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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →You can host a 7 Days to Die dedicated server behind CGNAT or a router that does not support port forwarding by using a tunnel service. Run the dedicated server on Windows or Linux, bind the game locally, then create a Playit.gg tunnel that exposes the server’s UDP port. Your friends connect with the hostname or IP address and port supplied by Playit—not with your private LAN address.
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How the no-port-forwarding setup works
A normal public game server needs an inbound connection from the internet to reach your router. Port forwarding creates that route manually. A tunnel reverses the direction: an agent running on your computer makes an outbound connection to the tunnel service, and players reach the public endpoint created by that service. Because the connection originates from your network, the router does not need an inbound forwarding rule and the method can work when your ISP places you behind carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT).
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The game server still runs as a normal dedicated-server process. The tunnel does not create a world, replace the server executable, or keep the machine awake. Your computer, firewall, server process and tunnel agent must all remain available while people are playing.
For this game, the documented workflow is:
- Install the 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server on Windows, or install it with SteamCMD on Linux.
- Start the dedicated server locally.
- Create a Playit tunnel of type 7 Days targeting
127.0.0.1and local UDP port26900. - Give players the Playit hostname or IP address and port shown for that tunnel.
Playit’s documentation describes the server range as UDP 26900–26903. The tunnel setup uses local port 26900; keep the additional ports in mind if your configuration or troubleshooting requires them.
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What you need before installing
- A Windows or Linux computer capable of running the dedicated server and the game services at the same time.
- A stable internet connection with enough upload capacity for the players you invite. The available documentation does not publish a reliable bandwidth, RAM or player-count formula, so test with your expected group rather than relying on a generic number.
- Permission to install the dedicated-server files, Steam or SteamCMD, and the Playit agent.
- A save backup before changing
serverconfig.xml, installing mods or upgrading the server. - A firewall rule that permits the server process to receive local UDP traffic on port
26900.
Because the dedicated server is a standalone process, its world can continue running even when the person who created it is not playing. That only applies while the host machine and server process remain online.
Windows setup
1. Install the dedicated server
Install 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server from Steam. Open the installation directory after Steam finishes downloading it. The exact folder depends on your Steam library location; use Steam’s installed-files or browse-local-files control rather than assuming a default drive.
2. Start the server locally
In the server folder, run startdedicated.bat. A console window should remain open while the server is running. The first launch may create or populate configuration and save directories. Allow the process through Windows Firewall when prompted; declining that rule can prevent the tunnel from reaching the local listener.
Configure gameplay, world and administration settings in serverconfig.xml. Stop the server before making substantial changes, keep a copy of the file, and restart it so the new settings are loaded. Do not edit a live save without a backup.
3. Check the local listener
Before troubleshooting the tunnel, verify that the dedicated server has finished starting and is listening locally on UDP 26900. A tunnel cannot forward traffic to a process that has not started, is bound to another port, or exited because of a configuration error. Use the server console and your operating system’s local network tools to confirm the process is running and the configured port matches the tunnel target.
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4. Create the Playit tunnel
Start the Playit agent on the same Windows machine. In its tunnel creation flow, select:
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- Tunnel type: 7 Days
- Local IP:
127.0.0.1 - Local port:
26900
The agent must stay online. Once the tunnel is created, Playit displays a public hostname or IP address and a port. Record that endpoint exactly; it is the address players use from outside your home network.
Linux setup with SteamCMD
1. Install SteamCMD
Install SteamCMD using the package and instructions appropriate for your Linux distribution. The installation method varies by distribution, so use the distribution’s supported SteamCMD package or the official SteamCMD procedure rather than copying a command intended for a different release.
2. Download or update app 294420
Use SteamCMD to download or update Steam app 294420, the dedicated-server application for 7 Days to Die. Keep the server files in a directory owned by the account that will run the service, and ensure that account can read the files and write saves, logs and configuration.
If SteamCMD reports a missing configuration or cannot select the Linux platform correctly, Playit’s Linux instructions document adding +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType linux to the SteamCMD command. Add that option to the command you are using, then retry the app download or update.
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3. Start the server
Change to the directory containing the server files and run:
./startserver.sh -configfile=serverconfig.xmlKeep the terminal session or service running. For a long-running host, use your normal Linux service or session-management method so the process does not stop when an SSH window closes. The important operational requirement is that the script remains active and continues to serve the same local port.
4. Target the local UDP port from Playit
Install and start the Playit agent on the Linux host. Create a 7 Days tunnel with local IP 127.0.0.1 and local UDP port 26900, then wait for the agent to report that the tunnel is online. Use the public hostname or IP and port shown by Playit when joining.
How players connect
- Start the dedicated server and wait until it has completed startup.
- Start the Playit agent and confirm the tunnel is online.
- In the game, open Join a Game.
- Select Connect To IP….
- Enter the Playit hostname or IP address and the Playit port as displayed. If the game presents separate fields, put the hostname or IP in the address field and the supplied port in the port field.
- Share that same endpoint with your friends.
Do not send players the host’s private address such as a 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x address. Those addresses work only inside the local network. Do not reuse an old tunnel endpoint after deleting and recreating a tunnel; use the currently displayed endpoint.
Configure the server safely
Use serverconfig.xml for persistent settings
The dedicated server’s gameplay and world settings are managed through serverconfig.xml. Make a copy before editing. Change one group of settings at a time, restart the server, and check the console for errors. A malformed XML file or an unsupported value can stop startup, so preserve the last known-good copy for recovery.
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Back up saves before changes
Back up the world and player-save data before upgrades, configuration changes and mod changes. Store at least one backup outside the active server directory so an accidental overwrite or failed update does not remove both the live data and the backup.
Keep versions aligned
Every player must use a game version compatible with the dedicated server. A tunnel only transports packets; it does not correct a version mismatch. If players can reach the endpoint but are rejected during loading, check the server build, each client’s build and any installed mods separately from the networking setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing where to run the server
Port forwarding and hosting location are separate decisions. A tunnel solves inbound-router access, but you still need to choose the machine that runs the dedicated server.
| Deployment | Strengths | Trade-offs | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaming PC | No additional hardware if the computer is already available; lowest extra cost. | The PC must stay powered on, and its upload connection serves every player while you are also using the machine. | A small group that can leave a home computer running. |
| Separate LAN machine | Hosting is separated from the computer used for playing; the server can remain online independently. | Requires another computer, maintenance and power, while still depending on the home internet connection. | Households with an spare machine and a need for more predictable uptime. |
| Rented machine or managed game-server host | Removes home-network availability and power-management work; location can be chosen closer to players. | Introduces a recurring charge and provider-specific administration, backup and mod policies. | Groups that need a host online without maintaining hardware at home. |
Compare candidates on recurring cost, expected uptime, geographic location, backup controls, mod support, player capacity and how much server administration you want to perform. The available guides do not establish universal latency, uptime, RAM, bandwidth or player-count benchmarks, so treat provider claims and your own connection tests as separate decisions.
Troubleshooting: isolate one layer at a time
The tunnel is online, but nobody can join
- Confirm the dedicated-server process is still running and has completed startup.
- Confirm it is listening locally on UDP
26900. - Check that the Playit tunnel target is exactly
127.0.0.1:26900and is configured as a 7 Days tunnel. - Check the local firewall rule for the server process and UDP traffic.
- Have players enter the current Playit endpoint, not a private LAN address or an old tunnel address.
The agent keeps disconnecting
Keep the Playit agent running in the same way you keep the server running. Check the host’s internet connection, then restart the agent and confirm that a newly displayed endpoint is used if the service assigned one. A stopped or offline agent leaves the game server running locally but removes the public path to it.
The server does not start on Linux
Check that startserver.sh is being run from the directory containing the server files and that serverconfig.xml exists at the path supplied to -configfile. If SteamCMD failed to install the Linux files, retry the app download with +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType linux as documented by Playit. Then review the server console for the first reported error rather than changing tunnel settings.
Players see a version or mod error
Once the endpoint is reachable, treat compatibility as a separate problem. Compare the server and client game versions, then compare enabled mods and their versions. Reconnect after correcting the mismatch; changing the tunnel will not resolve a content or protocol mismatch.
Local joining works but remote joining fails
This usually indicates that the server itself is healthy and the problem is between the tunnel and the local listener. Recheck the Playit target, UDP port, agent status and firewall. Ask a remote player to use the exact public endpoint shown in the Playit control panel while you watch both the tunnel status and the server console.
Keeping the setup reliable
- Start the dedicated server before testing the tunnel.
- Keep the server process and Playit agent under supervision so an accidental window close does not end the session.
- Record the current endpoint and update your friends whenever the tunnel assigns a different one.
- Back up saves and
serverconfig.xmlbefore updates or mod changes. - Apply operating-system and server updates during a planned maintenance window, then verify the local listener and a real remote connection.
- Monitor disk space and the server console; a full disk or repeated startup error can look like a networking failure.
The no-port-forwarding design removes one router requirement, not the other responsibilities of hosting. The machine still needs to run the server, the firewall still needs to allow the local traffic, and the tunnel agent must remain connected for friends to reach the world.
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