Need Help Hosting Dedicated Server for Build 41.65 (Fixed)

[✚ sun ✚]

I've followed a few youtube videos and looked over some vague steam guides that go over the hosting process for a dedicated server but after hours of trial and error I cannot get it to work.

I am familiar with hosting in general, but for some reason the server would not show up in the server list inside the game.

I was hoping someone who has a working dedicated server could share their success story.



*Yes I am familiar with port forwarding

*Yes I am familiar with changing Inbound and Outbound rules in the windows firewall

*The ports mentioned to port forward are "16261" for the game and 8677 and 8767 for steam. All three of these being UDP. I have had no luck though with the server showing up in the list.

[Andros]

My personal rule of thumb when the guide for any game says “udp” I ALWAYS set to both becuase idk why but it doesn’t work if I just set to UDP could be just a me issue

[✚ sun ✚]

Originally posted by Andros:

My personal rule of thumb when the guide for any game says “udp” I ALWAYS set to both becuase idk why but it doesn’t work if I just set to UDP could be just a me issue

They were all set to UDP, although I did set them to TCP - UDP and it still didn't work. Although I'll set both individual TCP and individual UDP ports and see what happens :shrug:

[ApeToe]

You need 16261+ (however many slots you have)

So if you have 10 slots you need 16261-16271 forwarded

[✚ sun ✚]

Originally posted by ApeToe:

You need 16261+ (however many slots you have)

So if you have 10 slots you need 16261-16271 forwarded

I knew about this already, I believe they have to be TCP ports to.

Although I'm not sure if this information is outdated or not? I see places where it says this is required but Idk how the new multiplayer update effects that. The files are a tad bit different to.

[Milanor]

i assume direct connect by IP working. i fix mine by adding public name and desc and server_browser_announced_ip variable in server.ini if i remember correctly. cant checkin for now since im not on my computer

[Reaper23]

Originally posted by ✚ sun ✚:

thank god someone else that has the same issue I thought I was crazy been working on it for hours the last couple days and I can’t get my sever to pop up either now after the latest build I’ve tried everything! And I know it’s possible cause the guys I watch play on there sever are on the new build dedicated sever.

[✚ sun ✚]

Originally posted by Reaper23:

Originally posted by ✚ sun ✚:

thank god someone else that has the same issue I thought I was crazy been working on it for hours the last couple days and I can’t get my sever to pop up either now after the latest build I’ve tried everything! And I know it’s possible cause the guys I watch play on there sever are on the new build dedicated sever.

To update on this: I actually got it working!

In case you're still struggling: I was just very confused with the game's built in UI but you can connect as long as you have the "16261" port open, the other 2 don't really matter as they are just to get the steam server side (to show up on the public list for randoms to join)

I basically just port forwarded the "16261" port as both a UDP and TCP port.

the next step is to fill out all the server information on the right where it says "Add Favorite" (like IP, port, password, username and login password) and then hit "Add Server"

It then adds this server information to the favorites window where it will attempt to ping / connect to it! And it ended up working just fine.

What confused me at first was I thought the information on the right was filters to help look for servers in that big internet list, confusing me greatly when I was typing the servers IP and refreshing to never see it in that big list.

But yea it's working! I just didn't know lol :D

[ASM]

Originally posted by ✚ sun ✚:

Originally posted by Reaper23:

To update on this: I actually got it working!

In case you're still struggling: I was just very confused with the game's built in UI but you can connect as long as you have the "16261" port open, the other 2 don't really matter as they are just to get the steam server side (to show up on the public list for randoms to join)

I basically just port forwarded the "16261" port as both a UDP and TCP port.

the next step is to fill out all the server information on the right where it says "Add Favorite" (like IP, port, password, username and login password) and then hit "Add Server"

It then adds this server information to the favorites window where it will attempt to ping / connect to it! And it ended up working just fine.

What confused me at first was I thought the information on the right was filters to help look for servers in that big internet list, confusing me greatly when I was typing the servers IP and refreshing to never see it in that big list.

But yea it's working! I just didn't know lol :D

Did you setup "server_browser_announced_ip="with your external IP?

While starting the dedicated server, its setup the port forwarding normally with UPnP, I add the server with local connection "127.0.0.1"... I see the server online, but I can't connect.'

[✚ sun ✚]

Originally posted by SHOGUN:

Originally posted by ✚ sun ✚:

Did you setup "server_browser_announced_ip="with your external IP?

While starting the dedicated server, its setup the port forwarding normally with UPnP, I add the server with local connection "127.0.0.1"... I see the server online, but I can't connect.'

I turned UPnP rules off, simply because I prefered to do it manually and it usually is better this way if you can do it manually *I do know about it and the steam ports are the same*

How ever I didn't know there was a "server_browser_announced_ip=" setting, maybe that's why it was not showing up in the list.

Also, "127.0.0.1" I am not sure where this IP comes from. Although this probably is not your computers local IP address and won't let you conenct.

If you are connecting to your own server, you have to type the computers local IPV4 address. You can find this number by going into the CMD and typing "ipconfig"

otherwise if you are connecting from a computer not connected to the same WIFI as the server, you would connect using your public IPV4 (friends that wish to join need to use this number)

You can find this number by just looking up on google like "what is my public IP address"

[-=3D=- Duckumz 31]

I cant seem to get the server to respond while trying to connect what am i missing here? Also is there a way to transfer world saves to the dedicated server?

