Alpha Game Server Manager

Dedicated server guide

Avorion

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

Recorded lifecycle pass · Support evidence: 2026-10-16.

Anonymous Workshop Process and Docker load passed for public dedicated-server content. Mod installation explains add, apply, and cleanup.

Build setup commands
Runtime familysteamcmd-linux

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Network bindings

27000/UDP, 27000/TCP, queryport/UDP, queryport/TCP, steamqueryport/UDP, steamqueryport/TCP, steammasterport/UDP, steammasterport/TCP. Named port values remain unknown; review the game guide and configuration for additional requirements.

Mods and plugins

For Workshop content, use the setup builder with an actual game-compatible item ID; review supported content types in the guide. Anonymous Steam Workshop content for this module passed both process and Docker load. After setup, record an item with mod add workshop using a numeric ID or Steam Workshop URL, then run mod apply.

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

Review the game guide for installation, account, licensing and runtime prerequisites before setup.

Docker

Complete interactive setup and review game-specific configuration before starting the server. Review the game guide for installation, account, licensing and runtime prerequisites before setup.

  1. Start the Docker manager ./alphagsm-docker start
  2. Create the game instance ./alphagsm-docker my-avserver create avserver
  3. Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm-docker my-avserver setup
  4. Start the game server ./alphagsm-docker my-avserver start
  5. Check the instance status ./alphagsm-docker my-avserver status
./alphagsm-docker start
./alphagsm-docker my-avserver create avserver
./alphagsm-docker my-avserver setup
./alphagsm-docker my-avserver start
./alphagsm-docker my-avserver status

Host process

Complete interactive setup and review game-specific configuration before starting the server. Review the game guide for installation, account, licensing and runtime prerequisites before setup.

  1. Create the game instance ./alphagsm my-avserver create avserver
  2. Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm my-avserver setup
  3. Check the host prerequisites ./alphagsm my-avserver doctor
  4. Start the game server ./alphagsm my-avserver start
  5. Check the instance status ./alphagsm my-avserver status
./alphagsm my-avserver create avserver
./alphagsm my-avserver setup
./alphagsm my-avserver doctor
./alphagsm my-avserver start
./alphagsm my-avserver status

This guide covers the avserver module in AlphaGSM.

avserver is currently PASSED on the documented Ubuntu 24.04 Linux baseline. The current GitHub integration lane still exercises both process and Docker runtime selection, and the validated Linux lifecycle stays aligned across both backends while local runs remain process-backed by default unless you opt into the Docker backend.

Requirements

  • screen
  • SteamCMD runtime libraries (lib32gcc-s1, lib32stdc++6)
  • Python packages from requirements.txt

Quick Start

Create the server:

alphagsm myavserver create avserver

Run setup:

alphagsm myavserver setup

Start it:

alphagsm myavserver start

Check it:

alphagsm myavserver status

Stop it:

alphagsm myavserver stop

Setup Details

Setup configures:

  • the game port (default 27000)
  • the internal query port (default port + 3)
  • the Steam query and master ports (defaults port + 20 and port + 21)
  • the install directory
  • SteamCMD downloads the server files

Useful Commands

Workshop items and collections accept numeric IDs or Steam Community URLs. The dedicated server and public Workshop content use anonymous Steam access.

alphagsm myavserver mod add workshop https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1722652757
alphagsm myavserver mod add workshop-collection COLLECTION_ID_OR_URL
alphagsm myavserver mod list
alphagsm myavserver mod apply
alphagsm myavserver mod remove workshop 1722652757
alphagsm myavserver mod apply
alphagsm myavserver mod cleanup

Apply downloads and validates native modinfo.lua metadata, then adds the Workshop IDs to the configured galaxy's modconfig.lua. Add each required Workshop dependency to desired state; AlphaGSM validates dependency versions and orders prerequisites first. Avorion checks compatibility with its own game version at startup. Client-only packages and executable metadata are refused. Metadata must use ordinary literal Lua tables.

Setup, update and start reapply desired state by default. Restart after changing mods. Existing operator Lua is preserved; cleanup clears desired items and removes only AlphaGSM's unchanged configuration block. Externally edited managed blocks cause a clear refusal. The managed download cache remains available. Changing galaxy moves the managed block to that galaxy on the next apply.

alphagsm myavserver update
alphagsm myavserver backup

The optional smoke fixture is AzimuthLib. On 13 October 2026, the process and Docker Workshop lifecycle tests downloaded it anonymously and executed its native getInt function through Avorion's console. The tests also checked query, info, JSON output and complete shutdown. These health commands use UDP reachability, so native library execution is the separate proof that Workshop content loaded.

ALPHAGSM_RUN_WORKSHOP=1 bash tests/smoke_tests/run_avserver.sh
ALPHAGSM_RUN_WORKSHOP=1 ALPHAGSM_TEST_RUNTIME_BACKEND=process bash tests/smoke_tests/run_avserver.sh

Notes

  • Module name: avserver
  • Default port: 27000
  • Default query port: 27003
  • Default Steam query port: 27020
  • Default Steam master port: 27021
  • AlphaGSM starts Avorion with --datapath ./galaxies so galaxy state stays under the install directory
  • AlphaGSM query and info use generic UDP reachability on the Steam query port
  • The administration datastore key is optional and maps to Avorion's --admin CLI argument, not an admin.xml file path

Server variables

After create avserver, inspect or change these with set:

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

This module does not declare schema-backed keys. set --list after create is still the live source of truth.

Developer Notes

Run File

  • Executable: server.sh
  • Location: <install_dir>/server.sh
  • Engine: Custom (SteamCMD)
  • SteamCMD App ID: 565060
  • Headless launch: ./server.sh --datapath ./galaxies --galaxy-name <name> --server-name <name> --port <port> --query-port <port+3> --steam-query-port <port+20> --steam-master-port <port+21>

Server Configuration

Maps and Mods

  • Map directory: Check game documentation
  • Native mod configuration: <install_dir>/galaxies/<galaxy-name>/modconfig.lua
  • Workshop consumer App ID: 445220 (dedicated-server App ID: 565060)
  • Workshop support: Native multiplayer mods through anonymous Steam access

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 Avorion?

Recorded lifecycle pass. Review the game guide for installation, account, licensing and runtime prerequisites before setup.

Which runtimes can run Avorion?

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Which ports does Avorion use?

27000/UDP, 27000/TCP, queryport/UDP, queryport/TCP, steamqueryport/UDP, steamqueryport/TCP, steammasterport/UDP, steammasterport/TCP. Named port values remain unknown; review the game guide and configuration for additional requirements.

Can I add mods to Avorion?

For Workshop content, use the setup builder with an actual game-compatible item ID; review supported content types in the guide. Anonymous Steam Workshop content for this module passed both process and Docker load. After setup, record an item with mod add workshop using a numeric ID or Steam Workshop URL, then run mod apply.

How should I back up Avorion?

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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