How to add mods to your Rust server

Server plugins are .cs files that run on a modding framework. PlayNHost offers two: Oxide (uMod plugin library) and Carbon (a drop-in Oxide replacement that can use Oxide-style plugins). Vanilla runs no framework.

Back up first. See How to back up and restore your Rust world.

Add a mod

1. Pick one framework only; do not run Oxide and Carbon together. Open Settings, then Game Settings, set Modding Framework to Oxide or Carbon and restart; the latest release of the chosen framework is downloaded at each start.
2. Oxide: add plugins from the Modding tab (Plugins tab, uMod library), or upload a .cs file into oxide/plugins in Files. Plugins load automatically and no restart is needed.
3. Carbon: upload plugin .cs files into carbon/plugins in Files; they load automatically. The Modding tab installs into oxide/plugins, so with Carbon upload files by hand. Carbon uses a configs folder where Oxide uses config.
4. If you switch from Oxide to Carbon, copy your plugins from oxide/plugins to carbon/plugins and grant permissions again, because permissions do not carry over. Back up first.
5. Grant permissions in the panel Console tab. Oxide: oxide.grant user <name or SteamID> <permission>, oxide.group add <group>, oxide.usergroup add <user> <group>. Carbon uses the prefix c. instead of o., for example c.grant.

Where files go

Open Files and use these places:

• oxide/plugins
• oxide/config
• oxide/data
• oxide/logs
• carbon/plugins
• carbon/configs

Check it worked

Once the server has restarted, read the Console. A mod that loaded shows up during startup, and problems show under Errors and Warnings. See How to use the console and run commands and How to add mods, plugins and modpacks.

If the server stops after you add a mod, remove the newest mod or restore your backup. See How to fix a server that will not start.