Dedicated server guide

Sons Of The Forest

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

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

Runtime familywine-proton

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process. This module declares the Wine/Proton compatibility family.

Network bindings

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

Mods and plugins

Declared curated families: bepinex. The optional bepinex example installs its dependencies and applies the mod plan before launch.

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. Optional curated example: bepinex. Omit all optional mod steps for a base server.

Start the Docker manager ./alphagsm-docker start
Create the game instance ./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver create sonsoftheforestserver
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver setup
Optional: add bepinex # Optional curated mod: bepinex; add bepinex ./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver mod add manifest bepinex
Optional: apply the mod plan # Optional: apply the mod plan ./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver mod apply
Start the game server ./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver status

./alphagsm-docker start
./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver create sonsoftheforestserver
./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver setup
# Optional curated mod: bepinex; add bepinex
./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver mod add manifest bepinex
# Optional: apply the mod plan
./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver mod apply
./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver start
./alphagsm-docker my-sonsoftheforestserver status

Host process

Create the game instance ./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver create sonsoftheforestserver
Complete interactive setup ./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver setup
Optional: add bepinex # Optional curated mod: bepinex; add bepinex ./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver mod add manifest bepinex
Optional: apply the mod plan # Optional: apply the mod plan ./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver mod apply
Check the host prerequisites ./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver doctor
Start the game server ./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver start
Check the instance status ./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver status

./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver create sonsoftheforestserver
./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver setup
# Optional curated mod: bepinex; add bepinex
./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver mod add manifest bepinex
# Optional: apply the mod plan
./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver mod apply
./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver doctor
./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver start
./alphagsm my-sonsoftheforestserver status

This guide covers the sonsoftheforestserver module in AlphaGSM.

Install the pinned Windows BepInEx pack with mod add manifest bepinex and mod apply. The dedicated server runs under Proton, so this is the Windows x64 pack.

sonsoftheforestserver is currently PASSED on the documented Ubuntu 24.04 Linux baseline. The checked-in GitHub validation path for this server is Docker-first through the shared wine-proton runtime, with A2S query / info on the managed queryport.

Requirements

Docker recommended on Linux (alphagsm-wine-proton-runtime)
For host/process mode: screen, Wine or Proton-GE, and xvfb-run
SteamCMD runtime libraries (lib32gcc-s1, lib32stdc++6)
Python packages from requirements.txt

Quick Start

Create the server:

alphagsm mysonsofth create sonsoftheforestserver

Run setup:

alphagsm mysonsofth setup

Start it:

alphagsm mysonsofth start

Check it:

alphagsm mysonsofth status

Stop it:

alphagsm mysonsofth stop

Setup Details

Setup configures:

the game port (default 8766)
the A2S query port (default 27016)
the blob sync port (default 9700)
the install directory
SteamCMD downloads the Windows dedicated server files
AlphaGSM writes user-data/dedicatedserver.cfg, steam_appid.txt, and user-data/ownerswhitelist.txt before the first launch so the dedicated server clears its first-run self-tests without needing a manual restart

Useful Commands

alphagsm mysonsofth update
alphagsm mysonsofth backup

Notes

Module name: sonsoftheforestserver
Default game port: 8766
Default query port: 27016
Default blob sync port: 9700
Current AlphaGSM status: supported and validated on the Docker-backed wine-proton runtime, with A2S query, info, and info --json on the managed query port
GitHub CI routes this as one Docker-default heavy lifecycle; it does not duplicate the currently failing forced host-process Wine lane

Server variables

After create sonsoftheforestserver, inspect or change these with set:

alphagsm myserver set --list
alphagsm myserver set KEY --describe
alphagsm myserver set KEY VALUE

This module does not declare schema-backed keys. set --list after create is still the live source of truth.

Developer Notes

Run File

Executable: SonsOfTheForestDS.exe
Location: <install_dir>/SonsOfTheForestDS.exe
Engine: Unity Windows dedicated server via Wine/Proton
SteamCMD App ID: 2465200

AlphaGSM launches the dedicated server executable directly instead of the legacy StartSOTFDedicated.bat wrapper, passing -userdatapath ./user-data plus Unity's dedicated -batchmode -nographics -verboseLogging flags.

Server Configuration

Config files: user-data/dedicatedserver.cfg, user-data/ownerswhitelist.txt
Log file: user-data/logs/sotf_log.txt
Template: See server-templates/sonsoftheforestserver/ if available

Maps and Mods

Map directory: Check game documentation
Mod directory: Check game documentation
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 Sons Of The Forest?

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

Which runtimes can run Sons Of The Forest?

Declared runtimes: Docker or a Linux host process. This module declares the Wine/Proton compatibility family.

Which ports does Sons Of The Forest use?

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

Can I add mods to Sons Of The Forest?

Declared curated families: bepinex. The optional bepinex example installs its dependencies and applies the mod plan before launch.

How should I back up Sons Of The Forest?

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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