Project Zomboid: How to Create a Server on Linux

1) Download PuTTy (https://www.putty.org/)
2) Start PuTTy
3) Enter the IP of your VPS in Host Name
4) Enter the port of your VPS (22 by default )

1) Enter the login ID
2) Enter the password

Put the commands in the console following this order

• dpkg –add-architecture i386
• sudo apt install screen libsdl2-2.0-0:i386
• sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade

You can change “pzuser” by what you want

• sudo adduser pzuser
• enter the password when the console ask you
• usermod -aG sudo pzuser
• su – pzuser

You can change “pzserver” by what you want, it’s the directory of ProjectZomboid Dedicated server’s files

• mkdir steamcmd pzserver
• cd pzserver
• wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
• tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz

• ./steamcmd.sh
• force_install_dir /home/pzuser/pzserver/
• login anonymous
• app_update 380870 -beta b41multiplayer validate
• exit

• cd
• cd pzserver
• ./start-server.sh

You must put the password of the admin account in Project Zomboid (it’s a new password)

After this message, you can launch Project Zomboid and connect to your server

• Launch Project Zomboid
• Go to Online
• Go to server list
• Enter the IP of you server in IP input
• Enter the port (default : 16261)
• Enter “admin” as username or other name if you don’t want to log in as admin
• Enter the admin password or your user account’s password

Commands

• screen
• cd pzserver
• ./start-server.sh
• CTRL + A + D

You can quit PuTTy, your server will run in background.

You can resume the server’s console when you will connect again to PuTTy

• screen -r

Write : quit

• cd
• cd Zomboid
• cd Server

Files :

> servertest.ini
> servertest_SandboxVars.lua
> servertest_spawnpoints.lua
> servertest_spawnregions.lua

The parameters’ description are written in it

• nano servertest.ini
• CTRL + O (save)
• CTRL + X (exit)

nightlengthmodifier=1
PVP=false
PauseEmpty=true
GlobalChat=true
ChatStreams=s,r,a,w,y,sh,f,all
Open=true
ServerWelcomeMessage=WELCOME<LINE><LINE> Survivor
LogLocalChat=false
AutoCreateUserInWhiteList=true
DisplayUserName=true
ShowFirstAndLastName=false
SpawnPoint=0,0,0
SafetySystem=false
ShowSafety=false
SafetyToggleTimer=2
SafetyCooldownTimer=3
SpawnItems=
DefaultPort=16261
ResetID=831494815
Mods=
Map=Muldraugh, KY
DoLuaChecksum=true
DenyLoginOnOverloadedServer=true
Public=true
PublicName= Public server
PublicDescription= Nice server
MaxPlayers=32
PingFrequency=10
PingLimit=400
HoursForLootRespawn=48
MaxItemsForLootRespawn=4
ConstructionPreventsLootRespawn=true
DropOffWhiteListAfterDeath=false
NoFire=false
AnnounceDeath=false
MinutesPerPage=0.2
SaveWorldEveryMinutes=10
PlayerSafehouse=true
AdminSafehouse=false
SafehouseAllowTrepass=true
SafehouseAllowFire=false
SafehouseAllowLoot=true
SafehouseAllowRespawn=true
SafehouseDaySurvivedToClaim=0
SafeHouseRemovalTime=144
AllowDestructionBySledgehammer=false
KickFastPlayers=false
ServerPlayerID=313828062
RCONPort=27015
RCONPassword=
DiscordEnable=false
DiscordToken=
DiscordChannel=
DiscordChannelID=
Password=
MaxAccountsPerUser=0
SleepAllowed=false
SleepNeeded=false
SteamPort1=8766
SteamPort2=8767
WorkshopItems=
SteamScoreboard=true
SteamVAC=true
UPnP=true
UPnPLeaseTime=86400
UPnPZeroLeaseTimeFallback=true
UPnPForce=true
CoopServerLaunchTimeout=20
CoopMasterPingTimeout=60
VoiceEnable=true
VoiceComplexity=5
VoicePeriod=20
VoiceSampleRate=24000
VoiceBuffering=8000
VoiceMinDistance=10.0
VoiceMaxDistance=20.0
Voice3D=true
PhysicsDelay=500
SpeedLimit=70.0
server_browser_announced_ip=
UseTCPForMapDownloads=false
PlayerRespawnWithSelf=false
PlayerRespawnWithOther=false
FastForwardMultiplier=40.0
PlayerSaveOnDamage=true
SaveTransactionID=true
DisableSafehouseWhenPlayerConnected=false
Faction=true
FactionDaySurvivedToCreate=0
FactionPlayersRequiredForTag=1
AllowTradeUI=true
DisableRadioStaff=false
DisableRadioAdmin=true
DisableRadioGM=true
DisableRadioOverseer=false
DisableRadioModerator=false
DisableRadioInvisible=true
ClientCommandFilter=-vehicle.*;+vehicle.damageWindow;+vehicle.fixPart;+vehicle.installPart;+vehicle.uninstallPart
ItemNumbersLimitPerContainer=0
BloodSplatLifespanDays=7
AllowNonAsciiUsername=true
BanKickGlobalSound=true
RemovePlayerCorpsesOnCorpseRemoval=false
ZombieUpdateMaxHighPriority=50
ZombieUpdateDelta=0.5
ZombieUpdateRadiusLowPriority=45.0
ZombieUpdateRadiusHighPriority=10.0
TrashDeleteAll=true
PVPMeleeWhileHitReaction=true
MouseOverToSeeDisplayName=true
HidePlayersBehindYou=true
PVPMeleeDamageModifier=30.0
PVPFirearmDamageModifier=50.0
CarEngineAttractionModifier=0.5

