Dedicated server guide

Alien Arena

Manage alienarenaserver with AlphaGSM. Choose a runtime supported by the recorded module capabilities.

Operator-provided prerequisites required · Support evidence: 2026-10-16.

Build setup commands

Runtime familysteamcmd-linux

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Network bindings

Default game port: 27910. Protocols and additional port values are unknown; review the game guide.

Mods and plugins

Mod support is declared; review the game guide for its providers and activation requirements.

Backup hook

A module-specific backup hook is declared. Review the game guide for its scope, restore procedure and shutdown requirements.

Choose a supported runtime

Linux and Docker quickstart

Operator-provided game files, runtime or other prerequisites are required; follow the game guide before setup.

Docker

Complete interactive setup and review game-specific configuration before starting the server. Operator-provided game files, runtime or other prerequisites are required; follow the game guide before setup.

Start the Docker manager ./alphagsm-docker start
Create the game instance ./alphagsm-docker my-alienarenaserver create alienarenaserver
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm-docker my-alienarenaserver setup
Start the game server ./alphagsm-docker my-alienarenaserver start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm-docker my-alienarenaserver status

./alphagsm-docker start
./alphagsm-docker my-alienarenaserver create alienarenaserver
./alphagsm-docker my-alienarenaserver setup
./alphagsm-docker my-alienarenaserver start
./alphagsm-docker my-alienarenaserver status

Host process

Create the game instance ./alphagsm my-alienarenaserver create alienarenaserver
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm my-alienarenaserver setup
Check the host prerequisites ./alphagsm my-alienarenaserver doctor
Start the game server ./alphagsm my-alienarenaserver start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm my-alienarenaserver status

./alphagsm my-alienarenaserver create alienarenaserver
./alphagsm my-alienarenaserver setup
./alphagsm my-alienarenaserver doctor
./alphagsm my-alienarenaserver start
./alphagsm my-alienarenaserver status

This guide covers the alienarenaserver module in AlphaGSM.

alienarenaserver is currently ENABLED (BYO) on the documented Ubuntu 24.04 Linux baseline. The current GitHub integration lane still exercises both process and Docker runtime selection around that staged-server-tree prerequisite, while local runs remain process-backed by default unless you opt into the Docker backend.

Requirements

screen
a native Alien Arena dedicated server tree containing crx-dedicated
SteamCMD runtime libraries (lib32gcc-s1, lib32stdc++6)
Python packages from requirements.txt

Quick Start

Create the server:

alphagsm myalienare create alienarenaserver

Run setup:

alphagsm myalienare setup

alienarenaserver is supported in ENABLED (BYO) mode. Anonymous SteamCMD app 629540 subscribes but mounts no content depots, so it does not deliver crx-dedicated. On Debian and Ubuntu, setup then downloads the alien-arena-server and alien-arena-data packages and links that dedicated binary plus arena and data1 into <install_dir>/. If those packages are not available, stage a native dedicated tree containing crx-dedicated yourself before setup or start.

A local process run on 2026-10-16 answered Quake II status on UDP 53777 (dm-deathray, hostname AlphaGSM laalienarenaserver, 0/8) and stopped. Docker was not rerun.

Start it:

alphagsm myalienare start

Check it:

alphagsm myalienare status

Stop it:

alphagsm myalienare stop

Setup Details

Setup configures:

the game port (default 27910)
the install directory

Suggested flow:

alphagsm myalienare create alienarenaserver
alphagsm myalienare setup -n 27910 /path/to/alienarena
## copy crx-dedicated and the rest of the native server tree into /path/to/alienarena/
alphagsm myalienare start

Useful Commands

alphagsm myalienare update
alphagsm myalienare backup

Notes

Module name: alienarenaserver
Default port: 27910
query and info use Quake II UDP status on the game port.

Server variables

After create alienarenaserver, inspect or change these with set:

alphagsm myserver set --list
alphagsm myserver set KEY --describe
alphagsm myserver set KEY VALUE

Key	Aliases	Type	What it does
`dir`	—	string	Install directory for the server.
`exe_name`	—	string	Server executable filename.
`game`	—	string	The active Alien Arena game directory. Example: `baseq3`.
`hostname`	servername, name	string	The advertised server name. Example: `AlphaGSM Arena`.
`port`	gameport	integer	The game port for the server. Example: `27960`.
`startmap`	map, gamemap, level, world	string	The startup map. Example: `q3dm17`.

Developer Notes

Run File

Executable: crx-dedicated
Location: <install_dir>/crx-dedicated
Engine: Custom (SteamCMD)
SteamCMD App ID: 629540

Server Configuration

Config file: See game module source
Template: See server-templates/alienarenaserver/ if available

Maps and Mods

Map directory: <install_dir>/<game>/
Mod directory: <install_dir>/<game>/
Workshop support: No

Mod Sources

Alien Arena supports AlphaGSM-managed direct url mod sources for content-only .pk3 payloads.

Supported payload shapes:

a direct .pk3 URL
an archive containing bare .pk3 files at the archive root
an archive containing <game>/<name>.pk3

AlphaGSM installs approved .pk3 content into the active game directory, tracks only the files it owns, and adds that active content directory to the managed backup targets.

Examples:

alphagsm myalienare mod add url https://example.com/mappack.pk3
alphagsm myalienare mod add url https://example.com/custom-content.zip
alphagsm myalienare mod apply
alphagsm myalienare mod cleanup

BYO file helper

Inspect this game's required files, source instructions and destinations with alphagsm <server-name> assets requirements; check the declared files with alphagsm <server-name> assets check. File checks do not establish game readiness. This helper checks known sentinels only and directs you to stage the complete compatible distribution manually; managed import is unavailable for this recipe. See BYO files and private SteamCMD acquisition.

Configuration templates

Reference files from this source revision. Review paths, passwords and game-specific settings before use.

Share your server

Sector Alpha server directory

When your server is ready, you can publish its connection details and community information on Sector Alpha. Review your listing and keep the information current.

Find a community

Browse the directory for game servers and their published connection details.

Browse server directory

Publish your server

Prepare a name, address and description for your listing.

Publish a server

Manual server sharing instructions

Frequently asked questions

What support evidence is recorded for Alien Arena?

Operator-provided prerequisites required. Operator-provided game files, runtime or other prerequisites are required; follow the game guide before setup.

Which runtimes can run Alien Arena?

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Which ports does Alien Arena use?

Default game port: 27910. Protocols and additional port values are unknown; review the game guide.

Can I add mods to Alien Arena?

Mod support is declared; review the game guide for its providers and activation requirements.

How should I back up Alien Arena?

A module-specific backup hook is declared. Review the game guide for its scope, restore procedure and shutdown requirements.

Source and support evidence

This guide mirrors AlphaGSM’s upstream documentation at 32cef5ba9e03053c8e461fffa0ba133b160b528d. Commands and prerequisites can change. Check current support notes before installation.

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