Left 4 Dead Dedicated Server Setup
Big Edit: I updated this post to reflect the upcoming changes for the retail release on the 18th.
So the Left 4 Dead early access demo for the PC and 360 went live today and I figured I should grab it and setup a Left 4 Dead dedicated server. Getting the files was easy, but setting up ( and getting my L4D dedicated server up wasn’t).
I did a lot of searching for how to setup a Left 4 Dead dedicated server and found next to nothing for resources. Thankfully, my prior experience with setting up Source dedicated server helped a little. I figure I will share my steps for setting up a Windows Left 4 Dead dedicated server so maybe it will save somebody else some time.
First off I am using a Windows host, so if you are using linux you will have to change your steps accordingly.
If you are starting from scratch, you will have to grab the hldsupdatetool and install that. Then either by making a batch file, or by using the command line, use this to grab the files for your Left 4 Dead Dedicated server. I will depend on where you installed the hldsupdate tool and where you want to put the files. For me it looks like this:
C:\HLServer\hldsupdatetool -command update -game l4d_full -dir C:\HLServer
This will hit Valves server and grab all the files you need for your Left 4 Dead Dedicated server; this is also how you keep your dedicated server up to date. This is the easy part.
Now what you should do is head to \HLServer\l4d\left4dead and make two text files named mapcycle.txt and maplist.txt. Then put l4d_hospital01_apartment and l4d_dem_hospital02_subway in both. This will allow your server to switch between the two demo mapsEdit: the maps are all in there now. Now all of the maps should be in there allready.
Next head to \HLServer\l4d\left4dead\cfg and make a text file named server.cfg and put this in as a minimum:
hostname Server Name Here
// Rcon Cvars
rcon_password “your recon password” //Set’s remote control password
// Server Cvars
mp_disable_autokick 1 //Prevents a userid from being auto-kicked
sv_allow_color_correction 0 //Allow or disallow clients to use color correction on this server.
sv_allow_wait_command 0 //Allow or disallow the wait command on clients connected to this server.
sv_alltalk 0 //Players can hear all other players, no team restrictions
sv_alternateticks 0 //If set, server only simulates entities on even numbered ticks.
sv_clearhinthistory 0 //Clear memory of server side hints displayed to the player.
sv_consistency 1 //Whether the server enforces file consistency for critical files
sv_contact “your_admin@whatever.com” //Contact email for server sysop
sv_downloadurl “” //Location from which clients can download missing files// Lan or internet play, Server region cvars
//sv_lan 0 //Server is a lan server ( no heartbeat, no authentication, no non-class C addresses )
sv_region 255 // Region Codes: 0 - US East coast, 1 - US West coast, 2 - South America, 3 - Europe, 4 - Asia, 5 - Australia, 6 - Middle East, 7 - Africa, 255 - world// Server Logging
sv_log_onefile 0 //Log server information to only one file.
sv_logbans 1 //Log server bans in the server logs.
sv_logecho 0 //Echo log information to the console.
sv_logfile 1 //Log server information in the log file.
sv_logflush 0 //Flush the log file to disk on each write (slow).
sv_logsdir “logs” //Folder in the game directory where server logs will be stored.//Server Rates
sv_maxcmdrate 100 //(If sv_mincmdrate is > 0), this sets the maximum value for cl_cmdrate.
sv_unlag 1
sv_maxunlag .5
//Fix to get your server onto the master lists
setmaster add 68.142.72.250:27011
setmaster add 72.165.61.189:27011
sv_steamgroup //this is your group’s steam group id.. allows members to join from main menu add
//sv_steamgroup_exclusive 1 //to make it exclusive and private
z_difficulty “Impossible” “//this is the difficulty setting
You could probably put more cvars and whatnot in there, but for now this will give you a basic setup that will get you going. Edit: I added the last cvar to make it so anybody can join from the server broswer. I found a list of Left 4 Dead server commands and cvars; It weighs in at a whopping 21 pages. From what I have seen, you could use a Team Fortress 2 config generator, but I am not sure what will work and what wont.
The last step for getting your Left 4 Dead Dedicated server up is to start it,by the command line, a batch file or making a shortcut to the srcds.exe in your left4dead directory. I did it the last way and added this to the end of the Target parameter:
-console -game left4dead +ip “your ip address” +hostport 27015 +map l4d_hospital01_apartment.bsp
All you have to change is the ip address (take out the “” characters) and your Left 4 Dead dedicated server will be up and running in no time. By having the -console in there, it will bring up a console of the server when you double click on the shortcut, making for easy administration. The +map will start your server with the specified map. If you don’t have it, your server won’t work properly. If you want to setup your server for VS, put in a VS map in there ( like l4d_vs_farm01_hilltop.bsp)
If you have any questions, leave a comment and I will help you get your Left 4 Dead dedicated server up as best I can.
