Dedicated server guide

Quake Live

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

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

Build setup commands

Runtime familysteamcmd-linux

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Network bindings

Default game port: 27960. 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-qlserver create qlserver
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm-docker my-qlserver setup
Start the game server ./alphagsm-docker my-qlserver start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm-docker my-qlserver status

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

Host process

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

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

This guide covers the qlserver module in AlphaGSM.

qlserver retains its existing ENABLED (BYO) classification while process and Docker startup are revalidated in CI. The latest run reached Steam initialization but exposed incorrect config loading and query protocol selection; it did not establish an authentication requirement. Local runs use the process runtime unless you select Docker.

Requirements

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

Quick Start

Create the server:

alphagsm myqlserver create qlserver

Run setup:

alphagsm myqlserver setup

Start it:

alphagsm myqlserver start

Check it:

alphagsm myqlserver status

Stop it:

alphagsm myqlserver stop

Setup Details

Setup configures:

the game port (default 27960)
the install directory
SteamCMD downloads the server files

Anonymous SteamCMD setup installs the dedicated-server payload. AlphaGSM now adds the bundled linux64 directory to the launcher's library search path so qzeroded.x64 can load libsteam_api.so; selecting qzeroded.x86 uses linux32. This applies to both process and Docker launches. Keep these library directories beside the executable when staging an installation.

CI validation of this launcher fix is pending. A missing libsteam_api.so error occurs before server authentication and should be diagnosed as a library-loading problem.

Useful Commands

alphagsm myqlserver update
alphagsm myqlserver backup
alphagsm myqlserver set servername "AlphaGSM QL"
alphagsm myqlserver set map asylum
alphagsm myqlserver set factory ca

set servername and set map rewrite baseq3/server.cfg immediately through the schema-backed config-sync path.

Mod Sources

Quake Live content management currently targets the directory that contains the configured servercfg file. By default that is baseq3/, but if you point servercfg at a custom relative path such as custommod/server.cfg, AlphaGSM installs into that directory instead.

Current mod source support is direct url entries only.
mod add url <https-url> accepts direct .pk3 URLs and supported archive URLs such as .zip, .7z, or tar variants when the payload exposes either <content-root>/<name>.pk3 or bare .pk3 files at the archive root.
mod cleanup removes only AlphaGSM-tracked .pk3 files and keeps its cache/state under .alphagsm/mods/qlserver/.
The first Quake Live slice intentionally stops at .pk3 content and does not try to install arbitrary extracted scripts or binaries.

Examples:

alphagsm myqlserver mod add url https://example.invalid/mappack.zip
alphagsm myqlserver mod add url https://example.invalid/pak-custom.pk3
alphagsm myqlserver mod apply
alphagsm myqlserver mod cleanup

Notes

Module name: qlserver
Default port: 27960

Server variables

After create qlserver, 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
`bindaddress`	—	string	Local IP on which Quake Live listens (default: 0.0.0.0).
`dir`	—	string	Install directory for the server.
`exe_name`	—	string	Server executable filename.
`factory`	—	string	Quake Live factory used with the startup map (default: ffa).
`homepath`	—	string	Launch-only homepath for Quake Live.
`hostname`	servername, name	string	The advertised server name.
`port`	gameport	integer	The game port for the server. Example: `27960`.
`servercfg`	—	string	Server config file to exec on startup.
`startmap`	map, gamemap, level, world	string	The startup map.

Developer Notes

Run File

Executable: qzeroded.x64
Location: <install_dir>/qzeroded.x64
Engine: Custom (SteamCMD)
SteamCMD App ID: 349090

Server Configuration

Config files: baseq3/server.cfg
Template: See server-templates/qlserver/ if available
Managed settings: hostname, startmap, factory and bindaddress update native Quake configuration. The default factory is ffa; the default bind address is 0.0.0.0 (all local interfaces).
Queries: query and info use Steam A2S on the game port.
Current validation: config loading, startup factory and query corrections have unit coverage; process and Docker lifecycle verification is pending CI.

Maps and Mods

Map directory: directory containing servercfg (default baseq3/)
Mod directory: directory containing servercfg (default baseq3/)
Mod notes: AlphaGSM can now track direct .pk3 and archive url entries for Quake Live, install approved .pk3 payloads into the content directory implied by servercfg, and clean up only AlphaGSM-managed files from .alphagsm/mods/qlserver/.
Workshop support: No

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 Live?

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 Live?

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Which ports does Quake Live use?

Default game port: 27960. Protocols and additional port values are unknown; review the game guide.

Can I add mods to Quake Live?

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

How should I back up Quake Live?

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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