Dedicated server guide

Call of Duty

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

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

Runtime familysteamcmd-linux

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Network bindings

28960/UDP, 28960/TCP. Named port values remain unknown; review the game guide and configuration for additional requirements.

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-codserver create codserver
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm-docker my-codserver setup
Start the game server ./alphagsm-docker my-codserver start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm-docker my-codserver status

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

Host process

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

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

This guide covers the codserver module in AlphaGSM.

codserver is currently ENABLED (BYO) on the documented Ubuntu 24.04 Linux baseline. The public dedicated archive supplies the legacy server binary and base PK3 files but not multiplayer map data, so start requires an owned PK3 containing maps/mp/<map>.bsp (or the equivalent map format) staged under the configured moddir. A local process run on 2026-10-16 answered Quake UDP getstatus after setup staged the upstream gcc 3.2 libraries beside cod_lnxded. The Docker contract remains available through the shared steamcmd-linux runtime and was not rerun in that local campaign.

Requirements

docker for the validated anonymous support path
an owned multiplayer map PK3 staged under <install_dir>/main/
Python packages from requirements.txt

Process mode stages libstdc++.so.5 and libgcc_s.so.1 beside cod_lnxded and was locally validated. The shared steamcmd-linux image also provides libstdc++.so.5 for container runs.

Quick Start

Create the server:

alphagsm mycodserve create codserver

For an owned Steam copy, sign in once and let setup acquire the declared files:

alphagsm steam-auth login owned your_steam_username
alphagsm mycodserve setup --auth-profile owned

Enter credentials only at the local SteamCMD prompts. For an existing local Steam library, use setup --steam-dir /path/to/SteamLibrary/steamapps instead. The authenticated download path still needs local validation.

Start it:

alphagsm mycodserve start

Check it:

alphagsm mycodserve status

Stop it:

alphagsm mycodserve stop

Setup Details

Setup configures:

the game port (default 28960)
the install directory
downloads and extracts the server archive
for the validated Docker runtime, the container image remains ghcr.io/sectoralpha/alphagsm-steamcmd-linux-runtime:latest

Useful Commands

alphagsm mycodserve update
alphagsm mycodserve backup

Notes

Module name: codserver
Default port: 28960
setup can download the public server archive, but it does not provide the licensed multiplayer maps. AlphaGSM reports an ENABLED (BYO) requirement before launch when the configured map is not present.

Server variables

After create codserver, 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.
`download_name`	—	string	Cached archive filename.
`exe_name`	—	string	Server executable filename.
`hostname`	servername, name	string	The advertised server name.
`moddir`	—	string	The active Call of Duty mod directory. Example: `baseq3`.
`port`	gameport	integer	The game port for the server. Example: `27960`.
`startmap`	map, gamemap, level, world	string	The startup map.
`url`	—	string	Download URL for the server archive.

Developer Notes

Run File

Executable: cod_lnxded
Location: <install_dir>/cod_lnxded
Engine: Custom
Validated runtime: Docker via ghcr.io/sectoralpha/alphagsm-steamcmd-linux-runtime:latest

Server Configuration

Config file: <moddir>/server.cfg (default main/server.cfg)
set servername, set moddir, and set map rewrite <moddir>/server.cfg immediately through the schema-backed config-sync path.
Template: See server-templates/codserver/ if available
query and info use Quake UDP getstatus on the game port. info --json reports protocol quake.
Setup stages the upstream gcc 3.2 libraries libstdc++.so.5 and libgcc_s.so.1 beside cod_lnxded and starts it with LD_LIBRARY_PATH=..
Startup sets fs_basepath and fs_homepath to the install directory so the dedicated server does not use ~/.callofduty.

Maps and Mods

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

Mod Sources

Call of Duty 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 <moddir>/<name>.pk3

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

Examples:

alphagsm mycodserve mod add url https://example.com/mappack.pk3
alphagsm mycodserve mod add url https://example.com/custom-content.zip
alphagsm mycodserve mod apply
alphagsm mycodserve 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. The preferred Steam-owned path is alphagsm steam-auth login owned <username>, then alphagsm <server-name> setup --auth-profile owned. Setup remembers the profile name and fetches missing required files before installing the engine. Use setup --steam-dir /path/to/SteamLibrary/steamapps to import from an existing Steam library instead. Direct file acquisition remains available through assets fetch steam-owned --auth-profile owned. Authenticated downloads remain unverified here. The base-file helper checks PK3 archives for the configured multiplayer map in .bsp or .d3dbsp format. Archive member names may vary in case or use either slash style; installed filesystem paths must match the native server layout. 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 Call of Duty?

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

Which runtimes can run Call of Duty?

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Which ports does Call of Duty use?

28960/UDP, 28960/TCP. Named port values remain unknown; review the game guide and configuration for additional requirements.

Can I add mods to Call of Duty?

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

How should I back up Call of Duty?

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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