7 Days to Die Hosting Your Own Server

Welcome, Dev! Are you tired of playing 7 Days to Die on public servers with strangers? Do you want to have complete control over your gaming experience? Hosting your own 7 Days to Die server is easier than you may think. In this article, we will guide you through the process of setting up and managing your own 7 Days to Die server in just seven days. Let’s get started!

Day 1: Hardware and Software Requirements

Before diving into the technical aspects of hosting a server, it is important to understand the hardware and software requirements for hosting the game. Firstly, you need a computer with at least 8GB of RAM, a fast processor, and a dedicated graphics card. Secondly, you need a stable internet connection with at least 10Mbps upload speed. As for software requirements, you need to have the 7 Days to Die game client installed on your computer, as well as a copy of the dedicated server software.

Hardware Requirements

The hardware requirements for hosting a 7 Days to Die server vary based on the number of players you want to accommodate. For a smaller group of players, a computer with 8GB of RAM, an Intel i5 processor, and a dedicated graphics card should be sufficient. However, if you plan to host a larger server with more players, you may need to consider upgrading your hardware to meet the demand.

Software Requirements

The software requirements for hosting your own 7 Days to Die server are simple. You need to have the game client installed on your computer, which can be purchased from Steam or the official 7 Days to Die website. Additionally, you need to download and install the dedicated server software, which can also be found on the official 7 Days to Die website.

Bandwidth Requirements

The bandwidth requirements for hosting a 7 Days to Die server vary based on the number of players and the size of the map. On average, a 7 Days to Die server with 10 players and a medium-sized map will consume around 1 Mbps of upload bandwidth. However, it is always better to have a higher upload speed to accommodate for unexpected spikes in traffic.

FAQ

Day 2: Setting Up Port Forwarding

In order for other players to connect to your 7 Days to Die server, you need to set up port forwarding on your router. Port forwarding allows incoming traffic to bypass your router and connect directly to your computer, where the server software is running.

What is Port Forwarding?

Port forwarding is a technique used to allow external devices to access services on your local network. By forwarding a specific port on your router to a specific device on your network, you can allow external traffic to access that device. In the case of hosting a 7 Days to Die server, you need to forward port 26900 on your router to the local IP address of the computer running the server software.

How to Set Up Port Forwarding

The process for setting up port forwarding varies depending on the make and model of your router. However, the basic steps are as follows:

1. Open your router’s configuration page in a web browser. The address should be something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
2. Log in to the router using the admin credentials.
3. Navigate to the Port Forwarding section.
4. Add a new port forwarding rule for port 26900.
5. Enter the local IP address of the computer running the server software.
6. Save the changes and restart your router.

FAQ

Day 3: Configuring the Server Settings

After setting up port forwarding, you need to configure the server settings to customize your gaming experience. This includes setting the map size, game difficulty, and day/night cycle.

ServerConfig.xml File

The server settings are stored in a file called ServerConfig.xml, which can be found in the \Data\Config folder of the server software. This file contains all the settings that can be customized.

Map Settings

The map settings determine the size and shape of the game world. The default map size is 8192, but this can be adjusted to suit your preferences. Additionally, you can choose to enable or disable specific areas of the map, such as cities or forests.

Game Difficulty

The game difficulty determines how challenging the game will be. There are four difficulty levels to choose from: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Insane. Each difficulty level affects things like enemy strength, loot quality, and zombie spawn rates.

Day/Night Cycle

The day/night cycle determines how long each day and night lasts in the game. The default settings are 60 minutes for day and 20 minutes for night, but this can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

FAQ

Day 4: Whitelisting Players

If you want to limit access to your server to a specific group of players, you can enable whitelisting. Whitelisting allows only players that are on the whitelist to join the server, while all others are denied access.

How to Enable Whitelisting

To enable whitelisting, you need to add the names of the players you want to allow to a file called whitelist.txt, which can be found in the \Data\Config folder of the server software. Each name should be on a separate line.

How to Add Players to the Whitelist

To add players to the whitelist, you need to open the console in-game and type “whitelist add “. This will add the player to the whitelist and allow them to join the server.

FAQ

Day 5: Installing Mods

If you want to customize your gaming experience even further, you can install mods on your server. Mods can add new items, weapons, enemies, and even change the gameplay mechanics of the game.

How to Install Mods

The process for installing mods varies depending on the mod, but the basic steps are as follows:

1. Download the mod from a reputable website such as the Steam Workshop or Nexus Mods.
2. Extract the mod files to the Mods folder in the server software directory.
3. Add the mod to the serverconfig.xml file by adding a line of code that points to the mod folder.
4. Restart the server software to apply the changes.

FAQ

Day 6: Managing the Server

Once your server is up and running, you need to manage it to ensure that it runs smoothly and that your players have a good experience. This includes monitoring the server logs, banning players, and troubleshooting issues.

Server Logs

The server software generates logs that contain important information about the server, such as player actions, errors, and warnings. By monitoring the logs, you can identify issues before they become serious and take action to resolve them.

Banning Players

If a player violates the server rules or behaves inappropriately, you can ban them from the server to prevent further disruption. To ban a player, you need to use the console command “ban “.

Troubleshooting Issues

If you encounter issues with the server, such as crashes or connectivity problems, you need to troubleshoot the issue to identify the cause and resolve it. This may involve checking server logs, testing connectivity, and updating server software.

FAQ

Day 7: Inviting Friends to Play

Now that your server is up and running, it’s time to invite your friends to play. You can share the server IP address with your friends and they can connect to the server using the game client.

How to Find the Server IP Address

The server IP address can be found by opening the console in the server software and typing “ipconfig” or “ifconfig”. The IP address will be listed under the network adapter that is connected to the internet.

How to Connect to the Server

To connect to the server, your friends need to launch the game client and select “Join Game” from the main menu. They then need to enter the server IP address and click “Connect”. If the server is password protected, they will be prompted to enter the password before joining.

FAQ

Congratulations, Dev! You have successfully set up and managed your own 7 Days to Die server. Whether you’re playing with friends or running a public server, hosting your own server gives you complete control over your gaming experience. Happy gaming!