Host a Dedicated Project Zomboid Server with Unraid

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This is a guide to set up a Project Zomboid dedicated server within Unraid 6.9+. Here you will learn how to get it configured and running for you and your friends to enjoy. You’ve been bitten!

Server Requirements

The server requirements are reasonable. Here are the minimum requirements for 4 players.

  • An SSD or NVMe cache or dedicated SSD drive with at least 50GB’s of free space

  • 4+ CPU Cores

  • 4GB of RAM + 500MB per additional player

My Server Specs

The container will access resources as needed so there is nothing you need to set.

  • 1TB NVMe Cache

  • Ryzen 3700x

  • 64GB of RAM

Guide

This guide assumes you have already installed the Community Apps plugin for Unraid and know how to port forward on your router.

  1. Download and Install ich777’s Project Zomboid container.

  2. Edit the server container and make the following changes:

    1. Network Type: br0

    2. Fixed IP Address: 192.168.1.69

    3. Validate Installation: true

    4. Done, let the container install and wait several minutes before configuring the server

Here is a visual aide from my setup.

Make your Server Public

Now that you have waited several minutes for the game to download and run you will want to stop the Project Zomboid container so we can configure/customize it. The game files live in the appdata share, in here is where you will need to make your edits.

Stop the container before editing!

Game Files

  • /mnt/user/appdata/projectzomboid/Zomboid/Server

  • servertest.ini - This file is for customizing your server

  • servertest_SandboxVars.lua - This file is for customizing the world and zombies

You can read more about customization here. For now to make a Public viewable server you will need to edit the following items. You can get your WAN/Public IP address from https://www.whatismyip.com/ you will need this for the “server_browser_announced_ip=” portion.

  • Open=true

  • Public=true

  • PublicName=Windows of Death

  • PublicDescription=Hosted by spxlabs.com using Unraid

  • Password=Docker

  • server_browser_announced_ip=69.42.01.33

After you have messed around with all the settings be sure to start the Project Zomboid container so you can start playing.

Port Forwarding

Great now that you have completed everything above, you will now need to forward some ports so other people can join.

  • 16261 UDP - For the game

  • 16262-16326 TCP - You need 1 port per player, this range of ports allows for 64 players

  • 27015 TCP - RCON (optional)

  • 8766 TCP - Steam Server List

Done

How long can you survive?

Prefer Video Guides?

Want to know how to mod Project Zomboid in Unraid? Look no further, just watch this video.

Questions?

How do I host a private server?

Edit the file servertest.ini

Change “Public=true” to “Public=false”. Then your friends will have to join via your WAN/Public IP Address. It will look something like this

How do I change or remove the server password?

Edit the file servertest.ini

Change “Password=Docker” to “Password=” or “Password=NewPassword”

What is my Account Name and Account Password?

You literally make these up when joining a server for the first time, they can be anything. Account Name is what your characters name will show up as in the server. As example

Account Name = spxlabs

Account Password = unraidRules

My server isn’t appearing in the list of servers!

Make sure all the ports are forwarded correctly. The server may also not be appearing in the list if it has a password, there is a filter for this.

How do I change starting towns?

Edit the file servertest.ini

Map=Muldraugh, KY

  • Riverside, KY

  • Rosewood, KY

  • West Point, KY

Where can I learn more about server settings?

https://pzwiki.net/wiki/Server_Settings

Where can I get additional support with the container?

https://forums.unraid.net/topic/79530-support-ich777-gameserver-dockers/