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Install game servers directly on your VPS with the Game Server Installer—no Remote Desktop or SSH required → Learn more
10 November 20266 min read0 Views0 helpful
Introduction
With the Game Server Installer, you can set up a game server directly on your VPS. Choose a game, adjust a few settings, and start the installation with one click in the ZapX dashboard. You don't need to connect via Remote Desktop or SSH. The installer downloads the server files, creates a dedicated user for the game server, sets up automatic startup, and opens the necessary ports.
This guide explains how the installation works and how to start, update, back up, and remove your server afterward. Many games also have their own guide in the Games category.
Requirements
Requirement
Details
Operating system
Windows: Windows Server 2019 or later · Linux: Debian 12/13 or Ubuntu 22.04/24.04
Server status
The VPS must be running.
RAM and storage space
Requirements vary by game. The installer shows its recommendations for each game.
Permissions
As the owner, you can always install software. If the VPS has been shared with you, you need permission to install software.
You can see which games are available for each operating system in the installer itself. Many games are available only for Windows. If your VPS is running the wrong operating system, you can install a different template under Settings > Reinstallation, such as Windows Server. This deletes all data on the VPS. For details, see Server Reinstallation.
When the installation is complete, the installer displays Installed and started:
How to connect: The address of your server appears under Connect to. Click Copy address to copy it.
Ports: For each port, you can see whether it has been opened in your VPS's firewall.
Login details: The installer-generated passwords (for example, an admin password) are shown exactly once when you click Show once. Save them somewhere safe right away.
Warning
After that, the passwords are stored only on the server itself and can be read there only by administrators.
Where the files are stored
Windows
Linux
Game server
C:\ZapX-GameServers\<instanz>\
/opt/zapx-gameservers/<instanz>/
Backups
C:\ZapX-GameServers\_backups\<instanz>\
/opt/zapx-gameservers/_backups/<instanz>/
The instance name matches the game, for example avorion. On Windows, the instance folder contains the server files (server), save games and settings for some games (data), and logs (logs\server.log). The game server runs under its own Windows user named zapx, not as an administrator.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Open your VPS in the ZapX dashboard and go to the Tools tab. There you'll find the Game Server Installer.
No. Click Install on this VPS to run the installer directly on your VPS. Alternatively, you can run the displayed command yourself via Remote Desktop (Windows) or SSH (Linux).
No. Open the installer again and select the same game to see the Update option. Alternatively, use the Update desktop shortcut on the server. Your settings and save games will be preserved.
After installation, go to Login details and click Show once. The passwords are shown only once, so save them somewhere safe right away.
Many games in the installer are available only for Windows. If your VPS is running Linux, you can install a Windows Server template under Settings > Reinstallation. This deletes all data on the VPS.
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Navigation
Games
Open the installer
Open your VPS in the ZapX dashboard and go to the Tools tab. There you'll find the Game Server Installer. Below the installer, Installations on this server lists all previous installations and their status.
Install a game
The installer guides you through setup in four steps:
Your server's operating system: Select Linux or Windows. Your VPS's operating system is already selected.
Choose a game: Search for the game using Search for a game and select it. If the game is available only for the other operating system, the installer will let you know.
Configure the server: Depending on the game, set options such as the Server name, Player slots, Map, Game mode, or your admin. Find ports, RAM, and mods under Advanced settings. The defaults work for most servers, so you can leave them as they are. At the top, you'll see how much RAM and storage space the game needs.
Install: Click Install on this VPS.
In the next window, the installer checks that your VPS is running and has enough RAM and free storage space. If your server doesn't meet the requirements, you can still start the installation by clicking Try anyway. However, the installation might fail or the server may run too slowly. Click Start installation to begin.
The installation has four phases: Preparing, Downloading, Setting up, and Starting. Large games may take a while to download. You can close the window at any time and reopen it later by clicking View installation to check the progress.
Info
Only one installation can run on each VPS at a time. You can start up to six installations per account per hour.
Games that require a Steam account
Some games can only be downloaded using a Steam account that owns the game or has it in its library. The installer will ask for your Steam username and Steam password. Both are used only for this download and aren't saved, so you'll need to enter them again for every update. If your Steam account is protected by Steam Guard through the app, use the command in the next section instead. You can enter the code there.
Alternative: Install using a command
Below the Install on this VPS button, you'll find a ready-to-use command. Use it to install the game on the server yourself:
Windows: Connect via Remote Desktop and open Windows PowerShell as an administrator. PowerShell 7 isn't supported.
Click Copy command, paste it, and press Enter. The script prompts you to enter passwords and license keys securely; they are never included in the command. If you leave these fields blank, the script generates secure passwords for you. Click View script to review the script beforehand.
Start, stop, and restart the server
On Windows, the installer automatically starts your game server when the VPS boots and restarts it if it crashes. When Windows shuts down, the game server is stopped safely first.
To manage the server, the installer creates shortcuts on the desktop, such as Avorion (avorion) - Start. Shortcuts are available for Start, Stop, Restart, Update, Backup, Restore, Uninstall, and opening the folder. Connect to your VPS via Remote Desktop to use them.
You can also find commands to copy in the installer under Manage your server later.
On Linux, the game server runs in a Docker container. Scripts for restarting, backing up, restoring, and updating it are located in the instance's bin folder.
Update the server
The installer doesn't install updates automatically. Here's how to update your server:
In the dashboard: Open the Game Server Installer again and select the same game. The installer detects the existing installation (Already installed here) and displays Update instead of Start installation.
On the server: Use the Update desktop shortcut or run the same command again.
The server is briefly stopped for the update and then started again. Settings and save games are preserved.
Backups
The installer includes its own backup feature for your game server: The Backup shortcut saves save games and settings as a ZIP file in the backup folder. By default, the three most recent backups are kept. Use Restore to restore a backup. Backups are retained even after uninstalling the game server.
On Windows, the installer creates a Windows Firewall rule for each public port, for example ZapX avorion 27000/UDP. If you start the installation from the dashboard, it also opens the ports in your VPS's Network Firewall, provided you have permission to manage the firewall.
If you install using a command, open the ports yourself in the Network Firewall tab if needed. The installer shows the ports required by your game under Open ports. For more about the Windows Firewall, see Manage Windows Defender Firewall Rules.
Uninstall the server
The Uninstall shortcut removes the game server along with its automatic startup, firewall rules, and shortcuts. Depending on the game, you can choose to keep save games and settings. Backups in the backup folder are always retained.
Summary
With the Game Server Installer, you can set up your game server in just a few minutes and easily update and back it up afterward. For many games, you'll find a dedicated guide in the Games category with ports, configuration files, and tips. If you have questions or need help, our support team is here for you every day! 🙂
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