This guide covers how to set up your Zandronum dedicated server on Legion Hosting, configure startup variables, manage WAD files, set game modes, and connect to your server. Zandronum is a multiplayer-focused Doom source port based on Skulltag, supporting Doom, Doom II, Heretic, Hexen, and custom WADs. For admin commands and server management, see Zandronum Admin Commands.
1. First Start
- Log in to GPanel and select your Zandronum server.
- Go to the Startup tab and review the configurable variables (see Section 2).
- Set your desired MAP and IWAD. The default IWAD is
freedoom1.wad. - Return to the Console tab and click Start.
- Wait for
UDP Initialized.in the console, confirming successful startup.
2. GPanel Startup Variables
| Variable | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
MAX_PLAYERS | 16 | Maximum players allowed on the server. |
IWAD | freedoom1.wad | Main game WAD file. Place IWADs in the IWAD/ folder. |
PWADS | (empty) | Additional WAD files (mods). Separate multiple with spaces. Place in PWAD/ folder. |
SKILL | (empty) | Difficulty level (game-dependent). |
MAP | e1m1 | Starting map. |
DMFLAGS | (empty) | Gameplay flags. See Zandronum DMFlags wiki. |
DMFLAGS2 | (empty) | Additional gameplay flags. |
ZADMFLAGS | (empty) | Zandronum-specific gameplay flags. |
COMPATFLAGS | (empty) | Compatibility flags for older WADs. |
COMPATFLAGS2 | (empty) | Additional compatibility flags. |
ZACOMPATFLAGS | (empty) | Zandronum-specific compatibility flags. |
GEOIP | 1 | Enable GeoIP country identification for players. |
3. WAD File Management
Zandronum uses two WAD directories:
| Directory | Purpose |
|---|---|
IWAD/ | Main game WADs (doom.wad, doom2.wad, freedoom1.wad, etc.) |
PWAD/ | Mod/addon WADs loaded with -file |
Upload WAD files via SFTP to the appropriate directory. See How to Upload Files via SFTP.
IWAD/ folder.
4. Server Configuration (zandronum.ini)
The server uses zandronum.ini for additional configuration. This file is auto-generated on first start.
Game-Specific Auto-Exec
Create game-specific config files for automatic execution:
doom.cfg -- Loaded for Doom games
heretic.cfg -- Loaded for Heretic
hexen.cfg -- Loaded for Hexen
strife.cfg -- Loaded for Strife5. Access Control Files
Zandronum creates three plain-text files for access control:
adminlist.txt-- Admin IP addresses.whitelist.txt-- Whitelisted players.banlist.txt-- Banned players.
6. How to Connect
Option A -- Zandronum/Doomseeker Browser
- Download Doomseeker (included with Zandronum) or use the built-in server browser.
- Search for your server by name or IP.
- Ensure you have the same IWAD and PWADs as the server.
- Select and connect.
Option B -- Console Connect
- Open Zandronum and press the console key (
~). - Type:
connect <your-server-ip>:<port>
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Need Help?
If you run into issues with your Zandronum server that are not covered here, open a support ticket and include your server IP, a description of the problem, and any relevant error messages from the GPanel console.