Also, don’t forget to check out Left 4 Dead 411, they have all the info you need ( like how to open the server browser in Left 4 Dead) and if you want to directly connect to my server you can use tf2.last-save.com as the host name
Edit: For Exclusive Versus or Campaign modes for your Left 4 Dead Dedicated server from DirtyDave at the left4dead411.com forums:
To make your server exclusively Campaign or Versus, follow these steps:
1. Change your map on your command line to the first map round of either campaign or versus ie, +map l4d_vs_farm01_hilltop
2. Remove all the opposing maps from the maps folder and relocate into a newly created folder ie, remove all versus maps and put into new folder if you want a server exclusively for campaign mode and do the opposite for versus mode
3. Delete the opposing map names from maplist.txt. IE, Delete all versus map names for strictly campaign mode and the opposite for strictly versus mode
4. Add a line to your server.cfg if you are doing a versus only server. sv_visiblemaxplayers 8
5. Remove -autoupdate from your command line. Check this website for server updates and when there is one, copy over the moved maps back to their original folder and run your update manually, then after the update is finished, move the maps back on over to the folder you created previously
Edit Again: DOA wrote up a very useful guide on setting up a Left 4 Dead dedicated server on Ubuntu
Here are some related posts
Comments
Comment from Anon
Time November 7, 2008 at 12:54 am
The lobby host chooses the difficulty. The server has nothing to do with it.
Comment from Andrew
Time November 7, 2008 at 1:09 am
Then what about a lobby less server, you can have manual connect servers…
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 7, 2008 at 8:25 am
Yeah, there is a server cvar to set the difficulty ( I am looking for the list I saw yesterday). I just added the cvar today on how to make it a joinable from the server browser.
Comment from Anon
Time November 7, 2008 at 9:36 am
Players can vote in game to change difficulty.
Comment from ChaosCode
Time November 7, 2008 at 11:44 am
is there away to direct connect to a server?
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 7, 2008 at 5:04 pm
ChaosCode: Yeah, you can directly connect by specifying the IP of a server. You have to enable the Developer’s console though. (Options–>KB/Mouse). Then hit the tilde key (~) and then type “connect ip goes here” without the quotation marks.
Comment from Demo_kirby
Time November 8, 2008 at 1:04 am
I am having a lot fo trouble understanding the last part.
The last step for getting your Left 4 Dead Dedicated server up is to start it,by the command line, batch file or making a shortcut to the srcds.exe in your left4dead directory. I did it the last way and added this to the end of the Target parameter:
-console -game left4dead +ip “your ip address” +hostport 27015 +map l4d_dem_hospital01_apartment.bsp
What is the Left4dead directory? And where is the target parameter?
Comment from Ahmad
Time November 8, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Demo_Kirby
If you followed the above steps, when you look in the HLServer folder, there should be a folder named l4d_demo-this is the Left4Dead directory. If you go inside it there is a file named srcds.exe-right click it and select create shortcut. This will create a shortcut to it in the same folder. Right click on the short cut and select properties. In the properties window will be a place named “Target” take the commands and paste them at the end of the target. Hope that helps.
Comment from Fred
Time November 8, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Everything works fine, but i cant start the server! Made a batch-file and put it in l4d_demo directory but it wont work, just opens the cmd wich closes imidietly. And i dont have a srcds.exe file! >< Thanks!
Comment from Fred
Time November 8, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Okey, i got it now. Had no space left on the drive 
Thanks for this anyway!
Comment from Fred
Time November 8, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Sorry for spamming, but now is the problem to join the server. It tells me that i have to be logged in to steam, but i dont want that. I want to be able to host a LAN game with my friends, since we wont have internet all the time. Anyone got a solution?
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 8, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Fred: I should have been abit more clear on the shortcut deal. Ahmad hit the nail on the head. As for your other question, you pretty much have to be logged in for steam games. You could try the play offline mode, but I don’t know if that will work for Left 4 Dead.
Does it give you that message when you start the server, or when you start the client on your machine? You could try making the server private by setting a password with sv_password, but from what I have heard it doesn’t work right. Hopefully they will fix that in the actual release.
Comment from Fred
Time November 9, 2008 at 5:55 am
Okey, thanks. It’s when I try to join the server with a client, without steam. Thought it whould work if i set the server to sv_lan 1, but no success there :/ I’ll test som more.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 9, 2008 at 9:42 am
Yeah, the server still might be trying to contact the Valve Anti-Cheat servers so you could try to look into disabling that. (Sorta like disabling PB for other servers)
Comment from Fred
Time November 9, 2008 at 10:18 am
Disabling VAC (adding -insecure in target line) didnt work either. Well, if I give it a few days there sure will be someone who’ve come up to a solution.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 9, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Let me know if you figure something out.
Comment from Edispilf
Time November 9, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Howdy,
I tried what you posted, and I can connect to my server, and I can also see it if i add it as a fav. But I dont’ see it at all in the list of servers. What could I be doing wrong?
Comment from somedude
Time November 10, 2008 at 10:14 am
Router is forwarding ports, srcds is all set up… yet I can only join it on LAN. I’m unale to invite friends to join, and it doesn’t seem to be letting anyone from the internet on. (yes, sv_lan is set to 0)
Comment from jolle
Time November 10, 2008 at 10:55 am
Hi! i´ve been following the steps and im wuite sure i have opened the right ports but i cant get it to work,and when i start the dedicated server in the beginning it says Network: IP Unknown is that why i cant connect to it or do you have other solution?
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 10, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Edispilf: Try to see if somebody else can connect to your server, otherwise it shouldn’t be a big problem if it isn’t showing up on the server list.
Somedude: What port are you using? 27015? I would try setting the server to 27016 (and forward the ports) your client may be using the 27015 port and making it unavailable for your server.
Jolle: This might be the same thing for you as well. You could try letting the server resolve the IP by itself (take out the +ip in the startup). That would be the reason nobody is able to connect; Either the IP isn’t right or the port is in use.
