You can host a Contagion server with ZapX on your own VPS. You have full control over the system, and the Game Server Installer sets up the server in just a few minutes without needing a Remote Desktop connection. This guide explains what you need, how installation works, and how to manage your Contagion server afterward.
| Requirement | Contagion |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows Server 2019 or later |
| Memory | At least 2 GB |
| Free disk space | At least 26 GB on drive C: |
Contagion is only available for Windows in the Game Server Installer. If your VPS runs Linux, install a Windows Server template under Settings > Reinstallation. This deletes all data on your VPS. Learn more in Server Reinstallation.
- Open your VPS in the ZapX dashboard and go to the Tools tab. Select the Game Server Installer.
- Under Your server's operating system, select the Windows tile.
- Under Choose game, search for Contagion and select it.
- Under Set up server, choose the server name, starting map, and player slots. You can find the game port under Advanced settings.
- Click Install on this VPS, then click Start installation.
The installer downloads the Contagion server through SteamCMD, sets it up, and starts it. For details on the installation process, see the Game Server Installer guide.
In Contagion, the map determines the game mode: the prefix in the map name indicates the mode, for example, ce_ for Escape or cx_ for Extraction. The game supports a maximum of 16 players and automatically limits higher values to 16.
| Prefix | Game mode |
|---|---|
ce_ | Escape |
cx_ | Extraction |
cf_ | Flatline |
ch_ | Hunted |
chm_ | Horde |
cp_ | Panic |
You can also install Contagion yourself using a command: copy the command shown in the final step, connect via Remote Desktop, and run it in Windows PowerShell as an administrator. If you want to set a join password or a Steam login token (GSLT), use this method—the script will prompt you for them privately.
When installation is complete, the installer displays your server address under How to connect. Any passwords generated by the installer are shown once under Login credentials. This includes the RCON password, which the installer generates automatically.
Your server files are located on the VPS at C:\ZapX-GameServers\contagion\:
| Folder/file | Contents |
|---|---|
server\ | Contagion server files |
server\contagion\cfg\server.cfg | Server settings |
server\contagion\mapcycle.txt | Map rotation |
logs\supervisor.log | Restarts after crashes |
| Port | Protocol | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 27015 | TCP and UDP | Game, query, and RCON (TCP) |
The installer opens this port in the Windows firewall. If you start the installation from the dashboard, it also opens the port in your VPS's network firewall. If you installed using a command, check the port there yourself.
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