. Project Zomboid Private Servers: The Complete, No-Nonsense Guide

If you love Project Zomboid but hate random wipes, griefing, or laggy public lobbies, a private server is the way to go. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how PZ private servers work, the best way to host one, how to manage mods and performance, and the essential routines that keep your world (and community) stable for months.

Want it set up for you? Spin up a ready-to-play server here: Get a Project Zomboid server.
Or learn more about the team behind it: alejandro7.com.

Why a Private Server?

Consistency & control – Save settings, mod lists, and rules that don’t reset every week.
Community – Play with friends or a curated Discord group without randoms.
Progress that sticks – Backups and scheduled maintenance keep your world alive.
Custom experience – Adjust loot, zombie population, respawn, erosion, cars, radio events—everything.

Choosing How to Host

1) Managed Hosting (easiest)

Provisioned in minutes, web panel to manage restarts/updates/backups.
Mod installs and workshop updates are automated.
Support when a patch breaks something.
Great if you just want to play, not babysit Linux services.

Tip: If you want a turnkey setup with hands-on help, go with Get a Project Zomboid server.

2) Self-Hosting (advanced)

You rent a VPS or use a home server.
You install SteamCMD, set firewall/ports, configure services, cron jobs, backups.
Ultimate control, but you own every problem (patch days, mod breaks, IO spikes).

Core Concepts (What Actually Matters)

Server settings live in files you can version and back up (servertest.ini, SandboxVars.lua, etc.).
Workshop mods need both server and client enabled—pin exact mod IDs to avoid mismatches.
Backups and update order matter: back up → update server → update mods → restart → test.
Economy of restarts: small servers can run for days, but scheduled off-peak restarts keep RAM/GC tidy.

Fast Start: Turnkey Hosting Flow

Pick a plan → Get a Project Zomboid server.
Choose location close to your players.
Name your server, set an admin password, and whitelist mode (optional).
Paste your initial mod IDs (you can add more later).
Set a daily restart time (off-peak for your group).
Launch → Share IP:Port + password with friends.
Play. Adjust servertest.ini and SandboxVars.lua over time as your group evolves.

DIY Setup Overview (If You’re Self-Hosting)

Install: SteamCMD → download ZomboidDedicatedServer.
Firewall/Ports: open the required game and query ports (your host panel typically lists these explicitly).
Run as a service: systemd (Linux) or a scheduled task/service (Windows) for auto-restart on crash.
Backups: tar/zip the Zomboid/Server and Zomboid/Saved directories on a schedule and keep several rotations.
Update flow: stop server → back up → update server → update mods → start → verify logs.

Keep a simple runbook that your co-admins can follow exactly.

Configuration: The Files You’ll Touch Most

servertest.ini – Main server settings (name, password, whitelist, voice, PVP, safehouse rules).
SandboxVars.lua – Zombies, loot rarity, infection rules, car frequency, erosion speed, etc.
SpawnRegions.lua – Starting locations.
server.ini / admin.txt equivalents – Admin roles, privileges, and server list entries.
mods.txt (or web panel) – Workshop mod IDs and load order.

Pro tip: Keep these in a Git repo or cloud folder. Commit after each change so you can roll back when a mod update goes sideways.

Mods: Keep Them Stable

Pin exact Workshop IDs and audit after big PZ patches.
Load order matters—UI frameworks first, content next, patches last.
Change one thing at a time—restart, test, check logs for red flags (missing textures, lua errors).
Share the list with players: a pinned Discord post or a tiny site page goes a long way.

Performance Tuning (Biggest Wins First)

Choose the right hardware:
- CPU single-core speed > core count for small/medium servers.
- SSD/NVMe storage; avoid spinning disks.
- Enough RAM for mods & player count (2–4 GB baseline; add more for heavy modpacks).
Right-size your pop settings:
- Extreme zombie counts look cool but crush ticks. Raise gradually.
Scheduled restarts:
- Once daily is plenty for most communities; twice daily for heavy modpacks.
Headless maps & cleanup:
- Disable unused regions; periodically clean abandoned safehouses with clear rules.
Network locality:
- Pick a region close to players. Latency hurts combat and driving most.

If you just want it to feel smooth: let a managed host size it for you—Get a Project Zomboid server.

Security & Anti-Griefing

Whitelist mode and a private Discord invite flow.
Strong admin password; give mod permissions sparingly.
Safehouses: enable claim limits and protection rules that fit your vibe.
Backups: daily + on-demand before big events or mod changes.
Audit logs after incidents; keep notes on repeat problems or plugins that help.

Community Rules That Actually Work

Wipes: set expectations (e.g., seasonal wipes every X months or only on major patches).
PVP: if enabled, clarify zones/times/consent rules.
Raiding: all hours vs. windowed periods—less burnout if limited.
Trading & economy: pin your barter rules and base prices to reduce arguments.
Appeals: one channel, one message, one decision (keeps drama low).

Maintenance Ritual (Copy/Paste This)

Daily: automated restart, quick glance at latest logs.
Weekly: backup rotation check, disk space check, minor config tidy.
Patch Day: announce downtime → back up → update server → update mods → test with 1–2 admins → reopen.
Monthly: review performance, prune dead bases, poll the community on next features.

Troubleshooting Quickies

Players get “mod mismatch”: confirm workshop IDs & load order match server; have them restart Steam to refresh mods.
Rubber-banding: reduce zombie density, check CPU spikes, confirm players are near the server region.
Can’t join: verify server is running, correct IP:Port, firewall/ports open, server password correct, and whitelist (if any).
Crash after patch: disable newest mod(s); re-enable one at a time to isolate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players can I host?
It depends on CPU speed, disk, and mod load. Small groups (4–12) are easy on modest hardware; 20–40 needs stronger single-core performance and stricter sandbox settings.

Do I need restarts?
Yes. Once per day keeps memory and scripts healthy, especially with many mods.

Can I migrate worlds between hosts?
Yes. Copy the saves and config folders (and keep the same mod set). Test on a staging server first.

How do wipes work?
You can wipe characters, map chunks, or both. Always back up first, announce clearly, and consider seasonal schedules.

Ready to Play?

If you’d rather spend time surviving than sysadmin-ing, let experts provision and maintain it for you:

👉 Get a Project Zomboid server

Want to see the broader services, portfolio, and contact options?

👉 alejandro7.com

Build a world your group actually wants to log into—stable, modded the way you like it, and online when you are. Happy surviving!