42.13 Dedicated server

[axossk]

Did anyone managed to host a dedicated server ?
I'm getting a thread-0 error whenever I try to start the server.

[Solj1n]

I get up to animals have no packets assigned type deal. lol

[Beard]

How is the server installed? I suggest using SteamCMD for the install instead of the Steam Client.

[Kenshi]

bump I get up to animals have no packets assigned type

[axossk]

The server was installed from steam.
How do you install the beta branch from steamcmd ?

EDIT:
Found it :380870 -beta unstable
Still doesn't work, Thread-0 error.
Cannot invoke "zombie.iso.IsoMetaGrid.save()

[axossk]

LOG : General f:0, t:1765538607398, st:84 550 663> Exception in thread "Thread-0" LOG : General f:0, t:1765538607399, st:84 550 664> java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot invoke "zombie.iso.IsoMetaGrid.save()" because "this.grid" is null
LOG : General f:0, t:1765538607399, st:84 550 665> at zombie.network.ServerMap.SaveAll(ServerMap.java:75)
LOG : General f:0, t:1765538607400, st:84 550 665> at zombie.network.ServerMap.QueuedSaveAll(ServerMap.java:696)
LOG : General f:0, t:1765538607400, st:84 550 666> at zombie.network.ServerMap.QueuedQuit(ServerMap.java:664)
LOG : General f:0, t:1765538607401, st:84 550 666> at zombie.network.GameServer$1.run(GameServer.java:374)

[Beard]

app_update 380870 -beta unstable validate

Make sure to wipe the old save and the "db" folder after this update, old saves are not compatible.

[axossk]

Same error again & again.
Using steamcmd , with every folder wiped before install.
No "db" folder to be found.

[hasteL]

follow this : https://pzwiki.net/wiki/Dedicated_server#Downloading_the_server_files
it's something dumb they implemented related to user/permissions in linux

[Beard]

Can you share the whole log output?

[axossk]

LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999341, st:214 952 175> version=42.13.0 023d7701b1bf15c4d00eaae46b4387b1fd11176f 2025-12-11 08:13:47 (ZB) demo=false
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999386, st:214 952 218> revision=023d7701b1bf15c4d00eaae46b4387b1fd11176f date=2025-12-11 time=08:13:47 (ZB)
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999387, st:214 952 220> Logs configuration:
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999388, st:214 952 220> General: General
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999389, st:214 952 221> Lua: General
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999390, st:214 952 222> Mod: General
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999390, st:214 952 222> Multiplayer: General
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999390, st:214 952 223> Default: Warning
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999394, st:214 952 226> unknown option "-statistic"
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999394, st:214 952 227> unknown option "0"
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999397, st:214 952 229> map_t.bin does not exist, cannot determine the server's WorldVersion. This is ok the first time a server is started.
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999398, st:214 952 230> Loading networking libraries...
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999399, st:214 952 231> Loading steam_api64...
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999449, st:214 952 282> Loading RakNet64...
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999525, st:214 952 357> Loading ZNetJNI64...
LOG : General f:0, t:1765668999594, st:214 952 427> SteamUtils initialised successfully
LOG : General f:0, t:1765669004669, st:214 957 502> Shutdown handling started
LOG : Network f:0, t:1765669004670, st:214 957 503> Server exited
LOG : General f:0, t:1765669004675, st:214 957 507> Exception in thread "Thread-0" LOG : General f:0, t:1765669004675, st:214 957 508> java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot invoke "zombie.iso.IsoMetaGrid.save()" because "this.grid" is null
LOG : General f:0, t:1765669004679, st:214 957 511> at zombie.network.ServerMap.SaveAll(ServerMap.java:75)
LOG : General f:0, t:1765669004680, st:214 957 512> at zombie.network.ServerMap.QueuedSaveAll(ServerMap.java:696)
LOG : General f:0, t:1765669004681, st:214 957 514> at zombie.network.ServerMap.QueuedQuit(ServerMap.java:664)
LOG : General f:0, t:1765669004682, st:214 957 515> at zombie.network.GameServer$1.run(GameServer.java:374)

[Beard]

Seems to be related to the save, can you try deleting the User/Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer folder and then retry hosting?

[Sbendel44]

For those receiving the Thread-0 error when trying to run a dedicated server using SteamCMD, this seems to be because the server files you download through SteamCMD for build 42 default to running your "servertest" server file save.

(Windows) Once you have updated your server files via "app_update 380870 -beta unstable validate"
1. Host a game through the actual game client, give it a name and start it at least once. Close the game.
2. Right click and edit using notepad "StartServer64.bat" (Or the respective .bat file you are using).
3. In that file, on the end of the last line before PAUSE, type " -servername "YourServerWorldName" (Make sure to add the space before typing -servername and use parenthesis if your server world name has spaces in it)

This worked for me when trying to go from Hosting a server through the in game "Host" option to running a dedicated server. I am however still getting the animal packet error.

Also, this will not transfer your characters from your original hosting session. It looks like there are ways of doing this using DB Browser for SQLite but I have not been successful. A work around that I used was to use the in game Host option, drop all my characters gear in a known spot, close the game, start the dedicated server, join through multiplayer and collect dropped gear. You will not retain any skills, etc but it at least gets you into your world.

[axossk]

@Beard, this folder was already empty.

@Sbendel44, it appears I can't even host a game from the client: NormalTermination.
This is weird as I can do it on my client pc.

[Beard]

Hm, can you share your logs.zip file found in %UserProfile%\Zomboid?
You can use any file-sharing website of your choice, or you can use our official link to share the file https://beard-theindiestone.fromsmash.com/request/OQzxAk6MFK-dd
After that, can you share the link to the file here, so I can download it?

[axossk]

https://beard-theindiestone.fromsmash.com/pE~sbDAddR-dt