How to set up your DayZ server on ZentexNode

🧭 What you'll have at the end

Your DayZ server installed with your Steam account, with the name, password and mods you choose, and your players connected. Everything is done from the panel, in your browser. Follow the steps in this order.

🔑 1. Why your Steam account is needed

Steam only lets an account that owns DayZ download the DayZ server (app 223350). With an anonymous login, Steam answers No subscription and downloads nothing. That's why your server is downloaded with your own Steam account, just like Assetto Corsa or Arma.

📝 2. Enter your Steam username and password

In the panel, open your server and go to the Startup tab. The variable names are in English:

Steam Username: the name you log in to Steam with, not the nickname your friends see. It comes set to CAMBIAME.
Steam Password: your Steam password. It also comes set to CAMBIAME.
Steam Guard Code: leave it empty unless Steam asks for a code (step 4).

Mind who has access: the password is stored in that tab and anyone who can open it can see it, including sub-users you give that permission to.

🔄 3. Reinstall and start

Go to Settings → Reinstall Server. The panel downloads DayZ with your account: about 3 GB, which takes a few minutes. You can follow it in the console. When it finishes correctly, a box with DAYZ INSTALADO appears. Then press Start.

🛡️ 4. If Steam asks for a Steam Guard code

It depends on how your account is protected:

By email: the first reinstall stops with the notice STEAM PIDE UN CÓDIGO DE STEAM GUARD (Steam is asking for a Steam Guard code) and Steam emails you a code. Enter it in Steam Guard Code and reinstall straight away, because it expires. Each attempt sends a new code: only the one from the latest email works.
With the Steam mobile app: enter the code shown in the app in Steam Guard Code and reinstall within about 30 seconds. If the app asks you to confirm the sign-in, confirm it while it installs: you have 5 minutes.

After that it's no longer needed: the server remembers the login and you can leave the field empty. If one day the start stops with Cannot login to Steam, enter a new code and reinstall.

🧩 5. Add mods: Community Framework, VPP Admin Tools and more

Mods go in the Startup tab, not in the panel's Mods tab, which doesn't work for DayZ:

Additional Mods: the mod folders separated by semicolons. Workshop mods are written as @ followed by their Workshop number. For example, Community Framework and VPPAdminTools: @1559212036;@1828439124. Dependencies go first: Community Framework before the mods that need it.
Modlist File: another way to do it. Export your mod list from the DayZ Launcher (a modlist.html file), upload it unedited to the server's root folder from Files or via SFTP, and enter its name here.
Server-Side Only Mods: mods that only the server runs, in the same format and ending with ;.

Mods are downloaded when the server starts, not when you reinstall, with the same Steam account, which must own DayZ. The .bikey keys are copied to the keys folder automatically. Every player needs the same mods in their game.

⚙️ 6. Name, passwords and slots

The server name, its password, the admin password and the number of players are changed in Startup. They're applied on every start: after changing them, restart the server.

🎮 7. Connect

Your server's address and main port are shown in the panel. In the game or the DayZ Launcher, connect to address:port. Also:

The server browser and launchers use the Steam Query Port, which is the main port + 1.
BattlEye RCON uses the main port + 3, with the RCON Password from Startup.

Your server has 5 consecutive ports because DayZ also reserves the main port + 2 and + 4.

🚨 If something goes wrong

The installer shows a notice in a box in the console. The notices are in Spanish, with a line in English at the end. What each one means:

FALTA TU CUENTA DE STEAM (Steam account missing): the username or password is empty or still CAMBIAME. Fill them in and reinstall.
STEAM NO ACEPTA EL USUARIO O LA CONTRASEÑA (Steam rejects the username or password): check that you used your login name, not your nickname.
STEAM PIDE UN CÓDIGO DE STEAM GUARD or EL CÓDIGO DE STEAM GUARD NO VALE (the code isn't valid): see step 4 and always use the latest code.
STEAM HA FRENADO LOS INTENTOS DE ENTRADA (Steam has throttled login attempts): wait about 30 minutes before trying again.
TU CUENTA DE STEAM NO TIENE DAYZ (your account doesn't own DayZ): the account must own DayZ.
NO HAY ESPACIO EN DISCO (no disk space left): free up space or upgrade your plan, which you can do without losing data.
LA DESCARGA DE DAYZ NO HA TERMINADO (the download didn't finish) or NO SE HA PODIDO ENTRAR EN STEAM (couldn't log in to Steam): check the details in Startup and reinstall again.

With any of these notices, DayZ isn't installed on the server yet: fix it in Startup and go back to Settings → Reinstall Server.

If you'd rather get it ready-made, Assisted setup is an optional one-time service where a technician sets it up for you. If you have questions, open a ticket on our Discord. And if you don't have a server yet, here are the DayZ hosting plans.