--- title: "Deploy a Project Zomboid server on the Game Panel" description: "Learn how to deploy a Project Zomboid server on the OVHcloud Game Panel, monitor the installation, and connect from the game to start playing." url: https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-project-zomboid lang: en lastUpdated: 2026-07-31 --- # Deploy a Project Zomboid server on the Game Panel ## Objective The OVHcloud Game Panel lets you deploy a Project Zomboid server with automated installation and port configuration. **This guide explains how to deploy and connect to a Project Zomboid server on the OVHcloud Game Panel.** ## Requirements - A [VPS](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/vps/) or a [dedicated server](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/bare-metal/) in your OVHcloud account with the Game Panel feature enabled. - Access to the Game Panel. Refer to [Log in to the Game Panel](/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-log-in/index.md). ## Instructions ### Step 1 — Access the Game Panel Log in to your OVHcloud Game Panel. From the left-hand menu, go to the `Game Servers` section and click `Add Game Server `. ### Step 2 — Create a Project Zomboid server Select **Project Zomboid** from the game list. A configuration window opens. ![Selecting Project Zomboid from the game list in the Game Panel](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-project-zomboid/select-project-zomboid.png) ### Step 3 — Configure the Project Zomboid server In this section, you can set a name for your server and pick the `Branch ` — the Steam branch of the game to install, from a list that is updated automatically. Choose it carefully: changing the branch later can corrupt an existing world, so this is an install-time choice. An administrator password is also generated automatically. It is the password of the in-game administrator account, used to grant yourself administrator rights and run the privileged console commands — it is **not** the password players use to join the server. :::warning Make sure you keep this administrator password in a secure place. ::: You can expand `Advanced Settings ` to adjust options such as ports binding and resource limits. The defaults are suitable for most game servers. ![Project Zomboid server configuration form with the branch and administrator password](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-project-zomboid/configure-server.png) ### Step 4 — Launch the installation Click `Install ` to start the deployment. ### Step 5 — Monitor the installation Click `Log/Console ` to follow the installation progress in real time. As soon as the installation starts, the Game Panel also offers an `Open Logs / Console ` button that opens the same view. While the server is installing, the status displays **Installing**. The logs panel shows detailed progress. ![Monitoring Project Zomboid server installation in the logs panel](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-project-zomboid/installation-logs.png) ### Step 6 — Confirm installation is complete Once the installation is finished, the server status changes to **Running**. ### Step 7 — Verify the server is running Confirm that CPU and RAM activity is visible. You can use the `Log/Console ` and `Settings ` controls to manage the server. ![Project Zomboid server with Running status and CPU and RAM activity](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-project-zomboid/server-running.png) ### Step 8 — Retrieve connection information Copy the IP address and port from the **Connection** column of the `Game Servers` list. ### Step 9 — Join your server in Project Zomboid To join your server from the Project Zomboid client: 1. Open **Project Zomboid** and click **Multiplayer**, then **Add server**. 2. Enter a name for the server, then the IP address and port from the **Connection** column of the Game Panel. Also enter the server password, if the server has one — this is the password players use to join, not the administrator password. 3. Click **SAVE**. 4. Click **Add new account** to create a game account for this server, then set a name and a password. ### Connect as an administrator Once you have added the server to the **Multiplayer** menu, create a new character for it, choosing a username and entering the server's administrator password. To retrieve this password, click `Settings ` in the Game Panel, open the `Game Config ` section, then the `Server Settings ` tab: **Admin Password** sits at the bottom of the page. The value is masked — click the eye icon to reveal it. Once you are logged in with this character, an **Admin** icon appears on the left-hand side of the screen. Click it to access the administration tools, run commands and moderate your server. ### Update the server to a new game version By default, the server does not update automatically when a new version is available, to avoid compatibility issues or interrupted games. To enable automatic updates, click `Settings `, open the `Game Config ` section, then enable the `Update on start ` option at the bottom of the page (disabled by default). Click `Save & Restart ` to apply the changes. The server then applies each new update automatically. ## Go further - [Install mods on your Project Zomboid server](/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-install-mods-project-zomboid/index.md) - [Getting started with the Game Panel](/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-getting-started/index.md) - [Manage users on the Game Panel](/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-manage-users/index.md) - [How to create and restore backups on the Game Panel](/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-backups/index.md) Join our [community of users](https://community.ovhcloud.com/).