Getting Started with Rust

This guide will help you set up and configure your Rust server on NodeByte. We'll cover everything from initial setup to basic configuration.

Accessing Your Server

After purchasing your Rust server from NodeByte:

1. Log into the Game Panel
2. Select your Rust server from the server list
3. You'll see the main console and server controls

First Boot

When you first start your server, it will:

1. Download the latest Rust Dedicated Server files
2. Generate the default configuration
3. Create your first procedurally generated map

Note: The first startup may take several minutes as the server downloads all necessary files.

Server Configuration

Basic Settings

Your server's main configuration is found in server.cfg. Key settings include:

# Server Identity
server.hostname "My NodeByte Rust Server"
server.description "Welcome to our server!"
server.url "https://nodebyte.host"
server.headerimage "https://your-image-url.com/banner.png"

# Gameplay Settings
server.maxplayers 100
server.worldsize 3500
server.seed 12345
server.saveinterval 300

# Security
server.secure true
server.encryption 1

Map Settings

Setting	Description	Recommended
server.worldsize	Map size in meters	3000-4000 for small, 4000-6000 for large
server.seed	Procedural generation seed	Any number, or leave blank for random
server.level	Map type	Procedural Map (default)

Player Slots

Your maximum players depends on your plan's RAM allocation:

RAM	Recommended Players
4GB	50-75 players
8GB	100-150 players
16GB	200+ players

Connecting to Your Server

Finding Your Connection Info

1. Go to your server in the Game Panel
2. Look for the Connection Address in the sidebar
3. Format: IP:Port (e.g., 192.168.1.1:28015)

Client Connection

Players can connect via:

Console Command:

client.connect IP:PORT

Steam Server Browser:

1. Open Steam → View → Servers
2. Click "Add a Server"
3. Enter your server IP:Port
4. Click "Add This Address to Favorites"

RCON Access

RCON (Remote Console) allows you to run commands remotely:

Setting Up RCON

In your server.cfg:

rcon.ip 0.0.0.0
rcon.port 28016
rcon.password "your_secure_password"
rcon.web 1

RCON Tools

• RustAdmin - Desktop application for Windows
• Battlemetrics - Web-based RCON and server management
• RustIO - Web RCON with live map

Essential Commands

Command	Description
server.save	Force a world save
server.writecfg	Save current config
kick "player"	Kick a player
ban "player"	Ban a player
unban "steamid"	Unban a player
say "message"	Server-wide message
status	List connected players

Performance Optimization

Recommended Settings

# Performance
fps.limit 60
gc.interval 60
gc.buffer 256

# Network
server.tickrate 30
server.netlog 0

Monitoring

Keep an eye on these metrics in your Game Panel:

• CPU Usage - Should stay below 80%
• RAM Usage - Leave at least 1GB headroom
• Tick Rate - Should stay close to your set value

Wipe Schedule

Rust servers typically wipe on a schedule:

• Forced Wipes - First Thursday of each month (required by Facepunch)
• Map Wipes - You choose the frequency
• Blueprint Wipes - Optional, often monthly

Setting Up Automatic Wipes

Use the Game Panel's Schedules feature:

1. Create a new schedule
2. Set the cron expression (e.g., 0 12 * * 4 for Thursdays at noon)
3. Add task: server.save then quit
4. Your server will restart fresh on the scheduled time

Next Steps

Now that your server is running:

1. Install Oxide/uMod - Add plugin support
2. Essential Plugins - Must-have plugins
3. Admin Commands - Full command reference

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