Dedicated server quickstart

Short path from zero to a listening Armagetron Advanced dedicated process on a Linux host with a public UDP port.

1. Install

Ubuntu:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:armagetronad-dev/ppasudo apt update && sudo apt install -y armagetronad-dedicated

Debian: use the same dedicated package; repository setup differs — see the Armagetron wiki or your distro’s package notes.

2. Directories

3. Minimal config

Put a file such as settings_custom.cfg in --userconfigdir:

SERVER_PORT 4534SERVER_NAME My First ServerRESOURCE_REPOSITORY_SERVER http://resource.armagetronad.net/resource/RESOURCE_REPOSITORY_CLIENT http://resource.armagetronad.net/resource/LADDERLOG_ENABLED 1

Tune gameplay settings with the Server Command Finder.

4. Run

armagetronad-dedicated \  --userconfigdir /opt/arma/settings \  --vardir /opt/arma/var \  --userdatadir /opt/arma/data

Open UDP on SERVER_PORT in the host firewall and any cloud security group.

5. “Free” hosting?

Most free app platforms (serverless, static, typical PaaS HTTP) do not expose UDP game ports. You need a VM, VPS, or container with a public UDP port (e.g. small paid VPS, Oracle Cloud free tier ARM, home server + port forward).

RCL fleet hosting

Running servers for Retrocycles League pickup, ranked, or events is operated by the league infra team — not this checklist. For org/server questions, use RCL Discord.

Related tools

• Server Command Finder — search settings and defaults
• Gradient Text Maker — branded SERVER_NAME colours
• Map & resource troubleshooting — client download issues