Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Server Guide

📋 Quick Info

Server Specifications

Game: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
Platform: Linux / Windows
Default Port: 28960/UDP
Max Players: 64 (typical: 18-32)
Control Protocol: RCON
Executable (Linux): cod4_lnxded
Executable (Windows): iw3mp.exe

🔌 Ports & Firewall Configuration

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare servers require specific ports to be open for proper operation:

Port	Protocol	Purpose	Required
28960	UDP	Game port (default, configurable)	Yes
28960	TCP	RCON remote control	Optional
20500-20510	UDP	PunkBuster (if enabled)	Optional

Firewall Examples

UFW (Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo ufw allow 28960/udp comment 'CoD4 Game Port'
sudo ufw allow 28960/tcp comment 'CoD4 RCON'
sudo ufw allow 20500:20510/udp comment 'CoD4 PunkBuster'

FirewallD (CentOS/RHEL/Fedora):

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=28960/udp
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=28960/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=20500-20510/udp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

iptables:

sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 28960 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 28960 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 20500:20510 -j ACCEPT

⚙️ Installation & Setup

System Requirements

OS: Linux (Debian 9+, Ubuntu 18.04+, CentOS 7+) or Windows Server 2016+
CPU: 2+ cores @ 2.5GHz recommended
RAM: 2GB minimum, 4GB recommended for 32+ players
Disk: 8GB for base game + space for mods and logs
Network: Low latency connection, 10Mbps+ bandwidth

Linux Installation

Download Server Files: Obtain Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare dedicated server files
Create Server Directory:
mkdir -p ~/cod4server cd ~/cod4server
Extract Files: Extract server files to the directory
Install 32-bit Libraries (64-bit Linux):
sudo apt-get install lib32gcc1 lib32stdc++6 # Debian/Ubuntu sudo yum install glibc.i686 libstdc++.i686 # CentOS/RHEL
Set Permissions:
chmod +x cod4_lnxded
Create Configuration: Create server.cfg in the main directory

Windows Installation

Install Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare dedicated server files
Create a server.cfg file in the main directory
Ensure Windows Firewall allows the game ports
Install latest Visual C++ Redistributables if needed
Run iw3mp.exe with appropriate parameters

📝 Configuration

Basic server.cfg Example

// Server Name
set sv_hostname "My Call of Duty 4 Server"

// Network Settings
set net_ip "0.0.0.0"
set net_port 28960

// Server Type (1=LAN, 2=Internet)
set dedicated 2

// Player Limits
set sv_maxclients 32

// RCON Password
set rcon_password "your_secure_password_here"

// Game Settings
set g_gametype "war"    // dm, war, sab, koth, sd, hq
set sv_maxPing 350
set sv_minPing 0

// PunkBuster (0=off, 1=on)
set sv_punkbuster 1

// Map Rotation
set sv_mapRotation "gametype war map mp_crash gametype war map mp_backlot gametype war map mp_strike"

// Password Protection (leave empty for public)
set g_password ""

// Friendly Fire
set scr_team_fftype 0    // 0=off, 1=on, 2=reflect

// Kill Cam
set scr_game_allowkillcam 1

// Hardcore Mode
set scr_hardcore 0

// Game Log
set g_log "games_mp.log"
set g_logsync 2

// Voice Chat
set sv_voice 1
set sv_voiceQuality 1

// Anti-Lag
set sv_fps 20

// Downloads
set sv_allowDownload 1

// Pure Server (verify client files)
set sv_pure 1

// Spectating
set scr_game_spectatetype 2    // 0=disabled, 1=team only, 2=free

// Auto-Balance
set scr_teambalance 1

// Anti-Cheat
set sv_cheats 0

🚀 Startup Parameters

Parameter	Description	Example
+set dedicated	Server mode (1=LAN, 2=Internet)	+set dedicated 2
+set net_ip	Bind to specific IP address	+set net_ip "0.0.0.0"
+set net_port	Server port (default: 28960)	+set net_port 28960
+set fs_basepath	Base installation directory	+set fs_basepath "/home/user/cod4"
+set fs_homepath	Config and log directory (deprecated in CoD4)	+set fs_homepath "/home/user/.callofduty4"
+set fs_savepath	Save path for logs and user data	+set fs_savepath "/home/user/cod4data"
+set fs_game	Mod folder (if using mods)	+set fs_game "mods/pam4"
+set sv_punkbuster	Enable PunkBuster (0=off, 1=on)	+set sv_punkbuster 1
+exec	Execute config file on startup	+exec server.cfg
+set rcon_password	RCON password for remote admin	+set rcon_password "secret123"
+set sv_maxclients	Maximum player slots	+set sv_maxclients 32
+map_rotate	Start map rotation from server.cfg	+map_rotate
+map	Start with specific map	+map mp_crash

Example Startup Command (Linux)

./cod4_lnxded +set dedicated 2 +set net_ip "0.0.0.0" +set net_port 28960 +set sv_maxclients 32 +set sv_punkbuster 1 +set fs_savepath "/home/user/cod4data" +exec server.cfg +map_rotate

Example Startup Command (Windows)

iw3mp.exe +set dedicated 2 +set net_ip "0.0.0.0" +set net_port 28960 +set sv_maxclients 32 +set sv_punkbuster 1 +exec server.cfg +map_rotate

🔧 Troubleshooting

Server Not Appearing in Browser

Issue: Players cannot see the server in the in-game browser.

