Dedicated server guide

Quake 4

Manage q4server with AlphaGSM. Choose a runtime supported by the recorded module capabilities.

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

Build setup commands

Runtime familyquake-linux

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Network bindings

Default game port: 28004. 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-q4server create q4server
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm-docker my-q4server setup
Start the game server ./alphagsm-docker my-q4server start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm-docker my-q4server status

./alphagsm-docker start
./alphagsm-docker my-q4server create q4server
./alphagsm-docker my-q4server setup
./alphagsm-docker my-q4server start
./alphagsm-docker my-q4server status

Host process

Create the game instance ./alphagsm my-q4server create q4server
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm my-q4server setup
Check the host prerequisites ./alphagsm my-q4server doctor
Start the game server ./alphagsm my-q4server start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm my-q4server status

./alphagsm my-q4server create q4server
./alphagsm my-q4server setup
./alphagsm my-q4server doctor
./alphagsm my-q4server start
./alphagsm my-q4server status

This guide covers the q4server module in AlphaGSM.

q4server 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 archive-or-staged-tree prerequisite, while local runs remain process-backed by default unless you opt into the Docker backend.

Requirements

screen
either a direct Quake 4 dedicated-server archive URL or a pre-staged Quake 4 Linux dedicated server tree
Python packages from requirements.txt

Quick Start

Create the server:

alphagsm myq4server create q4server

Run setup:

alphagsm myq4server setup

q4server is supported in ENABLED (BYO) mode. Before setup or start, either:

set url to a working Quake 4 dedicated-server archive, or
stage q4ded.x86 and the rest of the Quake 4 server files inside your chosen <install_dir>/

The historical default archive URL is no longer available. Use a verified operator-supplied archive URL or stage the server tree and required game data.

Start it:

alphagsm myq4server start

Check it:

alphagsm myq4server status

Stop it:

alphagsm myq4server stop

Setup Details

Setup configures:

the game port (default 28004)
the install directory
downloads and extracts the server archive when url is set

Suggested flow:

alphagsm myq4server create q4server
alphagsm myq4server set url https://example.invalid/q4-dedicated.tar.gz
alphagsm myq4server setup -n 28004 /path/to/q4
alphagsm myq4server start

Or, if you already have the server files:

alphagsm myq4server create q4server
alphagsm myq4server setup -n 28004 /path/to/q4
## copy q4ded.x86 and the rest of the server tree into /path/to/q4/
alphagsm myq4server start

Useful Commands

alphagsm myq4server update
alphagsm myq4server backup
alphagsm myq4server set servername "AlphaGSM Q4"
alphagsm myq4server set map q4dm6
alphagsm myq4server set url https://example.invalid/q4-dedicated.tar.gz

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

Notes

Module name: q4server
Default port: 28004

Server variables

After create q4server, 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.
`fs_game`	—	string	Game directory/mod to load.
`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	Map to start on.
`url`	—	string	Download URL for the server archive.

Developer Notes

Run File

Executable: q4ded.x86
Location: <install_dir>/q4ded.x86
Engine: Custom

Server Configuration

Config file: <fs_game>/server.cfg (default q4base/server.cfg)
Template: See server-templates/q4server/ if available
Schema-backed sync: AlphaGSM keeps hostname, fs_game, and startmap aligned with set

Maps and Mods

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

Mod Sources

Quake 4 supports AlphaGSM-managed direct url mod sources for content-only .pk4 payloads.

Supported payload shapes:

a direct .pk4 URL
an archive containing bare .pk4 files at the archive root
an archive containing <fs_game>/<name>.pk4

AlphaGSM installs approved .pk4 content into the active fs_game directory, tracks only the files it owns, and adds that active content directory to the managed backup targets.

Examples:

alphagsm myq4server mod add url https://example.com/mappack.pk4
alphagsm myq4server mod add url https://example.com/custom-content.zip
alphagsm myq4server mod apply
alphagsm myq4server 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 Quake 4?

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

Which runtimes can run Quake 4?

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Which ports does Quake 4 use?

Default game port: 28004. Protocols and additional port values are unknown; review the game guide.

Can I add mods to Quake 4?

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

How should I back up Quake 4?

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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