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To host a Rust server, install the dedicated server with SteamCMD using App ID 258550, configure and launch RustDedicated, then expose the right network ports for the people you want to join. You can run it on hardware you control or rent dedicated server resources. Facepunch’s official guide supports Windows, Linux, and macOS and recommends 12 GB of free RAM and 15 GB of free disk space as a baseline—not a guarantee of capacity. Facepunch’s server-creation guide was accessed October 5, 2026.
Choose where to run your Rust server
A spare computer can work for a small private server if it has adequate resources and a reliable internet connection. Hosting at home means you manage operating-system maintenance, firewall rules, router port forwarding, and the server’s public reachability. Renting dedicated server resources can avoid home-router administration, but the hardware, controls, protection, backup options, and support depend on the provider.
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When comparing a rental with a machine you control, check allocated memory, CPU, disk type and capacity, server region, latency, public IP and port control, query-port support, backup and restore access, DDoS protection, billing, cancellation terms, and support. No single RAM figure guarantees a particular player count: map size, population, plugins, and workload all affect resource use. Facepunch discusses dedicated infrastructure and DDoS protection in its hidden-server guide, but current provider prices and service terms vary.
Check the hardware requirements
Facepunch’s living server documentation lists Windows, Linux, or macOS, 12 GB of free RAM—with a 6k map using more—and 15 GB of free disk space. It says SSD/NVMe storage is highly preferred. These are published baseline recommendations, not a performance test or a promise that a particular map and population will run well. Needs vary with use and population. The figures refer to a dedicated server; do not substitute the separate client-game requirements on the Rust purchase and installation page.
#1 Best Overall
Install the dedicated server with SteamCMD
SteamCMD installs and updates the Rust server using App ID 258550. Facepunch says you do not need a Steam account to install and run the server, though players need Rust to join and play. Create a dedicated install directory so server files are separate from other software.
- Install SteamCMD for your operating system and create a folder for the server files.
- Open SteamCMD and log in anonymously with
login anonymous. - Set the install directory with
force_install_dir, using the path to your server folder. - Install or update the server with
app_update 258550 validate, then exit SteamCMD.
Use the current commands in Facepunch’s server-creation guide for your operating system. Its older quick-install example is explicitly outdated: -autoupdate is no longer a valid feature, and that sample calls SteamCMD twice unnecessarily.
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Configure and start RustDedicated
Launch RustDedicated.exe on Windows or the dedicated-server executable or script for your Linux installation in batch mode. Set a server identity, game port, world size, seed, maximum players, displayed hostname, and description. The identity keeps the server’s data in a separate folder, making it easier to distinguish its world and configuration files.
Rank #2
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Put ordinary persistent settings in the identity’s cfg/server.cfg where practical. Facepunch says these settings are read at startup and take precedence over command-line values. Its example uses game port 28015 and RCON port 28016; choose ports deliberately and use the same game-port value in your configuration, firewall, and connection tests. See Facepunch’s server startup guide for configuration context.
Wait for the startup-complete message before testing. From the same computer, open Rust’s game console and connect with connect localhost:28015, replacing 28015 if you configured a different game port.
Open the right ports for your players
Local testing can use localhost; players on the same home network can connect over the LAN. Players outside that network need a reachable public route. If the server is behind a router, create port-forwarding rules that send traffic on the chosen public ports to the server machine’s stable LAN address. A changing local address can leave the router forwarding to the wrong device.
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| Port or service | Protocol | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
server.port (game port) |
UDP | Game traffic and direct player connections. |
server.queryport |
UDP | Server-browser discovery. Facepunch says this must be open for browser visibility and cannot use the same port as the game port. |
| RCON port | TCP | Remote administration. Expose it only if you need remote RCON access, and restrict who can reach it. |
| Rust+ companion port | TCP | Rust+ companion connectivity, if enabled; see the Rust+ section below. |
For a public server that should appear in the browser, allow the game and query traffic through the server firewall and router. For a private server intended to stay hidden, Facepunch’s guide says to block the Steam query port to prevent listing and discovery. A nonstandard port may add obscurity, but it does not control access by itself: use firewall rules and a real access-control method. Open only the services you intend to use. Facepunch documents the server ports in its server guide and hidden-server guide.
Set up administration and control who can join
Facepunch documents adding an owner or moderator by SteamID through server commands, or by editing users.cfg while the server is stopped. On Linux, commands can be sent through RCON. If you enable RCON, replace any example password with a strong secret and restrict access to its TCP port; Facepunch’s example recommends rcon.web 1.
Rust does not have a built-in whitelist system, according to Facepunch’s hidden-server guide. That guide describes two approaches:
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- 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 — Wipe clean and dry promptly after use. Do not soak or place in the dishwasher; use a cake board or liner under frosted or oily desserts.
- Whitelist plugin: Use an Oxide/uMod plugin to allow specified players. This adds a dependency to maintain; Facepunch notes that Oxide must be installed again after server updates and that SteamCMD can revert files to vanilla.
- Skip-queue: Use the built-in skip-queue alternative described by Facepunch when it fits your access needs.
Simply keeping a server out of the browser does not make it access-controlled. Choose an explicit method for limiting entry, and keep plugin files compatible with the server version.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Enable Rust+ if you want companion features
Rust+ uses a companion server with its own TCP endpoint. Facepunch gives the default companion port as the greater of the game port plus 67 or the RCON port plus 67. Make that endpoint reachable from the internet if you want Rust+ connectivity, and check the server’s app.info output if you need to confirm the port. The Rust+ server guide explains the companion setup.
Keep companion.id with the server files and backups. Facepunch warns not to share it, reuse it on another server, or delete it casually; players may have to pair again if the identity is lost.
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Host a custom map only if you need one
Procedural-map hosting does not require this extra step. For a custom map, the map file must be hosted at a public URL that remains available: new players download the map from that website, not from the Rust server itself. Facepunch describes the dependency in its custom-map hosting guide.
Back up the server’s identity and world data
Keep backups of the server identity folder and its configuration, world data, and companion identity where applicable. The identity is the organizing key for the server’s separate data; preserve it when moving or restoring a server. In particular, retain companion.id securely if Rust+ is enabled, since losing it can require players to pair again. Verify that a backup can be restored before relying on it.
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