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04Game guides

Rent and set up a DayZ or Arma 3 server – guide

How to set up your DayZ or Arma 3 server at Nexthosting – plans, joining, modlist.html from the launcher, serverDZ.cfg, server.cfg, missions and headless clients.

In short

DayZ and Arma 3 work in a similar way at Nexthosting: you export the mod list from the launcher, put it in the main directory as modlist.html, and the server downloads the mods from the Steam Workshop at startup. You enter further mods, or server-only mods, in the Startvariablen (startup variables) under Konfiguration → Start under “Additional Mods”, separated by semicolons.

The process in four steps

Section titled “The process in four steps”
From purchase to your first game
  1. OrderDayZ or Arma 3, plan
  2. Server startsfirst start takes longer
  3. after payment
  4. Upload the mod listmodlist.html, restart
  5. Connect in the launcherAddress from the panel

DayZ

Section titled “DayZ”

Plans and prices

Section titled “Plans and prices”

As of October 2026. Current prices: DayZ in the shop.

Plan Price per month Players (guideline) RAM vCores Storage Backups Databases Ports
Basic €12.99 approx. 20 6 GB 2 25 GB 2 – 3
Advanced €17.99 approx. 40 8 GB 3 35 GB 3 1 3
Premium €25.99 approx. 60 12 GB 4 50 GB 4 1 3
Community €33.99 approx. 80 16 GB 5 70 GB 5 2 3

Slots are not limited; the guideline values depend on mods and map.

Settings

Section titled “Settings”

The startup variables contain: server name, maximum players, password, admin and RCON password, view (first and third person, or first person only), crosshair, voice chat, nights (bright or dark), personal light, day and night. The file behind them is called serverDZ.cfg; the most important lines:

serverTimeAcceleration = 12;
serverNightTimeAcceleration = 1;
serverTimePersistent = 0;
disable3rdPerson = 0;
disableCrosshair = 0;
password = "";

Time acceleration goes up to 24x, night acceleration up to 64x (applied on top at night). With 12x time, twelve bright hours take one hour in real life. The start date and time are in the serverTime line. Logs (admin log) are in the profiles folder.

Mods

Section titled “Mods”
  1. Put your mods together in the DayZ Launcher and export the mod list.
  2. Place the file as modlist.html in your server’s main folder (file manager or SFTP, see Files, editor and SFTP).
  3. Restart the server: it reads the list and downloads the mods, including updates, from the Workshop.

You enter further mods, or those that only the server loads, under Additional Mods, for example @CF;@Community-Online-Tools. More: Templates, mods and modpacks.

Joining

Section titled “Joining”

In the DayZ Launcher you open the server browser and search for the server name, or you use a direct connection by IP address and port. The launcher installs mods automatically when you connect. New servers need a few minutes after starting before they appear in the list.

Arma 3

Section titled “Arma 3”

Plans and prices

Section titled “Plans and prices”

As of October 2026. Current prices: Arma 3 in the shop.

Plan Price per month RAM vCores Storage Backups Databases Ports
Basic (“Squad”) €12.99 6 GB 2 40 GB 2 2 4
Advanced (“Platoon”) €18.99 10 GB 3 60 GB 4 5 4
Community (“Company”) €28.99 16 GB 4 100 GB 6 20 4
Custom configuration freely configurable free free free – – –

Up to five headless clients start with your server. They compute the AI alongside the server, but they need RAM and CPU from your plan themselves.

Startup variables and server.cfg

Section titled “Startup variables and server.cfg”

In the startup variables: maximum players, server password, mod list, additional mods, server-only mods, optional mods, headless clients, automatic updates, Creator DLC, additional start parameters and RCON password. The server name, mission rotation and rules are in server.cfg:

hostname = "[DE] Task Force Nordwind";
class Missions
{
    class Einsatz1
    {
        template = "co32_nordwind.Altis";
        difficulty = "Regular";
    };
};

You upload missions as .pbo files to the mpmissions folder; template is the file name without .pbo.

Mods

Section titled “Mods”

As with DayZ: export the mod list in the Arma 3 Launcher, put it in the main directory as modlist.html, restart. You enter additional mod folders under “Additional Mods”, for example @CBA_A3;@ace. Your players load the same list into their launcher.

Joining

Section titled “Joining”

Load the mod list in the launcher, click Play, then in the game go to Multiplayer → Server Browser and search for the server name, or use Direct Connect with IP address and port. Mods must be identical.

Typical problems

Section titled “Typical problems”
Problem Solution
Mods are not loaded Is modlist.html in the main directory? Exact file name, then restart
First start takes a long time The game and mods are being downloaded – wait, watch the console
Players cannot get in (“mods do not match”) The mod lists of the server and the player must match
Lag with many AI units Switch on headless clients, upgrade the plan
Server not in the list Wait, or join directly by IP and port

Frequently asked questions

Section titled “Frequently asked questions”

Can I run a Life or roleplay server?

Section titled “Can I run a Life or roleplay server?”

Yes, the foundations are there: databases (depending on the plan) and SFTP. You upload and set up the framework and extensions yourself.

How many players fit?

Section titled “How many players fit?”

There are no fixed slots; you set the maximum. What runs smoothly depends on mods, map and AI.

Further reading

Section titled “Further reading”