popular Mods
Darkness Falls
Major overhaul
Undead Legacy
Hardcore survival
War of the Walkers
New content
Ravenhearst
Realism focus
CSMM/CPM
Server management
Botman
Admin tools
Overhaul mods like Darkness Falls require all players to install matching files. Smaller "modlets" are often server-side only.
Admin Commands
Press F1 in-game to open the console. You must be added as admin first.
Setting Up Admins
- Find your Steam ID (use steamid.io)
- Edit
serveradmin.xmlon your server - Add:
<admin steamID="YOUR_STEAM_ID" permission_level="0" /> - Permission levels: 0 = full admin, higher = fewer permissions
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
help | List all commands |
listplayers / lp | Show online players |
say "message" | Broadcast server message |
give [player] [item] [qty] | Give items to player |
teleport [player] [x] [y] [z] | Teleport player |
teleportplayer [p1] [p2] | Teleport p1 to p2 |
kick [player] "reason" | Kick a player |
ban [player] [duration] "reason" | Ban a player |
unban [player] | Unban a player |
saveworld / sa | Force world save |
shutdown | Gracefully stop server |
settime [day] [hour] | Set game time |
weather [type] | Change weather |
spawnentity [player] [entity] | Spawn entity near player |
Pro Tip: Use
lp to get player IDs, then use those IDs in other commands. Player names with spaces need quotes.Performance Optimization
Reducing Server Lag
- Lower MaxSpawnedZombies: Reduce from 64 to 40-50 for better performance
- Reduce BloodMoonEnemyCount: Keep at 8 unless you have powerful hardware
- Smaller world size: 4096 or 6144 runs better than 8192+
- Limit player count: More players = exponentially more zombies
- Clean up old claims: Abandoned land claim blocks keep chunks loaded
Memory Usage Tips
- Random gen worlds use more RAM than Navezgane
- Larger worlds require more RAM for chunk loading
- Many players exploring different areas increases memory use
Recommended for 8 players: 8GB+ RAM, world size 6144 or smaller, MaxSpawnedZombies at 50, BloodMoonEnemyCount at 8.
Troubleshooting
Server not appearing in browser
- Wait 5-10 minutes after starting
- Verify your server ports are open in the control panel
- Verify server is fully started in console
- Try connecting directly via IP
World generation stuck or failed
- Check server has enough RAM (4GB+ for RWG)
- Try a smaller world size first
- Delete the world folder and let it regenerate
- Check console for specific error messages
"Version Mismatch" error
- Update your game on Steam
- Check for server updates in control panel
- Ensure no mods are causing version conflicts
EAC (Easy Anti-Cheat) errors
- Run Steam as administrator
- Verify game files in Steam
- If using mods, server may need
EACEnabledset tofalse
Severe lag during Blood Moon
- Lower
BloodMoonEnemyCountto 8 - Reduce
MaxSpawnedZombies - Have all players gather in one location (reduces spawn points)
- Build efficient horde bases (fewer blocks to calculate)
