Embarking on a post-apocalyptic survival journey in the thrilling game 7 Days to Die? You're in luck, as running a server on Linux is not only possible but also offers numerous benefits. Linux, known for its stability, security, and customization options, is an excellent choice for hosting your survival game server.
Before we dive into the step-by-step process, let's briefly discuss why Linux is an ideal platform for running a 7 Days to Die server. Linux offers robust performance, allowing your server to handle multiple players without significant lag. Additionally, Linux is open-source, meaning you have full control over your server's configuration and can optimize it to your specific needs.
Setting Up the Linux Server
To begin, you'll need to install a 64-bit Linux distribution on your server. Popular choices include Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian. For this guide, we'll use Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS. After installation, ensure your system is up-to-date by running the following commands:
sudo apt updatesudo apt upgrade
Installing Java
7 Days to Die requires Java to run. First, add the WebUpd8 team's PPA to your system:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/javasudo apt update
Next, install Java by running:
sudo apt install oracle-java8-installer
Installing SteamCMD
SteamCMD is a command-line version of Steam used to download and install game servers. Install it using the following commands:
sudo apt install steamcmdsudo mkdir /steamcmdsudo chown $USER:$USER /steamcmd
Installing and Configuring the 7 Days to Die Server
Now that you have the necessary prerequisites, it's time to install and configure your 7 Days to Die server.
Downloading the Server Files
Navigate to the /steamcmd directory and run SteamCMD to download the game server files:
cd /steamcmd
sudo ./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +force_install_dir /7days +app_update 294420 validate +quit
Configuring the Server
Create a new configuration file for your server by copying the default one:
sudo cp /7days/7DaysToDieServer-Linux/7DaysToDieServer.cfg /7days/7DaysToDieServer-Linux/7DaysToDieServer.cfg.default
sudo nano /7days/7DaysToDieServer-Linux/7DaysToDieServer.cfg
Customize the configuration file according to your preferences. Some essential settings include:
- ServerName: The name of your server.
- ServerPassword: The password required to access the server's web interface.
- MaxPlayers: The maximum number of players allowed on your server.
- Port: The port number your server will use (default is 26900).
Running and Managing the Server
Start your server using the following command:
cd /7days/7DaysToDieServer-Linux/
sudo ./7DaysToDieServer-Linux -batchmode -nographics -logfile /7days/server.log
Monitoring the Server
To keep an eye on your server's performance and logs, you can use tools like htop (an interactive system-monitor process viewer) and tail (to view the server log in real-time). Install htop using:
sudo apt install htop
Then, monitor your server's processes and resources using htop. To view the server log, run:
tail -f /7days/server.log
Automating Server Startup
To ensure your server starts automatically after a reboot, create a systemd service file:
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/7days.service
Add the following content to the file, replacing /path/to/your/server with the actual path to your server executable:
[Unit]
Description=7 Days to Die Server
After=network.target
[Service]
User=your_username
Group=your_group
ExecStart=/usr/bin/screen -S 7days -d -m /path/to/your/server/7DaysToDieServer-Linux -batchmode -nographics -logfile /7days/server.log
Restart=always
StandardOutput=syslog
StandardError=syslog
SyslogIdentifier=7days
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
Save and close the file, then reload the systemd daemon and enable the service:
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable 7days
sudo systemctl start 7days
Congratulations! You now have a fully functional 7 Days to Die server running on Linux. Invite your friends, build your bases, and survive the zombie apocalypse together. Happy gaming!