To give a Facepunch Rust server a stable hostname, create two DNS records: an A record that maps a hostname to the server’s IPv4 address, and one SRV record for _rust._udp that points to that hostname and carries the server’s game port. Keep any DNS proxy disabled, then set Rust’s server.favoritesEndpoint to the hostname without the _rust._udp prefix. This lets players use a readable address and helps favorites survive an IP or port change.
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What you are configuring
A custom domain does not replace the Rust server itself; it provides a DNS name that resolves to it. In the examples below, rust.example.com is the hostname players will use, 203.0.113.42 is an example IPv4 address, and server.port means the port configured in your Rust startup command or server configuration. Replace every example with your own values.
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| Record | Name | Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | rust (which becomes rust.example.com) |
Your Rust server’s public IPv4 address | Resolves the readable hostname to the machine running the server |
| SRV | _rust._udp.rust.example.com |
Target rust.example.com plus the value of server.port |
Tells Rust which UDP service and port to use |
Facepunch’s DNS documentation calls for these two records. An A record alone is not the complete current configuration. Older hosting instructions that recommend only an A record conflict with the newer Facepunch guidance; use the official Rust-specific record format instead.
Before you edit DNS
Collect the server values
- Public IPv4 address: use the address players reach from the internet, not a private address such as
192.168.x.x,10.x.x.xor172.16.x.x. - Game port: read the actual
server.portvalue from the server’s launch parameters or configuration. Do not assume that a port shown in an old tutorial is yours. - Domain access: you need permission to edit DNS for the domain, such as
example.com. - A hostname: choose a short label such as
rust,playorsurvival. The finished address will berust.example.com,play.example.comor similar.
Understand the names
The hostname in the A record is the target players recognize. The SRV record has a special service-and-protocol prefix: _rust._udp. Those underscores are significant. The service must be _rust, and the protocol must be _udp; using a generic application or TCP service creates a different DNS record that Rust will not find.
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Step 1: Create the A record
- Open your domain provider’s DNS management page.
- Add an A record.
- Enter the hostname label, for example
rust. Some dashboards ask for only the label; others accept the complete name. If the provider automatically appendsexample.com, enteringrust.example.comcan accidentally produce a duplicated name, so follow the field’s displayed format. - Set the value to the Rust server’s public IPv4 address.
- Save the record.
Do not enter a port in an A record. DNS A records contain an IPv4 address only. The port belongs in the SRV record.
Step 2: Create the Rust SRV record
Create exactly one SRV entry for this Rust service. Conceptually, it must describe:
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- Service:
_rust - Protocol:
_udp - Name: the hostname players use, such as
rust.example.com - Target: the A-record hostname, such as
rust.example.com - Port: the number configured as
server.port
An SRV record also exposes priority and weight fields. If your provider requires them, use the provider’s documented defaults (normally zero for a single service) rather than creating additional records to simulate load balancing. Rust’s DNS guidance calls for one SRV entry.
Cloudflare-style dashboards
Some dashboards put service, protocol and name into one Name field. In that layout, the name is typically written as _rust._udp.rust.example.com. Set the target to rust.example.com and enter the Rust game port in the port field. Check the provider’s preview before saving so the final record does not contain a duplicated domain suffix.
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Other dashboards provide separate boxes for Service, Protocol and Name. Enter _rust in Service, _udp in Protocol, and the host label or full hostname requested by the form. Set the target to the A-record hostname and the port to your server.port value. The labels differ between providers, but the resulting DNS record must be the same.
Step 3: Turn off DNS proxying
Rust game traffic needs to reach the server directly. If your provider offers a traffic proxy, load balancer or CDN toggle on the DNS record, disable it for the Rust hostname and use DNS-only mode. In Cloudflare’s interface this is the grey-cloud setting; the orange cloud is proxied and can break game traffic. Apply the DNS-only setting to the A record and make sure the SRV target ultimately resolves to that unproxied hostname.
Proxying a web site and exposing a game server are separate decisions. You can leave unrelated HTTP records proxied while keeping the Rust A record DNS-only.
Step 4: Set server.favoritesEndpoint
Rust has a separate setting for the endpoint stored when a player favorites a server. Set server.favoritesEndpoint to the ordinary A-record hostname:
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server.favoritesEndpoint "rust.example.com"Do not put _rust._udp in this value. The correct value is rust.example.com, not _rust._udp.rust.example.com. Also do not add a URL scheme such as https://. Restart the server after changing its startup configuration so the setting is loaded.
This setting is useful when the server’s address or port may change. Players’ favorites refer to the stable hostname instead of a previous numeric endpoint, provided the DNS records and port are updated consistently.
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Check both records from a command-line machine before troubleshooting the game client. These lookups query DNS directly and help separate a DNS mistake from a server or firewall problem.
dig A rust.example.com
dig SRV _rust._udp.rust.example.comThe A lookup should return the server’s public IPv4 address. The SRV lookup should return the target hostname and the exact port configured as server.port. If your system does not have dig, use another DNS lookup utility that can query SRV records.
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- If the A answer is missing, recheck the hostname label, zone and IPv4 address.
- If the SRV answer is missing, inspect the service, protocol and name fields; the expected combination is
_rustand_udp. - If the SRV target is a different hostname, make it the same hostname that owns the A record.
