Effective Resource Management for Project Zomboid Servers
Managing your server's resources effectively is crucial for maintaining a smooth gameplay experience. This guide will help you understand, monitor, and optimize your server's resource usage.
Understanding Server Resources
Project Zomboid servers primarily utilize these resources:
- RAM (Memory) - Used for storing the active world, players, zombies, and mod data
- CPU - Handles game logic, AI calculations, physics, and player interactions
- Disk Space - Stores world saves, backups, logs, and mod files
- Network Bandwidth - Transfers data between the server and players
Monitoring Resource Usage
The Rivix control panel provides tools to monitor your server's resource usage:
- Log in to your control panel
- Navigate to the "Statistics" section
- View real-time graphs showing:
- RAM usage
- CPU utilization
- Disk space consumption
- Network traffic
Regular monitoring helps you identify trends and potential issues before they impact gameplay.
Memory (RAM) Management
RAM is often the most critical resource for Project Zomboid servers:
Recommended RAM Allocation
- Small server (1-4 players): 4GB RAM minimum
- Medium server (5-8 players): 6-8GB RAM recommended
- Large server (9+ players): 8-16GB RAM recommended
- Heavily modded servers: Add 2-4GB to the above recommendations
Java Memory Settings
You can adjust Java memory allocation in the server settings:
- Go to the "Startup Parameters" section in your control panel
- Locate the Java memory settings (Xms and Xmx parameters)
- Set minimum memory (Xms) to at least 2GB
- Set maximum memory (Xmx) to about 1GB less than your total server RAM
- Example:
-Xms2048m -Xmx6144m for an 8GB server
CPU Optimization
CPU usage increases with more players and zombies:
Zombie Population Management
Zombies are one of the biggest CPU consumers:
- Adjust zombie population in servertest.ini
- Consider reducing zombie count for better performance
- Use "zombie memory" settings to make zombies less active when players are far away
World Size Considerations
- Larger worlds require more CPU resources
- Consider setting a smaller world size for better performance
- Use map mods that are optimized for server performance
Disk Space Management
Project Zomboid servers can consume significant disk space over time:
World Saves
- Configure save frequency in servertest.ini
- Default is every 15 minutes - consider increasing to 30 minutes for less disk activity
- Be aware that longer intervals mean more potential data loss if the server crashes
Backup Management
- Configure automatic backups in the control panel
- Set a reasonable retention policy (e.g., keep 7 daily backups)
- Delete old backups you no longer need
- Download important backups to your local computer
Log Rotation
- Server logs can grow large over time
- Enable log rotation in the server settings
- Set a maximum log size and number of log files to keep
- Periodically clean up old log files
Network Bandwidth Optimization
Optimize network usage for better player experience:
Player Limit
- Set an appropriate player limit based on your server's capacity
- More players require more bandwidth and resources
- Start with a conservative limit and increase as needed
Update Frequency
- Adjust client update rate in servertest.ini
- Lower values provide smoother gameplay but use more bandwidth
- Higher values reduce bandwidth but may cause more "teleporting" for players
Scheduled Resource Management
Implement these practices for ongoing resource management:
Regular Restarts
- Schedule automatic server restarts every 24 hours
- Restarts clear memory leaks and reset resource usage
- Choose low-traffic times for restarts
- Configure restart warnings to notify players
Maintenance Windows
- Schedule regular maintenance periods
- Use this time to clean up files, optimize settings, and apply updates
- Communicate maintenance windows to your players
Upgrading Your Server
If you consistently hit resource limits, consider upgrading:
- Upgrade RAM if you see frequent memory usage above 80%
- Upgrade CPU if you experience lag with multiple players online
- Increase disk space if you're running low (below 25% free)
- Contact Rivix support to discuss upgrade options for your server
Need More Help?
If you need assistance with resource management or server optimization, please contact our support team through the support ticket system or join our Discord server for assistance.