[Dragokas]

Addition for "3. Connect to Server" section.

Recently, they updated something in security, and a method for running client via left4dead2.exe (with arguments) in the same machine with a server is no more working.

Instead, here is a walkaround to run the app directly from steam.exe.
I'm attaching the full code of .bat script (to run server + join simultaneously):

Spoiler

PHP Code:


:: For CS:GO
SET "appID=730"
SET "GAME_ALIAS=csgo"
SET "MAP_NAME=de_dust2"

:: set path to your dedicated server''s srcds.exe
SET "SERVER_DIR=E:\server\csgo"

:: Example for L4D2 (remove :: prefixes)
::SET "appID=550"
::SET "GAME_ALIAS=left4dead2"
::SET "MAP_NAME=c1m1_hotel"
::SET "SERVER_DIR=V:\server\l4d2"

SET "IP=192.168.31.4"
SET "PORT=27016"

:: Remove unnecessary optional arguments by your wish
SET OPTIONAL_ARG= -insecure +sv_pure 0 +sv_consistency 0 -debug -condebug

:: set path to your steam.exe
SET "STEAM_DIR=C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam"

:: ===============================

SET "SERVER_ARG= -console -game %GAME_ALIAS% +hostport %PORT% +clientport 27006 +map %MAP_NAME% %OPTIONAL_ARG%"
SET "STEAM_ARG= -applaunch %appID% -dev -console -sw +sv_lan 1 -novid +connect %IP%:%PORT%"

:: ===============================

:: We are launching the client before the server
start "" "%STEAM_DIR%\steam.exe" %STEAM_ARG%

timeout /t 3

:: launching the server
START "" /min "%SERVER_DIR%\srcds.exe" %SERVER_ARG% 


For other games, change appID 550 by your game's Id from steam.inf file, and GAME_ALIAS value with an appropriate game name alias.

[Dragokas]

Published Russian translation of the article, with some additions:

Spoiler

- many little additions, marked as: "Прим. переводчика:"
- added section "Terminology"​
- updated section "Connection to the server"
- common mistakes splitted by groups
- added item about "ChangeEdictState"​
- added the switch -condebug​
- appended SetTransmit (info by asherkin)​
- added commands report_entities, cl_showents​
- fixed missing OnMapEnd() in some examples of "How to stop (delete) global timer"​
- Plugin "Remove Weapons/Carryables Collision" added to the list of suggested fixes for L4D1/2​
- Plugin "Return To Lobby Fix" added to the list of suggested fixes for L4D1/2​
- Plugin "Cvar and Command List" added to the list "For developers"
- Plugin "Entity Limits Logger" added to the list "For developers"
- Plugin ac_debug is replaced by new release of Valve Profiler (now, with L4D1/2 compatibility)​
- Script "[VBS] Simple Regexp Syntax updater" is added in "Other tools"​
- Script "MethodMapize" is added in "Other tools"​
- Added link to the article: "How to make model to be compact" (in "Other tools").​

[Uncle Jessie]

Something like this is useful too
Using this script instead of the random start map plugins

Spoiler

PHP Code:


:loop
set num=%random%
if /i %num% GTR 14 goto loop
if /i %num% LSS 1 goto loop
goto finish
:finish
cls
IF %num%==1 set map=c1m1_hotel
IF %num%==2 set map=c2m1_highway
IF %num%==3 set map=c3m1_plankcountry
IF %num%==4 set map=c4m1_milltown_a
IF %num%==5 set map=c5m1_waterfront
IF %num%==6 set map=c6m1_riverbank
IF %num%==7 set map=c7m1_docks
IF %num%==8 set map=c8m1_apartment
IF %num%==9 set map=c9m1_alleys
IF %num%==10 set map=c10m1_caves
IF %num%==11 set map=c11m1_greenhouse
IF %num%==12 set map=c12m1_hilltop
IF %num%==13 set map=c13m1_alpinecreek
IF %num%==14 set map=c14m1_junkyard

set runcmd=F:\L4D2_DS2000\srcds.exe -console -game left4dead2 -port 27087120 -nocrashdialog -maxplayers 4 +map %map% 


[Dragokas]

Half-Life Position, Velocity, and Angles (for n00bs)