Managing 7 Days to Die Servers on Linux

Introduction Running a dedicated server for 7 Days to Die on Linux has always been a challenge, but thanks to Alloc’s management scripts, it’s not only possible but efficient. These scripts provide a comprehensive solution for server admins who want to run the game natively without relying on workarounds like WINE. This post explores Alloc’s Linux server management scripts in detail—from setup to troubleshooting—with a technical perspective. Let’s dig in.

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What Are Alloc’s Management Scripts?

Alloc’s scripts are a set of Bash tools designed to simplify managing 7 Days to Die servers on Linux. The scripts automate critical tasks such as:

• Starting and stopping servers: Ensures clean launches and proper shutdowns.
• Automated backups: Prevents data loss by archiving world states.
• Port management and networking: Handles game and telnet ports seamlessly.
• Hooks and event handling: Supports customization for server events.

These scripts are hosted here and regularly updated to address community feedback.

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Installation

Prerequisites:

1. A Linux-based server running Debian or Ubuntu (other distros may require tweaks).
2. Root privileges.
3. Required libraries like lib32gcc1, as the server relies on 32-bit compatibility.

Here’s a basic setup process:

1. Download the scripts: wget https://7dtd.illy.bz/fi/7dtd-linux-scripts.tar.gz tar -xvzf 7dtd-linux-scripts.tar.gz -C /usr/local/lib/7dtd
2. Install dependencies: apt update && apt install -y lib32gcc1 wget curl tar
3. Configure the scripts: Edit /usr/local/lib/7dtd/conf to specify server paths and other details.
4. Create an instance: 7dtd.sh instance create MyInstance
5. Start the server: 7dtd.sh start MyInstance

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Port Configuration

A common hurdle is setting up the correct networking rules. The default ports for 7 Days to Die include:

• Game traffic: 25000-25002/UDP
• Query traffic: 27017-27020/UDP
• Telnet admin: Custom, typically 8081/TCP

To allow traffic, configure iptables as follows:

iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 25000:25002 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 27017:27020 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8081 -j ACCEPT
iptables-save > /etc/iptables/rules.v4

Check if the ports are open:

nmap -sU -p 25000-25002 localhost

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Troubleshooting Tips

1. Server won’t start: Ensure 7DaysToDie.x86 is in the correct location. Verify libraries are loaded: ldd /path/to/7DaysToDie.x86
2. Ports not visible: Check your firewall rules and ensure the game’s UDP ports are open: netstat -ulnp | grep 25000
3. Steam API issues: If you see errors like SteamAPI_Init failed, verify the steam_appid.txt file exists in the engine folder with content 251570.

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Custom Hooks

Alloc’s scripts support hooks, allowing you to inject custom commands during server events. For example, to display a welcome message:

1. Create a new script in the hooks folder: mkdir -p /home/sdtd/hooks/playerConnect vim /home/sdtd/hooks/playerConnect/welcome.sh
2. Add the following content: #!/bin/bash . /usr/local/lib/7dtd/common.sh telnetCommand $1 "say Welcome, $4!"
3. Make it executable: chmod +x /home/sdtd/hooks/playerConnect/welcome.sh

This will trigger a welcome message whenever a player joins.

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Backups and Automation

To avoid data loss, set up automated backups. Alloc’s scripts allow cron-based scheduling:

crontab -e

Add the following line to schedule hourly backups:

0 * * * * /usr/local/lib/7dtd/7dtd.sh backup MyInstance

Compress backups for better storage:

find /home/sdtd/backup/* -type f -mtime +7 -exec gzip {} \;

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Performance Notes

Server performance depends heavily on hardware. Alloc’s community has shared benchmarks:

• 4 cores, 8GB RAM: Stable with up to 10 players.
• SSD storage: Reduces load times and lag.
• CPU affinity: Limit server processes to specific cores: taskset -c 0-3 /usr/local/lib/7dtd/7dtd.sh start MyInstance

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Resources

1. Alloc’s Scripts Documentation
2. 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server Setup
3. Linux Firewall Basics

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This post covered the essential steps and tips for running a 7 Days to Die server on Linux using Alloc’s scripts. With proper configuration and a little troubleshooting, you can create a stable and feature-rich environment for your gaming community.