DayZ Server – Common Errors and How to Fix Them

This guide shows you the most common problems on DayZ servers and how to fix them step by step. From connection problems to mod errors to server crashes – you'll find the solution here.

1. Server Not Showing in the Server List

The most common reason why players can't find your server.

Causes and Solutions

• Ports not forwarded: DayZ requires UDP port 2302 (Game) and UDP 2303 (Steam Query). Both must be open in firewall and router
• Steam Query Port incorrect: The Query port is always Game port + 1. With Game port 2302, Query is 2303
• Server behind CGNAT: Some ISPs use CGNAT – then your server has no public IP. Solution: Use a VPS or root server at NexoraHost
• Firewall blocking:

  # Check ports (Linux)
  sudo ufw status verbose
  
  # Open ports
  sudo ufw allow 2302:2303/udp

2. "Connection Failed" – Players Cannot Join

Causes and Solutions

• Server not running: Check if the server process is running:

  # Linux
  ps aux | grep DayZServer
  
  # Windows
  tasklist | findstr DayZServer

• Wrong IP or port: The player is using the wrong IP or port
• Server full: maxPlayers in serverDZ.cfg reached?
• BattlEye blocking: Check if BattlEye is enabled on both server and client. For testing, disable it:

  # In serverDZ.cfg
  BattlEye = 0;    // 0 = off, 1 = on

3. "Mod Mismatch" or "Bad Version"

Causes and Solutions

• Different mod versions: Server and player don't have the same mod versions. Player must restart the DayZ Launcher
• Mods missing on server: Check if all mods are registered in serverDZ.cfg
• Wrong mod load order: CF must always be loaded first. Wrong order can lead to "Bad version"
• Player has extra mods: Player has mods enabled that the server doesn't have – disable them

4. Server Crashes on Startup

Causes and Solutions

• Missing dependencies (Linux):

  # Install all required libraries
  sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 lib32stdc++6 libcurl4 libssl-dev

• serverDZ.cfg faulty: Missing semicolons, incorrect entries. Check the syntax
• Faulty mods: Disable all mods for testing and reactivate them one by one
• Insufficient RAM: DayZ needs at least 6-8 GB RAM. Check with htop
• Wrong startup parameters: Check if -mod= parameters are correct and all specified mods exist

5. Server Running but Performance Is Poor

Causes and Solutions

• Too many AI units: Zombies and animals consume massive CPU. Reduce spawn rates in globals.xml
• Too many loot spawns: Thousands of items on the ground strain the server. Increase loot respawn times
• Mods too resource-intensive: Large mods like Expansion put heavy load on the server. Disable unnecessary features
• Server running too long: DayZ has memory leaks. Restart server every 6-12 hours

6. BattlEye Kicking Players for No Reason

Causes and Solutions

• BattlEye not up to date: BattlEye normally updates automatically. Manual update:

  # Delete BattlEye folder and restart server
  rm -rf ~/dayz-server/battleye
  # Start server – BattlEye will be re-downloaded

• Incorrect BattlEye configuration: Check battleye/beserver.cfg for errors

7. Database Errors (Economy/Storage)

Causes and Solutions

• Storage folder not writable:

  # Check and set permissions
  chmod -R 755 ~/dayz-server/storage
  chown -R dayz:dayz ~/dayz-server/storage

• Economy reset needed: For persistent errors, reset the economy:

  # Back up and empty storage folder
  mv ~/dayz-server/storage ~/dayz-server/storage_backup
  mkdir ~/dayz-server/storage

8. "Steam Auth Timeout"

Causes and Solutions

• Steam servers unreachable: Temporary problem – wait and try again
• Firewall blocking Steam: Steam needs outgoing connections. Make sure outgoing connections are allowed

9. Players Losing Their Base / Items

Causes and Solutions

• Wrong persistence path: Check in serverDZ.cfg:

  storageAutoFix = 1;    // Automatic repair of storage files

• Server not shut down cleanly: Always use #shutdown, don't close the window
• Regular backups: Back up the storage folder daily

10. General Debugging Tips

# Start server with detailed logging
./DayZServer -config=serverDZ.cfg -port=2302 -dologs -adminlog -netlog

# Check logs
tail -f ~/dayz-server/DayZServer_*.log

# Filter for errors
grep -i error ~/dayz-server/DayZServer_*.log

# Analyze crash dumps
ls -la ~/dayz-server/*.dmp

Quick Checklist for Problems

1. Check server logs for ERROR messages
2. Check firewall and port forwarding (UDP 2302, 2303)
3. Disable mods for testing and start server without mods
4. Sufficient RAM and CPU available? (htop)
5. All required libraries installed? (Linux)
6. BattlEye up to date?
7. Storage folder writable?
8. Restart server – many temporary problems disappear afterwards