Project Zomboid Server Config Generator
Generate a complete Project Zomboid Build 42 server config. 132 sandbox gameplay options across 9 categories, 84 server.ini settings, 5 vanilla presets (Apocalypse, Survivor, Builder, Survival, Sandbox). Live preview, copy or download both files.
Every Project Zomboid Build 42 server setting, generated for you
A Project Zomboid server needs two config files working together: servertest_SandboxVars.lua (gameplay: zombie lore, population, loot rarity, XP multipliers, day length, weather, vehicle spawn) and servertest.ini (server: max players, PvP, RCON, voice, faction rules, safehouse limits, Workshop mods, Discord integration). Miss either and your world doesn't load the way you want.
The generator ships with all 5 vanilla presets: Apocalypse (the default — pop 4, sprinters, no respawn, hard loot), Survivor (more forgiving — pop 3, slow shamblers, scarcer loot), Survival (legacy — balanced), Builder (creative — pop 5 none, no death, rich loot), and Sandbox (a flat neutral baseline to customize from scratch). Pick a preset, override any single setting, and the Lua preview updates instantly.
Build 42 sandbox categories covered: General (world time, weather, fog/rain intensity, map reveal), Character (XP multiplier, needs decay, farming, corpse/clothing, injury severity, blood/fire), Inventory (10 loot-rarity categories), Respawn (item respawn timing), Vehicles (spawn rate, fuel, crash damage, locks, alarms), Zombie Population (density, peak, migration, rally groups), Zombie Lore (speed, strength, transmission, cognition, hearing, smell, decomp, drag-down, fence lunge, fake-dead), Meta Events (helicopter, gunshots, survivor stories), and Sleeping.
The server.ini pane covers all the network-layer settings — MaxPlayers, PingLimit, UDPPort, SteamScoreboard, VAC, VoiceEnable/Distance/3D, PvP melee + firearm damage modifiers, PlayerSafehouse rules, WorkshopItems mod list, Discord webhook token + channel, RCON port/password, backup schedule, login queue, and faction settings. The generator respects Build 42's schema version 5 (VERSION = 5 at the top of the Lua file) so the game parses it correctly.
Deploy in 30 seconds: copy the Lua (or download it) and drop it in your server's ~/Zomboid/Server/ folder as `servertest_SandboxVars.lua`. Do the same with `servertest.ini`. On XGamingServer's Project Zomboid hosting, use the admin panel's File Manager → Configuration tab, or SFTP straight in. Restart the server, done.
Project Zomboid Server Config Generator — FAQ
Where do I put the SandboxVars.lua file on my Project Zomboid server?
Drop it in your server's ~/Zomboid/Server/ folder and name it <servername>_SandboxVars.lua (the default server name is `servertest`, so the filename is `servertest_SandboxVars.lua`). On XGamingServer, use the admin panel's File Manager → Configuration, or SFTP to /home/container/Zomboid/Server/. Restart the server for changes to apply.
What's the difference between the sandbox presets?
Apocalypse (default): zombie pop 4, sprinters, no loot respawn — hardcore. Survivor: pop 3, slow shamblers, looser loot. Survival (classic): pop 3, balanced. Builder: pop 5 (none), immortal character, rich loot — for roleplay/building. Sandbox: flat neutral baseline — customize from there. Pick the closest preset then tweak individual settings, don't start from scratch.
Why does my Zombies setting seem inverted?
Project Zomboid uses inverted scales on some enum settings — Zombies=1 is Insane population, Zombies=5 is None. Same for Speed (1=fast shamblers, 4=Fast shamblers inverted). The labels in this generator show the friendly name next to each choice so you don't have to memorize the number mapping.
Can I use this for a modded server?
Yes — the schema only covers vanilla B42 options. Mod-added sandbox settings won't appear here. Generate the vanilla section, then append any mod-specific settings manually at the end of the Lua file (inside the SandboxVars table). The generator respects the version 5 schema — most mods are compatible.
What's VERSION = 5 at the top of the Lua file?
B42 sandbox files use schema version 5 — an internal marker the game uses to migrate old configs forward. Older version numbers (4 from B41, 3 from B40) still load but trigger migration warnings. The generator always emits 5 so your file is current.
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Config Tool Built Into XGamingServer
Get managed Project Zomboid hosting with this tool in your panel — configure, deploy, and play in minutes. No file uploads needed.