Running L4D2 Server as a Linux systemd Service

Running L4D2 as a systemd Service

systemd keeps your server running on boot and auto-restarts after crashes — no screen sessions needed.

Step 1 — Create a Dedicated User

sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash steam

Install the server files under /home/steam/l4d2-server/ as this user.

Step 2 — Create the Unit File

Create /etc/systemd/system/l4d2server.service:

[Unit]
Description=Left 4 Dead 2 Dedicated Server
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=steam
WorkingDirectory=/home/steam/l4d2-server
ExecStart=/home/steam/l4d2-server/srcds_run \
    -console \
    -game left4dead2 \
    -secure \
    -port 27015 \
    +maxplayers 8 \
    +sv_setsteamaccount YOUR_GSLT_TOKEN \
    +exec server.cfg \
    +map c1m1_hotel
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10
KillSignal=SIGTERM
StandardOutput=journal
StandardError=journal
SyslogIdentifier=l4d2server

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Replace YOUR_GSLT_TOKEN with your actual Game Server Login Token.

Step 3 — Enable and Start

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable l4d2server
sudo systemctl start l4d2server
sudo systemctl status l4d2server

Managing the Service

Updating the Server

sudo systemctl stop l4d2server
sudo -u steam /home/steam/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh \
  +force_install_dir /home/steam/l4d2-server \
  +login anonymous \
  +app_update 222860 \
  +quit
sudo systemctl start l4d2server

Multiple Instances

Create additional unit files (l4d2server-2.service, etc.), each with different ports:

ExecStart=/home/steam/l4d2-server/srcds_run \
    -console -game left4dead2 -secure \
    -port 27016 \
    +maxplayers 8 \
    +sv_setsteamaccount YOUR_TOKEN_2 \
    +exec server2.cfg \
    +map c2m1_highway

Note that each server instance should have its own GSLT token.