How to Set Up a 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server

A 7 Days to Die dedicated server keeps your zombie apocalypse persistent — the world, your bases, and the horde-night countdown all continue whether or not the host is online. This guide sets one up on a Linux VPS, which typically uses noticeably less CPU than the Windows server for the same world.

What you need

• A Linux VPS: Ubuntu 22.04/24.04. 7 Days to Die is CPU-heavy on horde nights — plan on 8 GB RAM as a baseline and a strong CPU.
• Open ports: TCP/UDP 26900 (game), plus UDP 26901 and 26902 for Steam networking.

Step 1: Create a user and install dependencies

sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" sdtd
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 steamcmd telnet

Step 2: Install the server with SteamCMD

The 7 Days to Die dedicated server is App ID 294420 with a native Linux build:

sudo su - sdtd
steamcmd +force_install_dir /home/sdtd/server +login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quit

{{SCREENSHOT}}

Step 3: Open the firewall

sudo ufw allow 26900:26902/tcp
sudo ufw allow 26900:26902/udp
sudo ufw reload

Open the same 26900–26902 range on any provider-level firewall.

Step 4: Edit serverconfig.xml

All settings live in /home/sdtd/server/serverconfig.xml. Open it and set the essentials:

• ServerName — how your server appears in the browser.
• ServerPassword — set to make it private.
• ServerPort — 26900 by default; match your firewall.
• ServerMaxPlayerCount — the player cap.
• GameWorld — Navezgane for the handcrafted map or RWG for a random world.
• WorldGenSeed and WorldGenSize — the seed and size (e.g. 6144–10240) for RWG.
• ServerAdminSlots — reserved slots for admins.

Bigger RWG worlds cost more RAM and disk, so match WorldGenSize to your hardware.

Step 5: Run it as a systemd service

Create /home/sdtd/start.sh:

#!/bin/bash
cd /home/sdtd/server
./startserver.sh -configfile=serverconfig.xml

chmod +x /home/sdtd/start.sh

Then the service:

# /etc/systemd/system/sdtd.service
[Unit]
Description=7 Days to Die Dedicated Server
After=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=sdtd
ExecStart=/home/sdtd/start.sh
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=15

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now sdtd
sudo journalctl -u sdtd -f

Step 6: Surviving horde night lag

Horde nights spawn a huge number of zombies at once, and that's when CPU spikes hardest. To keep it smooth: run on a high-clock CPU, keep MaxSpawnedZombies sensible for your hardware, and use NVMe storage so chunk streaming keeps up. A scheduled restart before your usual play session — see automating restarts with systemd — clears accumulated load. For updates, re-run the +app_update 294420 command or automate it.

Back up your save

7 Days to Die stores your world and player data under ~/.local/share/7DaysToDie/. Bases represent hours of work, so back that folder up regularly — ideally when the server is briefly stopped so files aren't mid-write:

# nightly backup, keep a week
0 4 * * * tar -czf /home/sdtd/backups/7dtd-$(date +\%F).tar.gz /home/sdtd/.local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves && find /home/sdtd/backups -name '7dtd-*' -mtime +7 -delete

7 Days to Die also resets some world state on major updates, so keeping a pre-update backup is wise before you patch. See how to back up your game server automatically for a fuller routine. If players report they can't connect, the usual culprit is a firewall gap on one of the 26900–26902 ports — walk through diagnosing 'connection refused' errors.

FAQ

What ports does a 7 Days to Die server use?

26900 (TCP and UDP) for the game, plus UDP 26901 and 26902 for Steam networking. Open all three on both firewalls.

How much RAM does a 7 Days to Die server need?

8 GB is a solid baseline for a small group. Large random-gen worlds and higher player counts push you toward 12–16 GB.

Is Linux or Windows better for a 7 Days to Die server?

Linux typically uses meaningfully less CPU for the same world, which matters most on horde nights. The native Linux build (App ID 294420) is the efficient choice.

How do I administer a 7 Days to Die server remotely?

Enable telnet (or the web control panel) in serverconfig.xml and connect to run admin commands like kicking players or triggering a blood moon.

Want a CPU that holds up when the horde arrives? Compare high-clock plans on our pricing page or launch on game server hosting.