Dedicated server guide

Nuclear Dawn

Manage ndserver 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

27015/UDP, 27015/TCP, clientport/UDP, sourcetvport/UDP. Named port values remain unknown; review the game guide and configuration for additional requirements.

Mods and plugins

No mod support is declared in this snapshot; review the game guide before adding mods.

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

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

Host process

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

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

This guide covers the ndserver module in AlphaGSM.

Requirements

screen
SteamCMD runtime libraries (lib32gcc-s1, lib32stdc++6)
Python packages from requirements.txt
A staged Nuclear Dawn content tree under <install_dir>/nucleardawn/
Or an entitled Steam profile for dedicated server app 111710

Support Status

ndserver is supported in ENABLED (BYO) mode. Setup with no saved profile still installs Steam app 111710 anonymously. That public payload is only a partial tree and does not provide nucleardawn/maps/hydro.bsp. Setup with --auth-profile NAME downloads app 111710 through that profile and does not fall back to anonymous. This checked-in support state is validated against the documented Ubuntu 24.04 Linux baseline, and the current GitHub integration lane still exercises both process and Docker runtime selection around that content prerequisite.

Quick Start

Create the server:

alphagsm myndserver create ndserver

Run setup. Without a profile this stays anonymous. For an owned copy:

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

Enter credentials only at the local SteamCMD prompts. A later setup keeps the saved profile name when one is stored. A local process install with profile owned supplied app 111710, including nucleardawn/maps/hydro.bsp. The NTFS install omitted the execute bit on srcds_linux, so the first start exited before A2S; prestart now restores that bit. After that, the same install answered A2S on UDP 36736 (hostname AlphaGSM Nuclear Dawn, map hydro, 0/32). The process was stopped and that UDP port was free. Docker was not run. UDP 27015 was left to an unrelated Left 4 Dead 2 server.

Start it:

alphagsm myndserver start

Check it:

alphagsm myndserver status

Stop it:

alphagsm myndserver stop

Setup Details

Setup configures:

the game port (default 27015)
the install directory
the executable name
SteamCMD downloads the server files
default configuration and backup settings

Before start, <install_dir>/nucleardawn/maps/hydro.bsp must exist. An entitled --auth-profile install of app 111710 supplies it. Anonymous setup does not. You can still copy a complete owned tree into <install_dir>/nucleardawn/ instead. If setup or start reports an ENABLED (BYO) requirement, the dedicated payload is still missing the game content.

Useful Commands

alphagsm myndserver update
alphagsm myndserver backup

Notes

Module name: ndserver
Default port: 27015

Server variables

After create ndserver, 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
`map`	gamemap, startmap, level, worldname	string	The currently selected map or level. Example: `hydro`.
`maxplayers`	users	integer	Maximum number of player slots. Example: `32`.
`port`	gameport	integer	The primary game port. Example: `27015`.
`rconpassword`	rconpass, querypassword, query_administrator_password	string	Remote console password for administrative access. Stored as a secret.
`servername`	hostname, name	string	The server's public name shown to players. Example: `AlphaGSM Nuclear Dawn`.
`serverpassword`	sv_password, password	string	Password required for players to join the server. Stored as a secret.

Developer Notes

Run File

Executable: srcds_run
Location: <install_dir>/srcds_run
Engine: Source
SteamCMD App ID: 111710
SteamCMD App Name: Nuclear Dawn - Dedicated Server

Server Configuration

Config file: nucleardawn/cfg/server.cfg
Key settings:
- hostname — Server name
- sv_maxrate — Max network rate
- rcon_password — Remote console password
Default port: 27015
Default map: hydro
Max players: 32
Ports:
- Game port: 27015 (UDP)
- Client port: 27005 (UDP)
- SourceTV port: 27020 (UDP)
Template: See server-templates/ndserver/

Maps and Mods

Map directory: nucleardawn/maps/
Mod directory: nucleardawn/addons/
Workshop support: No
Mod notes: AlphaGSM now supports manifest, direct archive url, gamebanana, and moddb addon sources for this server through the shared Source addon flow. The built-in manifest currently includes metamod and sourcemod. mod cleanup removes only AlphaGSM-tracked addon files and keeps cache/state under .alphagsm/mods/nucleardawn/.
Current status: Supported in ENABLED (BYO) mode. Anonymous app 111710 still installs only a partial nucleardawn/ tree. An entitled --auth-profile install of the same app does not fall back to anonymous. The dedicated server stays awake (sv_hibernate_when_empty 0) so query and info use Source A2S.
Map install: Copy .bsp files into nucleardawn/maps/ and add to nucleardawn/cfg/mapcycle.txt.
Mod install: Copy addon folders into nucleardawn/addons/.

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 managed recipe has one SteamCMD source, app 111710, for an entitled profile. Anonymous setup does not use that source. File checks do not establish game readiness. See BYO files and private SteamCMD acquisition.

Configuration templates

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

server.cfg

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 Nuclear Dawn?

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

Which runtimes can run Nuclear Dawn?

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Which ports does Nuclear Dawn use?

27015/UDP, 27015/TCP, clientport/UDP, sourcetvport/UDP. Named port values remain unknown; review the game guide and configuration for additional requirements.

Can I add mods to Nuclear Dawn?

No mod support is declared in this snapshot; review the game guide before adding mods.

How should I back up Nuclear Dawn?

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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