Dedicated server guide

Quake 2

Manage q2server with AlphaGSM. Choose a runtime supported by the recorded module capabilities.

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

Build setup commands

Runtime familyquake-linux

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Network bindings

27910/UDP. 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

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.

Start the Docker manager ./alphagsm-docker start
Create the game instance ./alphagsm-docker my-q2server create q2server
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm-docker my-q2server setup
Start the game server ./alphagsm-docker my-q2server start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm-docker my-q2server status

./alphagsm-docker start
./alphagsm-docker my-q2server create q2server
./alphagsm-docker my-q2server setup
./alphagsm-docker my-q2server start
./alphagsm-docker my-q2server 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.

Create the game instance ./alphagsm my-q2server create q2server
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm my-q2server setup
Check the host prerequisites ./alphagsm my-q2server doctor
Start the game server ./alphagsm my-q2server start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm my-q2server status

./alphagsm my-q2server create q2server
./alphagsm my-q2server setup
./alphagsm my-q2server doctor
./alphagsm my-q2server start
./alphagsm my-q2server status

This guide covers the q2server module in AlphaGSM.

q2server is currently PASSED on the documented Ubuntu 24.04 Linux baseline. The checked-in GitHub validation path for this server currently follows the native Linux direct-download and source-build Yamagi Quake II lifecycle, with demo baseq2 content and Quake II status validation.

Requirements

gcc
make
screen
Python packages from requirements.txt

Quick Start

Create the server:

alphagsm myq2server create q2server

Run setup:

alphagsm myq2server setup

Start it:

alphagsm myq2server start

Check it:

alphagsm myq2server status

Stop it:

alphagsm myq2server stop

Setup Details

Setup configures:

the game port (default 27910)
the install directory
downloads the official Yamagi Quake II source archive and builds release/q2ded
builds release/baseq2/game.so
bootstraps the official Quake II demo baseq2 data so a fresh install can start anonymously
uses demo1 as the default start map on fresh demo-backed installs

AlphaGSM launches Yamagi with -portable, keeping generated server data in the installation directory for both process and Docker runtimes. This avoids startup failures when the operating-system user's XDG data directory does not exist or is not writable. CI validation of this startup fix is pending.

Useful Commands

alphagsm myq2server update
alphagsm myq2server backup
alphagsm myq2server set servername "AlphaGSM Q2"
alphagsm myq2server set gamedir custom
alphagsm myq2server set map demo2

set servername, set gamedir, and set map rewrite <gamedir>/server.cfg immediately through the schema-backed config-sync path.

If you later add the full retail baseq2/pak0.pak content, you can switch to retail multiplayer maps such as q2dm1 with set map q2dm1.

Notes

Module name: q2server
Default port: 27910
Fresh-install default map: demo1

Server variables

After create q2server, 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_mode`	—	string	How the server should be installed.
`download_name`	—	string	Cached archive filename.
`exe_name`	—	string	Server executable filename.
`gamedir`	game	string	The active Quake 2 game directory. Example: `baseq3`.
`hostname`	servername, name	string	The advertised server name.
`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.
`version`	—	string	Requested upstream release version.

Developer Notes

Run File

Executable: release/q2ded
Location: <install_dir>/release/q2ded
Engine: Custom

Server Configuration

Config file: <gamedir>/server.cfg (default baseq2/server.cfg)
Schema-backed sync: AlphaGSM keeps hostname, gamedir, and startmap aligned with set
Template: See server-templates/q2server/ if available

Maps and Mods

Map directory: <install_dir>/<gamedir>/
Mod directory: <install_dir>/<gamedir>/
Workshop support: No
Fresh install content: AlphaGSM stages the official Quake II demo baseq2 data so anonymous installs can start and answer query/info without retail files

Mod Sources

Quake 2 supports AlphaGSM-managed direct url mod sources for content-only .pak payloads.

Supported payload shapes:

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

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

Examples:

alphagsm myq2server mod add url https://example.com/pak1.pak
alphagsm myq2server mod add url https://example.com/custom-content.zip
alphagsm myq2server mod apply
alphagsm myq2server mod cleanup

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 Quake 2?

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

Which runtimes can run Quake 2?

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Which ports does Quake 2 use?

27910/UDP. Named port values remain unknown; review the game guide and configuration for additional requirements.

Can I add mods to Quake 2?

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

How should I back up Quake 2?

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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