Comment from Psychonuts
Time November 11, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Has anyone had any luck getting the demo not logged into steaem to work on a dedicated server? or has anyone managed to actually get VAC to not run on a dedicated server?
Your thizoghts?
Thanks,
Psychonuts
Comment from AtotehZ
Time November 17, 2008 at 1:11 pm
How do you activate the console again?
I tried activating Developer’s console in options, but the standard (~) key is not responding to it. Next i tried adding the launch option “-console” from steam. As a result the console popped up when i entered the game, but i still couldnt access the console when i pressed (~).
I am downloading the files for the server now, but if i cant even access the console properly it seems useless to have the files anyways.
Comment from AtotehZ
Time November 17, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Update:
I did the following command from the console that popped up “bind toggleconsole”, i tried several different keys such as k, j, ‘ and so on… NOTHING works. Im starting to think the developers have nothing to do with the developers of half life or similar games.
Comment from AtotehZ
Time November 17, 2008 at 1:50 pm
omg… html cut out part of my msg
EDIT:
“I did the following command from the console that popped up “bind (key) toggleconsole”
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 17, 2008 at 4:37 pm
AtotehZ: Do you mean in the game itself? Goto the keyboard options and click advanced and then enable console. Then the ~ key (to the left of 1) should bring it up for you.
Comment from Uzii
Time November 17, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I’ve managed to set up my own temporary Dedicated server on my PC, thanks to your great guide. However, I’ve run into a problem using the sv_steamgroup #### in the server.cfg. Where ever I type this in it simply doesn’t seem to work. My server is never listed in the ‘Play on Steam Group Server’ option. I’ve also tried viewing the sv_steamgroup in-game, but it returns no number. Here is my server.cfg:
hostname SRR-TEST1
rcon_password ****
z_difficulty Impossible
sv_steamgroup 595235
I know the sv_lan and the other sv_ is missing, the same happens regardless. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated, or if I’m not the only one having this problem, I’d like to be comforted by that fact 
I’ve also checked around the internet, a very few people have had this problem, but none have been resolved, or answered for that matter. Thanks again, Uzii
Comment from Uzii
Time November 17, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Right, our actual server is now working with the latest L4D update, however mine still isn’t. I’ll compare notes with our proper dedicated server tomorrow, but could the reason be that the game views my DS as a LAN server first, rather than being a dedicated, as it shows up all the time under the ‘Friends playing’ list.
Any help would be appreciated. And thanks for the guide, very useful.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 17, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Uzii: I haven’t had a chance to use the sv_steamgroup command yet ( i will update my post here in a bit to reflect the upcoming changes with the retail release). I would try double checking the number. Also, i thought I read someplace that now sv_lan 0 means it IS a lan. I would try it with sv_lan 1. If that doesn’t fix you can always try setting the master server ip’s in the server.cfg with this:
setmaster add 68.142.72.250:27011
setmaster add 72.165.61.189:27011
Now, the problem with going this route is that the master Ips can always change.
I am glad you liked my guide, and like I said, I will be updating it for the retail Dedicated Server stuff in a bit (whenever it goes live).
Comment from Uzii
Time November 18, 2008 at 7:27 am
Dam, the L4D demo is gone, replaced by the pre-load which I haven’t purchased as I’m getting it on disk from Game.co.uk. Thanks for the help anyway, back to Fallout for a couple of days then
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 18, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Yeah, as soon as the retail went live, they disabled multiplayer in the demo.
Comment from Scape
Time November 18, 2008 at 6:22 pm
The server binds to my local Ip adress 168.192…. etc any solution to that issue ?
Comment from preset
Time November 18, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Scape:
Find out your external IP (i.e. http://www.whatismyip.com). Then input it into the command line for starting up the server.
Use the same line of code, except but your external IP in place of “YOUR IP ADDRESS” (minus the quotes).:
-console -game left4dead +ip “your ip address” +hostport 27015 +map l4d_hospital01_apartment.bsp
Comment from Brad
Time November 19, 2008 at 11:26 am
This is all working out pretty fine and dandy i just cant seem to join the lobby when i join my DS, it just throws me right into the game…? i want to be able to change the maps before i start the game and what not, any clue…?
Comment from Mower
Time November 19, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I have the same problem Brad. Seems like owning a dedicated server is pointless since if you go through lobby you just get tossed into a random server. If you join your own you get no lobby option and just end up starting with the AI
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 19, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Yeah, what you can try doing is setting the sv_steamgroup to your steamgroup id number, then your server will show up the main menu and you should be able to get in via a lobby.
Valve has been pretty good about making changes ( they added that sv_steamgroup cvar a couple days before retail release). If nothing else, hold out and see what it will bring.
Comment from jolle
Time November 20, 2008 at 1:25 am
I am pretty sure i have forwarded the right ports and stuff but when i start the server it get´s stuck on ´: Sending heartbeat to masterserver
Comment from Scape
Time November 20, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Thanks for help earlier that sorted it, now I just need to figure out how to change the logos and such on the server.
Comment from Paint8aller
Time November 21, 2008 at 6:55 am
The top dog in my community has set up a left 4 dead server, I recently made a steam group for our community, how can I add this server to the steam group?
Sorry for veering slightly off topic.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 21, 2008 at 8:09 am
Paint8aller:
sv_steamgroup id
is what you are looking for. If you want to make it exclusive, you can us sv_steamgroup_exclusive (0 makes it not, 1 makes it so it is exclusive until a member joins.. then it is open and 2 makes it fully exclusive.
