How do I start a Project Zomboid server at MC-Node?

Project Zomboid is more popular than ever: since the stable release of the latest build with multiplayer, the average number of concurrent players doubled to around 58,750, with an all-time record of 124,506. If you want to survive this isometric zombie survival game with friends, your own server at MC-Node is set up in no time. In this article we walk through ordering, choosing a plan, the first start and connecting.

Step 1: Order your server

1. Go to the Project Zomboid page in our store.
2. Choose a plan. Servers start at €3.00 per month, with 2 to 20 GB of RAM.
3. Select a location: the Netherlands, Germany, Poland or North America. Pick the location closest to you and your fellow players for the lowest ping.
4. Complete the order. Your server runs on NVMe storage, has DDoS protection and is online within 1 minute. Everything can be cancelled monthly.

Which plan do I need?

Project Zomboid is sensitive to single-thread performance and benefits from sufficient memory. As a guideline:

• 6-8 GB RAM is the recommended baseline for a smoothly running server.
• Count on roughly 0.5 GB of extra RAM per additional player.

If you're playing with a small group of friends, 6-8 GB will do fine. Expecting a larger group? Choose a bigger plan. You can always upgrade later, so there's no need to pick the largest plan right away.

Step 2: First start via the panel

1. Log in to our Pterodactyl game panel at panel.mc-node.net with the credentials you received by email.
2. Open your Project Zomboid server in the overview.
3. On the Console page, click Start. On first start the server files are set up and the world is generated; this can take a while.
4. Wait until the console reports that the server is ready and the status shows Online.

Step 3: Connect to your server

1. Note your server's IP address and port; you'll find them in the panel on your server's Console page.
2. Launch Project Zomboid and choose to play on a server from the main menu (Join).
3. Enter your server's IP address and port, along with your desired username and a password for your account on the server.
4. Connect and start surviving. Share the IP address and port with your friends so they can join too.

Ready for the apocalypse

Your Project Zomboid server is now running at MC-Node. Want to add mods from the Steam Workshop next or adjust settings? Check out our other knowledge base articles on server management.