# Left 4 Dead 2 server hosting for co-op and Versus > Host a Left 4 Dead 2 server for Campaign, Realism, Versus, Survival and Scavenge, with custom campaigns as VPK addons and SourceMod plugins. Plan it now. Give your group a stable server for Campaign runs and 4v4 Versus nights. Host custom campaigns as VPK addons, keep the server for your Steam group and add SourceMod plugins for admin tools and competitive configs. - Dedicated server from SteamCMD (app 222860) - Campaign, Realism, Versus, Survival and Scavenge - Custom campaigns as VPK addons - SourceMod, Steam group lock and RCON See plans Find your size Players Co-op modes are built for four Survivors; Versus and Scavenge put four Survivors against four Infected. Community plugins can raise the limits. 4 in co-op · 8 in Versus\ Port Game traffic uses UDP; the remote console (RCON) uses TCP on the same port. 27015 UDP · TCP (RCON)\ Game modes Campaign · Realism · Versus · Survival · Scavenge\ Custom content VPK addons in left4dead2/addons\ Server build Updated by Valve in June 2026\ Admin tools RCON · SourceMod Game modes - Campaign - Realism - Versus - Survival - Scavenge - SourceMod - Custom campaigns Game facts from Valve’s Steam update notes and SteamCMD data, the AlliedModders wiki and community server guides, checked in October 2026. - DDoS protection - 20 game server locations ## Left 4 Dead 2 plans are being prepared Tell us your game modes, custom campaigns and plugins, and our team will reply with the options. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online. [Contact sales](https://hyperdc.com/contact-us) [Open a ticket](https://hyperdc.com/support/new-ticket) ## How big should a Left 4 Dead 2 server be? Player counts are small, but the server runs the AI Director and every common and special infected. Single-core speed matters most. | Feature | **Co-op** Up to 4 players | Recommended **Versus** Up to 8 players | **Extended** More slots through plugins | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Memory (RAM)Memory for the map, the AI Director, the infected and every addon. | 1–2 GB | 2–3 GB | 4 GB | | CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. | 1–2 | 2 | 2–3 | | Disk spaceRoom for the game files, custom campaign VPKs and logs. | 20 GB | 25 GB | 40 GB | | CampaignsCustom campaigns are VPK files; large collections need extra disk space, and every player needs the same campaign. | Official campaigns | Official or a few custom | Many VPK addons | | Typical use | Campaign runs with friends | Versus and Scavenge nights | Plugin-extended community server | - ### Co-op Up to 4 players Memory (RAM)Memory for the map, the AI Director, the infected and every addon. 1–2 GB\ CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. 1–2\ Disk spaceRoom for the game files, custom campaign VPKs and logs. 20 GB\ CampaignsCustom campaigns are VPK files; large collections need extra disk space, and every player needs the same campaign. Official campaigns\ Typical use Campaign runs with friends - Recommended ### Versus Up to 8 players Memory (RAM)Memory for the map, the AI Director, the infected and every addon. 2–3 GB\ CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. 2\ Disk spaceRoom for the game files, custom campaign VPKs and logs. 25 GB\ CampaignsCustom campaigns are VPK files; large collections need extra disk space, and every player needs the same campaign. Official or a few custom\ Typical use Versus and Scavenge nights - ### Extended More slots through plugins Memory (RAM)Memory for the map, the AI Director, the infected and every addon. 4 GB\ CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. 2–3\ Disk spaceRoom for the game files, custom campaign VPKs and logs. 40 GB\ CampaignsCustom campaigns are VPK files; large collections need extra disk space, and every player needs the same campaign. Many VPK addons\ Typical use Plugin-extended community server Valve publishes no server hardware figures; these starting points follow common practice for Source engine servers. Custom campaigns need extra disk space, and many plugins load the CPU. ## Modes, custom campaigns and plugins Run Valve’s modes as they ship, add the campaigns your group loves and tune the rules with SourceMod. ### Every official mode Campaign, Realism, Versus, Survival and Scavenge. Limit the modes lobbies may start with sv\_gametypes. ### Custom campaigns Put campaign .vpk files in left4dead2/addons and they load at start. Players need the same campaign installed, usually from the Steam Workshop. ### Steam group servers Link the server to your group with sv\_steamgroup and keep it for members only with sv\_steamgroup\_exclusive. ### Lobby or direct connect By default players arrive through a game lobby. Set sv\_allow\_lobby\_connect\_only 0 to allow joins by address and from the server browser. ### SourceMod and Metamod:Source Both support Left 4 Dead 2: add admin menus, competitive configs and community plugins that raise the slot limit. ### server.cfg Set the hostname, rcon\_password, sv\_password and your rules in left4dead2/cfg/server.cfg. ## Set up your Left 4 Dead 2 server Four steps from an empty server to the first safe room. 1. ### Pick modes and size Decide between co-op, Versus or both, then pick a size from the table above. 