Comment from jolle
Time November 21, 2008 at 11:46 am
i dont want to be a stick in teh ass but i havent got help with my problem,im sure i have forwarded the right ports and stuff but my server get´s stuck on : Sending heart beat to master server
Comment from steamUser
Time November 21, 2008 at 4:56 pm
hey guys, is it possible to use the standalone server to set up a 4 player campaign mode dedicated server?
when i launch it, it only lets me change the map/network/max players, etc. nothing about server type and what not
Comment from jolle
Time November 22, 2008 at 6:17 am
Sweeet! i have got my server up but i have a question, is it possible to get it to “play” VERSUS mode??
Comment from jolle
Time November 22, 2008 at 8:09 am
so i have “fixed” versus mode but have another question, when playersare on my server it sometimes loops them up to about 4-500 in ping any1 knows what the problem is?
Comment from SlayerG
Time November 22, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I’m still trying to make a dedicated non-steam server but im still having this problem that i try to connect into my server and doesnt load… if it is too much to ask plz i would like a server.cfg file mailed to me at rgm.slayerg@gmail.com,
Thanks anyway.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 22, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Steamuser: Not yet, you can start it as a vs map or campaign by the map, but when a group connects to it via the lobby, it changes your server to whatever they want.
jolle: No idea on why it would being do that. Maybe your server is having issues with resources ( ram, etc).
SlayerG: There is a way to do that ( you have to patch certain files… look for them online).
Comment from SlayerG
Time November 23, 2008 at 1:56 am
could you please help me A Gaming Moose, becouse im trying to find them but i can’t still find them =( i’d really appreciate if u could help me with that.
Thanks for answereing thow
Comment from jolle
Time November 23, 2008 at 2:28 am
I am pretty sure i have fixed the ping problem but im back with my other “problem”,when i start the server it gets stuck on: Sending heartbeat to masterserver is that a problem or what?
Comment from dave
Time November 23, 2008 at 7:00 am
I am having troubles with pasting in the target thing.
i dont know where to insert it at i have tried after the .exe, right in front of the .exe. it says its invalid, and yes i am taking out the quotes and puting in my own ip.
also can i just copy and paste the above config into my .cfg?
Comment from jolle
Time November 23, 2008 at 7:40 am
Dave you should just put it 1 space after the .exe like this :C:\HLserver\l4d\srcds.exe -console -game left4dead +ip your ip here -port 27015 +hostport 27016 +tv_port 27021 +map l4d_hospital01_apartment.bsp
Comment from jolle
Time November 23, 2008 at 7:40 am
That´s how i hav it and it works perfectly
Comment from mike
Time November 23, 2008 at 4:22 pm
i did everything and when i dbl cliked the shortcut it shows up the command thing. however when i actually open up l4d i dont c my server anywhere and when i try to add my server in favs it says server not responding. so do i need to open up the scrd file too? or not
Comment from mike
Time November 23, 2008 at 5:15 pm
okay i think i fixed that prob but now i cant join my server b/c it says sending heartbeat to master server. i get that whenever i try to join my lan server.
Comment from mike
Time November 23, 2008 at 6:24 pm
sry for spamming but could some1 pls help me?
Comment from dave
Time November 23, 2008 at 7:30 pm
ok, now im am getting a msg saying “couldnt exec server.cfg”
this is kinda hard because im using 2 different sites to try and figure this out.
so i think that is what is messing me up
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 25, 2008 at 8:29 am
mike: double check that your ports are forwarded to your dedicated server ( if you are hosting from home or whatnot). Also, try updating the server, maybe you are missing a file or something got corrupted.
Dave: can you email me your server.cfg? gamingmoose @ last-save dot com
Comment from u3pYg
Time November 25, 2008 at 2:01 pm
hey jolle,
i was glad to read u managed to fix versus game mode and resolve the lag issues on ur dedicated. please share how u did it.
also i can’t seem to set maxplayers to more than 4 (whereas console says 14, lal) but im guessing thats coz server is in co-op.
Comment from mike
Time November 25, 2008 at 5:29 pm
okay thnx for ur help A GAMING MOOSE cause i think it works but how do i make it only my friends can join rather than having ppl join in my room b4 i can even get in?
Comment from mike
Time November 25, 2008 at 5:45 pm
i got another prob. i can make my own server but i cant get in even when its not full and also my l4d freezes everytime when i try to get in my own room .y?
Comment from Jonne
Time November 25, 2008 at 7:02 pm
This is some seriously messed up crap. Since last update my sever’s been empty 24/7. Also whenever you join a game through the console if it is empty u are missing cmdheaders and u will break ur server. Ppl geting stuck in saferoom, coop mode on vs maps and vs mode on coop maps etc etc etc.
They should fix this because with the automated matchmaking u rarely find a good server and the game lags like hell…
Comment from mike
Time November 25, 2008 at 7:42 pm
now i got everything workin without the freezing but i still am unable to get into my room while others can. also when i told my friend to join it he cant
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 25, 2008 at 8:37 pm
mike: make a steamgroup for you and your friends ( and invite them in), grab the ID from the admin page and put it in like this in your server. cfg:
sv_steamgroup (id goes here)
sv_steamgroup_exclusive 1 //this makes it exclusive till somebody in your group joins.. then it goes public.
