Rust server.cfg generator

Rust's server.cfg is a list of console commands rather than a settings file, which trips up anyone expecting the key=value format every other game uses.

Start from a preset

Visual Settings

source Format
Identity

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

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

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

Website shown alongside your server in the browser.

Game port players connect on.

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

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

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

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

World

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

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

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

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

Players & Access

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

Performance

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

Entity updates sent per player per second.

server.cfg

server.hostname "Spawnly 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

How server.cfg syntax works

Each line is a command and its argument separated by a space, not an equals sign: server.hostname "My Server" rather than server.hostname="My Server". Writing it with an equals sign is not an error — the console simply does not recognise the command and moves on. Booleans are 1 and 0 rather than true and false. Values containing spaces need quotes; plain numbers do not.

The mistake that costs people hours

server.seed and server.worldsize together define your map, and changing either one generates a completely different world on the next restart. Everything players have built is still in the save file but is now in the wrong place on a map that no longer matches. Decide both before your first wipe and leave them alone until you intend to wipe.

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