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How to Configure Your Left 4 Dead 2 Server

Note:

Unlike most games, Left 4 Dead 2 does not automatically create a settings file when you install a server. If you don’t create one manually, your server will be a “ghost” it won’t have admin passwords, you won’t be able to change maps, and it won’t show up in the public browser.

We are going to create the master configuration file (called server.cfg) to give you total control over your lobby!

1. Log In to Your Panel

2. Stop Your Server

3. Select the ‘Files’ Tab

L4D2 Server Dashboard, Files Tab Highlighted

4. Select the ‘left4dead2’ Folder

Navigating to the left4dead2 root folder in the Cybrancee server file manager

5. Select the ‘cfg’ Folder

Opening the cfg configuration folder for Left 4 Dead 2 on the Cybrancee panel

6. Create a New File Inside ‘cfg’ Folder

Clicking the New file button inside the cfg folder to create a server config file

7. Paste this Code Inside the New File

Copy the master configuration template below and paste it directly into the blank text editor.

(Note: The server will ignore everything behind the // symbols, so those notes are just there to help you out)

// -----------------------------------------------------------
// 1. Basic Server Information
// -----------------------------------------------------------
hostname "My Awesome L4D2 Server"  // The name of your server in the server browser.
rcon_password "YourSecretAdminPassword" // The password used to run admin commands.
sv_password "" // Leave blank for a public server. Add a password here to make it private.

// -----------------------------------------------------------
// 2. Game Mode & Lobby Settings
// -----------------------------------------------------------
sv_gametypes "coop,versus,survival" // The game modes your server is allowed to run.
sm_cvar mp_gamemode "coop" // The default game mode the server starts in.
sv_allow_lobby_connect_only 0 // Set to 0 to allow players to join via IP or server browser. Set to 1 to force lobby matchmaking.
mp_disable_autokick 1 // Prevents players from being automatically kicked if they go AFK.

// -----------------------------------------------------------
// 3. Communication & Gameplay
// -----------------------------------------------------------
sv_alltalk 0 // Set to 1 to let Survivors and Infected hear each other in voice chat.
sv_voiceenable 1 // Enables voice chat on the server.
sv_consistency 1 // Forces players to have the exact same core game files as the server (prevents exploiting).

// -----------------------------------------------------------
// 4. Region & Network Visibility
// -----------------------------------------------------------
// Set your server region so players near you can find it easily.
// 0=EastCoast, 1=WestCoast, 2=SouthAmerica, 3=Europe, 4=Asia, 5=Australia, 6=MiddleEast, 7=Africa, 255=World
sv_region 255 
sv_tags "vanilla, coop, custom" // Tags help players find your server in the search bar.

// -----------------------------------------------------------
// 5. Logging & Bans
// -----------------------------------------------------------
sv_logbans 1 // Records when a player is banned in the server logs.
sv_logfile 1 // Enables basic server logging.
exec banned_user.cfg // Automatically loads banned SteamIDs when the server starts.
exec banned_ip.cfg // Automatically loads banned IP addresses when the server starts.

8. Select the ‘Create File’ Button

Pasting the Left 4 Dead 2 server configuration template and saving the plain text file

9. Name the File Exactly server.cfg

Naming the newly created configuration file server.cfg in the Cybrancee dashboard

10. Customize Your Server Name

Find the hostname line and change "My Awesome L4D2 Server" to whatever you want players to see in the server browser.

(Always keep the quotation marks!)

Highlighting the hostname setting in the server.cfg file to change the Left 4 Dead 2 server name

11. Set Your RCON Password

Find the rcon_password line and change "YourSecretAdminPassword" to a secure password.

Note: You will need this later to run admin commands like kicking players or changing maps.

Highlighting the rcon_password line in the server config to secure admin privileges

12. Set a Server Password (Optional)

f you want a private server just for your friends, type a password inside the quotation marks on the sv_password "" line.

Note: Leave it empty if you want random players to join.

Editing the sv_password setting in the Left 4 Dead 2 configuration file to make the server private

13. Select the ‘Save Content’ Button

14. Restart Your Server

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