Jonne: That is really crazy, I haven’t done an update in a bit (but I have people in my server right now).
For those who want to make your Left 4 Dead dedicated server as vs only, add this to your server.cfg
Add this to your server.cfg
//director_no_human_zombies 0|1 <–Co-op
//director_no_human_zombies 0|0 <– versus
director_no_human_zombies 0|0
That last line will force the server into vs mode. let me know if it doesn’t work for you.
Comment from mike
Time November 25, 2008 at 10:08 pm
i’ve did wat u told me to do but nothing seemed to have changed :/. sry if i seem to be troublesome
Comment from Jonne
Time November 26, 2008 at 2:01 pm
A Gaming Moose: Players started geting back into the server now..
About that line director_no_human_zombies 0|0, the problem is that if a user votes a coop map, it will load and still run vs mode on the coop map which can result in all kinds of problems with the gameplay.
Comment from Jonne
Time November 26, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Oh and mike: it’s sv_steamgroup # (where # is your id)
and sv_steamgroup_exclusive 1
Comment from mike
Time November 26, 2008 at 10:15 pm
i did put that in the server.cfg file but nthing happens.it say couldnt exec server.cfg when i run the server. sometimes though it runs normal where ppl can join but sometimes ppl cant.
Comment from John
Time November 27, 2008 at 10:12 am
Hi hosted my server but anyway try connecting will get this message:
“Server requires lobby reservation but is unreserved.”
Can anyway help me on this ?
Comment from jolle
Time November 27, 2008 at 3:40 pm
this is how i fixed the first server prob : C:\HLserver\l4d\srcds.exe -console -game left4dead +ip “here s my ip” +hostport 27016 +tv_port 27021 +map l4d_hospital01_apartment.bsp// just my target
Server.cfg:hostname “my hostname
rcon_password “my rcon pass”
sv_lan 0
sv_allow_lobby_connect_only 0
sv_cheats 0
// if you are to use this do not include the qoutes that´s the ( “”)
Comment from grasshoper
Time November 27, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I cant find my server in the openserverbrowser list, can you help me?
I used the HldsUpdateTool.exe to download the latest server files, then my server.cfg:
setmaster add 207.173.177.11
setmaster add 69.28.151.162
setmaster add 68.142.72.246:27011
setmaster add 68.142.72.247:27011
setmaster add 68.142.72.250:27011
setmaster add 72.165.61.189:27011
hostname ” -=Pandora.Box.#6=-”
sv_unreserve
sv_allow_lobby_connect_only 0
z_difficulty Impossible
director_no_human_zombies 1
rcon_password “xxxxxxxxxx”
sv_lan 0
exec banned_user.cfg
exec banned_ip.cfg
sv_alltalk 0
sv_consistency 1
sv_pausable 0
mp_disable_autokick 1
sv_cheats 0
motd_enabled 1
sv_region 255
sv_maxcmdrate 100
sv_unlag 1
sv_maxunlag .5
The startup bat:
srcds.exe -console -game left4dead -maxplayers 8 -autoupdate +map l4d_airport01_greenhouse +ip xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx -port 27015 -nohltv +sv_lan 0
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time November 28, 2008 at 5:38 pm
grasshopper: I would take out the setmaster stuff and just let the game add it’s own master servers. I am pretty sure that is your problem right there.
Comment from Fox9
Time November 29, 2008 at 2:30 am
In the console, when I start up srcds.exe, the console is stuck at “Sending heartbeat to master server…” is this normal? Also, I added my IP to favorites while it was running and could not find it.
Comment from ronny
Time November 30, 2008 at 5:54 am
Can I play on the pc that the server is set up on?
Comment from Dejeezus
Time December 1, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Ronny: You can play on the same box that you host on you just need to change the port the server is listening on as the server host and client can not both run on the default port of 27015. Add the following line to your start up command: -port 27016.
When people connect they may have to add port 27016 to the end of your IP. XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX:27016
Comment from krotalwarrior
Time December 2, 2008 at 4:16 am
“sv_cheats 0″ has all kinds of buggy behavior (delayed recharge on smoker misses, etc.)
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 2, 2008 at 8:15 am
krotalwarrior: I didn’t know that. I figured that it wouldn’t hurt setting it to 0.
Comment from krotalwarrior
Time December 2, 2008 at 10:49 pm
A Gaming Moose:
Yeah, it allegedly affects:
* smoker tongue recharge on a miss
* spawn distance from survivors
* “waiting to spawn” message for the 4th infected player
* melee slows down after 5 swings
http://www.left4dead411.com/forums/index.php?action=vthread&forum=9&topic=7226
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=760667
Comment from Addict
Time December 2, 2008 at 11:40 pm
i’m getting a
CreateBoundSocket: ::bind returned Win32 error 10049
cminterfae.cpp : Assertion Failed: NULL != m_hConnection
then gets stuck on sending heartbeat to master server
Comment from dangermouse
Time December 3, 2008 at 5:11 am
I bought a dedi box from a company and have tc admin installed the game and hldsupdate tool were put on for me. ive made a cfg like above a but the server does not appear in the list nor does it appear in any of my steam groups when i set it to exclusive . In the admin part for server status it shows it as running .i cant even connnect directly to the server 
any ideas would be appreciated cheers guys
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 3, 2008 at 8:13 am
Addict: sounds like the sever is unable to start on the port that you specified. Try going a port or two up (like 27016 or 27017).
dangermouse: can you add it to your favorites list by using the server browser? If not, there might be something wrong on the hosting side of things.
