Running a smooth 7 Days to Die server requires careful optimization. This guide covers essential settings and techniques to improve performance, reduce lag, and create the best experience for your players.
ServerConfig.xml Optimization
The main configuration file controls most performance-related settings.
MaxSpawnedZombiesMaximum zombies that can spawn at once
Example: Reduce to 40-50 for better performance
MaxSpawnedAnimalsMaximum animals spawned at once
Example: Reduce to 20-30 if experiencing lag
ServerMaxWorldTransferSpeedKiBsWorld download speed to clients
Example: Set to 1024 for faster world transfer
MaxChunkAgeHow long chunks stay loaded
Example: Lower values save memory but cause more chunk loading
Tip
- Start with default values and adjust based on your player count and hardware
- Monitor server TPS (ticks per second) to identify performance issues
Blood Moon Optimization
Blood Moon events can stress servers significantly. Here's how to optimize them.
Info
- BloodMoonEnemyCount: Set lower values (4-6 per player) for smoother hordes
- Consider disabling Blood Moon (set to 0) on heavily modded servers
- Warn players before Blood Moon to spread out and reduce entity concentration
Warning
- High zombie counts during Blood Moon can cause significant lag spikes
- Players in the same location multiply zombie spawns
World Generation Settings
Optimize world generation for better server performance.
WorldGenSeedSet a specific seed for consistent terrain
Example: Your seed here
WorldGenSizeWorld size in chunks
Example: Smaller worlds (4096-6144) perform better
Tip
- Pre-generate the world before inviting players to avoid on-demand generation lag
- Smaller worlds mean less data to manage and faster chunk loading
Memory and Performance Monitoring
Monitor your server to identify bottlenecks.
Info
- Check the console for 'Low memory' warnings
- Monitor TPS - anything below 20 TPS indicates lag
- Watch for zombie horde spawning lag during events
Tip
- Restart your server periodically to clear memory fragmentation
- Use the /mem console command to check memory usage
Player-Side Performance Tips
Help your players optimize their experience.
Tip
- Encourage players to reduce view distance in single-player before joining
- Spread out player bases to prevent chunk overloading
- Avoid excessive torches and electrical systems in concentrated areas
- Limit the number of forges and workstations running simultaneously
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