Dedicated server guide

QuakeWorld

Manage qwserver 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

27500/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-qwserver create qwserver
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm-docker my-qwserver setup
Start the game server ./alphagsm-docker my-qwserver start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm-docker my-qwserver status

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

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

This guide covers the qwserver module in AlphaGSM.

qwserver 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 nQuake and KTX bootstrap lifecycle, with QuakeWorld status validation on the managed server path.

Requirements

screen
Python packages from requirements.txt
no Steam login is required; AlphaGSM bootstraps the public nQuake shareware and KTX runtime assets during setup
an optional ALPHAGSM_GITHUB_TOKEN avoids anonymous GitHub API rate limits when resolving current MVDSV release metadata; GitHub Actions supplies its read-only job token automatically

Quick Start

Create the server:

alphagsm myqwserver create qwserver

Run setup:

alphagsm myqwserver setup

Start it:

alphagsm myqwserver start

Check it:

alphagsm myqwserver status

Stop it:

alphagsm myqwserver stop

Setup Details

Setup configures:

the game port (default 27500)
the install directory
downloads the MVDSV server archive
stages the public nQuake shareware data, KTX runtime/configs, and the core public QuakeWorld maps required for anonymous startup

Useful Commands

alphagsm myqwserver update
alphagsm myqwserver backup

Notes

Module name: qwserver
Default port: 27500

Server variables

After create qwserver, 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. Example: `AlphaGSM Arena`.
`port`	gameport	integer	The game port for the server. Example: `27960`.
`startmap`	map, gamemap, level, world	string	The startup map. Example: `q3dm17`.
`url`	—	string	Download URL for the server archive.
`version`	—	string	Requested upstream release version.

Developer Notes

Run File

Executable: mvdsv
Location: <install_dir>/mvdsv
Engine: QuakeWorld / MVDSV
Launch mode: -mem 64 -game ktx

Server Configuration

Config file: <install_dir>/ktx/server.cfg
Template: See server-templates/qwserver/ if available

Maps and Mods

Map directory: <install_dir>/qw/maps/
KTX runtime: <install_dir>/ktx/
Mod directory: <install_dir>/qw/
Workshop support: No

Query And Info

alphagsm myqwserver query uses the real QuakeWorld status UDP probe on the main game port
alphagsm myqwserver info --json reports protocol quakeworld

Mod Sources

QuakeWorld 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 qw/<name>.pak

AlphaGSM installs approved .pak content into qw/, tracks only the files it owns, and keeps that content directory in the managed backup targets.

Examples:

alphagsm myqwserver mod add url https://example.com/pak1.pak
alphagsm myqwserver mod add url https://example.com/custom-content.zip
alphagsm myqwserver mod apply
alphagsm myqwserver 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 QuakeWorld?

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

Which runtimes can run QuakeWorld?

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Which ports does QuakeWorld use?

27500/UDP. Named port values remain unknown; review the game guide and configuration for additional requirements.

Can I add mods to QuakeWorld?

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

How should I back up QuakeWorld?

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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