Survive the Nights server hosting for your survivor group
Run your own Survive the Nights server with the rules your group wants: PvE or PvP, harder hordes, more loot or more zombies. The official dedicated server runs on Windows and Linux and gives your admins ranks and commands.
- Official dedicated server for Windows and Linux
- PvE or PvP, horde difficulty, loot and zombie amounts
- User, Mod, Admin and Owner ranks
- Steam Workshop mods since version 1.0
- PlayersLinuxGSM starts servers with 20 slots by default.
- Set with -mc at launch
- PortThe default ServerPort in ServerConfig.txt.
- 7950 (ServerPort)
- Config
- ServerConfig.txt · UserPermissions.json
- Version
- 1.5 (September 2026)
- Mods
- Steam Workshop (since 1.0)
- Server OS
- Windows · Linux
Server settings
- PvP on or off
- Horde difficulty
- Zombie amount
- Loot spawn rate
- Day length
- Automatic restarts
Game facts from the official Survive the Nights FAQ and update notes and LinuxGSM’s server configs, checked in October 2026.
- DDoS protection
- 20 game server locations
Survive the Nights plans are being prepared
Tell us your player count, PvE or PvP and the mods you use, and our team will reply with the options. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online.
How big should a Survive the Nights server be?
Players, zombie amounts and hordes decide the load; mods add more.
Find your size
| Feature |
Small group
Up to 6 players
|
Recommended Community
Up to 20 players
|
Large
Up to 40 players
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore. | 4 GB | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods. | 15 GB | 20 GB | 25 GB |
| Zombies and hordesZombieAmount and HordeDifficulty set how many zombies the server simulates; more zombies mean more CPU work. | Default | Default or higher | High hordes |
| Typical use | Friends surviving together | A PvE community | A busy PvP server |
-
Small group
Up to 6 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 4 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 15 GB
- Zombies and hordesZombieAmount and HordeDifficulty set how many zombies the server simulates; more zombies mean more CPU work.
- Default
- Typical use
- Friends surviving together
-
Recommended
Community
Up to 20 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 6 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 3
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 20 GB
- Zombies and hordesZombieAmount and HordeDifficulty set how many zombies the server simulates; more zombies mean more CPU work.
- Default or higher
- Typical use
- A PvE community
-
Large
Up to 40 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 8 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 4
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 25 GB
- Zombies and hordesZombieAmount and HordeDifficulty set how many zombies the server simulates; more zombies mean more CPU work.
- High hordes
- Typical use
- A busy PvP server
The developers publish no server hardware figures; these are starting points. Large hordes and mods raise memory and CPU use.
Rules, ranks and mods
Shape the island the way your group likes to survive.
ServerConfig.txt
Name, password, public listing, PvP, day length, loot, zombie and vehicle spawn rates, horde difficulty and restart interval in one file.
Ranks and permissions
UserPermissions.json gives User, Mod, Admin and Owner ranks their commands, such as kick, ban, mute, time and weather.
Workshop mods
Official modding arrived with version 1.0 through the Steam Workshop, and mods that add content followed in 1.2.
PvE or PvP
Turn PvP off with PvpDisabled for a co-op server, or leave it on and let players fight over loot.
Automatic restarts
RestartRate sets how many hours pass between automatic restarts.
Password and listing
Set ServerPassword for a private server, or switch ShowInPublicLobby off to keep it out of the public list.
Set up your Survive the Nights server
Four steps to your first night together.
-
Pick a size
Choose the column for your player count; big hordes and mods need the larger sizes.
-
Pick a location
Choose the one closest to your players from our 20 game server locations.
-
Set your rules
Put your SteamID64 as ServerOwner, then set PvP, loot, zombies and the password in ServerConfig.txt.
-
Invite your players
Players find the server in the public lobby list, or join a private server with its password.
Other game servers you might like
7 Days to Die
Horde nights with random worlds, modlets and crossplay.
Project Zomboid
Build 42 or 41 with Workshop mods, maps and your sandbox rules.
DayZ
PC servers on Chernarus, Livonia or Sakhal with your own loot and mods.
Scum
Private islands with your own loot, wipes and rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run my own Survive the Nights server?
Yes. The official FAQ states that SteamCMD hosting is fully supported, for private and public servers. The dedicated server tool is app 1502300 and runs on Windows and Linux.
How many players can join?
You set the slots with -mc when the server starts; LinuxGSM uses 20 by default. The developer has not published a maximum, so plan memory for the players and zombies you expect.
Which settings are in ServerConfig.txt?
Among others ServerName, ServerPassword, ServerPort, ServerOwner, ShowInPublicLobby, PvpDisabled, DayCycleInMinutes, LootSpawnRate, HordeDifficulty, ZombieAmount, VehicleSpawnRate and RestartRate.
How do I become the server owner?
Set ServerOwner to your SteamID64; it is written to ServerUsers.txt at the first start. Ranks for other players, from User to Admin, are set in game or in UserPermissions.json.
Which admin commands are there?
Type /help in game to see every command your rank may use. UserPermissions.json lists commands such as Kick, Ban, UnBan, Mute, SetTime, SetWeather and TpToPlayer for each rank.
Can I use mods?
Yes. Official modding arrived with version 1.0 in December 2025 through the Steam Workshop, and version 1.2 added mods that bring new content. Check each mod’s notes for how it is installed on a dedicated server.
Can we play PvE only?
Yes. Set PvpDisabled in ServerConfig.txt. The official FAQ explains that server settings decide how hostile a server is.
What changed for saves in version 1.5?
Version 1.5 moved to a new save database. Progress from the previous format does not load automatically, but the old files stay on disk.
How do I keep the server private?
Set ServerPassword, without spaces, and switch ShowInPublicLobby off. Ban unwanted players with the Ban command.
Can the server restart on its own?
Yes. RestartRate sets the number of hours between automatic restarts.
Ready to survive the night?
Tell us your player count and rules, and we will help you pick the right Survive the Nights server.