How to make a dedicated rust server

Are you curious about how to make a dedicated Rust server to gain full control over your survival experience? In this guide, we walk you through all the essential steps. Whether you plan to self-host or prefer a professional hosting solution, you’ll be ready to jump into Rust’s harsh world in no time.

Tip: Want a simpler solution than configuring everything yourself? You can order a fully set up Rust server from us. View our Rust hosting plans here.

Prerequisites

A Steam account to install Rust Dedicated Server files via SteamCMD or other methods.
Basic knowledge of Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Linux/macOS).
A stable internet connection and sufficient system resources (CPU/RAM) to run a Rust server.

Step 1: Install SteamCMD

Windows: Download SteamCMD from Valve’s official developer page (SteamCMD Wiki) and extract the files to a folder (e.g. C:\steamcmd).
Linux: Install SteamCMD via your package manager (e.g. sudo apt-get install steamcmd) or download the .tar.gz package from Valve and extract it.

Quick note: Make sure to keep SteamCMD updated to avoid issues with downloading or updating server files.

Step 2: Create a folder for your Rust server

Before downloading the server files, create a dedicated folder where all your Rust server data will be stored. For example:

Windows: C:\rustserver
Linux: /home/username/rustserver

Step 3: Download and install Rust Dedicated Server files

Open a command prompt or terminal where SteamCMD is installed.
Log in to SteamCMD (for anonymous access, type login anonymous).
Use the following command to download or update the Rust server files:

force_install_dir "C:\rustserver" (Windows)
force_install_dir "/home/username/rustserver" (Linux)
app_update 258550 validate

Note: “258550” is the Rust Dedicated Server app ID. “validate” ensures missing or corrupted files are re-downloaded.

Step 4: Configure your Rust server

Once the download is complete, configure basic settings such as server name, world seed, RCON, and more. This is typically done via a startup script or command-line parameters:

RustDedicated.exe -batchmode -nographics ^
-hostname "MyRustServer" ^
-port 28015 ^
-rcon.port 28016 ^
-rcon.password "YourRconPassword" ^
-maxplayers 50 ^
-worldsize 4000 ^
-seed 12345 ^
-saveinterval 300

Tip: Adjust -hostname, -maxplayers, -worldsize, and -seed to your preferences. Don’t forget to set a secure -rcon.password.

Step 5: Open ports (if self-hosting)

If you are hosting from home and want others to join:

Log in to your router’s admin panel and forward UDP port 28015 (game port) and 28016 (RCON port) to the server’s local IP address.
Visit a site like WhatIsMyIP to find your public IP address, which friends can use to connect.

Quick note: If you use firewall software, ensure these ports are allowed in your firewall settings.

Step 6: Start and test your server

Run your startup script or use the commands above. A console window should appear showing the server starting.
Launch Rust, press F1 to open the console, and type client.connect your_server_ip:28015.
Verify that you can connect and that settings (e.g. max players, world size) work as expected.

Note: If you encounter issues, check the server console for errors or double-check firewall and port forwarding settings.

Step 7: Consider professional hosting (optional)

Running a dedicated Rust server can be resource-intensive. If you prefer convenience and guaranteed uptime, a professional hosting provider may be the better choice. Benefits include:

Automatic updates and maintenance
User-friendly control panel
Scalable CPU and RAM
24/7 support

Why run a dedicated Rust server?

When you learn how to make a dedicated Rust server, you gain:

Full control over mods, plugins, and server settings
Freedom to customize world parameters and game rules
Better performance on optimized hardware

Need help?

If you encounter issues or have questions during setup, you can contact our support team via:

Support Center
Live chat in the control panel

Now you know how to make a dedicated Rust server and are ready to build your own post-apocalyptic world, invite friends, and shape your own survival experience. Have fun!

Don’t have a server yet? Get your own Rust server today and get started instantly!