How To Make A DayZ Server
Creating a DayZ server is the best way to enjoy post-apocalyptic open-world survival with friends—scavenge, hunt, and survive together. Instead of relying on peer-to-peer setups with potential latency and uptime issues, using a dedicated server or trusted hosting provider like Sparked Host gives you instant deployment, zero lag, and powerful hardware to ensure smooth survival scenarios. Whether you want to launch a private survival world with restricted access or open a public persistent world, our panel makes configuration fast and easy.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to create and configure your own DayZ server, explore different hosting options, and help you choose the best setup for your survival goals.
Step 1: Decide What DayZ Hosting You Want
Managed DayZ Server Hosting
Perfect for players who want to avoid manual setup like port forwarding or SteamCMD installation. Features include instant setup, DDoS protection, automatic updates, and a user‑friendly panel to administer server passwords, player limits, server name, and backups.
Sparked Host provides optimized hardware, low ping, and support staff ready to help with config files and troubleshooting—ideal for hosting casual public matches or organized clan games with minimal setup.
DayZ VPS Hosting
VPS hosting offers a balance between flexibility and performance. Your DayZ server operates in a virtual environment, giving you access to server files, configuration options, custom ports, and player control.
With a VPS, you have more control than managed hosting—including installation using SteamCMD, configuring server configs, and scaling resources as your community grows. You still enjoy a stable hosting environment with extra freedom to tailor your server.
This option is ideal for experienced users who want manual configuration or wish to host modded competitive modes.
DayZ Dedicated Server Hosting
A dedicated server gives you the highest level of control and performance for your DayZ server. You’ll have complete access to files, ports, and hardware. From editing launch parameters to port forwarding and performance tuning, this method offers total customization.
This is the best choice for hosting high‑player‑count servers, official leagues, or persistent community operations with full control over every detail.
Which Option Is The Best?
Choosing the right DayZ server hosting depends on your goals. If you want to get started quickly with minimal effort, managed hosting provides instant setup, automatic updates, and an easy control panel. For more flexibility, VPS hosting allows deeper customization while being affordable and scalable. If you're building a high-traffic server for competitive play or a centralized community, dedicated server hosting delivers maximum power, performance, and full access.
No matter your choice, Sparked Host ensures your DayZ server runs smoothly with top-tier hardware, secure ports, and excellent support. Hosting your own server isn’t just about running a game; it's about delivering a top-tier competitive experience, connecting with players, and having complete control of your battlefield.
Step 2: Buy A Plan
For Managed DayZ Server Hosting
- Go to the DayZ Server Hosting page.
- Afterwards, select the individual DayZ plan. The prices of each plan are scaled according to the resources and RAM they use.
You can also change the Billing Cycle to suit your preference, choosing between Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annually, or Annually.
- Fill out the remaining configurable options, such as server location, number of backups, and storage size.
- Go to your cart, review your selections, and check out. Optionally, enter a promo code if available.
- Select your preferred payment method and register for a Sparked Host Client Area account if you don’t already have one.
For DayZ VPS Hosting
- Go to the VPS Hosting page.
- Choose between the Premium and Budget hardware tiers.
Budget Tier: Great for small-scale DayZ server setups or testing. It’s affordable and reliable for a few connected players or experimenting with gameplay settings.
Premium Tier: Designed for larger DayZ servers or complex setups. With more bandwidth and stronger CPUs, it ensures smooth performance for active communities.
- Once you've selected your preferred Hardware Tier, choose the VPS Hosting plan that suits your needs. Each plan is priced based on the resources and bandwidth it offers.
You can also choose the Server Location that best suits your needs. Sparked Host offers multiple server locations, allowing you to host your VPS Hosting service closer to you or your player base. Selecting a location near your region helps reduce latency and ensures a smoother, more responsive gameplay experience for you and other players.
- Once you have selected the plan you want to use, fill out the rest of the configurable options, such as the number of IPv4 Addresses you want and other additional add-ons like our "Pterodactyl Installation" and "Security Check" add-ons.
- When you are ready to purchase the services you selected, you can go to your cart to review the selected items and check out when you are ready. Optionally, if you have one, you can also enter a promo code to get a discount on your purchase.
- From there, you can select your preferred payment method and register a Sparked Host Client Area account if you do not already have one.
You can view the different payment methods we accept and their availability on our Payment Methods page.
For DayZ Dedicated Server Hosting
- Navigate to the Dedicated Server Hosting page.
- Click the Deploy button to select the Dedicated Server you want to deploy. You can filter the list by location, order it by highest performance, and even filter it if you wish the server to use an AMD or Intel processor.
- After selecting the server you want to use, you can configure options such as the OS it should use and use addons such as our "Full Software Support/Managed Dedicated Server" and "Apollo Panel Instance" addons.
- When you are ready to purchase the services you selected, you can go to your cart to review the selected items and check out when you are ready. Optionally, if you have one, you can also enter a promo code to get a discount on your purchase.
- From there, you can select your preferred payment method and register a Sparked Host Client Area account if you do not already have one.
You can view the different payment methods we accept and their availability on our Payment Methods page.
Step 3: Get Your Login Details
For Managed DayZ Server Hosting
You can retrieve your login details for your Apollo Panel account to manage the game server by looking for an email from us with the subject "Panel Account Details." The email will contain details such as the link to the panel to manage your game server and your Panel Account username and password.
For DayZ VPS Hosting
You will not get an email with your VF Panel login details, just like the email for a Managed DayZ Server Hosting service. Therefore, to get the password for your VF Panel account, you will need to reset it first. You can do so by going to the VF Panel Lost Password page, and then you will be sent an email to reset your VF Panel Account password. The email address will be the same as the one used for your Client Area account.
ForDayZ Dedicated Server Hosting
If you purchased a Rapid Deploy Dedicated Server, you can find your login details for your Dedicated Server Manager account to manage the dedicated server by looking for an email from us with the subject "Your Dedicated Server Information." The email will contain details such as the URL to the panel to manage your dedicated server, the server's IP Address, and other information.
If it isn't a Rapid Deploy Dedicated Server or a custom-built one, you will get the login details from the ticket made for the Dedicated Server.
Step 4: Setup Your DayZ Server
For Managed DayZ Server Hosting
- You can log in to the Apollo Panel with the login details you received earlier or using your Client Area account with the "Login via Billing" button.
- Once you've logged in, select your DayZ Server Hosting service on the Servers page.
- After configuring all the necessary settings, click the Start button to launch the service and connect to the server using the IP Address and Port located above the Start and Stop buttons, once it's up and running.
For DayZ VPS Hosting and DayZ Dedicated Server Hosting
If you use a VPS or Dedicated Server Hosting service, you must manually set up the server to run as a DayZ Server. There are guides from sites like Bohemia Interactives's Guide or SkiGoggles's Guide, which you can follow to install the necessary DayZ server software to run DayZ on your own server.
Optionally, for Dedicated Servers, you can include the "Apollo Panel Instance" addon in your service order, wherein we will install the Apollo Panel, our sleek, custom-built control panel for Sparked Host users that will allow you to effortlessly manage your server with powerful tools, an easy-to-use interface, and all the features you need to stay in control.
Still have some questions about setting up a DayZ server?
Don't hesitate to reach out to our support team! We're available 24/7 to assist!
Updated on: 26/08/2025
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