# How to Add Admins on Your Left 4 Dead Server (/docs/left-4-dead/adding-admins)



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Admin access on a Left 4 Dead server is handled through RCON (Remote Console) for basic server management. For more advanced admin features like in-game admin menus, you can install SourceMod. This guide covers both approaches.

Setting Up RCON [#setting-up-rcon]

RCON (Remote Console) is built into every Source engine server. It lets you run server commands remotely by authenticating with a password.

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  <div className="fd-step">
    Open the XGamingServer panel [#1-open-the-xgamingserver-panel]

    Log in to the [XGamingServer panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com) and stop your Left 4 Dead server.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Open server.cfg [#2-open-servercfg]

    In the sidebar, go to `Files` and navigate to `left4dead` > `cfg`. Open `server.cfg`.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Set the RCON password [#3-set-the-rcon-password]

    Add or update the `rcon_password` line:

    ```
    rcon_password "YourSecureRCONPassword"
    ```
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Save and restart [#4-save-and-restart]

    Click **Save** and start your server.

    > 📝 **Note:** The RCON password gives full control over your server. Use a strong, unique password and only share it with trusted administrators.
  </div>
</div>

Using RCON In-Game [#using-rcon-in-game]

<div className="fd-steps">
  <div className="fd-step">
    Connect to your server [#1-connect-to-your-server]

    Join your Left 4 Dead server.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Open the developer console [#2-open-the-developer-console]

    Press the **tilde key** (`~`) to open the console.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Authenticate with RCON [#3-authenticate-with-rcon]

    Type:

    ```
    rcon_password YourSecureRCONPassword
    ```
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Run admin commands [#4-run-admin-commands]

    Once authenticated, prefix commands with `rcon`:

    ```
    rcon changelevel l4d_hospital01_apartment
    rcon kick PlayerName
    rcon say "Server restarting in 5 minutes"
    ```

    See our full [RCON guide](/docs/left-4-dead/rcon) for a complete command reference.
  </div>
</div>

Common Admin Commands [#common-admin-commands]

Once authenticated via RCON, these commands are available:

| Command                          | Description                                                |
| -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| `rcon status`                    | Show server status, connected players, and their Steam IDs |
| `rcon kick <name>`               | Kick a player by name                                      |
| `rcon banid <minutes> <SteamID>` | Ban a player by Steam ID (0 = permanent)                   |
| `rcon removeid <SteamID>`        | Unban a player by Steam ID                                 |
| `rcon changelevel <map>`         | Change to a specified map                                  |
| `rcon say <message>`             | Send a server-wide message                                 |
| `rcon sv_password <pass>`        | Set or change the server password                          |
| `rcon maps *`                    | List all available maps                                    |
| `rcon writeid`                   | Save the ban list to banned\_user.cfg                      |
| `rcon writeip`                   | Save IP bans to banned\_ip.cfg                             |

> 💡 **Tip:** Use `rcon status` to get a player's Steam ID before banning them. The output shows each connected player's name, Steam ID, IP address, and connection time.

Installing SourceMod (Advanced) [#installing-sourcemod-advanced]

For more advanced admin features, you can install SourceMod on your server. SourceMod provides an in-game admin menu, plugin support, and fine-grained admin permissions.

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  <div className="fd-step">
    Install Metamod:Source [#1-install-metamodsource]

    Download Metamod:Source from [metamodsource.net](https://www.metamodsource.net/) and extract it to your server's `left4dead/` directory via the `Files` tab on the XGamingServer panel.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Install SourceMod [#2-install-sourcemod]

    Download SourceMod from [sourcemod.net](https://www.sourcemod.net/) and extract it to the same `left4dead/` directory.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Add admins [#3-add-admins]

    Open the file `left4dead/addons/sourcemod/configs/admins_simple.ini` and add admin entries:

    ```
    "STEAM_0:1:12345678" "99:z"  // Full admin access
    "STEAM_0:0:87654321" "99:b"  // Ban access only
    ```

    The format is `"STEAM_ID" "immunity:flags"`. The `z` flag grants all permissions.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Restart the server [#4-restart-the-server]

    Restart your server for SourceMod to load.
  </div>
</div>

SourceMod Admin Flags [#sourcemod-admin-flags]

| Flag | Permission             |
| ---- | ---------------------- |
| `a`  | Reserved slot access   |
| `b`  | Generic admin (kick)   |
| `c`  | Slay players           |
| `d`  | Change map             |
| `e`  | ConVar access          |
| `f`  | Config execution       |
| `g`  | Chat commands          |
| `h`  | Vote commands          |
| `i`  | Passwords              |
| `j`  | RCON access            |
| `k`  | Cheats                 |
| `z`  | All permissions (root) |

Using the SourceMod Admin Menu [#using-the-sourcemod-admin-menu]

Once SourceMod is installed, admins can access the in-game menu by typing `!admin` or `sm_admin` in chat. The menu provides options to:

* Kick and ban players with a visual interface
* Change maps from a list
* Execute votes
* Manage server settings
* Run SourceMod plugins

> 📝 **Note:** SourceMod is a third-party plugin, not built into Left 4 Dead. Installing it is optional — RCON provides all the basic admin functionality you need. SourceMod is best for servers that need granular admin permissions or plugin support.

Security Best Practices [#security-best-practices]

* **Use a strong RCON password** — At least 16 characters with mixed case, numbers, and symbols
* **Never share RCON credentials publicly** — RCON gives unrestricted server access
* **Use different RCON and server passwords** — If the [server password](/docs/left-4-dead/set-a-password) leaks, your admin access remains secure
* **Save bans regularly** — Run `rcon writeid` and `rcon writeip` to persist ban lists across restarts

If you get stuck at any time, you can join our [Discord](https://discord.xgamingserver.com/).