Swarm Hosts / Guides

Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2 uses UDP for player connections and server queries. Swarm Hosts stores persistent configuration under /server/left4dead2/cfg and waits for a Source-query response before marking the server ready.

Quick facts

  • Persistent configuration: /server/left4dead2/cfg
  • Network: assigned UDP game/query port; RCON remains container-local
  • Readiness: Source-query response
  • Server Actions: private, authenticated Source RCON; no public RCON port

Launch and settings

  1. Choose Left 4 Dead 2.
  2. Review the server parameters for map, maximum players, and mode.
  3. Set CPU and memory limits.
  4. Leave Server Actions password blank to generate one automatically, or set 16–128 letters, digits, underscores, or hyphens. Keep it private.
  5. Launch and wait for the Source readiness check.

Use Settings → Left 4 Dead 2 Settings for managed values after launch. Saving settings restarts or recreates the server and disconnects players. Manage persistent configuration through Files & Backups, and create a backup before replacing working files.

Server Actions

Open Server Tools → Actions to use Server status, List players, List installed maps, List bans, Broadcast message, Change map, Kick player, Ban player, and Remove ban. Refresh the player, map, or ban list before choosing a target; expired selections must be refreshed.

Viewing bans, changing maps, and kicking, banning, or unbanning players require Swarm Server admin access. Disruptive actions ask for confirmation.

Server Actions use authenticated RCON inside the game container. Swarm Hosts does not expose raw RCON, console, or shell input. World-save, round, and bot controls are unavailable in Server Actions.

Mods & Content

Left 4 Dead 2 has no managed Mods & Content page or automatic addon installation. Files & Backups exposes the persistent cfg directory, not the game's addon directory. Do not rely on an addon installed elsewhere in the container surviving recreation. Back up configuration before making changes, then check readiness and client connectivity.

See Server Actions for the availability matrix.

Connect

Players can connect with the published host and assigned UDP port shown on the Swarm Server. Share that endpoint rather than the container's default port.