The Tool Desk
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To host a DayZ Frostline server, run the Windows DayZ dedicated-server files, select the installed Frostline/Sakhal mission, provide a server configuration file, expose the game and query ports, and start the executable with the correct profile, storage, and mission parameters. The most reliable process is Bohemia Interactive’s Server_manager.ps1/SteamCMD workflow, followed by a controlled first boot and incremental mod installation.
Frostline is the expansion released alongside DayZ update 1.26. It adds Sakhal, and every player connecting to a Sakhal server must own Frostline on the platform they use. The server itself can run on a Windows computer you manage, a Windows virtual private server, or a Windows dedicated server.
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What a Frostline server actually requires
A Frostline server is still a DayZ dedicated server, but it must use the Frostline mission files rather than a Chernarus or Livonia mission. The server software, configuration, network ports, profile directory, persistent storage, and optional mods all have to agree with one another.
- Windows host: Use Windows 10 or newer, or Windows Server 2012 R2 or newer. Bohemia’s PowerShell-based manager requires PowerShell 4 or later.
- DayZ server files: Download the current dedicated-server build with SteamCMD or the official manager script.
- Frostline entitlement for testing: The account used to test access must own and have activated Frostline. Clients joining Sakhal also need that entitlement.
- Configuration: At minimum, define a hostname, description, and password policy in a server configuration file.
- Mission: Select the Frostline/Sakhal mission directory that exists in the current installation. Mission folder names can change between releases, so do not blindly reuse a path from an old tutorial.
- Network access: Allow the game port and Steam query port through Windows Firewall and any router, cloud security group, or provider firewall in front of the machine.
- Persistence: Keep profile and storage locations backed up. Character and base data live outside the executable and can be damaged by an abrupt stop or a bad update.
Choose where to host it
The three practical Windows choices differ mainly in who performs administration and how much control you retain. There is no universal player-capacity winner: concurrent load depends on the server build, mission, mods, CPU, memory, storage, network path, and the activity on your particular server.
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| Hosting model | Cost pattern | Control and administration | Load, storage, and backups | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows machine you administer | No separate hosting bill, but you pay for hardware, electricity, and the internet connection | Maximum control; you handle Windows, updates, firewall rules, and recovery | You own all storage and backup responsibility. Upload speed, carrier-grade NAT, and home-router limits can prevent public hosting | Small communities and administrators who already have a suitable always-on machine |
| Windows VPS | Recurring monthly charge that normally scales with assigned resources and location | Administrative access without buying hardware; the provider maintains the physical host, while you maintain Windows and DayZ | Backups, snapshots, disk performance, traffic limits, and virtual CPU behavior depend on the plan | Communities that need a public address and a predictable location without operating a physical server |
| Windows dedicated server | Higher recurring charge for an entire physical machine | Broad hardware and operating-system control, with the provider handling facility, power, and replacement logistics | Usually the most predictable resource allocation, but you still need your own configuration, storage, and off-machine backups | Larger or heavily modded communities that need consistent resources |
When evaluating a provider, verify Windows support, administrator access, SteamCMD compatibility, inbound UDP rules, data-center location, backup options, and how quickly the provider supports new DayZ builds. Treat plan names, player limits, locations, and prices as changeable; confirm them at purchase time rather than relying on an old comparison.
Prepare the Windows host
1. Install supported Windows and PowerShell
Apply Windows updates, set a stable time source, and create a dedicated Windows account for server administration if the machine is shared. Confirm PowerShell is version 4 or newer before using Server_manager.ps1. On a home connection, reserve the machine’s local address in the router so port-forwarding rules do not break after a reboot.
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Use a short path without spaces to make service scripts and backups easier. For example:
C:DayZServer dedicated-server files
C:DayZServerprofiles RPT, admin, BattlEye, BEC, and RCon-related files
C:DayZServerstorage persistent mission and server storage
C:DayZServerbackups copied configurations and dated storage backupsThe names are examples; the important practice is separating the executable, profiles, storage, and backups. The -profiles parameter tells DayZ where to write logs and related runtime files. The -storage parameter gives persistent data its own explicit location.
Download the dedicated server and Workshop data
Use Bohemia’s manager script
Bohemia’s documented workflow uses Server_manager.ps1 to obtain SteamCMD, download the DayZ server, and retrieve Workshop content. Download the current manager and read its comments or accompanying documentation before running it, because arguments and folder names can evolve with the server build.
