DayZ serverDZ.cfg Explained: Every Setting and Default

serverDZ.cfg is the main config file of a DayZ server. It sets the name, passwords, player limit, first or third person, how fast day and night pass, and which map (mission) loads. It sits in the server's root folder, every line ends with a semicolon, and changes apply on the next restart. Below is every setting worth knowing, with its default and what we would set it to.

The settings most people change

hostname = "My DayZ Server";
password = "";
passwordAdmin = "a long random password";
maxPlayers = 40;
disable3rdPerson = 0;
serverTimeAcceleration = 6;
serverNightTimeAcceleration = 4;
serverTimePersistent = 1;

That is a sensible community setup: a named server, open to join, a proper admin password, days that last 4 real hours, short nights and a clock that carries on after restarts.

Server identity and access

Security and versions

If your server does not appear in the launcher, steamQueryPort is the first thing to check. See DayZ server not showing in the launcher.

Gameplay

Our take: hardcore servers pair disable3rdPerson = 1 with disableCrosshair = 1 and lightingConfig = 1. Casual friend servers usually leave third person on and nights bright.

Time and day/night cycle

The night value multiplies the day value. With serverTimeAcceleration = 6 and serverNightTimeAcceleration = 4, days run 6 times faster than real time and nights 24 times faster, so a game day takes 4 real hours and the night is short.

If your players complain that it is always night when they log on after a restart, set a fixed morning serverTime and leave serverTimePersistent = 0, so every restart starts in daylight.

Login queue and performance

Persistence and storage

storage_1 is where the server keeps bases, stashes, vehicles and characters. How to wipe a DayZ server explains which files to delete for each kind of wipe.

Logging

Logs go to the profiles folder set with -profiles in the launch options.

The mission block: choosing the map

The map is set at the bottom of the file:

class Missions
{
    class DayZ
    {
        template = "dayzOffline.chernarusplus";
    };
};

The template must match a folder name inside mpmissions. Livonia and Sakhal are DLC maps, so players need the DLC to join. Community maps from the Workshop ship their own mission folder and template name. Loot for the chosen map is in that mission folder, explained in how to edit loot on a DayZ server.

Common mistakes that stop the server starting

• A missing semicolon. Every setting line ends with ;. One missing is the most common reason a server closes on start.
• Curly quotes. Text pasted from a website or Word can turn " into “. Use straight quotes.
• A template that does not exist. A typo in the mission name, or a modded map whose mod is not loaded.
• Editing the wrong file. Some setups start the server with -config= pointing to a different file name. Check the launch options.

serverDZ.cfg on GamezServers

On a GamezServers DayZ server the most used settings are in Settings and written into serverDZ.cfg on every start: the server name, join password, admin password, max players (set to your plan), first person only, crosshair, personal light, darker nights, time and night multipliers, persistent time, voice chat, signature checks and the Map. Change those in Settings, because editing those lines in the file is undone at the next start.

Everything else, like respawnTime, motd, enableCfgGameplayFile or disableBaseDamage, you edit in the Files tab. Press Backup first, edit, then Restart. Our plans are sized for 20, 40 or 60 players on 8, 12 and 16 GB, and you can move between them any time. The DayZ hosting quick start covers the rest.

FAQ

Where is serverDZ.cfg?

In the server's root folder, next to the DayZServer binary (DayZServer_x64.exe on Windows). If you do not see it, check the -config= launch option, which can point to a file with another name.

Do I need to restart after editing serverDZ.cfg?

Yes. DayZ reads the file once on start. Save your changes, then restart the server.

How do I make DayZ always daytime?

Set serverTime to a morning time like "2026/7/15/08/00", serverTimePersistent = 0, and a low serverTimeAcceleration such as 1, then restart the server every few hours. Each restart begins in the morning again.

What is the maximum maxPlayers in DayZ?

60. Higher values are not supported. More players also means more memory, so a full 60 player server, especially with mods, wants 16 GB.

Can I add comments to serverDZ.cfg?

Yes, anything after // on a line is ignored. It is a good place to note why you changed a value.