Rust Dedicated Server:
Setup, Mods & Admin Guide

# Update packages first
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Create dedicated user
sudo adduser steam
sudo usermod -aG sudo steam
su - steam
                            

sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 curl unzip tmux
                            

mkdir -p ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd
wget https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
tar -xvzf steamcmd_linux.tar.gz
chmod +x steamcmd.sh
                            

./steamcmd.sh \
  +force_install_dir /home/steam/rust-server \
  +login anonymous \
  +app_update 258550 validate \
  +quit
                            

nano /home/steam/rust-server/start.sh

#!/bin/bash
# Auto-restart loop — server comes back up after crash
while true; do

  ./RustDedicated -batchmode -nographics \
    +server.ip           0.0.0.0 \
    +server.port         28015 \
    +server.queryport    28017 \
    +rcon.ip             0.0.0.0 \
    +rcon.port           28016 \
    +rcon.password       "CHANGE_ME_NOW" \       # ← edit
    +rcon.web            1 \
    +server.identity     "fitservers1" \         # ← save folder name
    +server.hostname     "FitServers | 2x | Wipes Thu" \ # ← edit
    +server.description  "Weekly wipes | Active admins" \
    +server.url          "https://fitservers.com" \
    +server.headerimage  "https://fitservers.com/banner.jpg" \
    +server.level        "Procedural Map" \
    +server.seed         87654 \                 # ← change each wipe
    +server.worldsize    3500 \                  # map metres (1000–6000)
    +server.maxplayers   75 \                    # ← edit
    +server.saveinterval 300 \                   # autosave every 5 min
    +server.globalchat   true \
    +app.port            28082                   # Rust+ companion app

  echo "Server stopped — restarting in 5 seconds..."
  sleep 5
done
                            

chmod +x /home/steam/rust-server/start.sh
cd /home/steam/rust-server

# Start detached tmux session
tmux new-session -d -s rust './start.sh'

# Attach to watch console output
tmux attach -t rust

# Detach without stopping: press Ctrl+B, then D
                            

# Game traffic (public)
sudo ufw allow 28015/udp
sudo ufw allow 28015/tcp
sudo ufw allow 28017/udp

# Rust+ companion app
sudo ufw allow 28082/tcp

# RCON — YOUR admin IP only
sudo ufw allow from YOUR.ADMIN.IP to any port 28016

sudo ufw enable && sudo ufw status
                            

cd /home/steam/rust-server

# Download the latest Linux build
wget https://umod.org/games/rust/download/develop -O Oxide-Rust_Linux.zip

# Extract into server directory
unzip -o Oxide-Rust_Linux.zip

# Allow C# plugins to compile
chmod +x CSharpCompiler
                            

# Get your Steam64 ID at steamid.io
ownerid    76561198XXXXXXXXX  "YourName"   "owner"
moderatorid 76561198YYYYYYYYY  "ModName"   "moderator"
                            

Host:     YOUR_SERVER_IP
Port:     28016
Password: (your rcon.password from start.sh)
                            

#!/bin/bash
IDENTITY="fitservers1"
SERVER_DIR="/home/steam/rust-server"
SAVE_DIR="$SERVER_DIR/server/$IDENTITY"
WIPE_TYPE="${1:-map}"

# 1. Warn players via tmux console
tmux send-keys -t rust "say Server wipe in 2 minutes — save your goodbyes!" ENTER
sleep 120

# 2. Gracefully stop the server
tmux send-keys -t rust "server.quit" ENTER
sleep 20

# 3. Randomise map seed
NEW_SEED=$((RANDOM * RANDOM % 2147483647))
sed -i "s/+server.seed [0-9]*/+server.seed $NEW_SEED/" $SERVER_DIR/start.sh

# 4. Delete map save files
rm -f "$SAVE_DIR"/*.sav "$SAVE_DIR"/*.map

# 5. Blueprint wipe (full wipe only)
if [ "$WIPE_TYPE" == "full" ]; then
  rm -f "$SAVE_DIR"/player.blueprints.*.db
  echo "Blueprints cleared."
fi

# 6. Update Rust + re-apply Oxide
/home/steam/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh \
  +force_install_dir $SERVER_DIR \
  +login anonymous \
  +app_update 258550 validate \
  +quit

cd $SERVER_DIR
wget -q https://umod.org/games/rust/download/develop -O Oxide-Rust_Linux.zip
unzip -o -q Oxide-Rust_Linux.zip && chmod +x CSharpCompiler

# 7. Restart server in tmux
tmux new-session -d -s rust ./start.sh
echo "Wipe done! New seed: $NEW_SEED"
                            

# Lower entity tick rate (30 is stable for most servers)
server.tickrate 30

# Speed up corpse cleanup
server.corpse_despawn 300

# GC buffer to smooth memory spike (MB)
gc.buffer 256

# Cache A2S query responses — reduces CPU from server browser spam
server.queryresponserate 20

# Auto-save interval in seconds (default 300)
server.saveinterval 300