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The most common issues with your Journey of Life server on a VPS and how to fix them quickly, from crashes to lag → Learn more
Running your own Journey of Life server on a VPS is a lot of fun, but it also means taking responsibility when something goes wrong. Crashes, lag, and configuration issues are common challenges that every server owner encounters sooner or later.
To help you spend less time troubleshooting, we’ll show you the most common issues here and how to fix them quickly on your VPS.
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-log parameter to display its output in a console window.JourneyOfLife_419\\Saved folder containing your save files and settings. Your entire VPS is also backed up daily. With an active ZapX Pass, you can restore these backups yourself.Feedback
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The causes of server issues are often not immediately obvious. The best place to start is the server output: Start the server with the -log parameter to display its output in a console window. To do this, connect to your VPS using Remote Desktop.
If your server doesn’t appear in the server list, first check whether it’s running and has finished starting up. Then check that the ports are open in the Windows Firewall and your VPS’s network firewall. See Journey of Life: Set up a server on your VPS for the ports Journey of Life requires. Also check that the six Steam files (steamclient.dll, steamclient64.dll, tier0_s.dll, tier0_s64.dll, vstdlib_s.dll, vstdlib_s64.dll) are in the JourneyOfLife_419\\Binaries\\Win64 folder. Steam won’t see your server without them. Also make sure there are no filters enabled in the server list that could hide your server.
Start the server using your start.bat file and watch the console window. Common causes include a typo in ServerSettings.ini, a port already in use by another program, or insufficient RAM. If you changed the configuration, try reverting the change.
Nothing cuts a good session short faster than an unexpected crash. Causes can include an outdated server version, faulty mods, an overloaded VPS, or a misconfiguration. If a manually set up server crashes, no one will restart it automatically unless you’ve set up an autostart or script yourself.
An outdated server often prevents players from connecting with a newer game version. Updates aren’t installed automatically. Stop the server and run the SteamCMD command from the installation instructions again. Note: According to the developers, the server files are updated only once the multiplayer mode of a new version is running reliably. As a result, the server may temporarily lag behind the game version.
If you use mods or plugins, they’re a common cause of crashes, especially after a game update. Try disabling additional content and starting with a minimal configuration. If the issue goes away, add the content back one step at a time and test after each change. This helps you pinpoint what’s causing the problem.
Issues like lag or delays often occur when the configuration isn’t suitable, the VPS doesn’t have enough resources, or mods are overloading the system.
Unsuitable settings can lead to higher resource usage and lag. Check the values in ServerSettings.ini under JourneyOfLife_419\\Saved\\Config, such as SlotNumber. Stop the server before editing the file.
The operating system and other programs on the VPS also need resources in addition to the server. You can see how heavily your VPS is being used in the ZapX dashboard under Monitoring. If RAM or CPU usage is consistently maxed out, upgrading your VPS can help. Learn more in Upgrade, downgrade, renewal, and cancellation.
Ping spikes and lag are usually caused by limited VPS resources, a high player count, or a server location far from your players. First, check resource usage under Monitoring. If you suspect routing issues, see Diagnose network issues with WinMTR/MTR. If you still need help, contact our support team.
Game servers are occasionally targeted by DDoS attacks that flood the server with traffic. Your VPS is protected by our DDoS protection. You can view past attacks in the DDoS Manager for your VPS in the ZapX dashboard, if it’s available at your location. If you suspect an attack is causing issues, contact our support team.
Regular backups can save you a lot of stress. Stop the server and copy the JourneyOfLife_419\\Saved folder, which contains your save files and settings, to a safe location. In addition, your entire VPS is backed up automatically every day. With an active ZapX Pass, you can restore these backups yourself and create your own. Learn more in Daily backups, restoring backups, and restricted actions.
These steps should help you resolve your issue. If they don’t, don’t hesitate to contact our support team: Simply start a support chat in your ZapX customer account. We’re here for you every day and happy to help! 🙂
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