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- Open PowerShell with the permissions needed to create files under your chosen server directory.
- Change to the directory where the manager script is stored.
- Run the script’s install or update action, supplying a dedicated server directory and, if needed, a Workshop-mod list.
- Wait for SteamCMD to finish and confirm that
DayZServer_x64.exeand the current mission directories exist. - Record the installed build and the exact Frostline/Sakhal mission directory. Use that observed path in the launch command instead of copying a path from an older guide.
If you maintain your own SteamCMD automation, the same principles apply: install the current DayZ dedicated-server app, download each Workshop item into a known location, and keep the application and mod manifests in version-controlled text files. Do not mix files from different server builds without checking compatibility.
Keep profiles and storage outside the default location
Start the server with explicit profile and storage paths. This prevents logs and persistent data from being scattered through the installation directory and makes backups and migrations predictable. It also lets you replace the executable during an update without accidentally deleting the world state.
Create the configuration file
Create a configuration file such as serverDZ.cfg in the server directory. At minimum, set a recognizable hostname, a description that explains the community’s rules, and a password decision. A private test server should use a password; a public server should follow the syntax and access policy supported by the current DayZ configuration reference.
hostname = "Sakhal Community Server";
description = "Frostline survival - rules in Discord";
password = "choose-a-private-password-or-your-public-policy";
steamQueryPort = 2305;The snippet is an example of the fields to define, not a complete economy or gameplay configuration. Add the other settings your community needs using the current configuration reference, and keep a known-good copy before changing loot, temperature, stamina, persistence, or administrative settings.
Choose the game and query ports deliberately
Bohemia’s reference configuration uses 2302 as the game-server port and 2305 as the Steam query port. You may choose different values, but document them in one place and use the same values in the configuration, launch process, Windows Firewall, router, and cloud security group. A mismatch commonly leaves the process running while the server remains invisible in the browser.
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Build the launch command
Launch the 64-bit executable with the configuration, profile directory, storage directory, and current Frostline mission. A representative command is:
C:DayZServerDayZServer_x64.exe -config=C:DayZServerserverDZ.cfg -profiles=C:DayZServerprofiles -storage=C:DayZServerstorage -mission=%SAKHAL_MISSION% -port=2302 -doLogs -adminLog -netLogReplace %SAKHAL_MISSION% with the exact Sakhal mission directory installed by the current server build. The logging switches shown are useful during first boot; retain the ones appropriate to your deployment. Bohemia documents -config, -profiles, -storage, and -mission as the key path and mission parameters.
Keep the command in a batch file or service definition so every restart uses the same settings. Avoid launching once from a desktop shortcut and later from a different script: inconsistent profile or storage paths can make a server appear to lose characters or bases when it has actually started with a new data directory.
Install and load mods safely
Mods add flexibility but multiply failure points. The documented switches are:
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-mod=<string>for client-distributed Workshop mods that players must download and load.-serverMod=<string>for server-only mods that are not distributed to clients.
Use the path and separator format expected by the current DayZ build and your operating system. Keep a written list of mod names, Workshop IDs, versions, dependencies, and load order. A mod that appears in the folder but is absent from the launch command is not loaded; a client mod listed in the wrong order can fail dependency checks.
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- Start with an unmodded Frostline server and verify that Sakhal loads and a test character can join.
- Install one mod and its documented dependencies.
- Add that mod to the appropriate
-modor-serverModswitch. - Restart the server and inspect the RPT log for missing dependencies, signature errors, or script exceptions.
- Connect with a client that has the same client-side mod set, then test spawning, inventory, persistence, and a clean disconnect.
- Only after the change is stable, add the next mod.
Incremental changes make the cause of a failure identifiable. Before a large mod update, copy the configuration, mod manifest, profiles, and storage. If a new version breaks the mission, restore the previous files rather than repeatedly changing several variables at once.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Open the firewall and complete the first boot
Allow the required traffic
Create inbound rules for the game port and Steam query port you selected. With the documented defaults, that means the game port 2302 and query port 2305. Apply equivalent rules to a home router, VPS security group, or dedicated-server firewall. Restrict administration interfaces to trusted addresses; do not expose RCon or remote-management services broadly just because the game port is public.
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Start the command from a console during initial setup. Confirm that the process remains running, the selected mission is recognized, and the profile directory receives RPT and other log output. The profile directory is also where you should look for BattlEye, BEC, and RCon-related files when those components are enabled.
