7 Days to Die Free Server Hosting: Set Up Your Game Server in Just Seven Days with Ease

Welcome, Dev, to your ultimate guide on hosting your own 7 Days to Die server – for free! If you’re a die-hard fan of the game, you know how important it is to play with your friends or family on a dedicated server. Sadly, setting up a server can be a tad bit expensive, especially if you’re hosting one for the first time. But fear not! With our step-by-step guide, we’ll take you through the entire process of creating and hosting a 7 Days to Die server – without spending a single dime. So, gear up, grab your coffee, and let’s get started!

What is 7 Days to Die?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of server hosting, let’s take a brief look at what 7 Days to Die is all about. In short, 7 Days to Die is an open-world survival game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting. The game blends elements of first-person shooters, role-playing games, and tower defense games, making it a unique experience for any player. The game features crafting and building mechanics, where players can construct bases to protect themselves against hordes of zombies that attack every seventh day. With multiplayer support, players can join servers online and play with their friends, making it a wholesome experience for everyone.

Why Host Your Own Server?

While playing on public servers is fun, hosting your own server offers a unique experience. You can customize the settings, rules, and even the mods that you want to play with your friends. You can also ensure that your game data is secure, and there is no risk of losing your progress. Moreover, hosting your own server means that you can play with your friends without any interruptions, lag, or server crashes.

Setting Up Your Free Server

Step 1: Download and Install SteamCMD

The first step in setting up your 7 Days to Die server is to download and install SteamCMD. SteamCMD is a command-line tool that allows you to install and update Steam games, including 7 Days to Die. Here’s how to install SteamCMD:

Note: In the above commands, C:\SDTD_Server or /home/user/SDTD_Server or /Users/user/SDTD_Server is the installation directory, which can be changed as per your preference.

Step 2: Create a Steam Account

To download and configure the server, you’ll need to create a Steam account. If you already have a Steam account, skip this step. If not, visit https://store.steampowered.com/join/ and create your account. Once you’re done, log in to your Steam account via SteamCMD using the following command:

login anonymous

Step 3: Download and Configure the Server Files

After logging in to your Steam account via SteamCMD, you can now download and configure the server files. Here’s how:

1. Enter the following command to install the 7 Days to Die server files:
   force_install_dir ~/SDTD_Server && ./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quit
2. Navigate to the installation directory via the following command:
   cd ~/SDTD_Server
3. Copy the serverconfig.xml file to the installation directory via the following command:
   cp ~/serverconfig.xml ~/SDTD_Server

Note: The serverconfig.xml file contains various settings that allow you to customize your 7 Days to Die server.

Step 4: Start the Server

Now that the server files are installed and configured, it’s time to start the server. Here’s how:

./startserver.sh -configfile=serverconfig.xml

Note: The startserver.sh script is used to start the server. The -configfile=serverconfig.xml option specifies the configuration file that should be used.

Customizing Your Server

Now that your server is up and running, you can customize it as you see fit. You can change the server name, password, difficulty, and even the mods that you want to use. Here are some common settings that you may want to customize:

Server Name

To change the server name, navigate to the serverconfig.xml file and change the following line:
<property name="ServerName" value="My 7 Days to Die Server"/>

Password

To set a password for your server, navigate to the serverconfig.xml file and change the following line:
<property name="ServerPassword" value=""/>
Change the value to your desired password.

Difficulty

To change the difficulty of your server, navigate to the serverconfig.xml file and change the following line:
<property name="GameDifficulty" value="4"/>
The value ranges from 0 (easiest) to 5 (hardest).

Mods

To add mods to your server, download the mods from the Steam Workshop and place them in the Mods folder in the installation directory. For example, if you want to add the mod called “Valmod Expansion”, download it from the Steam Workshop and place it in the following directory:
~/SDTD_Server/Mods/ValmodExpansion

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I host a 7 Days to Die server for free?

Yes, absolutely! With our step-by-step guide, you can host your own 7 Days to Die server for free.

2. How many players can join my server?

The number of players that can join your server depends on the resources of your server. A server hosted on a powerful machine can handle more players than a server hosted on a budget machine.

3. Can I change the settings of my server?

Yes, you can customize various settings of your server, including the server name, password, difficulty, and mods.

4. Do I need a powerful machine to host a 7 Days to Die server?

The resources required to host a server depend on the number of players that will be joining and the settings of the server. A powerful machine can handle more players and can run the server on high settings without any issues.

5. Can I play with my friends on my server?

Yes, you can invite your friends to join your server, and you can play together without any interruptions or lag.

That’s it, Dev! You’ve successfully set up your own 7 Days to Die server – for free! We hope this guide was helpful and easy to understand. If you have any questions or face any issues, feel free to drop them in the comments below. Happy gaming!