How to set up a dedicated Server guide

[-=IF=- QBallDuke]

• create a .bat file lets call it startserver.bat
  
  (in your game folder where the 7DaysToDie.exe is located) . if you got the game over steam its "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\7 Days To Die"
  
  startserver.bat
  

  @echo off
  cls
  echo starting sevendaystodie Dedicated Server
  start 7DaysToDie.exe -batchmode -nographics -configfile=serverconfig.xml -dedicated
  Pause
  

  the parameter -dedicated needs to be the last of all parameters
  
  
  
• edit the serverconfig.xml
  
  serverconfig.xml
  
  

  <?xml version="1.0"?>
      <ServerSettings>
        <property name="ServerIP" value="yourexternalip_not_127.0.0.1"/>
        <property name="ServerPort" value="25000"/>
        <property name="ServerIsPublic" value="true"/>
        <property name="ServerName" value="InternationalFreaks"/>
        <property name="ServerPassword" value="*****"/>
        <property name="ServerMaxPlayerCount" value="64"/>
        
        <property name="GameWorld" value="Navezgane"/>
        <property name="GameName" value="t3"/>
        <property name="GameDifficulty" value="2"/>
        <property name="GameMode" value="GameModeSurvival"/>
        
        <property name="EnemySpawning" value="true"/>
        <property name="ShowAllPlayersOnMap" value="false"/>
        <property name="FriendlyFire" value="true"/>
        <property name="BuildCreate" value="false"/>
        <property name="DayNightLength" value="20"/>
        <property name="DayCount" value="0"/>
        <property name="FragLimit" value="0"/>
        <property name="MatchLength" value="0"/>
        <property name="RebuildMap" value="false"/>
        
        <property name="ControlPanelEnabled"	 	value="true"/>
        <property name="ControlPanelPort" value="8080"/>
        <property name="ControlPanelPassword" value="******"/>
        
        
        <property name="TelnetEnabled"	 		value="false"/>
        <property name="TelnetPort" 			value="25003"/>
        
        <property name="DisableNAT" value="false"/>
      </ServerSettings>
  

  
  
  ServerIP use your external you can find hit on a webside like this http://www.whatismyip.com/
  
  
  
  
  
• Port forwarding
  TCP/UDP 26900
  UDP 26901-26902
  TCP 8080-8082
  
  and 8080 for the web panel
  
  for normal routers INBOUND and OUTBOUND are the same.
  
  
  
  
• Start the server
  
  1.make sure by opening the task manager that no other instance of the server is still running.
  2.double check you saved the changes to the configs.
  3.start the startserver.bat file

If its not working (you cant connect or whatever...)

• 1.after you started the startserver.bat you need to get the press any key to continue button or somthing went wrong.
  
• 2.remember the External IP is not the same as your internal ip http://www.whatismyip.com/
  
• 3.make sure no instance of the server is running in the task manager before you start a new
  
• 4.try to open yourweb panel in your browser http://ServerIPAdress:8080/ (change ServerIPAdress to your server ip adress) if this is not working somthing with your port forwarding went wrong
  
• 5 try to change this value

    <property name="DisableNAT" value="false"/>

  to true
  
• 6 the server needs some time to start up wait at least 1 minute before you try to connect
  
  
• 7 make sure you use a proper text editor like notepad ++ so you dont srew up the formatation of the .xml file.
  
  
• 8 How can my friends join my game? give them your external ip adress if you are hosting the game on your pc (internal_IP --> router --> external_IP) find it here http://www.whatismyip.com/ or you join the server, and if its running on your PC you can connect by 127.0.0.1 to it. after that they follow you over the join game button in steam friend list.
  
  
• 9 if your ip starts with 192.168 you can be sure its a internal and no external
  
  
• 10 if you cant run the game after you started the server copy the folder "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\7 Days To Die" to a differed location and start the server from that location and the game normal.
  
  
• 11 How do i join my own server? Just try to connect to 127.0.0.1 or localhost
  
  
  
• 12 Do i need a second copy. The awnser is no . Just copy(doublicate not cut)the folder "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\7 Days To Die" to your desktop or where ever you like and run you server from that location that should do the trick.
  
  
• 13 0.000 EXC: FormatException: An invalid IP address was specified
  You dident change the ip adress in the config file to your ip adress. do so.
  
  
  
• 14 Only blank spash screen when trying to join via local or external ip. Try to connect via server browser.
  
  
• 15 cant connect to your own game. Try to connect via "localhost" or "127.0.0.1" instead of the server browser.
  
  
• 16 How can i wipe the world/restart the level . Just change the game name in the config file
  

  <property name="GameName" value="whatevernameyouwant"/>	 <!-- Whatever you want the game name to be -->

  to a differend name you want :D

So i have to say thanks to all the people posting stuff i keep this up to date so noone has to search to long for a answer

[Grunt]

Definitely true copying isn't required. I find benefit from it myself. Isolates against bad patches or batches of them. Also having updates that are backward compatible still blowing away custom recipes and server settings is mitigated. Provides a quick method world save transfer between server and local with minimum downtime if needed. Technically sym link can be used if actually want both instances pointing at same file (though not running at the same time. Haven't tested that but assuming corruption is likely).

Anyway looking forward to game progress, including server mode options. Seperate customizable day and night cycles would be excellent. Could use it to make long days and short nights of horror (extreme spawn) with the day used more fully to rebuild. Could make 20 hours of night with 4 hours day causing a panic to get as much <whatever> done as possible before... . .

