[Bug]: ERROR! Failed to install app '222860' (Invalid platform)

[0xmane]

User story

I want to run L4D2 server through LinuxGSM.

Game

Left 4 Dead 2

Linux distro

Debian 12

Command

command: install

Further information

Hi. I've used to run l4d2 instances on other Debian 12 machines with LinuxGSM many times, but now I'm not allowed to run it anymore, not even running it manually with steamcmd

LinuxGSM output: Connecting anonymously to Steam Public...OK Waiting for client config...OK Waiting for user info...OK ERROR! Failed to install app '222860' (Invalid platform) Error! Installing l4d2server: SteamCMD: Unknown error occured Please provide content log to LinuxGSM developers https://linuxgsm.com/steamcmd-errorRedirecting stderr to '/home/l4d2srv/.local/share/Steam/logs/stderr.txt' Logging directory: '/home/l4d2srv/.local/share/Steam/logs' [ 0%] Checking for available updates... [----] Verifying installation... UpdateUI: skip show logoSteam Console Client (c) Valve Corporation - version 1737515347 -- type 'quit' to exit -- Loading Steam API...OK

Manual run output: Steam>app_update 222860 validate ERROR! Failed to install app '222860' (Invalid platform)

All dependencies are installed. Kernel info: Linux Debian-1207-bookworm-amd64-base 6.1.0-30-amd64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Debian 6.1.124-1 (2025-01-12) x86_64 GNU/Linux

Relevant log output

Steps to reproduce

1. adduser l4d2server
2. su - l4d2server
3. curl -Lo linuxgsm.sh https://linuxgsm.sh && chmod +x linuxgsm.sh && bash linuxgsm.sh l4d2server
4. ./l4d2server install

[freaky-m0]

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/11522

But I don't know how to provide a steam account during install.

[baba-dev]

Any Update on this please?

[vstyler96]

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#11522

But I don't know how to provide a steam account during install.

Provide +login user password

[nPHYN1T3]

Exact same issue. I had a server years ago on Ubuntu but I grabbed an old box and have been trying with Debian 12 with the same results.

Error! Installing l4d2server: SteamCMD: Unknown error occured Please provide content log to LinuxGSM developers https://linuxgsm.com/steamcmd-error

Content log just spams the following over and over.

[2025-05-20 22:40:48] Client version: 1747702063
[2025-05-20 22:40:48] Loaded 0 apps from install folder "/home/steam/serverfiles/steamapps\appmanifest_*.acf".
[2025-05-20 22:40:48] Triggered async write of Steam library folders configuration (1 libraries).
[2025-05-20 22:40:49] Failed installing AppID 222860 (Invalid platform)

Also what's with that malformed path!? "/home/steam/serverfiles/steamapps\appmanifest_*.acf"

[vstyler96]

Exact same issue. I had a server years ago on Ubuntu but I grabbed an old box and have been trying with Debian 12 with the same results.

Error! Installing l4d2server: SteamCMD: Unknown error occured Please provide content log to LinuxGSM developers https://linuxgsm.com/steamcmd-error

Content log just spams the following over and over.

[2025-05-20 22:40:48] Client version: 1747702063
[2025-05-20 22:40:48] Loaded 0 apps from install folder "/home/steam/serverfiles/steamapps\appmanifest_*.acf".
[2025-05-20 22:40:48] Triggered async write of Steam library folders configuration (1 libraries).
[2025-05-20 22:40:49] Failed installing AppID 222860 (Invalid platform)

Also what's with that malformed path!? "/home/steam/serverfiles/steamapps\appmanifest_*.acf"

Please use a user and a password and it will work

[nPHYN1T3]

I tried using user and password, it does not work...

Password, no quote, hard quote, soft quote? Why are there no syntax instructions on the install page?

[vstyler96]

I tried using user and password, it does not work...

Password, no quote, hard quote, soft quote? Why are there no syntax instructions on the install page?

I made it working using:

steamcmd +force_install_dir /path/to/server +login STEAM_USER STEAM_PASSWORD +app_update 222860 validate +quit

[nPHYN1T3]

I made it working using:

So you made it work by not using linuxGSM.

[vstyler96]

I made it working using:

So you made it work by not using linuxGSM.

Exactly, the problem with LinuxGSM right now is that L4D2 Linux was removed from the anonymous catalogue, so it's not possible to download the server without an user with L4D2 bought.

[nPHYN1T3]

Yeah I had read something about that from years ago...which again begs the question why is there zero mention on the l4d2 page. Why are there no supplementary instructions? I see they've tagged this as backlog i.e. get to it when the player base are all dead but you'd think they'd at least have a moment to toss up a little "warning/disclaimer" on the page about how it doesn't work, go back to the nightmare that is steamcmd...I mean that's the point of linuxgsm, to sidestep the hell that is steamcmd heh.

Anyhow I will switch gears and do just that sadly. Thanks for the heads up. I may try the LinuxGSM credentials system as a last ditch and see if it works...I haven't used either steamcmd or linuxgsm in years but I remember steamcmd being an absolute PITA. Given how broken and F'd up the Steam Client is I can't imagine SteamCMD has improved.

[Rupert-117]

The issue is marked as in progress on the backlog, rather than new or on hold etc. I don't know their dev processes so I don't know what it means, but hopefully they are working on a solution.

FWIW, in the meantime I'm gonna wait for them to fix it, I've had enough issues with deploying games without lgsm that I CBA.

[0xmane]

I tried using user and password, it does not work... Password, no quote, hard quote, soft quote? Why are there no syntax instructions on the install page?

