How to start your Rust server for the first time

Click Start on your server's Overview page and wait for the badge to say Online. The Console shows the line Server startup complete when Rust is ready for players. The first start is slower than later ones, because the server checks for a game update and builds its first map.

Start it

1. Open your server in the panel. The badge near the name says Offline.
2. Click Start. The badge changes to Starting.
3. Open the Console tab to watch what the server is doing.

What the Console shows

With Auto Update on (it is on by default), every start first asks Steam for the newest Rust build and downloads it if there is one. Then the server loads the modding framework you chose, if any: Oxide or Carbon are fetched again at every start. After that the game loads or generates the map.

Lines that start with [PlayNHost] come from the panel's own start tools. You only see them when something extra is happening, for example when you switch branch or framework: they say what is being checked and that it can take a few minutes.

The server is ready when the Console shows:

Server startup complete

When that line appears, the badge changes to Online. A new server also shows up in the in-game Community list after a few minutes. You do not have to wait for that: players can join straight away with the address, see How to join your Rust server.

How long the first start takes

A new world on the default map size takes a few minutes to generate, and a bigger World Size takes longer. Do not click Stop or Kill while it is generating. Later starts reuse the map, so they are much quicker, unless a game update has to download first.

What a new server already has

• Server Name: A Rust Server. Change it before you invite people: How to change your Rust server name and description.
• Modding Framework: vanilla, which means no plugins.
• Level: Procedural Map, World Size 3000, and no World Seed, which gives the same default map as every other server without a seed. Set your own: How to choose your Rust world size and seed.
• RCON Password: Rust will not start without one. If it is empty, the Overview page shows a card, Your server needs one more thing, with a field for it. Fill it in before the first start, and never empty it. See Your Rust server will not start without an RCON password.
• Player slots: the number your plan includes.
• Wipes: none runs by itself. The ready-made wipe schedules wait in the Ready-made for Rust list on Quick Tasks: How to set up automatic wipes on your Rust server.
• No owners, moderators or bans yet.

Next steps

1. Join your server.
2. Set the name and description.
3. Make yourself admin.
4. Invite your friends.

If the server does not reach Online, see Rust server problems and fixes and How to fix a server that will not start.