2. ### Pick a location Choose the one closest to your players from our 20 game server locations. 3. ### Edit server.cfg and addons Set hostname, rcon\_password and sv\_gametypes, link your Steam group and copy custom campaign VPKs into the addons folder. 4. ### Start a game Start a lobby on your group server, or allow direct joins and type connect with the address in the console. ## Other game servers you might like [See every game](https://hyperdc.com/game-server-hosting) [See all shooter servers](https://hyperdc.com/game-servers/fps-game-servers) ### Counter-Strike 2 Competitive, wingman and community servers with Workshop maps. [Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/game-servers/counter-strike) ### Garry’s Mod Sandbox, TTT, DarkRP or Prop Hunt with Workshop content. [Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/game-servers/garrys-mod) ### Killing Floor 2 Survival, Weekly and Versus with Workshop maps and web admin. [Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/game-servers/killing-floor-2) ### No More Room in Hell Co-op zombie survival for eight, with SourceMod. [Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/game-servers/no-more-room-in-hell) ### Zombie Panic! Source Survivors against zombies, with Workshop maps and SourceMod. [Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/game-servers/zombie-panic-source) ### Half-Life 2: Deathmatch Gravity Gun deathmatch with up to 100 slots and SourceMod. [Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/game-servers/half-life-2-deathmatch) ## Frequently asked questions Still have a question? Send us a message and our team will reply by email. [Contact us](https://hyperdc.com/contact-us) [Open a ticket](https://hyperdc.com/support/new-ticket) ### How many players can join a Left 4 Dead 2 server? The game is built for four Survivors in Campaign, Realism and Survival, and for 4 against 4 in Versus and Scavenge. Community plugins such as L4DToolZ can raise the slot limit, but more players than the modes expect can upset the balance. ### Which port does the server use? 27015 by default: UDP for the game and server queries, TCP on the same port for the remote console. Change it with -port when you start the server. ### Why can players not join by IP address? By default the server only accepts players who come through a game lobby. Set sv\_allow\_lobby\_connect\_only 0 in server.cfg to allow joins by address and from the server browser. ### How do I run custom campaigns? Copy the campaign .vpk files into left4dead2/addons; they load when the server starts. Every player needs the same campaign, usually by subscribing to it on the Steam Workshop. ### Does the server download Workshop items by itself? No. The Left 4 Dead 2 dedicated server has no built-in Workshop download, so download the VPK files first and copy them into the addons folder. ### Can I keep the server for my Steam group? Yes. Set sv\_steamgroup to your group’s ID so members can start lobbies on it, and add sv\_steamgroup\_exclusive 1 to keep it for members only. ### Which game modes can the server run? Campaign (co-op), Realism, Versus, Survival and Scavenge. sv\_gametypes limits which modes lobbies may start on your server. ### Can I use SourceMod on Left 4 Dead 2? Yes. Metamod:Source and SourceMod both list Left 4 Dead 2 as a supported game, and the community offers admin menus, competitive configs and many gameplay plugins. ### Does Valve still update the server? Yes. Valve shipped crash, exploit and security fixes in June 2026, including a revised Linux build. Update the server with SteamCMD app 222860 after each patch. ### How do I lock the server with a password? Set sv\_password in server.cfg. Players then enter the password when they connect; leave it empty for a public server. ## Ready for the next safe room? Tell us your modes, campaigns and plugins, and we will help you pick the right Left 4 Dead 2 server. See plans [Contact sales](https://hyperdc.com/contact-us) --- Source: \ Updated: 2026-10-09