Comment from Frustrated
Time December 3, 2008 at 12:15 pm
If your getting the ‘couldn’t exec server.cfg’ and your certain all the files are in the right place. Just make sure windows isn’t hiding file extensions and naming your server.cfg.txt without showing it
School boy error and yes I feel like a noobling.
Pingback from Left 4 Dead (A SickPillz hosting adventure)
Time December 3, 2008 at 1:03 pm
[...] So I did a search for sample server.cfg files and found a site called Down to the Last Save (site) which had a config file that was set up to log, however I have yet to get the server to log [...]
Comment from Tyrael
Time December 3, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Ok. My server is on a virtual XPSP3 on a Vmware box on my gaming machine. So the XPSP3 connects through the internet via a bridge.
My friends can see the server online but they can’t join. I can’t see the server online and can’t join. Either, I see the server running on a LAN ip on port 27016 and can join locally. The ports have been forwarded, my firewall is disabled. What’s wrong?
My config:
hostname Server
// Rcon Cvars
rcon_password “” //Set’s remote control password
sv_password “”
// Server Cvars
mp_disable_autokick 1 //Prevents a userid from being auto-kicked
sv_allow_color_correction 0 //Allow or disallow clients to use color correction on this server.
sv_allow_wait_command 0 //Allow or disallow the wait command on clients connected to this server.
sv_alltalk 0 //Players can hear all other players, no team restrictions
// Lan or internet play, Server region cvars
sv_lan 0 //Server is a lan server ( no heartbeat, no authentication, no non-class C addresses )
sv_region 3 // Region Codes: 0 - US East coast, 1 - US West coast, 2 - South America, 3 - Europe, 4 - Asia, 5 - Australia, 6 - Middle East, 7 - Africa, 255 - world
// Server Logging
sv_log_onefile 0 //Log server information to only one file.
sv_logbans 1 //Log server bans in the server logs.
sv_logecho 0 //Echo log information to the console.
sv_logfile 1 //Log server information in the log file.
sv_logflush 0 //Flush the log file to disk on each write (slow).
sv_logsdir “logs” //Folder in the game directory where server logs will be stored.
//Server Rates
sv_maxcmdrate 100 //(If sv_mincmdrate is > 0), this sets the maximum value for cl_cmdrate.
sv_steamgroup 88836 //this is your group’s steam group id.. allows members to join from main menu add
sv_steamgroup_exclusive 1 //to make it exclusive and private
The startup command line is:
C:\HLSERVER\l4d\srcds.exe -console -game left4dead -autoupdate +map l4d_vs_hospital01_apartment +ip 192.168.0.229 +hostport 27016
Comment from DSwan
Time December 4, 2008 at 3:43 am
A Gaming Moose, could you please email me your email address so I can send you my server.cfg file and the output of srcds? I am also getting stuck on “sending heartbeat to master server”, and I’ve tried the 27016 port. I am behind a router if this makes any difference. Also, at the top of the scrds app, it shows the fps and number of players (0/14). Does this mean it is accessible in L4D or no?
About server.cfg not being able to execute: it was a file extension problem for me. Although I saved it as server.cfg from a new text file, it was really saved as server.cfg.txt, although Windows doesn’t show this. Simply copy a .cfg file in the left4dead\cfg directory with notepad, paste it, rename it to server, and put in the correct server text.
Comment from DSwan
Time December 4, 2008 at 3:53 am
I think these 2 lines indicate what the problem is:
CreateBoundSocket: :: Bind returned Win32 error 10049
cminterface.cpp (940) : Assertion Failed: NULL != m_hConnection
I am running Vista 64-bit, this doesn’t make a diff with this stuff right?
Comment from DSwan
Time December 4, 2008 at 4:05 am
Nevermind, I put in my static IP address (assigned by my router) instead of the external IP, and it works. Now my question is, well people outside my router be able to see the server?
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 4, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Tyarel: Are you trying to join via the command line, or via the main menu with steamgroup id?
DSwan: If the port you specified is forwarded from the router to your dedicated server, they should be able to see your machine. Use something like HLSW to verify. They would have to know your external IP address as well (whatismyip.com is a good tool for that)
Comment from Tyrael
Time December 4, 2008 at 6:15 pm
@ A Gaming Moose: via command line.
I installed L4D Dedicated server on my laptop and everything’s working fine but I can’t join via LAN. People can connect on the server via internet and play, but I can’t.
-> When there is nobody on the server, I can join and play via LAN
-> When persons join the server (via internet) and play, I can’t join via LAN (get timeout).
How do I solve this?
Comment from Mardigen
Time December 5, 2008 at 10:25 pm
My friend has a dedicated server on Vs. We all want to play as zombies against the AI, but now when we all join the one side it auto defeats us. Any Ideas why? I don’t know where in the config file it is.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 6, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Tyrael: I seem to be having the opposite issue. I tried to join my server via the steamgroup menu and it wouldn’t let me (event though they are empty, but I can join if there are people in it). I think your issue is that the server goes to reserved when a group comes in via a lobby.
Mardigen: I believe it is because somebody HAS to play as a survivor.
