Sources

Adapted from this source: https://pzwiki.net/wiki/Dedicated_server

Server Root Basics

Get the latest list of packages, and upgrade.
Set your timezone.
Create a non-root user.
Add them to the sudo group.
Logout, and log in as them.

apt update

apt upgrade

timedatectl set-timezone America/Toronto

adduser

usermod -aG sudo user_name

exit

Setup the Software

Install steamcmd.
Official directions: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD#Ubuntu

sudo apt update; sudo apt install software-properties-common; sudo apt-add-repository non-free; sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386; sudo apt update

sudo apt install steamcmd

Install screen.

sudo apt install screen

Make the server directory.

mkdir pzserver

Create a steamcmd configuration file.

nano update_zomboid.txt

Paste this into into the file, modify user_name, and save.
Steamcmd will not recognize the shorthand ~/ in this file.

@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 1 //set to 0 if updating multiple servers at once
@NoPromptForPassword 1
force_install_dir home/user_name/pzserver/
//for servers which don't need a login
login anonymous
app_update 380870 validate
quit
EOL

Install/Update the game application

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/games
steamcmd +runscript ~/update_zomboid.txt

Running the Server

Start a screen session.

screen -S pz-server

Navigate to the install directory specified the steamcmd configuration file.

cd pzserver

Launch the game.
Using -servername and specifying a name will create/use a new directory for the save.

bash start-server.sh -servername SERVERNAME

Port forwarding

• 16261 UDP
• 16262 UDP

Administration

Server commands: https://pzwiki.net/wiki/Admin_commands