Dedicated server guide

7 Days to Die

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

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

Build setup commands

Runtime familysteamcmd-linux

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Network bindings

Default game port: 26900. 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

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

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

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

This guide covers the sevendaystodie module in AlphaGSM.

Status: PASSED on 2026-05-29 on the native Linux SteamCMD path.

Requirements

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

Quick Start

Create the server:

alphagsm mysevenday create sevendaystodie

Run setup:

alphagsm mysevenday setup

Start it:

alphagsm mysevenday start

Check it:

alphagsm mysevenday status

Stop it:

alphagsm mysevenday stop

Setup Details

Setup configures:

the game port (default 26900)
the complete server network range: base TCP+UDP and UDP on port + 1, port + 2, and port + 3
the install directory
SteamCMD downloads the server files

Useful Commands

alphagsm mysevenday update
alphagsm mysevenday backup
alphagsm mysevenday set servername "AlphaGSM 7DTD"
alphagsm mysevenday set maxplayers 12

set port, set servername, set maxplayers, and set serverpassword rewrite serverconfig.xml immediately through the schema-backed config-sync path.

Mod Sources

7 Days to Die mod management currently targets the built-in Mods/ directory under the server root.

Current mod source support is direct archive url entries only.
mod add url <https-url> accepts supported archive URLs such as .zip, .7z, or tar variants when the payload exposes either Mods/<name>/..., a single top-level modlet directory containing ModInfo.xml, or multiple sibling modlet directories that each contain ModInfo.xml.
mod cleanup removes only AlphaGSM-tracked modlet files and keeps its cache/state under .alphagsm/mods/sevendaystodie/.
This first 7DTD slice intentionally focuses on built-in modlets and does not try to bootstrap an external framework.

Examples:

alphagsm mysevenday mod add url https://example.invalid/servertools.zip
alphagsm mysevenday mod apply
alphagsm mysevenday mod cleanup

Notes

Module name: sevendaystodie
Default port: 26900
AlphaGSM readiness for 7DTD follows the game's real output_log__*.txt file in the install root rather than the screen log.
query, info, and info --json now validate against 7DTD's live A2S listener on the managed main port.
AlphaGSM claims the full derived port set before either process or Docker launch and publishes the same set in Docker.
On very long SteamCMD setups, refreshing the claimed port just before start avoids a stale free-port selection from the earlier setup step.

Server variables

After create sevendaystodie, 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
`maxplayers`	users	integer	Maximum allowed players.
`port`	gameport	integer	The game port to use for this server.
`servername`	hostname, name	string	The advertised server name.
`serverpassword`	sv_password, password	string	Optional join password. Stored as a secret.

Developer Notes

Run File

Executable: startserver.sh
Location: <install_dir>/startserver.sh
Engine: Custom (SteamCMD)
SteamCMD App ID: 294420

Server Configuration

Config file: serverconfig.xml
Template: See server-templates/sevendaystodie/ if available
Schema-backed sync: AlphaGSM keeps ServerPort, ServerName, ServerMaxPlayerCount, and ServerPassword aligned with set

Maps and Mods

Map directory: Check game documentation
Mod directory: Mods/
Mod notes: AlphaGSM can now track direct archive url entries for 7 Days to Die modlets, install recognized modlet payloads into Mods/, and clean up only AlphaGSM-managed files from .alphagsm/mods/sevendaystodie/.
Workshop support: No

Configuration templates

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

serverconfig.xml

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 7 Days to Die?

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

Which runtimes can run 7 Days to Die?

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process.

Which ports does 7 Days to Die use?

Default game port: 26900. Protocols and additional port values are unknown; review the game guide.

Can I add mods to 7 Days to Die?

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

How should I back up 7 Days to Die?

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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