How to host a Call of Duty: World at War dedicated server

Call of Duty: World at Warcodwaw_lnxdedUDP 28960Updated 2026-07-25

World at War runs on the same IW3 engine generation as Call of Duty 4, so if you have set up a CoD4 server most of this will look familiar. The differences are the binary name, a larger map set thanks to three free map packs, and a much smaller surviving player base.

What you need

Item Notes
Game paks iw_00.iwd … plus localized_* from a legitimate install
Dedicated binary codwaw_lnxded (Linux) or CoDWaWmp.exe +set dedicated 2
Patch 1.7
Ports UDP 28960 inbound
RAM ~250 MB per instance

32-bit libraries

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y libc6:i386 libgcc-s1:i386 lib32stdc++6 zlib1g:i386

server.cfg

seta sv_hostname "^1My ^7WaW Server"
set rcon_password "change-me"
set g_gametype "war"
set sv_maxclients 24

set sv_pure 1
set sv_allowDownload 1
set sv_maxRate 25000
set sv_fps 20
set sv_timeout 60
set sv_floodProtect 1
set sv_punkbuster 0

set g_allowVote 1
set g_antilag 1
set scr_teambalance 1
set scr_friendlyfire 0
set scr_killcam 1
set logfile 1
set g_log "games_mp.log"
set g_logsync 0

set scr_war_timelimit 15
set scr_war_scorelimit 750
set scr_sd_timelimit 2
set scr_sd_roundlimit 0

set sv_mapRotation "gametype war map mp_castle map mp_airfield map mp_roundhouse map mp_dome"
map_rotate

Gametype codes follow CoD4, not CoD2: war is Team Deathmatch, dm is Free-for-All, koth is Headquarters, sab is Sabotage, dom is Domination, and WaW adds twar for War. Full list on the cvar reference.

Starting the server

cd /opt/waw
./codwaw_lnxded \
  +set fs_basepath /opt/waw \
  +set fs_homepath /opt/waw \
  +set dedicated 2 \
  +set net_port 28960 \
  +set sv_maxclients 24 \
  +set rcon_password "change-me" \
  +exec server.cfg \
  +map mp_castle

systemd unit

[Unit]
Description=Call of Duty World at War dedicated server
After=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=waw
WorkingDirectory=/opt/waw
ExecStart=/opt/waw/codwaw_lnxded \
  +set fs_basepath /opt/waw +set fs_homepath /opt/waw \
  +set dedicated 2 +set net_port 28960 \
  +exec server.cfg +map mp_castle
Restart=always
RestartSec=5

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Map packs

WaW got three free map packs, so a stock 1.7 install has 13 base maps plus 10 DLC maps. Because the DLC maps are free, it is safe to put them in rotation: any patched client has them. Codes to display names is not obvious here either, for example Cliffside is mp_shrine, Upheaval is mp_suburban, Corrosion is mp_stalingrad and Station is mp_subway. Full mapping on the World at War map list.

Fast download

set sv_allowDownload 1
set sv_wwwDownload 1
set sv_wwwBaseURL "http://files.example.com/waw"
set sv_wwwDlDisconnected 0

See the fast download guide for the nginx configuration.

Common problems

Frequently asked

What is the World at War gametype code for Team Deathmatch?

war, the same as Call of Duty 4. WaW also adds twar for the War gametype.

Are the World at War DLC maps safe to put in a public rotation?

Yes. All three WaW map packs were released free, so any patched client already has them.