MINECRAFT HOSTING
GAME SERVERS
Game PanelMost problems with a Rust server come down to a few causes. Start with the one that matches what you see.
The server crashes immediately on first start, with an error about a string of zero length in the console
Why: The RCON Password is empty. Rust cannot start without one and the error does not mention RCON.
Fix: Enter an RCON Password in Settings (letters, numbers, dots, dashes, underscores) and start the server again.
Players cannot join after a Rust update, or the version looks wrong
Why: Rust patches monthly on the first Thursday and the client updates itself; a server on an older build cannot be joined.
Fix: Restart the server with Auto Update on so it downloads the update before starting, and ask players to let Steam finish updating Rust.
Your server has the same map as other PlayNHost Rust servers
Why: With World Seed empty, Rust generates the same default map every time.
Fix: Set your own World Seed (1 to 2147483647), ideally as part of a map wipe, then restart.
Changing World Size or World Seed did not remove the old world
Why: A new world is generated on the next start, but the old map and save files stay on disk until you wipe.
Fix: Back up first, then use the Wipe screen to remove old files, and set the new seed on that same screen. A wipe permanently deletes files.
The server crashes after you fill in Custom Map URL
Why: The link is not a valid direct download, so the server cannot fetch the map.
Fix: Use a public link that starts the download by itself (not a page you must click through, and not a Discord message link), or clear the field and restart.
A setting added in Additional Arguments (such as a different player limit) has no effect
Why: Rust keeps the first value it receives for a setting and ignores later duplicates, and the panel's own values come first.
Fix: Use the panel setting instead; the player limit follows your plan.
Oxide plugins fail to load or the server errors on forced wipe day
Why: The newest Oxide release is often not yet rebuilt for the new Rust version on wipe day.
Fix: Restart the server later so the updated Oxide is downloaded. Switching Modding Framework to Carbon means copying your plugins from oxide/plugins to carbon/plugins and granting permissions again; back up first.
Joining a custom-map server shows World cache version mismatch or World File Outdated
Why: The player has an old cached map under the same file name.
Fix: Rename the map file to a unique name and update the link, or have the player delete the cached .map file from their Rust folder.
Still stuck?
Open a ticket in the category that fits and include the last 50 to 100 lines of the console. See How to open a support ticket and How to fix a server that will not start.
