Embarking on a survival horror adventure in the post-apocalyptic world of 7 Days to Die? Setting up a dedicated server to enjoy the game with friends is an exciting step. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of setting up a 7 Days to Die dedicated server on version 1.0, ensuring a smooth and optimized experience.
Before we dive into the setup process, ensure you have a stable internet connection and a powerful enough PC to handle the server. A quad-core processor, 8GB RAM, and a 64-bit operating system are recommended. Now, let's get started!
Preparation and Downloads
Before you begin, you'll need to gather a few things. First, ensure you have a copy of 7 Days to Die installed on your server PC. If not, you can purchase and download the game from the official website or Steam. Next, you'll need to download the dedicated server files. Here's how:
1. Right-click on your game library in Steam and select "Properties".
2. Go to the "Local Files" tab and click on "Browse Local Files".
3. In the game folder, navigate to the "Binaries" folder and locate the "Win64" folder.
4. Inside the "Win64" folder, you'll find the "Server" folder. Extract the contents of the "Server" folder to a new location on your server PC.
Port Forwarding
To allow external connections to your server, you'll need to forward ports on your router. Here's a simplified guide:
1. Open your web browser and enter your router's IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.1) in the address bar.
2. Log in using your router's credentials.
3. Look for a section related to port forwarding, such as "Virtual Servers" or "Port Forwarding".
4. Create a new rule with the following settings:
- Protocol: UDP
- External Port: 26900
- Internal Port: 26900
- Internal IP: Your server PC's local IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.X)
Server Configuration
Now that your ports are forwarded, it's time to configure the server. In the folder where you extracted the server files, you'll find a file named "ServerSettings.txt". Open this file with a text editor like Notepad or Sublime Text.
Here, you can customize various settings, such as the server name, game mode, difficulty, and player slots. For a basic setup, you can leave most settings as is and focus on the following lines:
- ServerName: Set this to a unique name for your server.
- MaxPlayers: Adjust this value to set the maximum number of players that can connect to your server.
- GameDifficulty: Change this value to set the game difficulty (Easy, Normal, Hard, or Realistic).
Launching the Server
With your server configured, it's time to launch it. In the server folder, locate the "SevenDaysToDieServer-Win64-Shipping.exe" file and double-click it to launch the server.
The server will initialize, and you should see a console window open. If everything is set up correctly, you'll see a message saying "Server is now listening on 0.0.0.0:26900".
Connecting to the Server
To connect to your server, open the 7 Days to Die game client and navigate to the "Multiplayer" tab. You should now see your server listed under "Available Servers". Select your server and click "Join" to connect.
If your server doesn't appear in the list, ensure that you've forwarded the correct ports and that your server is running. You can also try connecting using the server's IP address by selecting "Connect to IP" and entering your server's IP address followed by ":26900" (e.g., 192.168.1.X:26900).
Congratulations! You've successfully set up a 7 Days to Die dedicated server on version 1.0. Now, gather your friends and start your post-apocalyptic adventure. Happy gaming, and remember to keep your server and game clients up-to-date for the best experience.