Complete reference guide for all DayZ server configuration files (XML, JSON, CFG), their purposes, and detailed documentation.
DayZ server administration involves managing multiple configuration files that control different aspects of your server. These files use various formats and serve distinct purposes:
Primary loot economy file. Controls which items can spawn, their counts, spawn locations, restock timers, and distribution tiers. Located in mpmissions/yourmission/. Essential for loot balancing and gameplay customization.
Governs the core mechanics of the dynamic loot economy, including event triggers, loot respawn logic, and global economy parameters. Adjusts how the server manages item cleanup, restocking, and event-based spawns.
Contains global server variables, such as cleanup timers, animal and zombie counts, and other world-wide settings. Located in mpmissions/yourmission/. Impacts overall server performance and gameplay balance.
Lists items to be excluded from the economy system. Useful for removing unwanted or modded items from spawning. Located in mpmissions/yourmission/.
Controls dynamic world events such as helicopter crashes, contaminated zones, and supply drops. Defines event types, spawn rates, and locations. Located in mpmissions/yourmission/.
Defines item spawns and loot for specific events (e.g., helicopter crashes, toxic zones). Used in conjunction with events.xml for advanced event configuration.
Defines environmental effect zones (e.g., contaminated areas) and their properties, such as location, radius, and active effects. Used for advanced event and modded content.
Configures advanced gameplay mechanics, including player health and stamina, disease and injury systems, vehicle damage, and AI behavior. Allows fine-tuning of survival difficulty and player experience. Located in mpmissions/yourmission/.
Configures weather patterns, rain, fog, wind, and lighting for the server environment. Impacts survival difficulty and immersion. Located in mpmissions/yourmission/.
Controls environmental settings, lighting, and world parameters. Used for customizing the look and feel of the game world.
Manages player spawn points, locations, and related settings. Essential for customizing where new and respawning players appear.
Configures random loot generation patterns and presets. Useful for creating varied and dynamic loot experiences.
Manages item spawn configurations and limits for specific types. Allows fine-tuning of item availability and rarity.
Defines limits for item spawns and other server restrictions. Helps prevent excessive item accumulation and maintain server balance.
Main server configuration file. Sets server name, passwords, player slots, network ports, logging options, and mission template. Located in the root server directory. Required for server startup.
Defines server messages, notifications, and MOTD (Message of the Day). Used for communicating with players on join and during gameplay.
Legacy economy configuration file. Rarely used in modern setups, but may be required for compatibility with older mods or tools.