How to Make a Rust Server: Setup, Ports, Plugins and Wipes

How do you make a Rust server?

The easiest way is to rent a Rust server: pick the game, choose Vanilla, Oxide or Carbon, and once the map is generated your friends join by address. The other route is running Facepunch's free RustDedicated server on your own PC or VPS, where you set the launch parameters, forward the ports and install every update yourself.

Rust has no "host a game" button in the client – every Rust world, even a private one for two friends, runs on a dedicated server. That server is a separate program (Steam app 258550) that doesn't need a copy of the game.

How do you host a Rust server on your own PC?

Download RustDedicated with SteamCMD, start it with launch parameters (port, map size, seed, name) and forward the game port on your router. Step by step:

1. Download SteamCMD and install the server: steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:\rustserver +app_update 258550 validate +quit.
2. In the server folder, create a start file (start.bat on Windows) with a command like: RustDedicated.exe -batchmode +server.port 28015 +server.level "Procedural Map" +server.worldsize 3000 +server.seed 12345 +server.maxplayers 50 +server.hostname "My Rust server" +server.identity "myserver" +rcon.port 28016 +rcon.password "change-me" +rcon.web 1
3. Forward the game port (28015 UDP) on your router to your PC, and allow RustDedicated in your firewall. If you want the server to show up in the in-game server list, also forward the query port (+server.queryport).
4. Run the start file. The first start generates the map, which takes a few minutes – the server only accepts players once it's done.
5. Friends connect to your public IP and the game port.

The catch is the same as with any home server: the machine has to stay on, many ISPs don't give you a public IP (CGNAT – port forwarding won't help), and the monthly Rust update means downloading the server again and waiting for a new Oxide/Carbon build if you use plugins.

How much RAM does a Rust server need?

Plan for at least 8 GB of RAM – that's the minimum for Rust servers on Spot.gg, and a 3000-size map with a small group uses most of it. Memory use grows with map size, the number of buildings and entities, the number of players and the plugins you run.

A Rust server also needs disk space: the server itself takes around 10 GB, plus the map and saves, which is why the minimum disk on Spot.gg is 20 GB. A fast CPU core matters a lot – the server simulates every building, entity and player on mostly one main thread.

How do you set up a Rust server on Spot.gg?

Create an account, activate a free server, choose Rust and the engine – once the map is generated, the panel's "How to connect?" button gives you the address and a Connect button. The first 24 hours are free, no card needed.

1. Create a Spot.gg account and confirm your email.
2. Click Activate a free server and choose Rust.
3. Pick the engine: Vanilla (plain Rust), Oxide or Carbon (both run plugins – more below).
4. Choose a location from the list – the closer to your players, the lower the ping.
5. Wait for the install. The server is downloaded from Steam's official servers, so you always get the current Rust version, and on the first start it generates the map.
6. In the panel, click How to connect? – you'll see the address and a Connect button.

You can have one active free server per account. After the trial, a Rust server with 8 GB RAM and 20 GB disk costs from $12.23 / month; you can add RAM or disk in the panel at any time.

How do you change the map size, seed and server name?

On Spot.gg all the main settings are on the Configuration tab – each field has its own save button, and changes apply after a restart. These are Rust launch parameters (+server.hostname, +server.worldsize and so on), so there's no config file to edit.

• Server name – the name players see in the server list, up to 64 characters.
• Description, website URL and header image – shown on your server's page in the in-game browser (the image must be a 512×256 PNG or JPG over https).
• Max players – from 1 to 200, 50 by default.
• Map size – from 1000 to 6000, 3000 by default. 3000 is good for a small group; big communities use 4000–4500.
• Map seed – a number that decides the layout of the procedural map; the panel picks a random one on install.
• RCON password – for remote admin tools.

Watch out: changing the map size or seed generates a new map on the next start – in practice that's a map wipe. How to pick a size and seed is covered in Rust map size and seed. The same tab has Auto Restart and Automatic updates.

What ports does a Rust server use?

A Rust server uses four ports: the game port (UDP, 28015 by default), a query port (UDP) for the server list, RCON (TCP, 28016 by default) and the Rust+ companion app port (TCP, 28082 by default). Players only need the game port to connect.

On Spot.gg all four ports are assigned automatically and open, and you'll see them on the Network tab. Nothing to forward.

How do you join a Rust server?

The quickest way: click Connect in the panel's "How to connect?" window – Steam launches Rust and joins the server. If that doesn't work, use the in-game console:

1. Launch Rust and wait for the main menu.
2. Press F1 to open the console.
3. Type client.connect address:port (use the address from the panel) and press Enter.

