How to Configure Your Left 4 Dead 2 Server (server.cfg)

Complete L4D2 server.cfg reference — game modes, difficulty, Workshop maps, SourceMod, and FastDL.

server.cfg

Editing server.cfg

In the XGamingServer Panel, click Files → left4dead2/cfg/ → open server.cfg.

hostname "My L4D2 Server"
sv_password ""
rcon_password "YourRconPassword"
sv_lan 0
sv_cheats 0
mp_gamemode coop
z_difficulty Normal

Set via mp_gamemode in config or +mp_gamemode in Startup:

Mode	Value	Description
Campaign Co-op	`coop`	Standard 4-player co-op campaign
Versus	`versus`	4v4 survivors vs infected
Scavenge	`scavenge`	Competitive fuel collection
Survival	`survival`	Holdout against endless waves
Realism	`realism`	Hardcore co-op (no outlines, harder)
Mutation	`mutation*`	Weekly special modes

Set via z_difficulty:

Value	Level	Description
`Easy`	Easy	Fewer infected, more supplies
`Normal`	Normal	Standard experience
`Hard`	Advanced	More special infected, less health
`Impossible`	Expert	Maximum challenge

L4D2 supports Steam Workshop for custom campaigns and maps:

+host_workshop_collection COLLECTION_ID

Set in the Startup tab or add to the startup command. Or load a single map in Console:

host_workshop_map MAP_ID

sv_downloadurl "https://yourcdn.com/left4dead2/"
sv_allowdownload 1

Same installation as other Source games. See CS:GO guide for steps.

Popular L4D2 plugins: Left 4 Downtown 2 (unlock mutations), L4D2 Competitive Framework, Versus Stats

Port	Protocol	Purpose
27015	UDP + TCP	Game + RCON
27020	UDP	SourceTV