A process that exits immediately usually indicates a malformed configuration, an invalid mission path, a missing runtime dependency, a port conflict, or a mod error. The first error in the RPT file is generally more useful than the final shutdown line.
Check server discovery and direct connection
Use a Frostline-enabled DayZ client to search for the hostname. If the server is not listed, test the query-port firewall rule and confirm that the configured hostname and port match the running command. If it appears but connection fails, check the game-port rule, router forwarding, BattlEye status, and the client’s Frostline entitlement.
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A player who does not own Frostline should not be expected to join a Sakhal server. Frostline is sold for Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation, but a PC server test still depends on the PC client and account being entitled to the expansion.
Keep Sakhal persistence safe
Use graceful shutdowns
Stop the server through its graceful shutdown method rather than killing the process or powering off the machine. Bohemia’s configuration guidance states: “It is highly recommended to use the graceful shutdown method to avoid negative side effects on player characters and the server storage saving.” This matters when players are online, because an abrupt stop can leave character state or storage writes incomplete.
Give the shutdown enough time to finish writing data, then verify that the process has exited before rebooting Windows or replacing files. If a service manager is used, configure a stop timeout long enough for the server to close cleanly.
Back up before maintenance
Schedule backups of the configuration file, mission and storage directories, mod list, and launch script. Keep at least one copy on another disk or machine. Use dated folders so you can identify which DayZ build, mission, and mod set produced a backup.
Updates and version changes
Before updating, perform a graceful shutdown and take a complete backup. Then update the dedicated-server files and Workshop dependencies through the same SteamCMD or manager workflow used for installation. Start the server without changing unrelated gameplay settings, confirm the current mission folder still exists, and read the RPT log for migration or compatibility errors.
Frostline changed temperature, loot, and other systems when it arrived with update 1.26. Preserve a rollback copy before broad economy or temperature edits, especially when a mod also changes those systems. After every DayZ update, recheck:
- the installed server build and executable name;
- the Frostline/Sakhal mission directory;
- the game and query ports;
- the SteamCMD or Workshop download status;
- mod dependencies, signatures, and load order;
- backup completion and available disk space;
- client discovery and a real join-and-disconnect test.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The server does not appear in the browser
- Confirm the process is still running and the RPT log has no fatal configuration error.
- Verify the query port in the configuration and the firewall/security-group rule. The documented example is
2305. - Check that the public address points to the correct host and that a router forwards traffic to the machine’s current local address.
- Make sure the hostname is in the configuration file actually passed with
-config.
The server appears but clients cannot join
- Check the game-port rule and forwarding. The documented example is
2302. - Test with a client that owns Frostline and has the correct client-side mods.
- Read both client and server logs for BattlEye, signature, version, or dependency errors.
- Remove newly added mods temporarily and confirm whether the unmodded mission accepts a connection.
The process closes immediately
- Run the command in a console so the error remains visible.
- Check for a typo in
-config,-profiles,-storage, or-mission. - Open the newest RPT file and fix the first reported configuration or script error.
- Check for another process already using the selected game port.
- Start without mods, then reintroduce them one at a time.
Characters or bases seem to reset
- Compare the current
-storagepath with the path used before the restart. - Check that the storage directory is writable and that the disk is not full.
- Restore the latest known-good backup only after a graceful shutdown.
- Review whether an update or mod migration created a new mission-specific storage folder.
A mod reports missing dependencies
Download the dependency versions required by the mod, put client-distributed dependencies in the client mod list, and place server-only components in -serverMod. Verify spelling, Workshop download completion, signatures, and order. Restart after each correction and keep the working manifest as your rollback reference.
A repeatable operating routine
- Gracefully stop the running server.
- Copy configuration, profiles, storage, launch scripts, and mod manifests to a dated backup location.
- Apply one update or configuration change.
- Start with logging enabled and watch the RPT output.
- Confirm the process stays alive and the Sakhal mission loads.
- Check browser discovery, then connect with a Frostline-entitled client.
- Test a short gameplay loop: spawn, move items, disconnect cleanly, reconnect, and verify persistence.
- Record the change and its result before making another change.
This routine keeps the distinction clear between a server-file problem, a network problem, an entitlement problem, and a mod problem. It also gives you a known rollback point when a DayZ update changes mission files or Workshop dependencies.
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