Changing the time settings on a DayZ server is one of the most common requests. Whether you want a 24/7 daylight server or a realistic day/night transition, you need to modify the serverDZ.cfg file.

Here is a step-by-step guide to mastering time on your server.

1. Locate Your Configuration File

Navigate to your server’s root directory and find the file named serverDZ.cfg. Open it with a text editor like Notepad++.

2. Understanding the Parameters

There are four main lines that control time. Here is what they do:

• serverTime: Sets the initial time of the server.

  • "SystemTime": Uses the real time of the server’s location.

  • "YYYY/MM/DD/HH/MM": Sets a specific fixed date and time (e.g., "2026/06/20/10/00").

• serverTimeAcceleration: Controls how fast daylight passes.

  • 0: Real time (1 hour in-game = 1 hour real life).

  • 12: 12x speed (Day lasts about 1 hour).

• serverNightTimeAcceleration: Controls how fast night passes relative to the day speed.

  • 1: Night moves at the same speed as the day.

  • 4: Night moves 4 times faster than the day.

• serverTimePersistent: Saves the time when the server restarts.

  • 1: Enabled (If the server restarts at 4 PM, it starts back at 4 PM).

  • 0: Disabled (Restarts at the time set in serverTime).

3. Common Setup Examples

Example A: Fast Day, Very Short Night (Popular Choice) If you want the day to last 2 hours and the night to last only 15 minutes:

serverTimeAcceleration = 6;      // Day is 6x faster
serverNightTimeAcceleration = 8; // Night is 8x faster than the day (Very fast)

Example B: 24/7 Daylight Only If you never want your players to see the dark:

serverTime = "2026/06/20/10/00"; // Set to high noon
serverTimeAcceleration = 0;      // Time stands still
serverTimePersistent = 0;        // Always reset to noon on restart

💡 Pro Tip for XML Modders

If you are using custom lighting mods or weather controllers, make sure they do not conflict with these serverDZ.cfg settings. Always restart your server after making changes to apply them.

Need help with a specific time setup? Post a reply below and I’ll help you calculate the perfect acceleration for your community!