How to Host a DayZ Standalone Server – Step-by-Step Guide for Survivors

If you're ready to build your own post-apocalyptic sandbox, hosting your own DayZ Standalone server is the best way to take control of your world. Customize loot, adjust survival rules, run your own mods, and create a unique environment for your friends or community.

This guide explains how to host your own DayZ server and why Citadel Servers is an excellent partner for your survival adventure.

Step 1: Choose a Reliable Hosting Provider

DayZ Standalone is a demanding open-world survival game with large maps, base building, infected AI, and modding support. It requires stable performance and strong hardware, especially for high-population servers.

Performance: Powerful CPUs and fast NVMe SSD storage ensure smooth AI behavior, reliable base persistence, and stable tick rates across the map.

Network Quality: Low-latency connections help maintain smooth player movement, responsive combat, and reliable sync during firefights.

Ease of Management: A clean control panel helps you manage configs, persistence, loot tables, and mod lists without hassle.

Support Availability: 24/7 support ensures help is available whenever you need it—crucial for modded or busy DayZ communities.

Citadel Servers provides all of this—delivering excellent stability and the performance needed for large open-world survival environments.

Step 2: Order Your Hosting Plan

Setting up your DayZ Standalone server is simple:

1. Go to the DayZ Standalone hosting page.

2. Choose how many player slots you want.

3. Pick your server location closest to your player base for the best ping.

4. Select any extras, like process priority, premium support, etc.

5. Proceed to checkout — once payment is confirmed, your server deploys automatically.

You’ll receive an email with your control panel login details and connection info within minutes.

Step 3: Configure Your Server

After deployment, it’s time to personalize your server:

- Follow our Quick Start Guide

Set your server name, password, and admin settings.

Adjust the in-game time, persistence, restart schedule, and base building limits.

Edit loot economy files to control spawn rates, rarity, and item distribution.

Configure infected spawn settings, weather behavior, and player damage rules.

Install mods through the built-in Mod Manager, or upload files manually via FTP/SFTP.

All configuration is handled through the Citadel Control Panel, designed to be user-friendly for both new and experienced server admins.

Step 4: Launch and Play

When everything is configured, start your server with one click and invite your community.

Players can join through the DayZ launcher or by entering your IP and port directly.

You can monitor activity, manage players, rotate logs, edit configuration files, and restart or wipe the world at any time—straight from the control panel.

Why Host with Citadel Servers

When you host DayZ Standalone with Citadel Servers, you get the reliability, performance, and full control needed to run a stable and immersive survival world. Our hosting platform ensures smooth gameplay even with large bases, active players, and heavy modding.

What Makes Us Stand Out

Instant Setup: Your server deploys automatically right after payment—start surviving within minutes.

High-Performance Hardware: Dedicated CPU power and NVMe SSD storage ensure stable tick rates, fast loading, and reliable world persistence.

Global Data Centers: Choose from locations worldwide to give your players the lowest possible ping.

Full Access & Mod Freedom: Upload or edit any file—custom loot tables, XML configs, server mods, and more.

One-Click Mod Manager: Browse, install, update, and manage Steam Workshop mods instantly.

Automated Backups & Easy Restarts: Protect your world and manage reboots directly from the control panel.

24/7 Expert Support: Our technical team is available around the clock to help you with configuration, modding, optimization, or troubleshooting.

Your apocalypse deserves a strong and stable foundation — and Citadel Servers delivers performance, flexibility, and reliability built for serious survivors.

Order Your DayZ Standalone Server Now