Host a DayZ Dedicated Server

How long can you survive a post-apocalyptic world? A land overrun with an infected "zombie" population, where you compete with other survivors for limited resources. Will you team up with strangers and stay strong together? Or play as a lone wolf to avoid betrayal? This is DayZ - this is your story.

Skip the Setup — Deploy Now or read the full guide below

Requirements Setup Guide Installation

Hardware Requirements

Here's what you need to run a DayZ dedicated server.

Economy

Small private server, 1-20 players, vanilla

CPU3.5 cores

RAM8 GB

Storage35 GB SSD

Standard

Community server, 20-40 players with light mods

CPU4 cores

RAM10 GB

Storage35 GB SSD

Pro

Large public server with heavy mods, 40-64 players

CPU5 cores

RAM12 GB

Storage35 GB SSD

Start hosting from your own computer

Run a DayZ server on your desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine — GameCP automates Docker setup, resource allocation, and DayZ configuration instantly. Automatic port forwarding means your friends can connect without touching your router. Start local, scale to a VPS when you're ready.

Get Started FreeNo credit card required

Setup in 4 Steps

Skip the manual SteamCMD installation, port forwarding, and systemd configuration. Install on your own computer and start hosting instantly.

Step 01

Create a GameCP Account

GameCP gives you a full control panel with Docker containerization, file management, automatic port forwarding, and automatic updates — all built in.

Step 02

Connect Your Hardware

Install GameCP on your own desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine. One-line install — no SSH expertise needed.

GameCP installs Docker, configures networking, and sets up automatic port forwarding so your friends can connect instantly. Start hosting from your own PC and scale to a VPS later. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Step 03

Deploy DayZ

Select "DayZ" from the template library and hit deploy. GameCP handles SteamCMD (App ID: 223350), ports, startup commands, and all configuration automatically.

Includes pre-configured serverDZ.cfg, beserver_x64.cfg. Uses the games:dayz image. ~35 GB storage.

Step 04

Start Playing

Hit start and share your server address. Automatic port forwarding handles the rest — no router config needed.

GameCP provides live SOURCE console access from your browser. Your friends connect using the address GameCP gives you.

The Manual Way vs. GameCP

Manual Setup

✗ Install SteamCMD manually
✗ Configure 5+ firewall ports and router settings
✗ Write systemd service files
✗ SSH into server to edit configs
✗ Requires a VPS or dedicated server
✗ 30-60 minutes if experienced

With GameCP

One-click SteamCMD install
Automatic port forwarding — no router config
Host from your own PC, VPS, or dedicated server
Docker container with auto-restart
Visual config editor in browser
Under 5 minutes total

Under the Hood

The full manual process to host a DayZ dedicated server on a VPS. Or install GameCP on your own computer and skip all of this.

Step 1

Configure & Prepare

Set your server settings, then install Docker, SteamCMD, and pull the DayZ container image.

Server ConfigurationEdit values to update all commands

Server NameServer name displayed in the server browser

Server PasswordPassword required for players to join the server. ...

Admin PasswordPassword for in-game admin commands and server man...

RCON PasswordPassword for BattlEye RCON access. Used by externa...

Client ModsSemicolon-separated list of client-required mod fo...

Server-Side ModsSemicolon-separated list of server-side only mod f...

Modlist FileFilename of an exported DayZ Launcher modlist (HTM...

Auto UpdateAutomatically update the game server via SteamCMD ...

Workshop Auto-DownloadAutomatically download and update workshop mods li...

Extra Startup ParametersAdditional server launch parameters. See Bohemia w...

terminal

# Update system and install Docker
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io
sudo systemctl enable --now docker

# Create game server directory
sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver

# Install SteamCMD
sudo mkdir -p /opt/steamcmd
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | sudo tar zxvf - -C /opt/steamcmd

# Server configuration
export AUTO_UPDATE="1"
export WORKSHOP_UPDATE="1"

# Pull the container image
docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/games:dayz

Step 2

Install Server Files via SteamCMD

Download the DayZ dedicated server using Steam App ID 223350.

terminal

# Download DayZ server files (App ID: 223350)
/opt/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh \
  +force_install_dir /opt/gameserver \
  +login ${STEAM_USER} \
  +app_update 223350 validate \
  +quit

Step 3

Open Firewall Ports

DayZ requires 5 ports to be open for game traffic and queries.

terminal

sudo ufw allow 2302/udp
sudo ufw allow 27016/udp
sudo ufw allow 2305/udp
sudo ufw allow 2303/udp
sudo ufw allow 2304/udp

2302/UDP(PORT)27016/UDP(STEAM_QUERY_PORT)2305/UDP(RCON_PORT)2303/UDP2304/UDP

Step 4

Launch the Server

Start the DayZ server using the configuration from Step 1.

terminal

docker run -d \
  --name dayz-server \
  -p 2302:2302/udp \
  -p 27016:27016/udp \
  -p 2305:2305/udp \
  -p 2303:2303/udp \
  -p 2304:2304/udp \
  -e AUTO_UPDATE="1" \
  -e WORKSHOP_UPDATE="1" \
  -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \
  -w /opt/gameserver \
  ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/games:dayz \
  ./DayZServer -port=2302 -profiles=profiles -bepath=battleye -config=serverDZ.cfg -mod= -serverMod= -dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheck

Or skip all of this

GameCP automates every step above: Docker, SteamCMD, port forwarding, startup, and config. Install on your own PC and deploy a DayZ server in under 5 minutes.

Deploy with GameCP

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Host DayZ from your own computer. Automatic port forwarding. Zero config.

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Host a DayZ Dedicated Server

# Update system and install Docker sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io sudo systemctl enable --now docker # Create game server directory sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver # Install SteamCMD sudo mkdir -p /opt/steamcmd curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | sudo tar zxvf - -C /opt/steamcmd # Server configuration export AUTO_UPDATE="1" export WORKSHOP_UPDATE="1" # Pull the container image docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/games:dayz

docker run -d \ --name dayz-server \ -p 2302:2302/udp \ -p 27016:27016/udp \ -p 2305:2305/udp \ -p 2303:2303/udp \ -p 2304:2304/udp \ -e AUTO_UPDATE="1" \ -e WORKSHOP_UPDATE="1" \ -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \ -w /opt/gameserver \ ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/games:dayz \ ./DayZServer -port=2302 -profiles=profiles -bepath=battleye -config=serverDZ.cfg -mod= -serverMod= -dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheck