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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11A DayZ .bat file is a reusable Windows command script that starts DayZServer_x64.exe with the same configuration, port, profile folder, logging, and mod settings every time. Create it in the folder containing the server executable, change to that folder before launch, and keep serverDZ.cfg as the separate file that defines the server itself.
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For a first vanilla server, save the starter script below as start.bat, run it, and then verify the generated logs and network access. Add mods only after the unmodded launch works.
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What a DayZ start.bat file does
Windows batch files contain commands that are executed in sequence. In a DayZ installation, the batch file is a launch profile: it starts the dedicated-server executable and supplies command-line switches that would otherwise have to be typed manually. You can keep several scripts for different ports, missions, or mod sets without changing the executable.
The batch file does not replace serverDZ.cfg. The -config switch tells the executable which configuration file to read; that configuration still contains the server name, mission settings, player limits, time settings, and other gameplay options. Keep the script and executable together unless you deliberately use absolute paths.
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Requirements before writing the script
- A Windows installation of the DayZ dedicated-server files, including
DayZServer_x64.exe. - A server configuration file such as
serverDZ.cfgin the location referenced by your launch command. - A writable profile directory for logs and server profile data. The examples use a folder named
profiles. - Permission to create and run files in the server directory.
- A selected game port. The examples use port
2302; choose another value if that port is already used and apply the same value to your firewall and router rules.
Windows may hide known file extensions. In File Explorer, open View and enable File name extensions before saving the file. Otherwise, a file saved as start.bat can accidentally become start.bat.txt.
Create the batch file step by step
- Open the folder that contains
DayZServer_x64.exe. - Right-click an empty area, choose New, then Text Document.
- Rename the new file to
start.bat. Confirm the extension change when Windows asks. - Right-click
start.bat, choose Edit or Open with a text editor, and paste one of the scripts below. - Save the file as plain text. Do not save it as a rich-text document.
- Double-click the file to launch the server. For troubleshooting, run it from a Command Prompt so that you can read messages while the process starts.
The line cd /d "%~dp0" changes the working directory to the directory containing the batch file. The /d option also changes drives, so the script works when the server is installed somewhere other than the current drive.
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Starter script for a vanilla server
@echo off
cd /d "%~dp0"
start "DayZ Server" /wait "DayZServer_x64.exe" ^
-config=serverDZ.cfg ^
-port=2302 ^
-profiles=profiles ^
-dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheckYou can put the entire command on one line if you prefer:
@echo off
cd /d "%~dp0"
start "DayZ Server" /wait "DayZServer_x64.exe" -config=serverDZ.cfg -port=2302 -profiles=profiles -dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheckThe caret (^) at the end of a line is Windows batch syntax for continuing the same command on the next line. Do not add spaces or comments after a continuation caret. If you copy the multiline version, make sure each caret is the final character on its line.
What each launch argument means
| Argument | Purpose | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
-config=serverDZ.cfg |
Selects the DayZ server configuration file. | Use the exact filename and path. The executable determines which configuration to load from this option. |
-port=2302 |
Sets the game port. | Change it when another service uses the port, and keep Windows Firewall and router rules synchronized. |
-profiles=profiles |
Sets the profile directory. | Logs, dumps, and BattlEye, BEC, or RCON-related files are written there according to the server documentation. Create or allow the directory before launch. |
-dologs |
Enables log messages in the server RPT file. | Keep it enabled while diagnosing startup or connection problems. |
-adminlog |
Enables the administrator log. | It also provides the logging needed by admin-log settings. |
-netlog |
Enables network logging. | Useful when investigating visibility and connection behavior. |
-freezecheck |
Stops the server after a prolonged freeze and creates a dump file. | Leave it enabled on a test or production server so a severe hang leaves diagnostic evidence. |
-BEpath=... |
Chooses a custom BattlEye directory. | Use it only when the default BattlEye location is unsuitable; quote a path containing spaces. |
-cpuCount=... |
Sets the number of logical CPU cores used for parallel tasks. | Do not set it above the number of logical cores available to the machine. |
-mission=... |
Overrides the mission path selected by the configuration. | Use a complete path when you need to force a particular mission. |
-storage=... |
Defines a custom storage root. | Use this when saves or server data must live outside the default location. |
Switch names and values are separated by an equals sign in these examples. The command parser treats the value as one argument, so quote paths that contain spaces. A relative value such as profiles is resolved from the directory selected by cd /d "%~dp0".
Build a modded start.bat
After the vanilla server starts correctly, add client-and-server mods with -mod. Folder names are separated by semicolons, not commas. They must match the directory names in the server folder exactly, including punctuation and spaces.
@echo off
cd /d "%~dp0"
start "DayZ Server" /wait "DayZServer_x64.exe" ^
-config=serverDZ.cfg ^
-port=2302 ^
-profiles=profiles ^
"-mod=@CF;@VPPAdminTools" ^
-serverMod=@MyServerMod ^
-dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheckUse the correct mod switch
-modloads mods that are part of the client-and-server setup. Clients generally need the corresponding mod files to join.-serverModloads server-only mods that are not broadcast to clients.- Separate multiple folders in either list with semicolons:
-mod=@First;@Second;@Third.
Respect dependency order
Put a framework or dependency before the mod that requires it. For example, if an administration tool depends on a framework, list the framework folder first. A correct folder name with the wrong order can still produce a failed or incomplete startup.
Keep the mod directory names exactly as they appear beside the executable. If a name contains spaces, quote the complete assignment, for example "-mod=@Core Framework;@Mission Tools". Do not insert spaces around the semicolons unless those spaces are actually part of a folder name.
Make the script reusable with variables
For a server that changes ports, missions, or mod lists, define values at the top of the file. Bohemia Interactive Community’s DayZ server-configuration documentation explicitly allows batch variables in startup arguments.
@echo off
set "SERVER_EXE=DayZServer_x64.exe"
set "CONFIG_FILE=serverDZ.cfg"
set "SERVER_PORT=2302"
set "PROFILE_DIR=profiles"
set "MODS=@CF;@VPPAdminTools"
cd /d "%~dp0"
start "DayZ Server" /wait "%SERVER_EXE%" ^
-config="%CONFIG_FILE%" ^
-port=%SERVER_PORT% ^
-profiles="%PROFILE_DIR%" ^
"-mod=%MODS%" ^
-dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheckThe set "NAME=value" form avoids accidentally storing trailing spaces. Change a value once at the top rather than editing several command arguments. Keep numeric values such as the port unquoted unless the executable’s syntax specifically requires quotes.
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Variable for a mission override
Define an absolute mission path when the mission is not in the location selected by your configuration:
set "MISSION_PATH=%USERPROFILE%DocumentsDayZStablempmissionsdayzOffline.enoch"
cd /d "%~dp0"
start "DayZ Server" /wait "DayZServer_x64.exe" ^
-config=serverDZ.cfg ^
-port=2302 ^
-profiles=profiles ^
-mission="%MISSION_PATH%" ^
-dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheckUse the mission override only when you intend to supersede the mission chosen by serverDZ.cfg. Otherwise, omit -mission and keep mission selection in the configuration file.
Relative paths, absolute paths, and quoting
Relative paths
Relative paths keep a portable server directory together. With cd /d "%~dp0", serverDZ.cfg, profiles, and mod folders are all resolved relative to the batch file’s location. Moving the complete folder to another drive does not require rewriting every path.
Absolute paths
Use an absolute path when the configuration, storage, BattlEye files, or mission lives elsewhere. For example:
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-config="D:DayZConfigsserverDZ.cfg"
-profiles="D:DayZProfiles"
-BEpath="D:DayZBattlEye"
-storage="E:DayZStorage"An absolute path is less portable, but it can prevent ambiguity when multiple server instances share one machine.
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Quote paths that contain spaces
Quote the executable path and any folder or filename containing spaces. The first quoted string after start is interpreted as the window title, which is why the examples include "DayZ Server" before the executable path. Omitting that title can cause Windows to treat the executable path as a title rather than as the program to run.
What /wait changes
start creates a separate process. The /wait option keeps the batch process attached until the DayZ server process ends. This makes the script’s behavior easier to monitor and is useful when another command should run only after the server stops. Removing /wait lets the batch file return immediately, which can be useful for a launcher that must continue, but it also makes simple restart logic easier to get wrong.
The title argument and /wait are Windows start options; they are not DayZ switches. Keep them before the executable, then place DayZ options after DayZServer_x64.exe.
First-launch checklist
- Place
start.batbesideDayZServer_x64.exe, unless every path in the script is absolute. - Confirm that
serverDZ.cfgexists at the path supplied to-config. - Open
serverDZ.cfgand verify that every configuration line ends with a semicolon. A missing semicolon can prevent the configuration from being parsed correctly. - Create the
profilesdirectory if it does not exist, or choose a writable directory in-profiles. - Run the batch file and watch the console for a clean startup.
- Inspect the RPT and profile logs created in the profile directory. The logging switches in the starter command make failures easier to diagnose.
- Check that the server appears in the browser and test a local or remote connection.
- If remote players cannot see or join it, verify the selected port, router forwarding, and Windows Firewall rules.
A server that starts locally but is invisible outside the machine usually has a network-path problem rather than a batch-file syntax problem. A server that closes immediately should be investigated in the console and the newest RPT file before changing several settings at once.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common failures
The window flashes and closes
- Open Command Prompt in the server directory and run
start.batthere so the error remains visible. - Check that the executable is really named
DayZServer_x64.exeand that the batch file is not actuallystart.bat.txt. - Confirm that
cd /d "%~dp0"appears beforestart, or replace relative paths with correct absolute paths. - Read the latest RPT file in the profile directory for configuration or file-loading errors.
The configuration is not found
Check spelling and capitalization of the filename supplied to -config, then verify its location relative to the batch file. If it is stored elsewhere, quote the full path. Also inspect the configuration syntax: every configuration line should end with a semicolon.
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The server starts but is not visible
Confirm that the server is listening on the same port configured in the batch file, then check port forwarding on the router and the Windows Firewall rule for that port. A change from 2302 to another port requires corresponding network-rule changes.
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- Compare each argument with the exact folder name on disk.
- Use semicolons between mod folders and do not use commas.
- Put required frameworks before dependent mods.
- Use
-serverModonly for server-only content; place client-and-server content in-mod. - Check that clients have the required client-side mods and matching versions.
Logs or BattlEye files appear in the wrong place
Inspect the value supplied to -profiles. Logs, dumps, and BattlEye, BEC, or RCON-related files follow the profile location described by the server documentation. If the default location is unsuitable, set -BEpath to a separate BattlEye directory and quote it when necessary.
The server freezes or uses unexpected CPU resources
Keep -freezecheck enabled so a prolonged freeze produces a dump. If you add -cpuCount, use a value no higher than the machine’s available logical cores. The switch controls the number of logical cores used for parallel tasks; it is not a license to allocate unavailable hardware.
Separate scripts for different server profiles
One installation can have multiple batch files. For example, keep start-vanilla.bat with no mod argument and start-modded.bat with the full -mod list. If both servers run at the same time, give them different ports and separate profile or storage directories so their logs and data do not collide.
For a second instance, change at least the port and profile path:
@echo off
set "SERVER_PORT=2402"
set "PROFILE_DIR=profiles-second"
cd /d "%~dp0"
start "DayZ Server 2" /wait "DayZServer_x64.exe" ^
-config=serverDZ-second.cfg ^
-port=%SERVER_PORT% ^
-profiles="%PROFILE_DIR%" ^
-dologs -adminlog -netlog -freezecheckDo not launch two instances with the same port. Keeping separate configuration, profile, and storage locations makes it clear which logs belong to which process.
Local batch hosting versus managed hosting
| Approach | What you control | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Local Windows batch file | Executable arguments, configuration files, mods, ports, logs, and update scripts. | You maintain the Windows machine, firewall, router forwarding, profiles, backups, and restarts. |
| Managed DayZ hosting | Usually a provider’s control panel for files, startup parameters, and server status. | You avoid direct Windows and network administration, but depend on the provider’s supported controls and operations. |
A batch file is the practical choice when you want direct control or already maintain a Windows server. Managed hosting can be preferable when maintaining ports, profiles, updates, and restart procedures is the part you want to outsource; the exact controls vary by provider.
Maintain the file after updates
- Keep a backup copy of working versions of
start.batandserverDZ.cfg. - After a DayZ server update, confirm that the executable name, mod folders, and mission paths still match the installation.
- Change one launch argument at a time and retain the logging switches while testing.
- Record the port, profile directory, storage root, and mod order near the top of a variable-based script.
- Before deleting old logs, preserve the RPT file from any failed startup; it is often the most useful record of what the server attempted to load.
Once the vanilla command starts cleanly, the modded command uses the correct dependency order, and the selected port is reachable through the firewall and router, the batch file provides a repeatable DayZ server launch without retyping the command each time.
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