← Back to Blog

How to Host a 7 Days to Die Server on a VPS (2026)

Published May 4, 2026 · 6 min read · Galaxy Cloud Solutions

7 Days to Die is better with friends and even better when the server is always running. No more waiting for whoever is hosting to log on. Your base keeps building, your defenses keep standing, and your friends can check in whenever they want. A $10 VPS handles a small group comfortably.

⚡ Host a 7DTD server from $10/mo — Use code LAUNCH2026 for 50% off

What You Need

• VPS with at least 2GB RAM (4GB recommended for more players)
• 30GB+ free disk space
• Ubuntu 24.04

Step 1: Install SteamCMD

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 curl screen
mkdir -p ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | tar zxf -

Step 2: Download the Server

mkdir -p ~/7dtd
~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir ~/7dtd +login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quit

Step 3: Configure the Server

nano ~/7dtd/serverconfig.xml

Key settings to change:

<property name="ServerName" value="My 7DTD Server"/>
<property name="ServerPassword" value="yourpassword"/>
<property name="ServerMaxPlayerCount" value="8"/>
<property name="GameWorld" value="Navezgane"/>
<property name="GameName" value="MySurvival"/>
<property name="GameDifficulty" value="2"/>

Step 4: Create a Start Script

cat > ~/7dtd/start.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
cd ~/7dtd
screen -dmS 7dtd ./7DaysToDieServer.x86_64   -configfile=serverconfig.xml   -logfile /tmp/7dtd.log   -quit -batchmode -nographics -dedicated
EOF
chmod +x ~/7dtd/start.sh

Step 5: Open Ports and Start

sudo ufw allow 26900/tcp
sudo ufw allow 26900:26902/udp
~/7dtd/start.sh

Check the server is starting:

screen -r 7dtd

7DTD takes a few minutes to generate the world on first start. Wait for "GameServer.Start" in the log before trying to connect.

Connect From the Game

In 7 Days to Die, go to Play → Connect to IP and enter your VPS IP address with port 26900.

Auto-Start on Reboot

crontab -e

@reboot sleep 20 && /home/ubuntu/7dtd/start.sh