c1m1_hotel). Turn Lobby only off if you want players to join by address, click Review and save, restart, and join with connect 203.0.113.10:27015 in the developer console.
Before you start
- You can sign in to the Game Panel. See how to log in.
- Left 4 Dead 2 is installed on your PC through Steam.
How to set up your Left 4 Dead 2 server
1
Start the server once
Open your server and click Start. Wait until the console shows the map loading, then continue.
2
Open Game settings
Click Game settings under GAME SETTINGS in the sidebar. The page edits the start map and
server.cfg for you.3
Name the server and set passwords
Under Server, set Server name. Click Set next to RCON password and choose a long password; anyone with it controls the server. Set Server password only if you want a private server (leave it empty for a public one).
4
Choose the start map
Under Start-up, set Start map, for example
c1m1_hotel (Dead Center, chapter 1). The server loads this map when it starts.5
Decide how players join
With Lobby only on, players can only join through a game lobby and anyone who types your address is refused. If you want to share the address, turn it off. The panel shows the note “Players can only join through a lobby” with an Allow direct connections button that does this for you.
6
Review, save and restart
Click Review and save, check the changes and click Save changes. Restart the server so they apply.
Left 4 Dead 2 Game settings in the Game Panel
How to connect to your L4D2 server
1
Copy your address
On the Console page, copy the address from the address card, for example
203.0.113.10:27015.2
Turn on the developer console
In Left 4 Dead 2, open Options > Keyboard/Mouse and set Allow Developer Console to Enabled.
3
Connect
Press the If the server has a password, type
~ key to open the console and type:password yourpassword first, then connect.connect is refused, Lobby only is still on. See server not showing or can’t connect.
How to use RCON in Left 4 Dead 2
RCON lets you run server commands from your game console. Type these in your game console while connected:rcon runs on the server. You can also type commands without rcon in the panel Console. See L4D2 server commands.
Make your first backup
Open Backups and click Create backup before you add SourceMod, plugins or campaigns. See how to create and restore backups.Frequently asked questions
How many players can join a Left 4 Dead 2 server?
The game is built for 4 survivors in co-op and 4 versus 4 in versus. More players need the L4DToolZ extension; see 8+ player servers (SuperVersus).How do I change the difficulty or game mode?
In Game settings > Game, set Difficulty, or use the Expert and Normal presets. Game modes in the lobby lists the modes players can pick (coop, realism, survival, versus, scavenge).
Why do players get “server is enforcing consistency for this file”?
They use add-ons that change checked models. See fix consistency errors.Can I install SourceMod?
Yes. Upload Metamod:Source and SourceMod with the File Manager or SFTP. See install SourceMod.Related guides
Left 4 Dead 2 server guide
Every Left 4 Dead 2 page in one place.
Server not showing or can't connect
Lobby only, Steam group and region.
L4D2 server commands
Maps, kicks, difficulty and more.
Install SourceMod
Metamod:Source and SourceMod.
Use the server console
Send commands from the panel.
Tested by the FREAKHOSTING team on 30 October 2026 (Left 4 Dead 2 on our Game Panel). Steps may differ slightly if the game changes.
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Last Updated: October 2026