Configuring Your Rust Server: server.cfg & the Key ConVars

Configuring your Rust server

The basics — server name, description, world size, seed, tags, game mode — are conveniently set via the startup variables in the RespawnHost panel (under “Configuration”, see the server setup guide). Everything beyond that is controlled via convars (console variables). Permanent settings belong in the server.cfg file at server/my_server_identity/cfg/ — reachable via the file manager in the panel or via SFTP. One entry per line, without the + prefix:

server.hostname "My Rust Server"
server.description "Welcome!\nWipe: every first Thursday."
server.tags weekly,vanilla,EU
decay.scale 1

The most important settings

Server name & browser appearance

Setting	Default	Effect
server.hostname	”My Untitled Rust Server”	Name in the server browser
server.description	empty	Description on the connect screen; \n creates line breaks
server.headerimage	empty	URL to a banner image (512×256 px, PNG/JPG, publicly reachable)
server.url	empty	Website link shown as a button in the server browser

World & saving

Setting	Default	Effect
server.worldsize	3000	Map size, 1000–6000. Typical: 3000–4500. Changing it = new map!
server.seed	—	Map layout, 0–2147483647. Same seed + size = same map
server.maxplayers	—	Player slots — freely configurable at RespawnHost
server.saveinterval	300	Autosave interval in seconds (RespawnHost sets 60 via startup variable)

More on seeds, map sizes and custom maps: Maps, seeds & world size.

Gameplay

Setting	Default	Effect
decay.scale	1	Decay speed of structures. 0 = no decay
decay.upkeep	on	Upkeep system (building costs in the tool cupboard) on/off
server.pve	off	PvE mode — players can’t damage each other; automatically applies the pve tag
server.radiation	on	Radiation at monuments
craft.instant	off	Instant crafting
server.globalchat	on	Global chat (off = local proximity only)

Server tags: how players find you

With server.tags you flag your server for the browser filters. The official tags (Facepunch docs) are grouped — never use two tags from the same group, or your server drops out of filtered search:

Group	Tags
Wipe cycle	weekly, biweekly, monthly
Difficulty	vanilla, softcore, hardcore
Region	EU, NA, SA, WA, EA, OC, AF
Freely combinable	pve, roleplay, creative, minigame, training, battlefield, broyale, builds, tut

Example: server.tags biweekly,vanilla,EU. You don’t set the Modded tag yourself — it’s applied automatically once Oxide or Carbon is installed.

The gather rate misconception

The most-searched Rust server wish — 2x/5x resources — is not a vanilla setting. A convar like gather.rate does not exist in the unmodded game; those commands come from the GatherManager plugin and only work with Oxide/Carbon. How to set that up: Installing Rust plugins.

Game modes: Softcore & Hardcore

Rust ships official game modes, set via the startup parameter +server.gamemode softcore (or gamemode.set at runtime):

• Standard (leave empty): normal Rust. The Facepunch docs explicitly advise against manually setting the value to vanilla — just leave it out.
• softcore: more beginner-friendly — after death you can reclaim half your inventory at your death spot or at reclaim terminals (Bandit Camp/Outpost).
• hardcore: no safe zones, no team system, no in-game map. Note: Facepunch has barely maintained the mode since 2022 and shut down its own Hardcore servers in 2023.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off decay completely? decay.scale 0 in the server.cfg (plus restart). For servers without upkeep costs, additionally decay.upkeep false.

Is there a whitelist? Not in vanilla Rust. A private server runs either via the Whitelist plugin (Oxide, see the plugins guide) — or you keep the server name inconspicuous and use an unusual seed.

Why doesn’t my change take effect? Either the restart is missing, or the convar was only set at runtime and was lost on restart — permanent values belong in the server.cfg.

Related guides

• Rent a Rust server — Pay-Per-Use, online in under 90 seconds
• Creating & setting up a server — from ordering to your first login
• Admin commands & RCON — commands at runtime
• Installing plugins — gather rates, kits, whitelist & more