What happens the first time you start your DayZ server

On its first start, a PlayNHost DayZ server checks Steam for a DayZ server update, starts the game with your settings and loads the Chernarus map. When the Console shows Mission read. and the badge says Online, players can join. Nothing has to be set up in the game first.

Start it

1. Open your server in the panel. The badge near the name says Offline.
2. Click Start. The badge changes to Starting.
3. Open the Console tab and watch the lines.
4. Wait for Mission read. The badge turns Online at that line, and players can join from then on.

What the Console shows on the way

In this order:

1. [STARTUP]: Starting checks for all updates... and [UPDATE]: Checking for game server updates with App ID: 223350...: the server asks Steam for a newer DayZ server, because Automatic Updates is on. Steam's own lines follow while it checks or downloads, then [UPDATE]: Game server is up to date! when it is done, whether or not there was an update to install.
2. Lines that start with [pnh-dayz] come from PlayNHost. They report the map (for example Map set to dayzOffline.sakhal) and the mods: a missing mod folder or a mod key copied into keys/. A new server on Chernarus with no mods may print none.
3. [STARTUP]: Starting server with the following startup command: and the command itself, with your game port, the mod lists and the log options.
4. The game's own start-up lines, then Mission read.

If a line says There was an error while attempting to run the start command., the game exited with an error. Read the lines just above it, and see DayZ server problems and fixes.

What a new server already has

• Server Name: DayZ Server, the name players see in the server list. Change it before you invite anyone: How to change the server name and password of your DayZ server.
• Server Password: none, so anyone who finds the server can join.
• Map: Chernarus. Livonia and Sakhal are one setting away: How to change the map of your DayZ server.
• Enforce Game Version and Automatic Updates: on, so the server installs DayZ updates at every start and only accepts players on the same version.
• Mods: none. DayZ mods are uploaded as folders: How to add mods to your DayZ server.
• RCON Password: empty, so RCON is off and the Active players card can count players but not name them. How to become admin on your DayZ server
• Automatic backup: a schedule that backs the server up every night. How to back up and restore your DayZ world
• The ports (game port, Steam query port and RCON port) are assigned for you. Players only need the Server Address from the Overview page.

Stopping takes a while

DayZ can take more than two minutes to shut down after you click Stop or Restart, which is why the panel's own wipe schedule waits 150 seconds for it. Stop closes DayZ with Ctrl+C, the way Bohemia's Linux server guide closes it. Wait for Offline before you change files, and force-stop only a server that is stuck: Bohemia's server configuration page warns that a shutdown that is not graceful can harm player characters and the saving of the server's storage. See How to start, stop, restart and force-stop your server.

Next steps

1. Join your server.
2. Look at the main settings.
3. Invite your friends.

Plans and locations are on the DayZ server hosting page.