7 Days to Die
7 Days to Die Dedicated Server Requirements
Use the developer's 8 GB minimum and 16 GB recommended server RAM guidance, then account for map size, players, mods, and horde-night load.
The developer lists 8 GB RAM as the dedicated-server minimum and 16 GB as recommended. For a world you expect to keep playing, the recommended level is the better starting target. It still isn't a promise for every map, modpack, or player count.
Use the dedicated-server requirements, rather than copying the game's graphics-card requirements into a hosting shopping list.
| Resource | Developer minimum | Developer recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 2.8 GHz quad-core | 3.2 GHz quad-core or faster |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Upload connection | 2.5 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Available storage | 20 GB | 20 GB, plus room for growth and your backup policy |
The developer notes that connected players increase memory and bandwidth needs. A machine that also runs your game client needs capacity for both programs; the server budget doesn't cover everything else you do on the PC.
Test horde night, not just the first morning
A server can look comfortable while a new world sits nearly empty. Your useful test is a normal busy session: players exploring, the map you're actually using, and a horde night with your chosen settings.
Record the memory peak and what happened when the game slowed. If you change zombie settings, world size, or the mod list, repeat the test. Avoid turning an empty-server reading into a fixed “players per GB” calculation.
For a large random world or an overhaul mod, read the mod author's server notes before choosing capacity. Keep the game build, server build, and required mod versions aligned. A failed mod load is not evidence that another 8 GB will fix startup.
Keep space for the world to grow
The installation, generated maps, player data, logs, and backups all use storage. Leave room for updates and multiple recoverable copies. RAM and disk space are separate resources; upgrading one doesn't enlarge the other.
Before moving an existing game, save and stop the old server cleanly, back it up, and test the transferred copy. Confirm the intended world and player progress are present before your friends spend a night building on it.
Connection and access basics
If nobody can join a server that has finished starting, check the address, assigned port, game version, and password before assuming the hardware is too small. A firewall controls which network traffic a machine accepts; self-hosters need the game's required traffic allowed through it and their router.
On Jovian, use the connection details provided for the server and enter the requested password during setup. Server configuration basics explains how join passwords differ from administrator credentials.
You can compare managed configurations on the 7 Days to Die game page. Jovian takes care of the infrastructure, while your map, mods, and settings determine the workload.