nightlengthmodifier

The night’s length, this can be edited to change the speed at which the night will progress. 0.5 will make it last twice as normal, 2 will make it go double as fast.

PVP

Player vs Player combat – true = on, false = off

PauseEmpty

If set to true, this will pauset your server if there are no players on it.

GlobalChat

If set to true, it allows the “/all” channel, making your players able to safely communicate with everyone.

Open

Whitelisting – If true, anyone can join, if false, players need to be added to a whitelist in order to play.

ServerWelcomeMessage

Welcome to Project Zomboid MP ! to chat locally press ‘t’, to global chat press ‘y’ or add ‘/all’ before chatting <LINE> Type ‘/help’ to have a list of available commands <LINE> <RGB:1,1,1>
You can change the message players see each time they log-in.

LogLocalChat

When using the “/say” command nearby people will be able to read it in the chat log, if set to false people can only view the message on their screen.

SpawnPoint

To set a custom spawn point, change 0,0,0 to something like 1,2,0 the 1 is the first number (x position), 2 is the 2nd (y position), and 0 is the level (z position). So if you want to be upstairs in a room then you change that number. you can use the Project Zomboid Map to look for specific coordinates to spawn onto.

DoLuaChecksum

Are you getting an error that says “you have been kicked! Your lua version does not match the server.” ? This usually means you have mods installed and need to either turn off this by setting the argument to false, or you have to uninstall all mods, including ones which are directly installed into your media files.

MaxItemsForLootRespawn

This option is very important when you want to keep your house items from disapearing because of respawn ! Whatever this is set at, any chest/item that doesn’t equal this amount will respawn. So if it’s 4, make sure every container in your house has at least 4 items in it or they will respawn !

AnnounceDeath

Make it so your embarrassing death is broadcasted to your friends

Search parameters

mods=
WorkshopItems=

Go to a Workshop mod page
(example :Just Throw Them Out The Window)

Commands

• cd Zomboid
• mkdir mods

Get the Workshop ID and Mod ID at the end of the description of the mod

And copy past here

mods=OutTheWindow
WorkshopItems=2659216714

(in screen, you can see that two added mods are separated by “;”

Save your servertest.ini file and exit

• CTRL + O
• CTRL + X

The parameters’ description are written in it

• nano servertest_SandboxVars.lua
• CTRL + O (save)
• CTRL + X (exit)