Comment from Kavic
Time December 8, 2008 at 1:18 am
Hey, me and my buddies are trying to set up a Dedicated server that anyone can join and I’m wondering why it wont let anyone join if we just install the dedicated client and hit host. Do you have to go in and set up all thats stuff? Or is there a way to host it so everyone can join with out having to go in and edit anything. Sorry if it sounds kinda stupid or hard to follow kinda took 4 Pm’s and tired.
Comment from Kavic
Time December 8, 2008 at 1:25 am
Sorry for a double post but the problem one of my friends is having is not being able to join his own dedicated server unless a game is in progress. In other words no one can join unless its already started and it can’t be started because no one can get in.
Comment from Leech
Time December 8, 2008 at 1:53 pm
OK I MADE IT!!But I have a problem…when I try to connect the loading screen appears but when I wait a message appears and it tells me that connection has been lost because it didnt connect in 10 retries.
I will add that other people can connect but I and my friends eat shit
Comment from Leech
Time December 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm
oh sorry it says Disconnected
Connection to session has been lost
Comment from Zombie Cancer
Time December 8, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I’m curious, what kind of computer specs do i need to host a L4D server? What would be the minimal and maximum requirements to do so?
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 9, 2008 at 8:25 am
Kavic: If you want to reserve it for you and your friends, setup sv_steamgroup “steamgroup id” and sv_steamgroup_exclusive 1. It is either that or setting a unique sv_search_key on the server and then have a client set it on their end, create a lobby and have everybody join. Like so:
1) sv_search_key “yourkey” // in your server.cfg and on your client console (or in \steam\steamapps\common\left 4 dead\left4dead\cfg\autoexec.cfg).
2) Create a friends only lobby, then invite all your friends.
3) Once your friends have joined, set the lobby to public. When the server fills hit START GAME and everyone then immediately gets planted on your server without having to do any lengthy searching.
Leech: I would try the above as well.
Comment from Richard
Time December 9, 2008 at 2:25 pm
@ Zombie Cancer: the CPU on the server must support SSE, and it’s always good to have as much RAM as you can fit/afford. Disk space is not a concern really, as network bandwidth is the real killer here.
I am running my server on a pentium 4 631 (3.0GHz), with 2GB RAM, on a 20GB disk. OS is Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex, and my broadband connection is 1MB up, 8MB down and it seems to run just fine (I set my maxplayers to 8).
Comment from Companion^3
Time December 9, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I have set up my server with the sv_steamgroup command, however, it will not show up in the steamgroup servers menu in game. Any ideas?
Comment from Companion^3
Time December 9, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Also, I have tried to use the sv_search_key command to connect to my server from the lobby. When I do that, the lobby fails to find a server. Again, I am stumped. Any ideas appreciated.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 12, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Zombie Cancer: I run about the same specs as Richard does for a dedicated server. I plan on tossing up another l4d server as well. Although, my server sits on a 60 MB down/up line, so I don’t have to worry about bandwith.
Comanion: That is really crazy, I would re-check the ID and then give it a bit, sometimes it takes a few minutes before it will actually show up. Also, I haven’t tried the search key trick yet, but will give it a try tomorrow and report back.
Comment from Troy
Time December 13, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I have setup 2 servers.. and I am having a couple problems. Neither will let you vote to return to the loby.
Both have the following server.cfg:
hostname “TAF”
sv_contact “xxxxxxxxxxx”
rcon_password “xxxxxxxxxxxxx”
motd_enabled 0
sv_lan 0
sv_allow_lobby_connect_only 0
sv_voiceenable 1
sv_alltalk 0
sv_region 0
mp_disable_autokick 1
z_difficulty Impossible
sv_steamgroup 638838
sv_steamgroup_exclusive 1
The second server I have setup for versus, I have only versus maps in mapcycle.txt and maplist.txt, and I start the server with a vs map. The fist time I connect to the server, it is in vs mode (but I am unable to vote to return to the lobby). When I connect to the server for a second time, the game has switched to campaign mode. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Comment from Troy
Time December 13, 2008 at 4:35 pm
It seems that sv_allow_lobby_connect_only 0 was causing the problem with not being able to vote to return to the lobby, but I am still having the issue with the game switching to campaign mode after the second time I connect to it.
Comment from ij10
Time December 13, 2008 at 8:47 pm
when i try to join my server, it says, could not connect after10 retries… why is this?
Comment from echimo
Time December 15, 2008 at 10:27 am
hi! we are working on a cracked dedicated server, we made the config at all. But we can’t join in, dunno, any idea? It’s not the demo. Is somebody here who made a working cracked dedicated server with the “whole” game?
Comment from echimo
Time December 16, 2008 at 6:00 pm
ah we made it, there is only one problem more…maybe. so!
at every mapchangint (think not between chapters, for example apartmant -> subway) you must rejoin to the server, esc 2x console and connect again?
what should be the problem? somebody?
Comment from teh n00b
Time December 17, 2008 at 12:33 am
I keep getting a “disconnected from server STEAM validation rejected” yes I am running a cracked version of L4D. Is there any way to make STEAM STFU so I can play on my own server over the net so my friends can join too?
Comment from Richard
Time December 17, 2008 at 2:49 am
To those of you who have cracked versions: I say look somewhere else for help. If you haven’t bought the game, don’t play it. That’s just my opinion, though, and the author of this blog may feel differently.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 17, 2008 at 8:20 am
Richard does have a point. I don’t have the game myself ( I play from the local lan center). If you have problems with your cracked version, I wouldn’t know the first thing on how to fix them, sorry.
