Configuring your DayZ server

Optimize your serverDZ.cfg variables, adjust time acceleration, enable persistence, and establish safe defaults for a new community.

Updated July 23, 2026

DayZ

This guide covers the configuration files and key settings for your DayZ server. For first boot and connecting, see Getting Started.

Located at the server root. The full file is long; key sections:

hostname = "My GSK DayZ Server";
password = "";
passwordAdmin = "STRONG_ADMIN_PASSWORD";
maxPlayers = 60;
verifySignatures = 2;
forceSameBuild = 1;
disableVoN = 0;
vonCodecQuality = 20;
disable3rdPerson = 0;
disableCrosshair = 0;
serverTime = "SystemTime";
serverTimeAcceleration = 1;
serverNightTimeAcceleration = 1;
serverTimePersistent = 0;
guaranteedUpdates = 1;
loginQueueConcurrentPlayers = 5;
loginQueueMaxPlayers = 500;
instanceId = 1;
storageAutoFix = 1;
class Missions {
    class DayZ {
        template = "dayzOffline.chernarusplus";
    };
};

steamQueryPort = 27016;

Setting	Notes
hostname	Server browser display
password	Empty for public, set for private
passwordAdmin	RCON-style admin access (not in-game admin)
maxPlayers	Slot count (cap by purchase)
verifySignatures	2 enforces signed mods (recommended)
forceSameBuild	1 prevents version mismatch
disable3rdPerson	1 for first-person-only servers
disableCrosshair	1 for hardcore feel
serverTimeAcceleration	Day cycle multiplier (1 = real-time)
serverNightTimeAcceleration	Night cycle multiplier
serverTimePersistent	1 to make in-game time persist across restarts
template	Mission file. dayzOffline.chernarusplus = vanilla Chernarus

One more worth adding: a rotating message of the day.

motd[] = {"Welcome to our server", "Read the rules on Discord"};
motdInterval = 300;

Messages cycle in chat every motdInterval seconds.

After editing, restart.