[Felixblucher]

Hello everyone, I have been trying for a few hours to get a dedicated server set up. I have port forwarded the thing to death, but I still can't seem to connect through the external IP. I have successfully forwarded a few times with other applications. Unfortunatly this game is proving to be a bit of a pain.
Would you happen to have any suggestions?

I have a 2Wire router if that helps, I can provide a model number if needed.

[Mundgodt]

Felixblucher, dont bother. This is outdated somehow, doesnt work.

[Felixblucher]

Thing is that everything up to the port forwarding works, it is kind of annoying. It is so close that I can taste it, but just out of reach. I realise that Hamachi would make it work, but I don't like that program, I think it is causing a few issues.

[Mundgodt]

Hey, i take my words back. it works. i simply got a new lan ip which i wasnt aware of :P

[Mundgodt]

you could. just to make sure, set yourself as a DMZ host on your router temporarily and see if that solves the issue. if it does. then its a port problem.

Add me on steam, ill see if i can help you out ;)

[Felixblucher]

I tried DMZ, and it worked like a charm. Now all I need to do is find a way to make it work without exposing myself like that. :-)

[Buttabean]

if you're having issues getting through your router, set the port forwarding protocol to "Both" instead of TCP or UDP. That worked for me.

[Felixblucher]

That isn't possible for my router, you have to set one at a time.

[Redeamed]

So I believe I have followed all of the steps. I can join localhost, but I can not access the web panel, and the server name does not appear in the server list for me (though from what I read in the comments this doesn't necessarily mean others cant see it.) Haven't been able to get anyone else to try connecting yet so if anyone wants to look for it on the server list and test that for me the game name is Woodbury, though I have a feeling I am still only hosting local. How might I test this?

we got it working. needed to ipconfig /renew in order to refresh the ip address settings. Woodbury is live, stop on by.

[Grunt]

Disregarding the lack of the server showing inside the in-game browser, are you appending the port to the address? localhost:8080

Did you actually set:

<property name="ControlPanelEnabled"	 	value="true"/>

in the config? If you didn't, try that, and also take note of the password entry too and change that, immediately :)

[CotaBucky]

I'm almost sure this is a port forward issue still. In my router settings the last 2 numbers have to be set in the IP address under the port forwarding for each port.If your not looking closely you may think your router software has it correct already. In my case it did not and the last two nubers were wrong.When its right you should see your game running in search as long as you did everything else correct.
If I were you I would use the default files from game and just change the names of host and game for now.That way you can keep things simple.When you have port forwarded all ports correctly you should see your game running. Make sure to always kill the server in the task manager before trying again. I have two setup to run at my house now. Ones on a wireless .setup

[Chucky]

Cant setup a server anymore btw i can join my server over my ext. ip but puttytel only can connect with 127.0.0.1 ip with my ext. ip puttytel cant connect.

Friends cant join my server anymore with my ip whats wrong with that?

[CotaBucky]

One thing I noticed is when adding another computer and wireless it does change the IP address.That and I could not connect and load game until I changed the port from 25000 standard port to 25002 on my wireless setup.That one puzzled me but both systems are working and able to connect so far.Friends as well

[MarcMasterM]

I just can read waiting for server
i did everything and doublechecked everything but i cant join
here is my console output:

0.000 LOG: StartAsServer
0.000 LOG: createWorld: Dat World, Dat Game, GameModeSurvival
0.000 LOG: SelectionBoxManager.Instance: SelectionBoxes (SelectionBoxManager)
0.000 LOG: Loading of #0 chunks took 11ms
0.000 LOG: createWorld() done
0.000 LOG: Awake done (1792ms)
0.000 LOG: Loaded debug IF type=DebugInterfaceTesters
63.068 ERR: A client which was not in the connected player list disconnected. ???
65.967 LOG: PlayerLogin: 455101286000/AllocatedID: 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/Alpha 7.6/8
65.967 LOG: Authenticating player: marcmasterm SteamId: 76561198090982246 TicketLen: 1024 Result: OK
65.967 LOG: Started thread_CommReader (thread_CommReader: ConnectionToClient=1, channel=1)
65.967 LOG: Started thread_CommWriter (thread_CommWriter: ConnectionToClient=1, channel=1)
65.967 LOG: Started thread_CommReader (thread_CommReader: ConnectionToClient=1, channel=2)
65.967 LOG: Started thread_CommWriter (thread_CommWriter: ConnectionToClient=1, channel=2)
65.967 LOG: Allowing player with id 1
70.354 LOG: RequestToEnterGame: 1/marcmasterm
70.702 LOG: RequestToSpawnPlayer: 173, 1, marcmasterm, 15
70.702 LOG: Created player with id=173
70.702 LOG: Adding observed entity: 173, (0.0, 0.0, 0.0), 15
115.154 LOG: OnPlayerDisconnected 1
115.154 LOG: Removing player with id clientId=1, entityId=173
115.154 LOG: Removing observed entity: 173
115.154 LOG: Exited thread_CommWriter(thread_CommWriter: ConnectionToClient=1, channel=2)
115.154 LOG: Exited thread_CommWriter(thread_CommWriter: ConnectionToClient=1, channel=1)
115.154 LOG: No objects for the given player ID were deleted 1
115.171 LOG: Exited thread_CommReader(thread_CommReader: ConnectionToClient=1, channel=1)
115