- If the returned port is wrong, edit the SRV record to match
server.port.
DNS changes are cached. Shockbyte states that users generally should not need to wait more than 12 hours for new settings to populate, but that is a provider’s guidance rather than a universal guarantee. The actual delay depends on cached responses and the DNS provider. Verify the answers from more than one network if a change appears stuck.
Step 6: Test the connection in Rust
- Start or restart the Rust server with the new
server.favoritesEndpointvalue. - Confirm that the server is listening on the configured UDP game port and that the host firewall and any router port-forwarding rule allow that port.
- Use the server browser or the game’s direct-connect workflow with the custom hostname. Where a client asks for an explicit endpoint, enter the hostname and the same game port shown by the SRV record.
- Join the server, then favorite it and reconnect after a restart. The favorite should use the hostname rather than an old numeric address.
DNS only answers “where should this name go?” It does not open a firewall port, configure a router, start the Rust process or make an offline server reachable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common failures and precise fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The hostname has no DNS answer | A record was saved in the wrong DNS zone, or the label was duplicated | Inspect the provider’s fully qualified name and confirm that dig A returns the public IPv4 address. |
| “No DNS record found” for the service | SRV service or protocol is wrong | Use _rust with _udp. A community report of this error used _application and _tcp, which are not the Rust values. |
| DNS resolves but the game cannot connect | Proxy is enabled, UDP is blocked, or the port does not match | Set the record to DNS-only, allow the configured UDP port through the firewall and router, and compare the SRV port with server.port. |
| The server appears at an old port | SRV still contains the previous port, or cached DNS data is being used | Update the SRV port, restart the server if its port changed, flush local DNS cache if appropriate, and retest from another network. |
| Favorites disappear after an IP change | server.favoritesEndpoint is missing, contains the wrong hostname or includes the SRV prefix |
Set it to the plain A-record hostname, for example rust.example.com, then restart the server. |
| Multiple destinations are returned | More than one SRV record exists for the Rust service | Remove extras and keep one SRV entry pointing to the intended A-record hostname. |
| Players outside your network cannot join | Private address, carrier-grade NAT, missing port forwarding or an upstream firewall | Confirm the A record uses the internet-facing IPv4 address and verify external UDP reachability with your hosting or network provider. |
Why older A-record-only instructions cause confusion
An older Shockbyte article says Rust did not officially support SRV records and recommends an A-record-only approach. That guidance predates Facepunch’s Rust DNS documentation. The current official format requires the A record plus a Rust-specific SRV record, so treating the older article as definitive can leave the service undiscoverable or force players to type a port manually.
The service and protocol are also not interchangeable. A record for _application._tcp may be syntactically valid DNS, but it describes a different service. For Rust, use _rust._udp.
Choosing a DNS provider for this setup
You do not need a specialized Rust DNS host. Compare providers on the features that affect this configuration:
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|---|---|---|
| SRV support | The Rust service and port are carried by an SRV record | Confirm the dashboard can create service, protocol, target and port fields. |
| Name-field design | Some interfaces combine the fields while others separate them | Ensure you can produce _rust._udp.rust.example.com without duplicating the domain. |
| Per-record proxy control | Proxied game traffic can fail | Choose a DNS-only or equivalent setting for the Rust A record. |
| Diagnostics | Propagation and formatting errors are easier to resolve with clear record views | Look for a fully qualified record preview and visible SRV priority, weight and port. |
Handling IP and port changes
When the IPv4 address changes
Edit only the A record so it points to the new public IPv4 address. Leave the SRV target as the hostname, not the numeric address, and keep server.favoritesEndpoint unchanged. After DNS caches expire, the same player-facing name will resolve to the new machine.
When the game port changes
Edit the SRV record’s port to match the new server.port, update firewall and router rules, and restart Rust with the corresponding configuration. The A record does not change because it contains an address, not a port.
When moving to a new hostname
Create the new A and SRV records first, verify them with dig, then change server.favoritesEndpoint and restart. Keep the old records temporarily if you need a transition period, but do not leave multiple SRV entries under the same Rust service unless you deliberately understand the provider’s selection behavior.
Quick Recap
Operational and security boundaries
- A custom domain is an address convenience, not a DDoS shield or an anonymity layer. The A record still reveals the server’s reachable IPv4 address.
- DNS does not encrypt Rust traffic. Use the game server’s own administrative and access controls for security.
- Keep the hostname dedicated to the game service. Pointing web, mail or unrelated applications at the same name makes troubleshooting harder and can create proxying mistakes.
- Document the exact hostname, IPv4 address,
server.port, SRV target and provider settings. This short record prevents accidental recreation of the wrong service or protocol during a migration.
Final validation checklist
- The A record for the player-facing hostname returns the server’s public IPv4 address.
- Exactly one SRV record exists for
_rust._udp. - The SRV target is the A-record hostname, not an IP address or unrelated alias.
- The SRV port equals the Rust
server.portvalue. - Any Cloudflare-style proxy or equivalent is disabled for the game hostname.
server.favoritesEndpointcontains the plain hostname without_rust._udp.- External DNS lookups show both records before players test.
- UDP firewall, router and hosting rules permit the configured game port.
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