DayZ Server Files: What the Main Folders Mean Before You Edit

DayZ server files are spread across the server root, the active mission and a profile directory. If you are running DayZ on PC through Steam, this map helps you find the settings, mission files, logs and saved world before changing anything. The exact paths depend on the launch arguments, map, server branch and host, so treat the names below as landmarks rather than a universal directory tree. Start by identifying which configuration and mission the running server actually uses.

Use launch settings to locate DayZ server files#

The first clue is the server’s launch configuration. Bohemia documents -config for selecting the server configuration file, -mission for the mission, -profiles for the profile directory, and -storage for a custom persistence root. A provider can choose other directories and can wrap those options inside its own startup script.

On a self-managed installation, check the script or service that starts the executable. Read the full arguments and the configuration they point to before searching by filename. serverDZ.cfg is a common example; the name itself does not prove it is the file in use. The same applies to profiles and mpmissions: they may be default-looking folder names, but the launch configuration decides what the server reads.

For a hosted server, use the provider’s file manager and game-specific settings. Do not assume a Windows tutorial’s C:\Program Files path exists on a Linux container. Game Hosting’s DayZ egg uses its own root and mission paths, described below; other hosts can arrange their files differently. A server may also have more than one map template, a separate test copy, or Stable and Experimental files. A folder that looks complete is still inactive if the running process points somewhere else.

Recognize the server root before opening a mission#

The server root is the installation directory that contains the dedicated-server executable and related server files. On Windows, Bohemia’s configuration reference shows DayZServer_x64.exe; its Linux hosting instructions use DayZServer. The filename differs by platform, and a managed host may show files inside a container rather than a desktop folder.

Look for the selected config file near that root, but confirm it through -config instead of relying on its name. A keys/ folder usually holds trusted .bikey signing keys for mod content. BattlEye files have their own configured location: Bohemia documents -BEpath for that path and places BEServer_x64.cfg beside the BattlEye server library. A host may set the path for you or hide internal files.

Community mods are also separate from the official server files. A self-hosted server may have folders such as @ModName and a launch list that names them. The -mod and -serverMod lists determine which mod folders load; a folder existing on disk does not prove the server uses it. Some panels install Workshop content for you and keep the IDs or names in a server setting, so compare the active list with the files on disk. For the broader difference between game software, RCon clients and managers, see our guide to DayZ server software and management tools.

Read the mission your server actually loads#

The mission is the map-specific folder selected in the server configuration. Bohemia’s examples include names such as dayzOffline.chernarusplus and dayzOffline.enoch; other maps have their own mission templates. The official DayZ Central Economy repository provides sample mission trees, including separate files for Sakhal. Use a sample to understand a file’s role, not as a replacement folder for a different map. Mission contents can change between official releases, and community maps add their own files. The matching map template and server build are the reference for your installation.

Inside a mission, init.c is mission script code. You may also find gameplay JSON and configuration files for weather, events, spawn points and the Central Economy. Which files are present depends on the mission and version. If a map change or update altered a file, first confirm which mission the server loads and which version it runs; a similarly named file in an inactive map folder does not affect the current world.

Bohemia’s server configuration reference shows how the Missions template selects a mission. Its Central Economy guide describes the mission folder’s economy and map files. Keep those references beside the actual file tree when you need to identify an unfamiliar entry.

Use db/ to identify economy files#

The mission’s db/ folder contains Central Economy configuration, but each file has a different job. The official mission examples and Bohemia’s Central Economy documentation identify these common files:

File	What it describes
types.xml	Item types and their economy spawn settings
globals.xml	Global Central Economy limits and behavior
events.xml	Dynamic events defined for that mission
economy.xml	Central Economy subsystem settings

The mission root can hold related files too, including cfgeconomycore.xml, spawn-point files and map-group data. They are not interchangeable with the contents of db/. A file name alone is not a safe reason to replace it: its contents may be specific to the mission, map and server version. When a map or mod guide says to merge a file, first read what is already in the target; replacing it wholesale can remove settings owned by the server or another mod.

