This guide covers admin commands, RCON setup, player management, DMFlags configuration, game modes, and troubleshooting for your Zandronum server. For initial setup, WAD management, and connection instructions, see Zandronum Server Setup Guide.
1. RCON Setup
Set an RCON password in your game config file (e.g., doom.cfg):
sv_rconpassword "YourSecretPassword"
Authenticate in-game via console (~):
rcon_password YourSecretPassword
rcon <command>
You can also send commands directly through the GPanel Console tab.
2. Player Management
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
playerinfo | List all connected players. |
kick <player> | Kick a player by name or ID. |
kickfromgame <player> | Kick from the game but keep connected to server. |
addban <ip> "reason" | Ban an IP address. |
delban <ip> | Remove a ban. |
addadmin <ip> | Add an admin by IP to adminlist.txt. |
deladmin <ip> | Remove an admin. |
3. Map and Game Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
changemap <mapname> | Change to a different map. |
map <mapname> | Force load a map (resets server). |
say "message" | Send a server-wide chat message. |
kill | Kill your own player. |
4. Game Modes
Zandronum supports multiple game modes, configured via startup or console commands:
| Command | Mode |
|---|---|
deathmatch 1 | Free-for-all deathmatch. |
teamplay 1 | Team deathmatch. |
ctf 1 | Capture the Flag. |
cooperative 1 | Cooperative play through maps. |
survival 1 | Survival mode (limited lives). |
invasion 1 | Wave-based monster invasion. |
duel 1 | 1v1 duel mode. |
skulltag 1 | Skulltag game modes (ST, Possession, etc.). |
0 when changing modes.
5. DMFlags
DMFlags control detailed gameplay behavior. Set them via the DMFLAGS, DMFLAGS2, and ZADMFLAGS startup variables or in-console. Common examples:
| Flag | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| No Health | 1 | Health items do not spawn. |
| No Armor | 2 | Armor items do not spawn. |
| Weapons Stay | 4 | Weapons remain after pickup. |
| No Monsters | 4096 | Disable all monsters. |
| Infinite Ammo | 8192 | Unlimited ammunition. |
Combine flags by adding values together. Full reference: Zandronum DMFlags Wiki.
6. Access Control
Edit the plain-text files in the server root directory:
adminlist.txt-- One IP per line for admin access.whitelist.txt-- Whitelisted player IPs.banlist.txt-- Banned player IPs.
7. Troubleshooting
- WAD mismatch errors: Players must have the same IWAD and PWAD files as the server. Distribute custom WADs to players separately.
- Map not found: Check the map name format. Doom 1 uses
e1m1format; Doom 2 usesmap01format. - Server crashes on PWADs: Test PWADs individually to isolate conflicts.
- Players cannot join: Verify the server is running and check the IP/port in GPanel.
Related Articles
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.