Rust is one of the most popular survival games. Hosting your own server gives you full control over the player experience: you decide the map, wipe cycle, rules, and plugins. In this guide, we explain everything you need to know.
Hardware requirements
Rust is heavy on both CPU and RAM:
| Players | RAM | CPU | Map size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-25 | 6-8 GB | Fast single-thread | 2000-3000 |
| 25-75 | 8-12 GB | High clock speed | 3000-4000 |
| 75-200 | 12-16 GB | Ryzen 9 / i9 class | 4000-5000 |
| 200+ | 16-32 GB | Dedicated hardware | 4000-6000 |
Server configuration
The most important settings in your server.cfg:
server.hostname "My Rust Server" server.description "Welcome to our server!" server.maxplayers 100 server.worldsize 4000 server.seed 12345 server.saveinterval 300 decay.upkeep_period_minutes 1440 server.pve false
Choosing map size
- 2000-2500: small, ideal for 1-25 players. Quick action, little travel.
- 3000-3500: medium, good for 25-75 players. Balance between action and exploration.
- 4000-4500: large, suitable for 75-200 players. Plenty of room for bases.
- 5000+: huge, only for 200+ player servers. Many empty areas unless the server is full.
Wipe schedule
Rust has mandatory monthly "force wipes" on the first Thursday of the month, when Facepunch releases an update. In addition, you can schedule extra wipes:
- Weekly: popular with PvP servers. Fresh start every week.
- Bi-weekly: balance between progression and freshness.
- Monthly: only force wipes. More time for bases and progression.
Choose a schedule that fits your audience. Hardcore PvP players want frequent wipes, builders want longer cycles.
Oxide/uMod plugins
Oxide (now uMod) is the plugin framework for Rust servers. Popular plugins:
- Gather Manager: adjust gather rates (2x, 3x, 5x etc.).
- Quick Smelt: faster smelting in furnaces.
- Backpacks: extra storage for players.
- Clans: team functionality with chat and alliances.
- Better Chat: colors and prefixes in chat.
- ZoneManager + TruePVE: create PvE zones or safe zones.
- Economics + ServerRewards: an economy system.
- NTeleportation: /home, /tpr, and /town commands.
RCON: remote management
RCON (Remote Console) lets you manage the server without being in-game. Use a tool like RustAdmin or RCON:IO. Set it up:
rcon.port 28016 rcon.password "your_secure_password" rcon.web true
Anti-cheat
Rust has built-in anti-cheat (Easy Anti-Cheat), but as a server admin you can take extra measures:
- Install the Rust:IO plugin for a live map to spot suspicious behavior.
- Use the Spectate function to observe suspicious players.
- Set up combat logs and regularly check for impossible stats.
How much does it cost to host a Rust server?
That depends on the number of players and map size. A small server (25 players) starts at around 8 EUR per month. A large server (200+ players) can cost 30-50 EUR per month. At HostValues, you get game hosting with Ryzen hardware, NVMe storage, and DDoS protection.
Can I run a Rust server on a VPS?
Yes, but Rust is resource-intensive. A VPS with at least 8 GB RAM and a strong CPU is needed for even a small server. Game hosting is often more cost-effective because the hardware is optimized for game servers.
How do I attract players to my Rust server?
List your server on sites like Just-Wiped.net with your wipe schedule. Choose a niche (solo/duo, 3x vanilla, modded PvE) instead of a generic server. Ensure active admins and a Discord community.
Start your Rust server at HostValues game hosting with direct Oxide/uMod support.
