Most problems with a DayZ server come down to a few causes. Start with the one that matches what you see.
Players are refused when they try to join, or told their game version does not match
Why: Enforce Game Version is ON and the player's game build differs from the server's, usually right after a DayZ update.
Fix: Make sure Automatic Updates is ON and restart the server so it installs the latest version, and make sure players have updated their game too.
The server does not appear in the in-game server list
Why: The in-game list does not always show every server, even when the server is running.
Fix: Add the server by the address and port from the Overview page instead of searching the list, and make sure the server has fully started.
A mod ID in the mod list fails to download and the server will not load it
Why: Workshop mod downloads are not currently available on PlayNHost DayZ servers.
Fix: Clear Steam Workshop Mods (Client-Side), Server-Side Only Mods and the Modlist File field, then restart so the server runs as vanilla.
The panel will not accept a Server Password or Admin Password
Why: Passwords can only contain letters, numbers, dash and underscore, and at most 20 characters.
Fix: Remove spaces and special characters and shorten the password.
The server takes a very long time to start
Why: Validate Server Files is ON, so every start checks all server files (this only happens while Automatic Updates is ON).
Fix: Turn Validate Server Files OFF once any repair is done.
Nights are too dark to play
Why: Darker Nights makes nights realistic and Disable Personal Light removes the helper light.
Fix: Turn Darker Nights OFF, or turn Disable Personal Light OFF so players get a small light at night.
Characters or world state seem to roll back after a restart
Why: DayZ saves player and server storage on a graceful shutdown; an abrupt stop can lose recent changes.
Fix: Always use Stop, not Kill, and wait for the server to show Offline.
Still stuck?
Open a ticket in the category that fits and include the last 50 to 100 lines of the console. See How to open a support ticket and How to fix a server that will not start.