Comment from Tyler J
Time December 18, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Hey, I’ve followed the instructions and read through about 50 comments on this page to make sure I could forsee any problems I might have. and I’m having one that someone mentioned..and you said you didn’t know what it was well i don’t think the previous person provided enough information. Here’s my problem… http://uploadingit.com/files/966671_xd9xm/Heartbeat%20Error%20and%20Win32%20Error.jpg its stuck at master heartbeat and there are a couple other problems, it can’t load the server.cfg and there is a Win32 Error with a error number…any solutions to this problems would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 18, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Tyler: It looks like that it can’t start the server on the port that you specified. Make sure that there is nothing currently running that is using that port ( or us something like 27018). Most likely that is the reason it can’t send the heartbeat. If you could post your server config, or email it to me at gamingmoose@last-save.com I can try and look at it and see if anything is messed up.
Comment from Tyler J
Time December 19, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Well…I don’t think that could be the problem…I set my router on DMZ mode and that opens up everything and it still didn’t work But I will send you my server config asap.
Comment from Ali
Time December 22, 2008 at 12:24 am
Hey, I didn’t see if there was anyone who posted an error comment already, but I was wondering if someone could help me get past it when I’m trying to do the first update thing before making the cfg. It keeps saying this when I try to do it in the command prompt:
Checking bootstrapper version …
Updating Installation
Cannot open blob archive file: CMultiFieldBlob(mem-mapped file): File does not e
xist and failed to create new file
Please help if you can. 
Comment from Ali
Time December 22, 2008 at 12:52 am
Well, I don’t know if this is right, but I just created a HLServer folder right in the C drive window, and tryed it again, and it’s working so far. I guess I fixed my problem for now. Thanks anyways, excellent topic.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 22, 2008 at 9:37 am
ALi: I know you solved it, but for everybody else out there. You can try deleting a file called clientregistry.blob. That way you can reconnect and re-try to d/l the files needed.
Comment from Pesutko
Time December 27, 2008 at 12:36 pm
How to crack server?Cuz I didnt buy left4dead legally…
Comment from tj_tricks
Time December 28, 2008 at 12:29 pm
how can i know my ip add.???
Comment from PloP
Time December 29, 2008 at 8:52 am
I’m running 2 versus servers, but when i check them after a while they are running coop. I guess they join the servers “manually, and then vote for coop.
Does anyone know how to disable voting, and does anyone know how to disable the auto-balance teams thing?
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 29, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Pesutko: I don’t have any info on how to crack a server, and nor would I provide any.
tj_tricks: I would goto http://www.whatismyip.com for your external IP
Plop: No way (that I have found) to disable voting or the auto balance on L4D servers. There is probably a third party mod or script out there that could do it.
Comment from PloP
Time December 29, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I’ve found a work around for the versus/coop issue: http://www.left4dead411.com/forums/index.php?action=vthread&forum=9&topic=6253&page=0
Now my servers run versus only.
Can’t seem to find any on the auto balance issue though, but i’ll just consider it yet another entry on the endless list of bugs cause they HAD to release before christmas.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time December 29, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Plop:
Thanks for the info! I updated my post with the new info for setting your L4D server to versus or campaign.
Comment from Rambowjo
Time January 1, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Hey, I’m setting up a server, but I’ve run into a problem I can’t seem to solve. I’ve set up the server.cfg and all, but where do I put it? I don’t have a folder called HLServer. I tried putting it everywhere that seemed somewhat related to server configs, but when I launch the server, the commandline just says “couldn’t exec server.cfg”.
Comment from doa
Time January 1, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I wrote a Ubuntu L4D server guide here for anyone who is interested: http://left4dead-info.blogspot.com/2008/11/left-4-dead-ubuntu-server.html
doa
Comment from PloP
Time January 2, 2009 at 6:44 am
Rambowjo: My server.cfg is in C:\l4d\l4d\left4dead\cfg\
I can’t seem to exec other cfg’s than that thoug. I run 3 servers on the same machine, and from what i’ve gathered i should be able to use +exec different_server.cfg but it’s seem it only reads server.cfg.
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time January 2, 2009 at 8:19 am
It should be in the l4d config folder.
Plop: You can do that… if you run a Linux L4D server that is. Windows doesn’t get that feature ( I believe it’s the fork command).
Comment from Rambowjo
Time January 2, 2009 at 11:15 am
Thanks a lot PloP, it works now. I totally oversaw that folder for some reason :s
Comment from computerquip
Time January 3, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Well, it seems that the +ip bootstrap command is bad. Instead use +hostip and see how it works for you. This should fix the NULL XUID, the inability to connect to your own server, etc.
ALSO, the crack patch doesn’t work on the dedicated server. It doesn’t play in LAN and the bug works but it still seems to want you to connect to steam but I’m still working on this. Hopefully I can come up with some hax of my own.
CURRENTLY THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE A DEDICATED SERVER.
Comment from gunot
Time January 5, 2009 at 2:20 am
so for the server.cfg txt file do we delete all the side notes like //Set’s remote control password or do we keep all those notes
Comment from A Gaming Moose
Time January 5, 2009 at 8:18 am
gunot: You can delete them if you want to. They are just there to let people know what that command does.
Comment from Andrew
Time November 6, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Do you know how to set the difficulty level for the server?