I made it working using:

steamcmd +force_install_dir /path/to/server +login STEAM_USER STEAM_PASSWORD +app_update 222860 validate +quit

This worked, although the reason behind it made perfect sense...

I kept trying using my main Steam account on which I have L4D2, but Steam wouldn't approve my login when I tried running steamcmd, on my remote server (which is of course far away from where I live and have my phone).

I bought L4D2 again for my secondary Steam account, which didn't have Steam 2nd factor auth, and it worked with this one. Note: before making the transaction on the Steam store, Steam showed I would get a copy of "Left 4 Dead 2, Left 4 Dead 2 Dedicated Server" :D

I just wish Steam made better error handling for this case. The "invalid platform" message targets other issue than the right to use the dedicated server license.

Thanks a lot!

[vstyler96]

I tried using user and password, it does not work... Password, no quote, hard quote, soft quote? Why are there no syntax instructions on the install page?

I made it working using:

steamcmd +force_install_dir /path/to/server +login STEAM_USER STEAM_PASSWORD +app_update 222860 validate +quit

This worked, although the reason behind it made perfect sense...

I kept trying using my main Steam account on which I have L4D2, but Steam wouldn't approve my login when I tried running steamcmd, on my remote server (which is of course far away from where I live and have my phone).

I bought L4D2 again for my secondary Steam account, which didn't have Steam 2nd factor auth, and it worked with this one. Note: before making the transaction on the Steam store, Steam showed I would get a copy of "Left 4 Dead 2, Left 4 Dead 2 Dedicated Server" :D

I just wish Steam made better error handling for this case. The "invalid platform" message targets other issue than the right to use the dedicated server license.

Thanks a lot!

I am happy that it worked, in the case that you don't want or don't have an opportunity to used a second account, you should set the location of the server for your login in Steam Guard, and then that you are closer to the server location. That will approve your login :3

[nPHYN1T3]

This is a tad derailed but if the server is in another place/country steam guard should have still notified your initial account to authorize it anyhow.

This bug report (while 100% valid) has become don't use linuxgsm for this to feed the beast...I mean pay Steam more for what used to be free. More than ever should be free given 1) It's old as hell now 2) They've open sourced most the source game stuff and 3) rant withheld Steam has really gone from the darling of gaming to a greedy/bad console porter.

[dgibbs64]

So looking at this it appears to have been a SteamCMD bug. I tested myself and it worked as anonymous without issue. I will close this off

[Rupert-117]

So looking at this it appears to have been a SteamCMD bug. I tested myself and it worked as anonymous without issue. I will close this off

How did you test it? I have just run a full update, including SteamCMD and the LinuxGSM script, and it still returns with the error listed in this issue when running ./l4d2server install.

Upon further inspection, it requires a logged in steam account that already owns left4dead2. Even a steam guard account that doesn't have the game cant install, with the same error.

I'd suggest that the linuxgsm install script needs to add steps to provide a login and/or change the docs to reflect this.

[vstyler96]

So looking at this it appears to have been a SteamCMD bug. I tested myself and it worked as anonymous without issue. I will close this off

How did you test it? I have just run a full update, including SteamCMD and the LinuxGSM script, and it still returns with the error listed in this issue when running ./l4d2server install.

Upon further inspection, it requires a logged in steam account that already owns left4dead2. Even a steam guard account that doesn't have the game cant install, with the same error.

I'd suggest that the linuxgsm install script needs to add steps to provide a login and/or change the docs to reflect this.

I made a docker image with this process, I did exactly what I mention above 👀

[dgibbs64]

I can do further testing but from my end I can logon as anonymous without issues. Currently I can't replicate the issue. We avoid using login as much as possible as it adds an extra layer of complexity to the whole install process.

There are steamcmd logs that might help but I can't remember where they are off the top of my head. They might provide insight as to why you are unable to login anonymously.

[nPHYN1T3]

Either you have some magic config option set that is not outlined in the instructions, which means the instructions for this install are not accurate or it is broken given you @dgibbs64 are the only one that can get this to work.

[cblanken]

Just gonna chime in that I'm also still receiving the same 'Invalid platform' error with the default anonymous login on Ubuntu 20.04.6

Connecting anonymously to Steam Public...OK
Waiting for client config...OK
Waiting for user info...OK
ERROR! Failed to install app '222860' (Invalid platform)
Unloading Steam API...OK

[dgibbs64]

OK. So I have done a complete fresh install and found the error. The fix is to add steamcmdforcewindows=yes into common.cfg run the installer and then remove steamcmdforcewindows=yes then validate. This will download the windows depot then download the linux depot to get the binary. Once done it works. This is definitely a bug with SteamCMD, but who knows how long until Valve actually fix it.

Now I know that fix I will probably have to figure out a workaround for it

[vstyler96]

OK. So I have done a complete fresh install and found the error. The fix is to add steamcmdforcewindows=yes into common.cfg run the installer and then remove steamcmdforcewindows=yes then validate. This will download the windows depot then download the linux depot to get the binary. Once done it works. This is definitely a bug with SteamCMD, but who knows how long until Valve actually fix it.

Now I know that fix I will probably have to figure out a workaround for it

Despite this is right, in automated environments is unstable and leads to install errors. When you choose a Windows version of the server there are several assets that are downloaded for windows, thus, the result is a unstable server. Despite is functional, in certain situations (e.g Using plugins) it makes the server unstable.

[dgibbs64]

Issue thjat was raised on the Valve repo https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/11522

[Reidond]

can confirm that steamcmdforcewindows=yes works for now