Host a 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server

7 Days to Die is an open-world game that is a unique combination of first-person shooter, survival horror, tower defense, and role-playing games. Play the definitive zombie survival sandbox RPG that came first. Navezgane awaits!

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 7 Days to Die dedicated server.

Economy

Small private server, 1-4 players, vanilla

CPU3 cores

RAM8 GB

Storage15 GB SSD

Standard

Community server, 4-12 players with mods

CPU3.5 cores

RAM10 GB

Storage15 GB SSD

Pro

Large public server, 12-32 players, heavy mods

CPU4 cores

RAM14 GB

Storage15 GB SSD

Start hosting from your own computer

Run a 7 Days to Die server on your desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine — GameCP automates Docker setup, resource allocation, and 7 Days to Die 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 7 Days to Die

Select "7 Days to Die" from the template library and hit deploy. GameCP handles SteamCMD (App ID: 294420), ports, startup commands, and all configuration automatically.

Includes pre-configured serverconfig.xml. Uses the steamcmd:debian image. ~15 GB storage.

Step 04

Start Playing

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

GameCP monitors your server health and provides live logs from your browser. Your friends connect using the address GameCP gives you.

The Manual Way vs. GameCP

Manual Setup

✗ Install SteamCMD manually
✗ Configure 2+ 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 7 Days to Die 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 7 Days to Die container image.

Server ConfigurationEdit values to update all commands

Server NameServer name displayed in the server browser

Server DescriptionBrief description shown in the server browser

Server VisibilityWho can see your server in the browser

Game DifficultyGame difficulty level from 0 (easiest) to 5 (harde...

Day/Night Length (minutes)Length of a full in-game 24-hour cycle in real min...

Zombie Day SpeedHow fast zombies move during the day

Blood Moon Frequency (days)How often blood moons occur (in-game days). 0 to d...

XP Multiplier (%)XP gain multiplier as a percentage (100 = normal)

Loot Abundance (%)Loot quantity multiplier as a percentage (100 = no...

Land Claim SizeDiameter of land claim protected area in blocks

Server PasswordPassword required to join the server. Leave empty ...

Auto UpdateAutomatically update the server on startup

Beta BranchInstall a specific beta branch (e.g. latest_experi...

Disabled Network ProtocolsComma-separated list of protocols to disable (Lite...

Telnet PasswordPassword for the telnet console connection

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 SERVER_VISIBILITY="2"
export GAME_DIFFICULTY="2"
export DAY_NIGHT_LENGTH="60"
export ZOMBIES_RUN="0"
export BLOOD_MOON_FREQUENCY="7"
export XP_MULTIPLIER="100"
export LOOT_ABUNDANCE="100"
export LAND_CLAIM_SIZE="41"
export AUTO_UPDATE="1"

# Pull the container image
docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/steamcmd:debian

Step 2

Install Server Files via SteamCMD

Download the 7 Days to Die dedicated server using Steam App ID 294420.

terminal

# Download 7 Days to Die server files (App ID: 294420)
/opt/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh \
  +force_install_dir /opt/gameserver \
  +login anonymous \
  +app_update 294420 validate \
  +quit

Step 3

Open Firewall Ports

7 Days to Die requires 2 ports to be open for game traffic and queries.

terminal

sudo ufw allow 26900/both
sudo ufw allow 8081/tcp

26900/BOTH(PORT)8081/TCP(TELNET_PORT)

Step 4

Launch the Server

Start the 7 Days to Die server using the configuration from Step 1.