This is a locator, not a loot-editing recipe. If you need to change spawn quantities, use the current Bohemia Central Economy reference and the matching mission template. Keep a recoverable copy of the exact file you intend to edit, and avoid importing an XML file just because it has the same name.

Find logs in profiles and BattlEye by its configured path#

Bohemia describes the -profiles directory as the location for server profiles, logs, dumps and related files. Look there for the current RPT and other server output when diagnosing a startup problem. Make sure you are reading logs from the running instance; a second server or an old profile directory can contain files that look current but are not.

BattlEye configuration may be under the profile path or a separate location selected with -BEpath. The server’s launch arguments and the presence of the BattlEye library tell you where to look. Do not copy an RCon password or overwrite a BattlEye config from another installation just because the filenames match.

Logs explain what the server reported; they are not the saved world. Keep profiles/ separate in your notes from the mission’s persistence folder. If a host panel has shortcuts for logs, follow the panel’s path for that service rather than translating a home-server path literally. For a useful support report, note the time of the last start, the exact error text and which server branch and map were active. Avoid sharing passwords, private keys or player data from a full log dump.

Identify the active persistence instance before changing files#

DayZ keeps persistent world state in storage associated with the active mission and server instance. Bohemia documents instanceId as identifying instances and their persistence folders, and its -storage parameter can choose a different storage root. That means a generic storage_1 example may not match the instance you are looking at.

Game Hosting’s current DayZ setup assigns separate instance IDs to Stable and Experimental, so their saved worlds remain separate. In that service’s layout, the active mission has a corresponding storage_1 or storage_2 folder. That mapping is specific to Game Hosting’s egg; do not apply it to another host or a self-managed server without checking its configuration.

Do not delete, rename, swap or copy a storage folder as a troubleshooting shortcut. First identify the exact server, map, branch and instance, then confirm a recent backup and a recovery path. This guide only helps you find the folder; it does not certify a wipe or restore procedure.

Match the file map to Game Hosting’s DayZ panel#

Game Hosting serves DayZ for PC players on Steam. Its current panel exposes shortcuts for /mpmissions (maps and loot), /profiles (logs) and /keys (mod keys). The egg selects serverDZ.cfg at the container root, uses mpmissions for the chosen mission, and sets its own profile and BattlEye paths. Those exact locations describe this service, not a universal DayZ install.

The DayZ settings page can update supported values in serverDZ.cfg and mission configuration files. If you edit a file directly, check whether a panel setting also writes to it; otherwise a later save can replace your manual change. Use the panel’s visible settings as the authority for what it manages, and leave files outside that scope untouched unless the relevant guide and backup plan cover them.

If you want a Steam PC server without maintaining the machine, Game Hosting’s DayZ hosting page shows the product and its current controls. The web file manager still gives you access to the exposed server files, and every server includes three backup slots. You remain responsible for identifying the correct file and instance before editing.

Choose the next guide by the file you found#

Use the complete self-hosting path if you have not installed or started the dedicated server yet. Use this file map when you already have access and need to orient yourself. If you are comparing a managed server with a machine you operate, our DayZ host checklist covers the broader choice.

Before editing, write down the active branch, map, configuration path and instance ID. Then check the file’s official description, make a copy using the correct backup procedure for that server, and change only the file that controls the setting you intend to change.

Quick answers

Where is the DayZ server configuration file?

Bohemia uses `serverDZ.cfg` as an example name, but the `-config` launch parameter chooses the file, so check the arguments your server actually starts with.

What folder are DayZ server mods in?

A self-hosted PC server commonly keeps Workshop mod folders beside the server executable; the server loads them from its configured `-mod` or `-serverMod` lists. A host panel may use a different container path.

Which DayZ server files should I back up?

That depends on the active map, instance and settings. Identify the exact mission and persistence paths first, then follow a backup plan for that server instead of copying or replacing a folder from another map.