This is half notes for myself and half helpful information for anyone else who wants a dedicated server on a decent OS. I assume you can use said decent OS and thus don't need me to hold your hand and guide you around the CLI.

Based off http://www.left4deadforums.com/1187-left-4-dead-linux-server-guide.html

1. Make a directory to put it all in.

mkdir hlds && chdir hlds

2. Download the file from valve to start it all off.

wget http://storefront.steampowered.com/download/updatetool.bin

3. Install the necessary 32bit libraries because Valve are still in the dark ages.

sudo apt-get install lib32gcc1

4. Run the file you downloaded.

chmod +x hldsupdatetool.bin && ./hldsupdatetool.bin

5. Accept the license agreement. Yes it scrolled past too fast to read. No you wern't going to read it anyway. Just accept it.

yes

6. Run the new steam executable with the right stuff to install the l4d server. The '-dir .' bit makes it put a l4d folder in the current dir. This is probably what you want.

chmod +x steam && ./steam -command update -game l4d_full -dir .

7. Wait for it to download then the configs will be in l4d/left4dead/cfg/server.cfg

vim l4d/left4dead/cfg/server.cfg

8. Make a config file. Something like the following should do fine.

hostname "My Server's Name"


rconn_password "password"


sv_other_settings "corresponding values"

9. Run the server up.

l4d/srcds_run l4d -autoupdate +ip <your servers ip address here> +hostpost 27203 +exec server.cfg +map l4d_farm01_hilltop &

10. Enjoy. You can control the server through the console in game by using "rcon_password <whatever password you put in the config file>".