Create the startup script

terminal

# Create the startup script
cat > /opt/gameserver/start.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
# Build startup arguments
ARGS=(-configfile=serverconfig.xml -quit -batchmode -nographics -dedicated)
ARGS+=(-ServerPort=26900)
ARGS+=(-ServerMaxPlayerCount=)
ARGS+=(-GameDifficulty=2)
ARGS+=(-ControlPanelEnabled=false)
ARGS+=(-TelnetEnabled=true)
ARGS+=(-TelnetPort=)
ARGS+=(-TelnetPassword=)
ARGS+=(-logfile logs/latest.log)
# Optional fields - only include if value is non-empty
[ -n "" ] && ARGS+=(-ServerDisabledNetworkProtocols=)
# Start server in background
./7DaysToDieServer.x86_64 "[@]}" &
# Wait for telnet to become available
echo "Checking on telnet connection"
until nc -z -v -w5 127.0.0.1 ; do echo "Waiting for telnet connection..."; sleep 5; done
# Connect via telnet or rcon depending on password
if [ -z "" ]; then
telnet -E 127.0.0.1
else
rcon -t telnet -a 127.0.0.1: -p
fi
EOF
chmod +x /opt/gameserver/start.sh

Run the container

terminal

docker run -d \
  --name 7-days-to-die-server \
  -p 26900:26900/both \
  -p 8081:8081/tcp \
  -e SERVER_VISIBILITY="2" \
  -e GAME_DIFFICULTY="2" \
  -e DAY_NIGHT_LENGTH="60" \
  -e ZOMBIES_RUN="0" \
  -e BLOOD_MOON_FREQUENCY="7" \
  -e XP_MULTIPLIER="100" \
  -e LOOT_ABUNDANCE="100" \
  -e LAND_CLAIM_SIZE="41" \
  -e AUTO_UPDATE="1" \
  -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \
  -w /opt/gameserver \
  ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/steamcmd:debian \
  ./start.sh

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 7 Days to Die server in under 5 minutes.

Deploy with GameCP

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Host 7 Days to Die from your own computer. Automatic port forwarding. Zero config.

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# 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 SERVER_VISIBILITY="2" export GAME_DIFFICULTY="2" export DAY_NIGHT_LENGTH="60" export ZOMBIES_RUN="0" export BLOOD_MOON_FREQUENCY="7" export XP_MULTIPLIER="100" export LOOT_ABUNDANCE="100" export LAND_CLAIM_SIZE="41" export AUTO_UPDATE="1" # Pull the container image docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/steamcmd:debian

# Create the startup script cat > /opt/gameserver/start.sh << 'EOF' #!/bin/bash # Build startup arguments ARGS=(-configfile=serverconfig.xml -quit -batchmode -nographics -dedicated) ARGS+=(-ServerPort=26900) ARGS+=(-ServerMaxPlayerCount=) ARGS+=(-GameDifficulty=2) ARGS+=(-ControlPanelEnabled=false) ARGS+=(-TelnetEnabled=true) ARGS+=(-TelnetPort=) ARGS+=(-TelnetPassword=) ARGS+=(-logfile logs/latest.log) # Optional fields - only include if value is non-empty [ -n "" ] && ARGS+=(-ServerDisabledNetworkProtocols=) # Start server in background ./7DaysToDieServer.x86_64 "[@]}" & # Wait for telnet to become available echo "Checking on telnet connection" until nc -z -v -w5 127.0.0.1 ; do echo "Waiting for telnet connection..."; sleep 5; done # Connect via telnet or rcon depending on password if [ -z "" ]; then telnet -E 127.0.0.1 else rcon -t telnet -a 127.0.0.1: -p fi EOF chmod +x /opt/gameserver/start.sh

docker run -d \ --name 7-days-to-die-server \ -p 26900:26900/both \ -p 8081:8081/tcp \ -e SERVER_VISIBILITY="2" \ -e GAME_DIFFICULTY="2" \ -e DAY_NIGHT_LENGTH="60" \ -e ZOMBIES_RUN="0" \ -e BLOOD_MOON_FREQUENCY="7" \ -e XP_MULTIPLIER="100" \ -e LOOT_ABUNDANCE="100" \ -e LAND_CLAIM_SIZE="41" \ -e AUTO_UPDATE="1" \ -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \ -w /opt/gameserver \ ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/steamcmd:debian \ ./start.sh