Rust Server Configuration Guide - Wasabi Hosting Docs

Rust servers are configured through convars (console variables). On your Wasabi Hosting server you can set them in two places: the Startup tab of the Game Panel (applied as launch parameters) or the server.cfg file inside your server identity folder. This guide covers the convars that matter most and where to edit them.

Where to Edit Configuration

Startup tab (recommended)
server.cfg

In the Game Panel, open your server and go to the Startup tab. The most important values (hostname, world size, seed, max players, and more) are exposed as editable variables and passed to the server as launch parameters, for example +server.worldsize 4500.Values set here always take effect on the next start and are the easiest to manage.

Using the File Manager (or SFTP — see file management), navigate to:

/server/my_server_identity/cfg/server.cfg

The folder name after /server/ matches your server.identity convar (my_server_identity is a common default). Add one convar per line without a leading +:

server.hostname "[EU] My Rust Server | Weekly | 2x"
server.description "Welcome to my server!\nWipe every Thursday."
server.maxplayers 100
decay.scale 0.5

If the cfg folder doesn’t contain a server.cfg yet, simply create the file.

Launch parameters set in the Startup tab override values in server.cfg. Don’t define the same convar in both places, or you’ll wonder why your server.cfg change “isn’t working.” Never edit serverauto.cfg — it is auto-generated and overwritten by the server.

Essential Convars

Convar	Default	Description
`server.hostname`	—	Server name shown in the browser. Include rates/wipe schedule for visibility.
`server.description`	—	Description shown on the server’s info panel. Use `\n` for line breaks.
`server.headerimage`	—	URL to a banner image (512x256 recommended) shown in the server info panel.
`server.url`	—	Website URL players can open from the server info panel.
`server.maxplayers`	`50`	Maximum concurrent players. Keep it realistic for your plan’s resources.
`server.worldsize`	`4500`	Procedural map size, `1000`–`6000`.
`server.seed`	random	Map generation seed. Same seed + same size = same map.
`server.identity`	`my_server_identity`	Folder name under `/server/` where map, saves, and player data live.
`server.saveinterval`	`300`	Seconds between automatic world saves.
`decay.scale`	`1.0`	Decay speed multiplier. `0` disables decay, `0.5` halves it.

RCON Settings

RCON lets external tools (like web RCON clients) send commands to your server:

Convar	Description
`rcon.port`	RCON port, conventionally game port + 1 (e.g. `28016`).
`rcon.password`	Set a strong password. Anyone with it has full control of your server.
`rcon.web 1`	Enables WebSocket RCON, required by modern tools such as RustAdmin and web consoles.

You rarely need RCON for day-to-day admin work — the Console tab in the Game Panel gives you a live server console with full command access. Consider locking down the RCON port with the Firewall Manager if you enable it.

Map Size and Seed Explained

Rust generates its procedural map from two values: server.worldsize and server.seed. The same combination always produces the identical map, so you can share or reuse maps you like.

World size	Best for
`1000`–`2000`	Very small servers, aim training, duo battles
`3000`–`3500`	Small communities (up to ~50 players), lower RAM usage
`4500` (default)	Standard full-size map, 100+ players
`5000`–`6000`	Large-population servers; longer generation time and higher RAM usage

Example configuration for a mid-size map:

+server.worldsize 3500 +server.seed 1847520

Changing the size or seed only takes effect on a fresh map — you must delete the old map files (a map wipe) for a new map to generate. See the server wipes guide.

Want to preview a map before wiping to it? Community tools like RustMaps let you browse generated maps by seed and size, then copy the values into your Startup tab.

Applying Changes

Edit your values

Change convars in the Startup tab or server.cfg as described above.

Restart the server

Restart from the Game Panel. Most convars are read at boot; hostname/description changes appear in the browser after the restart.

Verify in the console

Type a convar name with no value in the panel Console (e.g. server.worldsize) to print its current value.

Upgrade your Rust experience

Running a bigger map or higher pop? Wasabi Rust servers start at €9.99/month on Ryzen X3D hardware — and upgrades keep all your files.

​Where to Edit Configuration

​Essential Convars

​RCON Settings

​Map Size and Seed Explained

​Applying Changes

Upgrade your Rust experience

Where to Edit Configuration

Essential Convars

RCON Settings

Map Size and Seed Explained

Applying Changes