Generate a Rust server.cfg

Rust's server.cfg is not a settings file but a list of console commands, which confuses anyone who expects the key=value layout used almost everywhere else.

Start from a preset

Visual Settings

source Format

Identity

server.hostname

Name in the server browser. Quote it if it contains spaces — this format separates command and value with a space, not an equals sign.

server.description

Shown when a player selects your server. Use \n for line breaks.

server.headerimage

Direct URL to a banner image for the server browser. Must be a direct image link.

server.url

Website shown alongside your server in the browser.

server.port

Game port players connect on.

server.queryport

Query port. This is the one server lists read — forwarding only the game port is why a working Rust server never appears in the browser.

Gameplay

server.pve

Disables player damage entirely. Note this is a blunt switch, not a full PvE ruleset.

server.globalchat

Off restricts chat to nearby players, which changes the social feel of a server considerably.

server.radiation

Radiation in monuments. Turning it off removes most of the reason to build hazmat gear.

World

server.worldsize

Map size in metres. This decides your memory requirement far more than player count does, and changing it regenerates the world.

server.seed

World generation seed. Together with worldsize it defines the map — change either and everything players built is on a map that no longer matches.

server.saveinterval

Seconds between world saves. Shorter means less lost on a crash and more frequent save stutter.

decay.upkeep

Whether tool cupboards consume upkeep resources. Off means bases never decay.

Players & Access

server.maxplayers

Slot limit. Rust scales far better with slots than with map size.

Performance

server.tickrate

Server updates per second. Raising it increases CPU load sharply for a modest smoothness gain.

server.entitymaxrate

Entity updates sent per player per second.

server.cfg

server.hostname "My Rust Server"
server.description "Welcome!"
server.headerimage 
server.url 
server.port 28015
server.queryport 28017
server.maxplayers 50
server.pve 0
server.globalchat 1
server.radiation 1
server.worldsize 4000
server.seed 123456
server.saveinterval 600
decay.upkeep 1
server.tickrate 10
server.entitymaxrate 50

The server.cfg format

On each line the command and its argument are separated by a space rather than an equals sign — server.hostname "My Server", not server.hostname="My Server". The equals version does not raise an error; the console just fails to recognise the command and carries on. Booleans are 1 and 0 instead of true and false. Put quotes around values with spaces in them; bare numbers need none.

The mistake that wastes an evening

Your map is defined by server.seed and server.worldsize together, and altering either produces an entirely different world at the next restart. Players' buildings are still in the save, but now they sit in the wrong places on a map that no longer fits them. Settle both before the first wipe and do not touch them until you actually mean to wipe.

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Visual Settings

server.cfg

The server.cfg format

The mistake that wastes an evening

Rather not run the server yourself?