This is an updated guide on how to set up your own server.


First, be sure you are subscribed to the entire collection and allow Steam to download everything for you. Ideally, you should have a clean version of PZ without any other mods and on the latest version (be sure to opt out of any betas/legacy versions).


For your convenience, I have set up a preset that you can use as a basis for running your server. This preset includes three files: The server config ini, the Sandbox Settings lua and the spawnregions lua.

These are linked in the guide on the main description page.

Extract the contents of the ZIP archive into this folder:
C:\Users\YourNameHere\Zomboid\

This will create the "server-sophie-[current version]" preset ingame.


Don't bother making any changes until you have confirmed that the config is working in the first place. Head in game after everything is in place and select "HOST". Select my preset in the dropdown that appears and allocate enough memory to your server (I would go for 8+ GB - make sure you have sufficient RAM or it will not work). Click Start and let the game set up.

Hosting a new server for the first time takes very long. This is NORMAL. What's happening is that the game is grabbing each and every mod from the Workshop AGAIN to place them into your game folder. All this is done while it says "Initializing".

Optional: You can save yourself some time by copying all of your mods from your workshop folder and pasting them into your game folder so the server doesn't have to redownload these.

To do this, COPY all folders from here:
...\steamapps\workshop\content\108600

to here:
...\steamapps\common\ProjectZomboid\steamapps\workshop\content\108600


If the test is successful (= you were able to launch the server and load in after creating a character), quit out and head back into your hosting menu. Delete the world and your player (preset will be untouched). Then head to Manage Settings and hit Edit Selected Settings for my Sophie preset.

Here, you can adjust both your server and your sandbox settings to your liking. I recommend you do this, as the default settings won't be acceptable for everyone. The sandbox settings I've provided offer a fair, but not too easy difficulty.


Watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwsm4wivICw

No you're not. Setting up a server for the first time takes very long because every single mod is downloaded again in the background and placed in the server workshop folder. If done entirely from scratch, this first-time setup can take well over 10 minutes. As long as the game hasn't crashed entirely, or you get any kind of error, just let it do its thing. Check the coop-console log if you're still unsure as to what's happening. Note that this can be circumvented somewhat by simply placing your downloaded mods as described above.


Steam's CDN is dog sh*t, everyone knows. The game checks your installed mods vs their version numbers on the Workshop. There is a way to force the game to recheck (and redownload) everything: Simply delete the appworkshop_108600.acf file WHILE YOUR GAME AND SERVER ARE SHUT DOWN which can be found here:

YourSteamLibrary\steamapps\common\ProjectZomboid\steamapps\workshop

or for dedicated servers:
YourSteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Project Zomboid Dedicated Server\steamapps\workshop

Refer to this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/projectzomboid/comments/rey091/workshop_version_mismatch_errors_on_mp_servers/

Notes:
I've reduced the chance for spent shells to fall on the ground to 20%. This is a Gunfighters option that allows for shell casings to be reused, but it can also cause a lot of lag if you're playing with multiple people who use guns regularly. - Arsenal is no longer used
I increased reading speed by two times, you will read one page every half (ingame) minute.
5% of all zombies will be sprinters, you have been warned. They're slowed down by 50%, though.

Please go through all of the options and change them to your likings.



If something isn't working, this is how you can somewhat diagnose the issue:
First, determine when exactly things break. Does it give you an error message?
Then, check your coop-console.txt and your console.txt in here: C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid
These will tell you what's happening server-side and client-side, respectively. Check the end of both logs to see if there was an obvious timeout. If the coop log says something about a workshop download failing, then follow my optional step of moving your mods over to the local folder and try again. If you get past the first loading screen and character creation, but then it boots you out before you load in fully, it is likely because your system isn't strong enough. Allocate more memory (if you have enough RAM) or consider removing a few "heavy" mods such as the new cars and bigger maps like Raven Creek.


Official PZ Discord:
https://discord.gg/theindiestone

Build 41 Multiplayer Guide:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2682141370

Official MP FAQ:
https://pzwiki.net/wiki/Multiplayer_FAQ