Question about creating a L4D2 Server Through Azure

Question

What would all I need to install a L4D2 server trough Azure? Would it be able to be done with the 12 month free trial of azure and the resources it has without going over? Or if not what costs am i looking at if it does and then after the trial? Also what VM specifications would be good for a Left 4 Dead 2 server? Obviously 16gb is unnecessary. Any help is appreciated to get me on the right track here at Azure

Answer 1

Hi

From memory the Azure trial is a 200$ credit to use.

To give a approximate in the costing;

I have a low-end Azure VM (4g ram and normal HDD) that I use for a small webserver, and it cost me around 60$/month.

At that costing if you use the voucher I would guess you could run for 3 and a half months, but as I said it’s the bare minimum I have, if you need more ressource it can go over. I give that price for an estimate.

Answer 2

I'll help you plan out a Left 4 Dead 2 server setup on Azure, breaking down the requirements and costs:

Minimum Requirements for L4D2 Server:

• CPU: 2 cores
• RAM: 4GB should be sufficient (L4D2 is relatively lightweight)
• Storage: 20GB for OS + game files
• Bandwidth: Included with Azure VM

Recommended Azure VM Configuration:

• B2s or B2ms VM size:
  • 2 vCPUs
    • 4GB RAM
      • Sufficient for 8-16 players
        • Windows Server OS (required for L4D2)

Free Trial Limitations:

• $200 credit for 12 months
• Limited to certain VM sizes
• Usage caps on some resources

Estimated Monthly Costs (after trial):

1. VM (B2s):
   • ~$30-40/month running 24/7
     • Can be less if you shut down when not in use
     1. Storage:
        • Standard HDD: ~$5/month for 64GB
          • Total with OS and game: ~$35-45/month

Setup Requirements:

1. Azure account
2. Windows Server VM
3. Steam CMD
4. L4D2 Dedicated Server files
5. Configure:
   • Network Security Group (NSG)
     • Port forwarding (27015 TCP/UDP)
       • Public IP

Cost Optimization Tips:

1. Use auto-shutdown during off-hours
2. Choose a region with lower costs
3. Use reserved instances for long-term savings
4. Monitor resource usage to right-size VM

Free Trial Viability:

• The $200 credit would cover about 4-5 months of continuous operation
• Could last longer with careful resource management
• Best to start with smaller instance and scale up if neededI'll help you plan out a Left 4 Dead 2 server setup on Azure, breaking down the requirements and costs: Minimum Requirements for L4D2 Server:
  • CPU: 2 cores
  • RAM: 4GB should be sufficient (L4D2 is relatively lightweight)
  • Storage: 20GB for OS + game files
  • Bandwidth: Included with Azure VM
  Recommended Azure VM Configuration:
  • B2s or B2ms VM size:
    • 2 vCPUs
    • 4GB RAM
    • Sufficient for 8-16 players
    • Windows Server OS (required for L4D2)
  Free Trial Limitations:
  • $200 credit for 12 months
  • Limited to certain VM sizes
  • Usage caps on some resources
  Estimated Monthly Costs (after trial):
  1. VM (B2s):
     • ~$30-40/month running 24/7
     • Can be less if you shut down when not in use
  2. Storage:
     • Standard HDD: ~$5/month for 64GB
     • Total with OS and game: ~$35-45/month
  Setup Requirements:
  1. Azure account
  2. Windows Server VM
  3. Steam CMD
  4. L4D2 Dedicated Server files
  5. Configure:
     • Network Security Group (NSG)
     • Port forwarding (27015 TCP/UDP)
     • Public IP
  Cost Optimization Tips:
  1. Use auto-shutdown during off-hours
  2. Choose a region with lower costs
  3. Use reserved instances for long-term savings
  4. Monitor resource usage to right-size VM
  Free Trial Viability:
  • The $200 credit would cover about 4-5 months of continuous operation
  • Could last longer with careful resource management
  • Best to start with smaller instance and scale up if needed