[✚ sun ✚]

Originally posted by -=3D=- Duckumz 31:

I cant seem to get the server to respond while trying to connect what am i missing here? Also is there a way to transfer world saves to the dedicated server?

As for the server:

I made a TCP and UDP 16261 port forward on my router, same for 8767 and 8677 (I believe these are the steam ones, look it up to make sure).

Then as I mentioned, typed in the correct information in “Add Favorites” which adds that server information to your favorites tab.

U most likely did something wrong.

U should not be typing in your public IP address if you are trying to join. As I mentioned before, you have to type your private ipv4 your hosting the server on.

1: go to computer server is on
2: press Windows key and type “CMD” click on command prompt
3: in the console type “ipconfig”
4: the “IPV4” address is the number you are going to type in “IP” in project Zomboid.

^ this only works for people connected to your internet, that’s why it’s called a LAN network.

Anyone else who wants to join outside of your wifi has to use your public IP. U can find this by looking up on google “what’s my public IPV4 address”.

Also, u need to open the firewall on these ports as well, something I forgot to mention.

You can look up how to do that yourself, something like “opening ports on firewall for windows” I guess.

When u figure that out, your going to open ports 16261, a UDP one and a TCP one.

Same for 8677 and 8767. This way your computers firewall doesn’t reject sus connections on these ports which could be you or friends trying to join.


That’s all I can really tell u, that’s how server setup works for just about everything. If u can’t get it to work I recommend u just research the basics of port forwarding, how to run a dedicated server and joining a dedicated server. Doesn’t matter what it’s for really it’s all the same.

[Tchernobill]

Aiteron made the guides to follow.
I think the one you need is this one, but check his other guides if it is not enough.

[-=3D=- Duckumz 31]

Originally posted by ✚ sun ✚:

Originally posted by -=3D=- Duckumz 31:

I cant seem to get the server to respond while trying to connect what am i missing here? Also is there a way to transfer world saves to the dedicated server?

As for the server:

I made a TCP and UDP 16261 port forward on my router, same for 8767 and 8677 (I believe these are the steam ones, look it up to make sure).

Then as I mentioned, typed in the correct information in “Add Favorites” which adds that server information to your favorites tab.

U most likely did something wrong.

U should not be typing in your public IP address if you are trying to join. As I mentioned before, you have to type your private ipv4 your hosting the server on.

1: go to computer server is on
2: press Windows key and type “CMD” click on command prompt
3: in the console type “ipconfig”
4: the “IPV4” address is the number you are going to type in “IP” in project Zomboid.

^ this only works for people connected to your internet, that’s why it’s called a LAN network.

Anyone else who wants to join outside of your wifi has to use your public IP. U can find this by looking up on google “what’s my public IPV4 address”.

Also, u need to open the firewall on these ports as well, something I forgot to mention.

You can look up how to do that yourself, something like “opening ports on firewall for windows” I guess.

When u figure that out, your going to open ports 16261, a UDP one and a TCP one.

Same for 8677 and 8767. This way your computers firewall doesn’t reject sus connections on these ports which could be you or friends trying to join.


That’s all I can really tell u, that’s how server setup works for just about everything. If u can’t get it to work I recommend u just research the basics of port forwarding, how to run a dedicated server and joining a dedicated server. Doesn’t matter what it’s for really it’s all the same.

Ive been trying the private ipv4 and the ports are forwarded, maybe im brainfarting the port i should be putting in for the server browser. Been a minute since i have setup and hosted a dedicated server. Which one/where would i be looking again? Thanks for the help too appreciate it because the large city to the north has been degrading performance when there are 8 of us up there after awhile and i figure going dedicated probably help with my client side load hosting wise

[✚ sun ✚]

https://imgur.com/a/CrCMOff

Made this in paint ^

a visual description of what you should be doing. Because I was setting up the server correctly but the project zomboid UI was confusing me honestly is what my problem was.

This should give you a rough idea of what to do. Hope it helps <3.

EDIT: You can change the port the server uses in the server.ini settings if you really wanted to.

but by default, without changing it, it uses port "16261", which is also the port you should port forward on your router.

For simplicity, don't change this port in the server settings. Just keep it as it is.

the "8677" and "8767" ports are literally only used to get your server to show up in the "Internet" tab, as your server needs to be connected to steam to show up under public steam servers a random person could join. So hypothetically, you really don't need to port forward these actually and you should still be able to connect if you follow what I did in that Imgur image :thumbsup:

[-=3D=- Duckumz 31]

Originally posted by ✚ sun ✚:

https://imgur.com/a/CrCMOff

Made this in paint ^

a visual description of what you should be doing. Because I was setting up the server correctly but the project zomboid UI was confusing me honestly is what my problem was.

This should give you a rough idea of what to do. Hope it helps <3.

EDIT: You can change the port the server uses in the server.ini settings if you really wanted to.

but by default, without changing it, it uses port "16261", which is also the port you should port forward on your router.

For simplicity, don't change this port in the server settings. Just keep it as it is.

the "8677" and "8767" ports are literally only used to get your server to show up in the "Internet" tab, as your server needs to be connected to steam to show up under public steam servers a random person could join. So hypothetically, you really don't need to port forward these actually and you should still be able to connect if you follow what I did in that Imgur image :thumbsup:

I appreciate the help man, must have been the fact i wasnt inputting a local ip so the browser wasnt sourcing it. Now last question lol, is there somewhere i can tell it to source a save from the regularly hosted games save?