SandboxVars = {
VERSION = 4,
Zombies = 4,
Distribution = 1,
DayLength = 3,
StartYear = 1,
StartMonth = 7,
StartDay = 9,
StartTime = 2,
WaterShut = 2,
ElecShut = 2,
WaterShutModifier = 14,
ElecShutModifier = 14,
FoodLoot = 2,
CannedFoodLoot = 2,
LiteratureLoot = 2,
SurvivalGearsLoot = 2,
MedicalLoot = 2,
WeaponLoot = 2,
RangedWeaponLoot = 2,
AmmoLoot = 2,
MechanicsLoot = 2,
OtherLoot = 2,
Temperature = 3,
Rain = 3,
ErosionSpeed = 3,
ErosionDays = 0,
XpMultiplier = 1.0,
ZombieAttractionMultiplier = 1.0,
VehicleEasyUse = false,
Farming = 3,
CompostTime = 2,
StatsDecrease = 3,
NatureAbundance = 3,
Alarm = 4,
LockedHouses = 6,
StarterKit = false,
Nutrition = true,
FoodRotSpeed = 3,
FridgeFactor = 3,
LootRespawn = 1,
SeenHoursPreventLootRespawn = 0,
WorldItemRemovalList = "Base.Vest,Base.Shirt,Base.Blouse,Base.Skirt,Base.Shoes,Base.Hat,Base.Glasses",
HoursForWorldItemRemoval = 24.0,
ItemRemovalListBlacklistToggle = false,
TimeSinceApo = 1,
PlantResilience = 3,
PlantAbundance = 3,
EndRegen = 3,
Helicopter = 2,
MetaEvent = 2,
SleepingEvent = 1,
GeneratorSpawning = 3,
GeneratorFuelConsumption = 1.0,
SurvivorHouseChance = 3,
VehicleStoryChance = 3,
ZoneStoryChance = 3,
AnnotatedMapChance = 4,
CharacterFreePoints = 0,
ConstructionBonusPoints = 3,
NightDarkness = 3,
InjurySeverity = 2,
BoneFracture = true,
HoursForCorpseRemoval = 216.0,
DecayingCorpseHealthImpact = 3,
BloodLevel = 3,
ClothingDegradation = 3,
FireSpread = true,
DaysForRottenFoodRemoval = -1,
AllowExteriorGenerator = true,
MaxFogIntensity = 1,
MaxRainFxIntensity = 1,
EnableSnowOnGround = true,
MultiHitZombies = false,
RearVulnerability = 3,
AttackBlockMovements = true,
AllClothesUnlocked = false,
CarSpawnRate = 3,
ChanceHasGas = 1,
InitialGas = 2,
FuelStationGas = 4,
CarGasConsumption = 1.0,
LockedCar = 3,
CarGeneralCondition = 2,
CarDamageOnImpact = 3,
DamageToPlayerFromHitByACar = 1,
TrafficJam = true,
CarAlarm = 2,
PlayerDamageFromCrash = true,
SirenShutoffHours = 0.0,
RecentlySurvivorVehicles = 1,
EnableVehicles = true,
Map = {
AllowMiniMap = false,
AllowWorldMap = true,
},
ZombieLore = {
Speed = 1,
Strength = 2,
Toughness = 2,
Transmission = 1,
Mortality = 5,
Reanimate = 3,
Cognition = 3,
CrawlUnderVehicle = 5,
Memory = 2,
Decomp = 1,
Sight = 2,
Hearing = 2,
Smell = 2,
ThumpNoChasing = false,
ThumpOnConstruction = true,
ActiveOnly = 1,
TriggerHouseAlarm = false,
ZombiesDragDown = true,
ZombiesFenceLunge = true,
},
ZombieConfig = {
PopulationMultiplier = 1.0,
PopulationStartMultiplier = 1.0,
PopulationPeakMultiplier = 1.5,
PopulationPeakDay = 28,
RespawnHours = 72.0,
RespawnUnseenHours = 16.0,
RespawnMultiplier = 0.1,
RedistributeHours = 12.0,
FollowSoundDistance = 100,
RallyGroupSize = 20,
RallyTravelDistance = 20,
RallyGroupSeparation = 15,
RallyGroupRadius = 3,
},
}

Commands

• cd
• cd pzserver
• nano ProjectZomboid64.json
• -Xmx put -Xmx=8g (if your server have 16go RAM).
• CTRL + O
• CTRL + X

Commands

• cd
• cd steamcmd
• ./steamcmd.sh
• force_install_dir /home/pzuser/pzserver/
• login anonymous
• app_update 380870 -beta b41multiplayer validate
• exit (at the end)

Commands

• cd
• cd Zomboid
• cd Saves
• cd Multiplayer
• rm -rf servertest

• cd
• cd Zomboid
• cd db
• rm -rf servertest.db

When you restart the server, it will recreate the original files