DayZ serverDZ.cfg explained, key by key

serverDZ.cfg is DayZ’s main server settings file. Each line is key = value;. This guide lists the main keys with the meaning and range Bohemia gives. Keys marked “Startup” are rewritten by the panel from the Startup page at every start (Loafhosts panel only; a self-hosted server has no such page).

The file format

One setting per line: maxPlayers = 60;. End every line with a semicolon.
Text goes in double quotes: hostname = "My server";.
Numbers have no quotes. For on and off, 0 is off and 1 is on.
Everything after // on a line is a comment.
A list uses [] after the key and braces: motd[] = { "line1","line2" };.
The map is set in a block. Blocks end with };.

class Missions
{
	class DayZ
	{
		template = "dayzOffline.chernarusplus";
	};
};

The template value is the mission folder name in mpmissions: dayzOffline.chernarusplus (Chernarus), dayzOffline.enoch (Livonia) or dayzOffline.sakhal (Sakhal). The file does not have to be called serverDZ.cfg. The name comes from the -config launch option.

Main keys

Key	Meaning	Values
`hostname`	Server name. Startup	text
`description`	Shown in the server browser	text, up to 255 characters
`password`	Password to join. Startup	text, empty for none
`passwordAdmin`	Password to become admin. Startup	text
`maxPlayers`	Most players at once. Startup	number
`enableWhitelist`	Only players in the whitelist can join	0 or 1
`disableBanlist`	Ignore `ban.txt`	`false` (default) or `true`
`disablePrioritylist`	Ignore `priority.txt`	`false` (default) or `true`
`verifySignatures`	Checks mod files against `.bisign` files. Startup	only `2` is supported
`forceSameBuild`	Only clients with the same game version may join. Startup	0 or 1
`disableVoN`	Voice chat off. Startup	0 or 1
`vonCodecQuality`	Voice quality, higher is better. Startup	0 to 20
`disable3rdPerson`	Turns off third person. Startup	0 or 1
`disableCrosshair`	Turns off the crosshair. Startup	0 or 1
`disablePersonalLight`	Turns off the personal light at night. Startup	0 or 1
`lightingConfig`	0 brighter night, 1 darker night, 2 Sakhal lighting. Startup	0, 1 or 2
`serverTime`	Time when the server starts	`"SystemTime"` or `"YYYY/MM/DD/HH/MM"`
`serverTimeAcceleration`	How many times faster than real time. Startup	0.1 to 64
`serverNightTimeAcceleration`	Extra multiplier at night, on top of the line above. Startup	0.1 to 64
`serverTimePersistent`	Save the time and use it at the next start. Startup	0 or 1
`guaranteedUpdates`	Network protocol	only `1`
`loginQueueConcurrentPlayers`	Players handled at once while logging in	number
`loginQueueMaxPlayers`	Most players waiting in the login queue	number
`instanceId`	Server instance number, names the save folder	number
`storageAutoFix`	Replace a damaged save file with an empty one	0 or 1
`steamQueryPort`	Steam query port. Startup	port number

Bohemia’s examples are 60 for maxPlayers, 5 for loginQueueConcurrentPlayers and 500 for loginQueueMaxPlayers. Those are examples, not limits.

More keys

Key	Meaning	Default or example
`respawnTime`	Seconds before a dead player can respawn	5
`motd[]` and `motdInterval`	Messages in chat, and seconds between them	`motdInterval = 1`
`disableBaseDamage`	Fences and watchtowers cannot be damaged	0 or 1
`disableContainerDamage`	Tents, barrels, wooden crates and sea chests cannot be damaged	0 or 1
`disableRespawnDialog`	New characters spawn at random	0 or 1
`pingWarning`, `pingCritical`, `MaxPing`	Ping in milliseconds for the yellow warning, the red warning and a kick	200, 250, 300
`serverFpsWarning`	Server frame rate that triggers a warning	minimum 11
`defaultVisibility`, `defaultObjectViewDistance`	Highest terrain and object view distance, in metres	1375 in Bohemia’s example
`enableDebugMonitor`	Shows a small health readout to players	0 or 1
`shotValidation`	The server checks shots	0 or 1
`adminLogPlayerHitsOnly`, `adminLogPlacement`, `adminLogBuildActions`, `adminLogPlayerList`	What the admin log records	0 or 1
`enableCfgGameplayFile`	Read `cfggameplay.json` from the mission folder	0 or 1

If enableCfgGameplayFile is on, the lightingConfig value in cfggameplay.json replaces the one here.

Which keys the panel rewrites

At every start the panel writes the keys marked Startup from the Startup page: Server Name, Server Password, Admin Password, Max Players, Verify Signatures, Enforce Game Version, Disable VoN, VoN Quality, Disable Third Person, Disable Crosshair, Disable Personal Light, Darker Nights, Time Multiplier, Night Multiplier, Persistent Time and the Steam query port. If you edit these lines in the file, your edit is replaced at the next start. The Startup fields have their own ranges: Time Multiplier takes a whole number from 0 to 24, and the VoN Quality field allows 30, but use 20 or less, the top of Bohemia’s range. The Config Editor shows them locked. See DayZ Config Editor.

Every other key you can change in the file or in the Config Editor. Stop the server first. A running server reads the file only when it starts.

If it does not work

The server will not start after an edit. Check for a missing semicolon, a missing quote or a missing };.
A value you set is back to the old one. It is a Startup key. Change it on Startup.
A key has no effect. Check that it is spelled exactly as above, for example MaxPing, and that it is not a Startup key.
The file is not read. The -config launch option decides which file the server loads.

More about the game: DayZ servers.

Sources: Bohemia wiki: Server Configuration

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