Solutions:

Verify +set dedicated 2 is set (not 1 for LAN)
Ensure UDP port 28960 is open in firewall
Check sv_pure setting - some clients filter out non-pure servers
Verify server is online: ps aux | grep cod4
CoD4 master servers may have connectivity issues; try direct connect

Server Crashes on Startup

Issue: Dedicated server crashes immediately after launch.

Solutions:

Check games_mp.log in the fs_savepath directory for error messages
Verify all required game files are present (zone, usermaps, main)
Ensure server.cfg syntax is correct (no typos)
Remove custom mods temporarily to isolate issue
On Linux, verify 32-bit libraries are installed
Check file permissions: chmod +x cod4_lnxded
Try running without +map_rotate - specify a single map instead

Connection Problems

Issue: Players cannot connect or timeout.

Solutions:

Verify firewall rules allow traffic on game port
Check sv_maxPing setting (increase if players have high latency)
Ensure server is not full (sv_maxclients)
Disable password if testing: set g_password ""
Verify client and server game versions match (patch 1.7 recommended)
Check sv_pure - if enabled, clients must have matching files

High Lag/Ping Issues

Issue: Players experience significant lag.

Solutions:

Increase sv_fps setting (recommended: 20, max: 30)
Reduce sv_maxclients if server is overloaded
Check server CPU and RAM usage
Verify network bandwidth is sufficient
Lower sv_maxPing to restrict high-ping players
Disable voice chat if not needed: set sv_voice 0

RCON Not Working

Issue: Cannot connect via RCON.

Solutions:

Verify rcon_password is set in server.cfg
Ensure TCP port 28960 is open (in addition to UDP)
Use correct RCON syntax: /rcon login password then /rcon command
Test RCON from server console first
CoD4 RCON is case-sensitive - verify password exactly

Mod/Custom Map Issues

Issue: Custom maps or mods not loading.

Solutions:

Verify +set fs_game "mods/modname" parameter is set correctly
Ensure mod files are in the correct directory structure
Custom maps must be placed in usermaps/mapname/
Check mod compatibility with server version (patch 1.7)
Enable downloads: set sv_allowDownload 1 for clients to auto-download

🎮 Game Types

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare supports the following game modes:

dm - Deathmatch (Free-for-all)
war - Team Deathmatch
sab - Sabotage
koth - Headquarters
sd - Search & Destroy
hq - Headquarters (alternate)

🗺️ Default Maps

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare includes the following default multiplayer maps:

Base Game Maps

mp_backlot - Backlot
mp_bloc - Bloc
mp_bog - Bog
mp_cargoship - Wet Work
mp_citystreets - District
mp_convoy - Ambush
mp_countdown - Countdown
mp_crash - Crash
mp_crash_snow - Winter Crash
mp_crossfire - Crossfire
mp_farm - Downpour
mp_overgrown - Overgrown
mp_pipeline - Pipeline
mp_shipment - Shipment
mp_showdown - Showdown
mp_strike - Strike
mp_vacant - Vacant

Variety Map Pack (DLC)

mp_broadcast - Broadcast
mp_carentan - Chinatown (remaster)
mp_creek - Creek
mp_killhouse - Killhouse

Popular server modifications compatible with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare:

B3 (Big Brother Bot) - Python-based admin bot with RCON wrapper, player warnings, ban management, statistics tracking, and automated moderation for Call of Duty servers
ProMod - Competitive gameplay modification
PAM - Promod Allstars Modification
Zombiemod - Zombie survival gameplay
CoDJumper - Parkour/jumping maps and mechanics

📚 Resources

Recommended Patch: 1.7 (final official patch)
Community Forums: CoDModding community, CoD4Central
RCON Tools: B3, CoD4X, various web-based RCON panels
Map Database: Thousands of custom maps available from community sites

Important Notes

Call of Duty 4 is one of the most popular CoD titles for dedicated servers with a large active community
Use fs_savepath instead of fs_homepath - the latter is deprecated in CoD4
Patch 1.7 is the recommended version for both servers and clients
The sv_pure setting enforces file verification - essential for competitive/anti-cheat servers
CoD4 supports extensive modding - ProMod is the standard for competitive play
PunkBuster is optional but recommended for public servers to prevent cheating
Always secure your RCON password - CoD4 RCON has been exploited in the past
Custom maps require proper directory structure in usermaps/ folder
Consider using CoD4X (community modification) for enhanced features and security patches

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Server Guide

📋 Quick Info

Server Specifications

🔌 Ports & Firewall Configuration

Firewall Examples

⚙️ Installation & Setup

System Requirements

Linux Installation

Windows Installation

📝 Configuration

Basic server.cfg Example

🚀 Startup Parameters

Example Startup Command (Linux)

Example Startup Command (Windows)

🔧 Troubleshooting

Server Not Appearing in Browser

Server Crashes on Startup

Connection Problems

High Lag/Ping Issues

RCON Not Working

Mod/Custom Map Issues

🎮 Game Types

🗺️ Default Maps

Base Game Maps

Variety Map Pack (DLC)

🔌 Related Mods & Plugins

📚 Resources

Important Notes