Adding a Rust server to Steam's server favorites usually doesn't help – Rust's query reply doesn't carry the app ID Steam expects, so the Steam dialog reports an invalid server. Use the Connect button or client.connect.

How do you make yourself admin on a Rust server?

Type ownerid <your SteamID64> "your name" in the server console, then server.writecfg to save it, and reconnect. On Spot.gg, type it on the Console tab without a leading slash.

• Your SteamID64 is the 17-digit number starting with 7656… – in the Steam client it's shown under Account details.
• ownerid gives full owner rights, moderatorid gives moderator rights. removeowner / removemoderator take them away.
• After reconnecting, admins can use console commands in the game's F1 console, for example kick, ban, say or status. The full list is in Rust admin commands.

The panel console talks to the server over WebRCON, so you can run admin commands even when you're not in the game – including oxide.* commands on Oxide and c.* commands on Carbon.

Rust Vanilla, Oxide or Carbon – which one should you pick?

Pick Vanilla for the original game, Oxide for the largest plugin library, and Carbon if you want a newer, lighter framework that still loads most Oxide plugins. You can switch later in the panel: Information → Modify → Change engine.

On Spot.gg:

• An engine change keeps the map, player progress and settings. The server stays stopped afterwards – start it when you're ready.
• On its first start, Carbon copies plugins from oxide/plugins into carbon/plugins, so switching from Oxide doesn't lose them.
• On Oxide and Carbon, the Addons tab lets you install plugins from the uMod catalog with one click – they load without a restart. Browse them in the Rust plugin catalog.
• Paid plugins (for example from Codefling) aren't in the catalog – upload the .cs file to the plugins folder on the Files tab or over SFTP. Details in how to install Rust plugins.

Facepunch's server rules require servers that change core gameplay – gather rates, kits, teleports – to be listed in the Modded tab of the server browser, not Community.

How does a Rust wipe work?

A wipe deletes the map and everything built on it, so all players start fresh; a blueprint wipe also resets the blueprints players have learned. Facepunch forces a map wipe on every server once a month, with the monthly update on the first Thursday of the month (around 19:00 UK time) – the new version can't load the old save, so the server starts on a fresh map. Blueprint wipes are forced only occasionally.

Between forced wipes, the schedule is yours: many servers wipe weekly or every two weeks, friends' servers often only on the forced wipe. Upcoming force wipe dates and wipe schedules are in the Rust wipe guide.

On Spot.gg you wipe from Information → Modify → Wipe and pick:

• Map – a new map from scratch; blueprints and server settings stay.
• Map + blueprints – a new map and blueprints reset for everyone.

The server has to be stopped – the panel stops it for you and offers a backup first (backups aren't available on the free trial server). The new map is generated on the next start with the same seed and size; if you want a different layout, change Map seed on the Configuration tab.

How do Rust server updates work?

Rust updates on the first Thursday of every month, and an outdated server won't let updated players in. With Automatic updates on (the default on Spot.gg, on the Configuration tab), the panel checks Steam every 15 minutes: a stopped server is updated straight away, a running one gets a "Server restart in 5 minutes – Rust update." chat message and is then stopped, updated and started again.

On Oxide and Carbon, the update waits until the framework releases a build for the new Rust version – usually within hours of Facepunch's update. The panel doesn't schedule wipes – between forced wipes you wipe by hand whenever you like.

Common Rust server problems

Most problems are an unfinished map generation, a version mismatch after the monthly update, or a plugin that broke with the update. Quick reference:

FAQ

Is a Rust server free?

RustDedicated is free to download through SteamCMD, but you need a PC or VPS with at least 8 GB of RAM running all the time. On Spot.gg the first 24 hours are free with no card, then a Rust server costs from $12.23 / month.

Can I make a private Rust server for friends?

Yes. Keep the address to yourselves, and if you run Oxide or Carbon, a whitelist plugin from uMod lets only chosen players in. Every Rust world runs on a dedicated server, so this is the way to play Rust with just your friends.

How many players can join a Rust server?

On Spot.gg you set from 1 to 200 players in the Max players field. The real limit is RAM and CPU – large populations need a bigger map and more memory.

How often should I wipe a Rust server?

At least once a month, on the forced wipe day (the first Thursday). Many community servers also wipe weekly or every two weeks; for friends, the monthly forced wipe is usually enough.

Do players need to install plugins to join an Oxide or Carbon server?

No. Oxide and Carbon plugins run only on the server – players join with the normal Rust client.

Where do I find the server address?

In the server panel, click "How to connect?" – you'll see the address, the Connect button and the client.connect command for the F1 console.