L4D Hosting a Server, any suggestions?

[Hypokill]

I'm thinking of hosting one with a PC I have laying around, I mean, it's not the best, but it'll work for a Versus game, hell I might even contribute it to the "Hunter Games" group.

First things first, in the past, I have had trouble setting up a server for L4D, for Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, it worked fine, no problems and people could join, no hassle.

With L4D, it seems to always go LAN, no matter what the settings, I don't know if I've port forwarded yet.

Anyways, does anybody have a guide/tutorial they would kindly post that they know works 100%

Or have knowledge of how to set one up, I would be forever grateful.

(also milk and cookies will be handed out)

[ComputerHelper]

1) Installing HldsUpdateTool
Download the installer from valves website:
http://www.steampowered.com/download/hldsupdatetool.exe

Run the installer by double clicking and installer to C:\hldsupdatetool

2) Prepping for the Install
First off, decide where you want to install your server.
For this example, we're installing to C:\l4d_server
To make life easier, I recommend naming the folder without any spaces.
Go to the C drive and make the folder. This helps prevent some errors that HldsUpdateTool is known for.

3) Running HldsUpdateTool to Install a L4D DS
First open up a command prompt.
Start --> Run... --> cmd --> OK
Now type in the following commands:
cd c:\hldsupdatetool
hldsupdatetool.exe -command update -game l4d_full -dir c:\l4d_server

Let the installer run. It can take over an hour depending on the multiple things.

4) Server.cfg
Open up notepad and add the following to the file:
Code:
sv_lan 0
setmaster add 68.142.72.250:27011
setmaster add 72.165.61.189:27011


Save the file as "server.cfg" to C:\l4d_server\l4d\left4dead\cfg\

5) Boot the Server
Open up a command prompt again.
Enter the following commands:
cd C:\l4d_server\l4d
srcds.exe -console -game left4dead -port 27015 +map l4d_airport01_greenhouse -tickrate


Guide by Mooga


*WANTS MILK AND COOKIES NOW!*

[Hypokill]

Some guy was talking to me about a "loopback solution" that he uses.

Basically it works like this.

When I connect to my server from any PC on my router, the server instantly turns LAN, when others connect first, and then I try to join, I cannot join.

My router needs to have "loopback" in order to run both myself and others on it at the same time.

I'm not sure how to find this.

[ComputerHelper]

What router do you have?

[Mooga]

I wrote that guild?
Haha, nice...

[Hypokill]

ComputerHelper Wrote:What router do you have?

I have a D-Link DI-624.

[dualcore1289]

Mooga Wrote:I wrote that guild?
Haha, nice...

Guild? You mean guide. . .

[Mooga]

dualcore1289 Wrote:

Mooga Wrote:I wrote that guild?
Haha, nice...

Guild? You mean guide. . .

1) I can't spell
2) Damn spell checker failed me

[pengy]

Did you try joining with the LAN ip or your external ip? (firefox says ip and firefox is spelled wrong)

[usmcgizmo]

I'm having something along the same issue..... here is the situation

i have my pc and the left 4 dead server both behind the router..... my friends can connect via the lobby no problem. i on the other hand can't. i have to connect via the client console using the LOCAL IP address though to then join them. what happens is that when i'm in the lobby with them, i get this in the console:

Sending UDP connect to public IP xxx.xxx.xxx.162:27015
Retrying public(xxx.xxx.xxx.162:27015)
Connection failed after 10 retries.

i guess my big question is this, does anyone know if there is a way i can tell steam, my router, or the server to make an exception for pc's on my network. i want to be able to host lobbies or be in a lobby that is using my server without having to connect after the game starts