Set up your Project Zomboid server

This guide is based on a real OmneHosting Project Zomboid server.

Step 1: Set the admin password

The Startup page will not save until the Admin Password setting is filled in. The Admin User starts as admin. Choose a strong password, up to 32 characters.

Caution

Project Zomboid’s launcher prints its startup settings in the Console, including the admin password, in plain text. Anyone who can open your Console can read it. Only give Console access to people you trust. See Users and permissions.

Also set Server Name (letters and numbers only).

Step 2: Install

The game files are large: about 6.7 GB to download and about 7.3 GB on disk. The install takes a while, often 15 to 20 minutes depending on Steam’s speed. The Console shows progress lines. See Game install problems if it fails.

Which build do I get?

By default the server downloads the current stable Build 42 (version 42.20.4 when we tested). Build 41 is the older version that many existing mods still use. Which one your plan uses depends on the option chosen at checkout. If you need to change it, open a ticket.

Memory: Build 42 needs a lot

Project Zomboid Build 42 uses a lot of memory while it starts. In our test on a 4 GB server, memory climbed past 2 GB and the server was then killed during startup:

/entrypoint.sh: line 76: ... Killed ... ./ProjectZomboid64 ...
Detected server process in a crashed state

That is what running out of memory looks like. If your server dies like this while starting:

1. Check that your plan has enough memory. Build 42 needs more than a small server can give it.
2. Remove mods, especially large map mods, and try again.
3. If it still happens, open a ticket with your server name. See Contact support.

What the Console shows

On start you will see the game load its networking and Steam libraries, then Waiting for response from Steam servers. Lines you can ignore:

• No UPnP-enabled Internet gateway found, you must configure port forwarding.
• Many Could not find icon warnings.
• A message about libjsig.so not being preloaded.

Ports

Zomboid uses a game port and a separate Steam port. The Steam port setting starts at 16262, but only the port assigned to your server is reachable from outside. If players cannot connect or your server does not appear in the list, open a ticket so we can check the ports.

Where to change settings

See Project Zomboid server settings and options and Project Zomboid server problems.